http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=92237
Turkish Daily News
December 27, 2007
Northern Cyprus eyes Kosovo decision for own future
'When diplomatic efforts are exhausted other
alternatives are put on the table. We clearly see this
in Kosovo where diplomacy proved futile and other
formulas are floating around. This will certainly have
an impact on Cyprus,' says a senior Turkish Cypriot
official
FULYA ÖZERKAN
ANKARA - The ongoing negotiations over the status of
Kosovo that have thus far proven futile as the
province is proceeding toward independence may pave
the way for Turkey's friends in the European Union to
come up with alternative initiatives to end the
isolation of northern Cyprus, said the Turkish Cypriot
president's special envoy late Tuesday.
“Everyone sees 2008 as the last window of opportunity
for a solution to the Cyprus problem and especially
Turkey's friends in the EU are pressuring the Greek
Cypriots not to accept the status quo and to back
initiatives for a settlement, and warning other
alternatives could be on the agenda otherwise,” Özdil
Nami told the Turkish Daily News during an exclusive
telephone interview.
Nami was appointed by Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet
Ali Talat last month to chair negotiations with the EU
and United Nations for a settlement to the Cyprus
dispute.
Nami, elaborating on the alternatives, compared the
Cyprus problem with the deadlocked talks over the
future of Kosovo.
“Balances are changing in Europe. What do we see in
the case of Kosovo or Bosnia? When diplomatic efforts
are exhausted other alternatives are put on the table.
We clearly see this in Kosovo where diplomacy proved
futile and other formulas are floating around. This
will certainly have an impact on Cyprus,” he said.
As the EU nations failed to resolve the deadlock over
Kosovo during negotiations this month, ethnic
Albanians in this province pledged to proclaim
independence from Serbia early next year. The United
States and several EU states have indicated they will
recognize it.
Sacred alliance
EU-member Greek Cyprus remains the only member
blocking a unanimous position on Kosovo – both
concerning recognizing its independence and on sending
a 1,800 strong policy and administrative mission
there. Greek Cyprus is proceeding along the same line
as its traditional ally Russia.
“There has been a sacred alliance between Greek Cyrus
and Russia dating back to old times but this has got
deeper and deeper due to the Kosovo problem. Greek
Cypriots are devising policies by trusting Russia's
veto at the U.N. Security Council and in return are
acting as the Trojan horse of the Russians within the
EU,” said Nami.
“All the nations in the EU are considerably uneasy
about this. Greek Cypriots will either offend the EU
or Russia in the long run. They will soon find
themselves in a dilemma,” he added.
Russia always speaks up for the position of the Greek
Cypriots in the U.N. Security Council and blocked a
report of then Secretary General Kofi Annan who
praised the Turkish Cypriots for their approval of a
U.N.-backed peace plan for reunification with the
Greek Cypriots in a 2004 referendum.
....
Although the EU refrains from taking unilateral steps
to aid the Turkish Cypriots, good news coming from the
European capitals breathes new life into efforts for a
collective solution to the decades-old problem.
Last week, the Turkish Cypriot government opened an
office in Rome to boost ties with Italy and promote
the breakaway state in a EU-member country.
“This is a very important development and we see that
member countries are taking some steps, though the EU
cannot act in the way that it wishes to do as an
institution. Thus, the EU delivers the message that it
will not remain a mere bystander to the Greek Cypriot
blockade. This momentum in Western capitals could push
the EU to do the same,” said Nami.
Childish rhetoric
Ahead of the presidential election in the south,
Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said a
proposal for a solution to the Cyprus problem was
ready but did not announce it.
“Nobody found this statement convincing. This is a
childish style. It is no surprise that we face such
campaigns during election times. It is crystal clear
that no progress will be made before the vote in the
south,” said Nami.
Serbian News Network - SNN
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