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Serdar: Cyprus could be reunited into amended 1960 Republic
By Simon Bahceli


CYPRUS could be reunited along the lines of the 1960 agreements with built-in bizonality, according to Turkish Cypriot ‘foreign minister’ Serdar Denktash.

Speaking on a local radio station in the north, Denktash said that although no formal policy had been devised, the Turkish government had not ruled out such an approach to future negotiations on the Cyprus problem.

“What Turkey wants is to recognise a country – whatever its name might be – that embodies what the Cyprus Republic was in 1960.” Denktash said.

Denktash believes the Republic has, since 1963, been controlled solely by Greek Cypriots, and therefore no longer resembles the bicommunal state Turkey recognised in 1960.

“There is no way Turkey can recognise the Cyprus Republic in its current form,” he said. He added his belief that Turkey would only be willing to recognise the Cyprus Republic if and when Turkish Cypriots were granted a voice in it.

“At present, the issue of Turkey’s recognition of the Cyprus Republic has been shelved. The issue will only come off the shelf if a negotiated solution is found,” Denktash insisted.

Denktash, son of veteran Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, expressed confidence a solution to the island’s division would be found “within the next five years”, but that it would emerge after the culmination of an extended “normalisation” of relations between the Republic, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot north.

“Those who are expecting a solution soon are living in a dream world. First will come a gradual period of normalisation,” he said. He added that although this would not constitute a solution, it would lead to a marked improvement in prospects for the Turkish Cypriots, and that promises of direct flights to the north and direct trade with the EU would ultimately be kept.

Denktash said he saw the period following December 17, when Turkey is expected to be given a date for the start of EU accession negotiations, as “presenting opportunities for finding a solution”, but warned that Turkey and the north would have to take “proactive steps” in the process. He said he had made a number of proposals to the Turkish government regarding such steps.

Denktash ruled out the re-emergence of the Annan plan, saying it would be impossible to make the plan palatable to Greek Cypriots without detracting from elements accepted by the Turkish Cypriots.

“A new plan must be tabled,” Denktash insisted.

But Denktash said he believed a mutually acceptable deal on Cyprus would only be forthcoming if the international community helped to “motivate” the Greek Cypriots to find one.

“The Cyprus problem will be solved in the next five years. I’m not saying it will happen before the end of Turkey’s accession negotiations because that is not something we have control over. It is up to the Greek Cypriots and the pressure the international community puts on them,” he said.

Describing Turkish Cypriot long-term policy on the Cyprus problem he said, “On one side it is a case of ‘wait and see what happens’ while on the other side it means endeavouring to improve things little by little through reducing the isolation and forging links”.