The way into the European Union seems to be free for Cyprus. The only
remaining question is: What is ‘Cyprus’ when we talk about Cyprus as a
candidate for the European Union.
At least since 1983 ‘Cyprus’ can only be a geographical term for that
beautiful island in the eastern Mediterranean. Seen in a single political
context ‘Cyprus’ doesn’t exist. There is a Greek part recognized as
Republic of Cyprus representing the whole island. And there is the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) blamed for almost everything which doesn’t
give the Greeks full power throughout the island.
The European Union decided to accept the Republic of Cyprus as a full
member of the EU. But will that Republic represent everyone living in Cyprus
– Greek and Turkish Cypriots? Could anyone in Brussels imagine how
difficult it is to make both ends meet in the TRNC? – and your economy
will recover within the framework of a single Cypriot constitution and
within a new formed Republic of Cyprus.
Greeks, Europeans or the United Nations – everyone blames the President
of the TRNC Rauf Denktash because he didn’t do that. He still says that
there is no way to find a solution if the Turkish Cypriots were not accepted
as equivalent to the Greeks. And he is right to do so. The Turkish Cypriots
have suffered from political suppression between 1963 and 1974. And they
fear that those times could come back if powers aren’t shared equally and
if Greek Cypriots could settle everywhere in the island. But if Cyprus is
taken into the EU as a single political unit without giving sovereignity to
the Turkish Cypriot state, the member states would help Greek Cypriots to
underpin their claim to the whole island which is both the home for Greeks
and Turks. We can’t fore the Turks playing the role of a minority if they
aren’t that minority – guaranteed by multilateral contracts. If we look
at the Middle East we see what could happen in Cyprus if the EU doesn’t
find a way out of the problem. And the only way out is the recognition of
the TRNC. That is why we have to talk about Cyprus before it is too late and
before the EU took a wrong decision.
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