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ANKARA: Who Would Gain What From A Solution In Cyprus?

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  • ANKARA: Who Would Gain What From A Solution In Cyprus?

    Turkish Press
    April 1 2004

    Who Would Gain What From A Solution In Cyprus?
    BYEGM: 4/1/2004
    BY MURAT YETKIN

    RADIKAL- While Ankara's National Security Council is evaluating
    recent development on Cyprus, other countries will hold similar
    meetings. Therefore, it would be useful to summarize the expectations
    of the parties involved.

    The Greek part of Cyprus: This is the party least willing to reach a
    solution by May 1. It has scored economic and political progress even
    as its Turkish neighbor has stagnated under a political and economic
    embargo. It is acting with the assurance of guaranteed European Union
    membership. But due to its worries about the sovereignty of the
    Turkish side and international pressure, it's still at the table.

    The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC): Nicosia's greatest
    hope is to gain EU membership and international recognition without
    harming bizonality and Turkey's guarantees. TRNC President Rauf
    Denktas's current stance is negative. The government can be a winner
    if it manages to convince its people to approve an agreement.

    Greece: If no agreement is reached, the Greek part of the island will
    become an EU member, and Athens will be keeping its promise to the
    Greek Cypriots. But it would face heavier EU pressure and would be
    held responsible for a division in Cyprus and excluding Turkey from
    the Union. In addition, the unresolved situation in Cyprus would make
    reaching a solution in the Aegean more difficult. This situation
    contradicts Greece's policies of removing any threat from the east
    and cutting its defense expenditures.

    Turkey: A just and permanent solution in Cyprus will benefit Turkey
    in many ways. Firstly, it will remove a real obstacle to Turkey's EU
    membership. Secondly, Anakra will have proved it can work within
    Europe's culture of political pacts. Thirdly, Turkey will be able to
    conduct its foreign policy more effectively. Better steps will be
    taken in the Middle East, the Balkans and the Caucasus.

    Britain: The third guarantor nation for Cyprus will feel better if a
    unified Cyprus joins the EU. The Cyprus problem will then be part of
    the Union. If these problems end with Turkey's own membership, this
    will mean security and stability in the eastern part of Europe.

    The European Union: A solution in Cyprus will boost the arguments in
    favor of Turkey's EU membership. In this respect, Germany's claim
    that Turkey as a secular Muslim country implementing Western
    democratic values would constitute a bridge to other Muslim countries
    would be strengthened.

    The United States: Washington has more than one expectation in
    Cyprus. A solution in the eastern Mediterranean could be an example
    for the conflicts in Israel-Palestine and Armenia-Azerbaijan. The
    solution in Cyprus on land could be an example for the Azerbaijani
    land that was invaded by Armenia [upper Karabagh]. The Armenian
    diaspora in the US is the only obstacle to such a solution. A Cyprus
    deal would help the US convince the Armenians.
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