Alwaght-The
fate of Cyprus is one of the major concerns of Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan and the Justice and Development party. Although the relations between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus is
overshadowed by Turkey's support for Turk-inhabited region of Cyprus (northern
Cyprus), this region has been Turkey’s trump
card against Europe during recent years.
In
this regard, the Turkish president has repeatedly stated that his country is
not willing to accept reunification of northern and southern Cyprus at any
cost. Moreover, Ankara’s macroeconomic and political investments in Turk-inhabited
region of Cyprus has made the fate of Cyprus important for the authorities of
Turkey.
Failure
in the negotiations about Turk-inhabited and Greek-inhabited reunification has
paved the ground for preserving Turkey’s trump card. Even UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon made a great effort for reunification of Cyprus, but like Kofi
Annan he was not successful in this regard. Failure of one hundred rounds of
negotiation between the leaders of Turk-inhabited and Greek-inhabited Cyprus reveals the serious challenges in this way.
But
victory of Mustafa Akinci, the leftist politician, in the northern Cyprus
presidential elections intensified Turkey’s concern over the fate of Cyprus. Regarding
Akinci’s main presidential campaign slogan as reunification of Cyprus and
revival of negotiations, his victory indicated the opposition of this region’s
inhabitants toward the policies of Turkey and center-right party (led by
Dervish Eroğlu former president of Cyprus)
This
caused sending a somewhat alarming message to Akinci by Erdogan as follows:
“Your
election to the post of president comes at a critical phase of Cyprus negotiations.
Reaching a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem will remain to be
our priority. Regarding the Cyprus peace talks, we do not aim at achieving a
solution at all costs. Turkey as a
motherland and guarantor country will continue to fulfil its duties and
responsibilities stemming from international agreements.”
In
other words, Erdogan message implies that Akinci doesn't have the authority to enter
into negotiations with Greek-inhabited Cyprus, Greece and Europe for
reunification of Cyprus.
Therefore,
Akinci will have to have a meeting with Erdogan and Davutoglu about the details
of negotiations before holding the new round of talks with the Greek-inhabited
Cyprus. However, Erdogan is aware of this issue that Akinci is different from
the previous politicians of Cyprus including
Rauf Denktash, Ahmed Ali Talat and Dervish Eroğlu and his leftist spirit
doesn't allow him to be obedient of Erdogan in Cyprus peace talks. This issue
has intensified Turkey's concern over Cyprus issue. From another perspective,
although the presence of Akinci in Turk-inhabited Cyprus is the best
opportunity for Turkish authorities to reach a political deal with Europe, but
Europe tightening policies against Ankara has created an aura of ambiguity
around the relations between Turkey and Europe.
