Opinion
. ..Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash’s about-face and his proposal of a meeting with Greek-Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides makes one wonder whether US, British and UN pressure actually yielded fruit, or whether we are faced with a typical diplomatic maneuver. Whatever the motive, the Cyprus issue is entering a new phase as a new round of talks is expected, most likely in Geneva. Clerides accepted taking part in the negotiations under one condition – namely, that UN envoy to Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, also attend the negotiations – and was accepted… Therefore, the Greek-Cypriot side interprets the meeting as a resumption of the UN-brokered talks. Rather unexpectedly, the efforts to solve the problem acquire a new momentum, especially as Cyprus’s EU accession is approaching. In this light, the meeting in Nicosia presents a new opportunity. On the other hand, there is the danger that Denktash will want to secure the indefinite common ground that he has long demanded and he might try to appear cooperative in the face of the UN’s good intentions, in an attempt to contain Western criticism and, above all, to postpone accession as long as negotiations are in process. If this is his actual goal then it is no more than wishful thinking. The USA and the UN do not seem willing to succumb to Ankara’s threats and use Cyprus’s accession process as a lever for putting pressure on Turkey… An end has to be put to the vandals’ destructive activity. Do we have to experience a massacre of innocent people caused by these anti-social elements before the government takes measures against these well-organized troublemakers?
