THE CYPRUS CHALLENGE IN THE
TURKEY-EU RELATIONS
•
•
•
•
Since 2006 Turkey’s European Union (EU)
accession negotiations have been moving
comatosely –i.e., in snail-pace.
Many hope that a breakthrough in the neverending Cyprus peace talks would play a catalyzing
role for Turkey’s EU accession.
However, given the Arab uprisings, especially the
events in Syria that knock on the neighboring
Turkey’s door every day and the EU’s withdrawal
position to its own Euro-zone crisis leave no room
to be optimistic on anybody taking an initiative to
resolve the Cyprus conflict any time soon.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s accession negotiations with
the EU continue to be severely curtailed due to
the irresolution of the Cyprus conflict.
A quick chronology of the Cyprus Issue 1
•
•
•
•
•
•
1571: Ottoman Turks invaded the island
1878: Ottoman Turks rented the island to
the British in return for assistance in its
war against Russia.
1914 (ww ı): UK annexed the island when
the Ottoman Turks entered war in alliance
with Germany (against the British)
1925: Cyprus became a British crown
colony.
1960: Decolonized, bi-communal Republic
of Cyprus
1963: Constitutional crises and ethnic
violence
A quick chronology of the Cyprus Issue 2
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1964: UNFICYP in Cyprus by a UNSC Resolution
1968: Intercommunal negotiations started
15 July 1974: Greek coup’s attempt for ENOSIS (union)
20 July 1974: Turkish military operation, geographical
division of the present time
1983: Turkish Cypriot’s declaration of the “TRNC”
2004: First comprehensive UN peace plan («Annan
Plan») put to referenda – 65% TC vs 24% GC – and
failed.
2008: Last round of peace negotiations started
For recent background see a recent newspaper article:
http://cyprus-mail.com/2013/12/22/1963-is-still-ahistorical-minefield/
Basis of Inter-Communal Negotiations
Since 1977-1979 High Level Agreements:
Establishment of a FEDERAL state Cyprus
-
-
-
Bi-zonal with regard to territorial aspects
Bi-communal with regard to the constitutional aspects
Essentially one central/federal government where the two
communities share the power anc competences and codecide on issues such as foreign affairs, defence, citizenship
etc.
Two constituent (federated) states having the
residual/remaining powers and competences such as
education, cultural and religious affairs etc.
The two leaders (Talat and Christofias) had met 71
times (since September 2008) and later the new TC
leader (Eroğlu) and the GC leader (Christofias) met
more than 30 times.
Areas of Significant Progress
1. Governance and Power Sharing
2. Economic Matters
3. European Union Matters
Areas with Little Progress
1. Property
2. Territory
3. Security and Guarantees
What does the
people say???
Regarding the overall framework of a Comprehensive Settlement, and considering each of the alternative
settlement models presented below, how acceptable or unacceptable, in principle, do you consider each of
these general models? (Greek Cypriots)
7%
One unitary state and central government for the whole of Cyprus
7%
19%
19%
Bizonal Bicommunal Federation
26%
59%
11%
26%
73%
Confederation of two sovereign States
0%
20%
Satisfactory
40%
60%
Highly Desirable
10%
9% 3%2%
77%
Two separate and internationally recognized States
Tolerable if necessary
42%
27%
Continuation of the current situation
Entirely Unacceptable
24%
8%
6% 4%2%
12%
6% 3%
1%
80%
100%
Absolutely Essential
Overall settlement – Greek Cypriots
Greek Cypriots favor a unitary state over other alternatives. Federation is a distant second, but still
acceptable to a majority of the population. A continuation of the status quo is seen as unacceptable by
the majority of the population.
Regarding the overall framework of a Comprehensive Settlement, and considering each of the alternative
settlement models presented below, how acceptable or unacceptable, in principle, do you consider each of
these general models? (Turkish Cypriots)
10%
Two separate and internationally recognized States
13%
15%
24%
Bizonal Bicommunal Federation
22%
27%
Continuation of the current situation
18%
44%
0%
20%
Satisfactory
14%
19%
24%
60%
One unitary state and central government for the whole of Cyprus
Tolerable if necessary
46%
30%
Confederation of two sovereign States
Entirely Unacceptable
16%
60%
Highly Desirable
11%
17%
17%
40%
22%
11%
80%
13%
6%
8%
6% 7%
100%
Absolutely Essential
Overall settlement – Turkish Cypriots
Turkish Cypriots favor two states, but are prepared to accept federation as a compromise. Continuation
of the status quo is also a tolerable option to Turkish Cypriots.
Solution Models:
Federation – the only alternative negotiated
settlement...
•
•
•
•
Unitary state (where TCs will be a minority) is the GCs’ first
choice/preference,
Two state solution is the TCs first choice/preference,
(A bi-zonal, bi-communal) «Federation» is the
SECOND choice/preference for both GCs and TCs.
Federation – the only alternative solution model among the
others that has the chance to pass from a simultaneous,
separate referenda (similar to the one in 2004)
According to the author (Sözen 2014)
•
•
•
•
•
Reaching a comprehensive settlement is the starting
point; and it is a sine qua non condition of establishing
real peace in Cyprus.
However, official peace negotiations should be supported
by concrete confidence building measures (CBM)
between the two communities
The goal here should be to expose common people to
the experience of real inter-communal cooperation which
is a natural requirement of any federal arrangement.
A package deal including several CBMs can work
wonders. The following is a package of proposed CBMs.
These measures could unlock many issues in the Cyprus
conflict that would lead to a comprehensive federal
The CBM package suggested by Sözen
a. Opening of the fenced area of Varosha under the UN administration.
b. Opening of the Ercan Airport in North Cyprus under the UN administration
and the effective operation of the Turkish Cypriot administration
c. Opening of the port of Famagusta under the nominal EU or UN
administration and the effective operation of the Turkish Cypriot
administration for direct trade with the EU countries
d. Turkey opening its ports to the vessels carrying the Republic of Cyprus
(RoC)’ flag, while RoC lifting its veto on opening and closing of EU accession
chapters with Turkey:
e. Turkey withdrawing a symbolic number of its troops (5000-10000 soldiers)
from Cyprus as a goodwill gesture
f. Starting of unofficial talks between Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot, Turkish
and Greek representatives regarding the hydrocarbons in the eastern
Mediterranean
Social Media Links for further background
from the author:
* http://vimeo.com/31117077
* (Part 1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1olk3RpS7Y
* (Part 2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rWPIIE_5Ac
* (Part 3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8-8FIY-khc
* (Part 4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GZig9DHNU4