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by Ferdinando Riccardi

Agence Europe

Bureau Chief

“Situation in north of Cyprus leads to reflection on worrying developments affecting institutional functioning of EU” (26.07.2006)

Who are the real Turkish Cypriot fellow-citizens? The chronicles that I’ve been able to read on Independence Day celebrations on 20 July in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), as they have existed for around thirty years, are passionate and informative. What are these celebrations all about? They celebrate the “day of peace and freedom” when 32 years ago Turkish armed forces landed in Cyprus to “liberate” the northern part (when the whole island, according to the project of the government in Nicosia at the time, wanted unification with Greece). Mr. Erdogan, the Turkish prime minister was the guest of honour and the Turkish national anthem opened the ceremony. The enthusiastic crowd waved red and white Turkish and TRNC flags (the two flags are exactly the same). Mr. Erdogan underlined links with the “mother country” and the TRNC and declared, “As long as we are united, nothing and no-one can harm us”. In the military parade, TRNC soldiers marched alongside Turkish troops and armoured divisions.

Perplexities about reunification. What went on is not, in my opinion any grounds for surprise, and even less so, for criticism. It’s a description of reality. And we have to accept reality or at least take it into account. The thrust of my argument is in danger of displeasing all quarters – those in Nicosia and in Ankara, Athens, as well as the UN HQ and even Brussels. But according to a quotation attributed to Aristotle “amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas”, Plato is dear to me, but dearer still is truth, and, therefore, taking reality into account, I am afraid that reunification of the island, which will continue to be taken into consideration as the only reasonable outcome, would be an artificial solution that does not take into account the situation on the ground and which will not result in the inhabitants of Cyprus becoming one people. For a Turkish Cypriot, who are his real fellow-citizens? Greek Cypriots or Turks? Judging by the evidence, the Turks.

Unmanageable repercussions. If the Cyprus affairs worries me, it is not because I am getting involved in issues that ought to be resolved by the people who are directly concerned themselves and for whom the dimensions at first glance are relatively modest, but because of the repercussions on the institutional functioning of the European Union. If we consider that unification of Cyprus is artificial, the alternative that comes to mind is the separation of the island into two parts. Difficult negotiations will necessary for sharing out the territory (the Turkish army occupies an area that supersedes the part of Cyprus previously inhabited by Turkish citizens) and for other aspects. But these difficulties will not be any more serious than those implicit in new negotiations on reunification, following the rejection (by the Greek Cypriots) of the last attempt in this connection.

Will we therefore have to wait for a solution to evolve naturally towards the division of Cyprus? It’s not so simple. The creation of two countries that both have the vocation of EU membership, will lead to a European Commissioner each (with equal rights of rotation), six MEPs and a place at the Council. Although it is true, as I believe, that the real fellow-citizens of Turkish Cypriots are in Turkey, they would have a European Commissioner, be a member of the Council and have Turkish MEPs without Turkey necessarily being a Member State! Is the same reasoning relevant to the Greek side of Cyprus? I have to ask myself this question. I’ve already heard the remark that today, Greece is the only Member State that has two European Commissioners.

An institutional farce. Other developments call for more questions to be asked. Does an independent Montenegro have the right to a status of Member State with its own Commissioner? And what of Kosova, tomorrow? And if it turns out that a united Bosnia-Herzegovina is unviable? Is it to be envisaged that the number of Member States continues to increase via “fragmentation”? And how can the aspirations of Bavaria, Catalonia, Scotland and if the time is right, that of Flanders be rejected? We really need to think about this one day because on an institutional basis we could end up with an EU that is nothing short of farcical.