OPINION

Landmark election

This is the first time since 1974 that the results of elections in the occupied north of Cyprus will be of such decisive importance for a resolution to the Cyprus problem. Until now, these elections were never anything more than a way of legitimizing the Denktash regime. Only secondly were they a way of measuring the parties’ influence. Tomorrow’s poll is considered crucial in all respects precisely because the Turkish-Cypriot opposition is challenging Rauf Denktash outright, above all his strategy on the Cyprus issue. The catalyst for this has, of course, been Cyprus’s accession to the European Union. Turkish Cypriots’ inability to participate in the process of European unification prompted the opposition parties to declare their support for the proposal by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The advantages of that solution were and still are obvious – the consolidation of their security, respect for democratic freedoms and rights, generous economic aid and rapid growth. It was this tangible fact that led to the wave of strikes that swept through the occupied territory a year ago and shook the Denktash regime to its foundations. The political dynamics of that time have partly subsided mainly because of the dashing of hopes that the ruling Justice and Development Party would support (even indirectly) the attempt to marginalize Denktash in order to make way for a solution. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, however, after some vacillation, adopted the Turkish establishment’s standard strategy, or at least was forced to in order to maintain equilibrium. The fact is that his statements during his visit to the occupied territory to mark the 20th anniversary of the proclamation of the pseudo-state aligned him with the existing regime. Having secured Ankara’s active support, the Turkish-Cypriot leader went on the counterattack with a barrage of dangermongering. Yet being the practical person he is, he did not stop there. In order to boost the electoral strength of the parties that support him, he granted Turkish-Cypriot «nationality» to thousands of settlers from Turkey, sparking protests from the opposition parties which have resorted not only to local courts but to the European Court of Human Rights. Even if Denktash’s party wins the election, Ankara still has a problem. A recent report by the European Commission has confirmed that no matter how much Turkey might deny it, it is clear that a future in Europe is not compatible with its traditional strategy on the Cyprus issue. Although the solving of this issue is not a formal requirement, it is an obstacle to EU-Turkish relations. The Europeans raised objections to Cyprus’s accession precisely because they did not want to inherit the Cyprus issue, but now that accession is a fact, it is in their interest to solve it.

Subscribe to our Newsletters

Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights, opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox.

By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.