Cyprus-Forum.com

[observer]

From 16 Jan 07 International Herald Tribune:

Cyprus president says Turkish election year could stall talks

NICOSIA, Cyprus: Cyprus' president does not expect substantial progress on efforts to reunite the island until after Turkish general elections due in November, he said Tuesday.
"It is my belief ... that 2007, even if does not offer itself for a breakthrough, (could) certainly be a most useful year in preparing the ground for future talks," President Tassos Papadopoulos told foreign correspondents in Nicosia.

For full article go to: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/ ... Turkey.php

... and then I presume that GC presidential elections will make 2008 a bad year; 2009 will not be a good year because ... well, for any reason you like.

Why doesn’t Papadop just come out and say that he doesn’t want any progress to happen

[Pyrpolizer]

No man, ONLY THE TURKISH ELECTIONS are important for the Anglo-Americans. Our elections don't count even for peanuts. In fact when we had elections they brought us the Anan Plan in.

[observer]

I'm a little cofused by your post, Pyrpolizer.

It's Popadop that seems to think that the Turkish Elections are important enough to prevent progress. I'm not aware of the Anglo-Americans having said anything about them, though we could probably find a quote somewhere if we looked hard enough. But I think that we can discount Papadop being a mouthpiece for the Anglo-Americans (or even accepting bribes to be one!)

My point in starting the thread was to point out that, in my opinion, the Turkish Elections are another handy excuse for Papadop not to attempt to make progress or even speak to the TC side who he claims to represent.

In behaving like this I think that Papdop is actually doing a disservice to the people who elected him, making the chances of any GCs returning to the North, Turkish Army leaving, and all the usual demands ever more remote. I can't say that that actually worries me, but it ought to concern you.

[Pyrpolizer]

I see your point about Papadopoulos and you are probably right.

However even the UN actually freeze the negotiations when there are elections in Turkey, because they know Turkey can't take serious decisions during election times. It happened many times so far.

The EU also takes election times in Turkey seriously. In fact they take care that none of the serious decisions needed for Turkey is anywhere near to elections time.

[observer]

I don't think that you are too wrong either.

On the other hand, were Papadopoulos serious it might be a good time for him to meet Talat. If they can agree something with Turkey's eyes elsewhere, then whoever wins the Turkish election would find it impossible to undo the decision.

It's not going to happen though, is it?