Cyprus-Forum.com

[zan]

The bridge and the ‘ploys’
By Loucas Charalambous

THE DEMOLITION of the bridge, which the Turkish Cypriots erected on Ledra Street, once again offered the opportunity for those who govern us to express their repugnant mentality. It is a mentality that clearly and without any trace of shame expresses itself almost officially as the policy of permanent partition. By now it is obvious that they would rather stay in power over half of Cyprus than step down in the case the country was reunified. And it is natural that they react to any action that aims to abolish the dividing line.

The provocative government response to the initiative from the Turkish Cypriot leadership was indicative of the disturbance but also the embarrassment it caused them. The government spokesman, surely under Papadopoulos’ instructions, was on the telephones of the television news bulletins before the news had even finished being broadcast. With his customary distasteful and provocative expression, he rushed to pronounce that the move was “media subterfuge” and he declared that the government “does not deal with the ploys of Talat”. He believed that in that way the issue was “cleared up”. These people have still not understood that their primitive political behaviour, which is characteristic of an era that ended 40 years ago, is one of the reasons no one wants to meet with them abroad anymore, not even those who until yesterday were friends and supporters of Cyprus: the Finns, the Swiss, the Estonians, the Spanish and even the French. Christofias responded in more or less the same miserable way.

The statement by the president that followed left no doubt whatsoever as to his intentions. For Ledra to open, he said, they must officially end the occupying army patrols and remove the symbols and the structures that refer to as customs or a frontier station. It reminds one yet again of the proverb: “Whoever does not want to knead for 40 days sieves.”

One could respond to Papadopoulos as follows:
First of all the symbols – that is to say the flags, both Turkish and Greek – exist at all of the other crossing points that opened with his consent. Do flags bother him only at this specific place? Second, there are structures at all of the other locations, both on our side as well as on the Turkish Cypriot side. Some are used by police officers who inspect the approaching people and some by insurance agency employees. In fact on the Turkish Cypriot they no longer use police in uniform for control but rather young women that don’t look anything like border guards. And on the Turkish Cypriot side there are no customs, no customs inspection takes place, and they do not confiscate goods that Greek Cypriots take as gifts to their Turkish Cypriot friends. Exactly the opposite takes place on our side – except we have a customs station! Fourthly, at no other crossing point does the Turkish army conduct patrols and it is obvious that they will not take place at Ledra either. Our side could have brought this up during the necessary consultations with UNFICYP and I don’t think this would have been a problem. Fifthly, both Talat as well as Soyer have repeatedly over the last few months suggested demilitarisation, not just in Ledra but in the entire Nicosia area. There was no response to this proposal either from Papadopoulos or from Christofias, who are wailing now about the distancing of a few soldiers from only one spot covering an area of several square metres!

I will finish with a question I raised last year, writing about the same issue: can these political leaders, who don’t want to open a road and who scheme a thousand tricks to avoid such a thing, solve the entire Cyprus problem? Is there really any moron who believes that these people want a solution?

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.ph ... 6&cat_id=1

[eracles]

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/5737550.asp?gid=74

Ferai Tinc: Northern Cyprus' independence: only as far as the gate?

Looking back on the final months of 2006, what was the point we focused on the most when it came to the question of Cyprus? Why is it that we responded to Papadopoulos (the leader of the Southern Cypriot authority) by saying "Southern Cyprus should not be addressing Turkey, but rather members of the Northern Cypriot government. In order to meet on the subject of Finland's suggestions, Northern Cypriot representatives must absolutely be at the table." This was all because Papadopoulos continues not to accept his Northern Cypriot counterparts as those he should be addressing; he repeats over and again that Turkey is making the decisions on Cyprus, and that it is Ankara he wants to speak with.

Papadopoulos is also insistent that in Turkey, it is the military which has more authority than politicians, and that as such, a portion of a country which is in the European Union is actually under military invasion. To this end, it is noteable that in fact Papadopoulos has gained a new trump for his hand by virtue of the "Lokmaci Gate crisis" which took place near the end of the Bayram holiday in Nicosia.

Here is what happened: the President of Northern Cyprus, Mehmet Ali Talat, makes an announcement, and the Turkish military's General Staff denies it in public. The General Staff goes on to share with the people of the country the fact that it has all sorts of objections to the Northern Cypriot President's statement. And thus, a tableau of crisis starts to emerge between the leadership of Northern Cyprus and the Turkish military's General Staff.

And I am sure here that Papadopoulos noted this all, saying to himself and those around him "You see, Northern Cyprus is only independent up until a certain point. Didn't I tell you?"

* * *

The so-called "Lokmaci Gate" is in Nicosia, and stands as one of the first symbols of the island of Cyprus' division. It is a point at which the old, original barricades were erected, and at which the Nicosia shopping streets were divided.

Both sides have walls, but the Turkish side brought down its walls. An overpass was made for civilians to use, and the leadership of Northern Cyprus decided to open up the Lokmaci Gate. The bringing together of the shopping streets would enliven merchant life here; this was a decision supported by the United Nations. Brussels too signalled that it was behind this move. But Papadopoulos stressed that a pre-condition would be to destroy the newly built overpass intended for civilian traffic.

As for the Northern Cypriot authority, they said "if it's an issue, we'll bring down the overpass."

As far as we've been able to learn from the newspapers, the real objection by the Turkish General Staff to the opening up of the Lokmaci Gate has to do with the timing of the step. General Yasar Buyukanit told the Milliyet's Fikret Bila "There is nothing wrong with the actual opening up the gate. But these steps must take place at the same time."

What I have understood from these statements is this: there is no problem with the destruction of the overpass, but the Turkish General Staff does not want the Turkish side to soften in its stance until reciprocal steps are taken by the Southern Cypriot side.

And so, this is the politics of objections.

But political decisions must be made by the politicians themselves. Because in the end, it is the politicians who will have to explain these decision to the people. And so it is also understandable that Talat, the President of Northern Cyprus, wants to stand beind his own decision.

* * *

Also underneath the whole "Lokmaci Gate crisis" is the fact that the military fears that the AKP-led administration in Ankara will wind up making unnecessary concessions on the international arena on the subject of Cyprus. But just as carrying out anti-AKP politics over Northern Cyprus is not right, it is also not right to throw a shadow over the independence of the Northern Cypriot adminstration itself. Especially just at the moment when demonstrating to the world this government's independence is so critical.

[zan]

Beat me to it eracles, I was just reading that one. Just goes to show why it has all gone quite on this issue on both sides. Two own goals with one bridge.

[eracles]

What is going on!? Now the religous meeting between the Archbishop and Ahmet Yonluer due to politics. This is going nowhere and faster than ever before.

[Pyrpolizer]

What is going on is known to everybody.
The TC leadership decides to do something. For that something to materialise it has to pass for approval a)By the political leadership in Turkey b)My the Military in Turkey and sometimes by c) the turkish Pariament and d)the Turkish national assembly.

What are the chances for ANY decision of the TC leadership to materialise? Almost zero.

Remember when Talat proposed publicly to Papadopoulos to discuss on ANY basis?
The next day he was put in place by Gul. No we only accept to discuss on the basis of the Anan Plan he said.
Now it is the case of the bridge. Brought to an end by the Military.
And the case of the Priests. And the case of the meetings between AKEL and CTP.
The list is endless.

[observer]

If this were more than only marginally true, Turkish mendacity could easily be exposed. Let Papadop open a gate, open many gates; all of those opened to date have been due to the TC side opening their barriers and embarrassing the GC government into reciprocating.

We genuinely want the barriers to come down, and for there to be no need for any foreign troops, Greek, Turkish or UN, to be on this island. But past experience, not to mention some of the statements made on this site and in the GC press has made us cautious.

[BirKibrisli]

The latest online from the TC press is that the demolishing of the bloody thing will commence today. This was announced by Talat's spokesperson apparently. So obviously the Military was convinced somehow that Talat had eaten enough humble pie,and can be allowed to pull down the bridge that he built in the first place...But this doesn't mean it will happen...Watch this space.

[zan]

The latest online from the TC press is that the demolishing of the bloody thing will commence today. This was announced by Talat's spokesperson apparently. So obviously the Military was convinced somehow that Talat had eaten enough humble pie,and can be allowed to pull down the bridge that he built in the first place...But this doesn't mean it will happen...Watch this space.

What will you think of Talat if he has that bridge down by the end of the week?

[BirKibrisli]

The latest online from the TC press is that the demolishing of the bloody thing will commence today. This was announced by Talat's spokesperson apparently. So obviously the Military was convinced somehow that Talat had eaten enough humble pie,and can be allowed to pull down the bridge that he built in the first place...But this doesn't mean it will happen...Watch this space.

What will you think of Talat if he has that bridge down by the end of the week?

Not much...The president of an independent country should not have to go to a foreign capital and try to convince the Military there to allow him to make a political decision in his own country...Seize fire or no seize fire...

I'd have respected him had he picked up a tool,got his government members and MPs beside him, and went to dismantle the bridge himself,challenging the military to arrest him.

The bridge will come down,but it is too late mate...Everyone knows now who really calls the shots in the TRNC.

[Viewpoint]

The latest online from the TC press is that the demolishing of the bloody thing will commence today. This was announced by Talat's spokesperson apparently. So obviously the Military was convinced somehow that Talat had eaten enough humble pie,and can be allowed to pull down the bridge that he built in the first place...But this doesn't mean it will happen...Watch this space.

What will you think of Talat if he has that bridge down by the end of the week?

Not much...The president of an independent country should not have to go to a foreign capital and try to convince the Military there to allow him to make a political decision in his own country...Seize fire or no seize fire...

I'd have respected him had he picked up a tool,got his government members and MPs beside him, and went to dismantle the bridge himself,challenging the military to arrest him.

The bridge will come down,but it is too late mate...Everyone knows now who really calls the shots in the TRNC.

He has to move in accordance with his only ally Turkey, why not ask the same of Tasoss? when will he go and knock down the wall with Christofiyas? and his other cronies. The wall and bridge are not the only obstacles, the mindset of both sides just goes to show that we cannot even open a crossing together let alone run a country. Can you imagine the chaos if Maras was ever handed back, all hell would break loose.