NEW STATE?

One of the oldest conflicts in Europe, the Cyprus problem, has never been as close to a resolution as it is now. In May this year, on the 41st anniversary of the Cyprus conflict, negotiations began between representatives of the Republic of Cyprus and the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). It is encouraging that the negotiations went in a positive direction and the sides showed a willingness to compromise. Prior to that, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiadis paid a visit to Northern Cyprus, where he held talks with the head of the TRNC, Mustafa Akinci. According to the Turkish media, there was a significant breakthrough in the negotiations and the parties agreed all of the hitherto insoluble problems. Thus, the Turkish side removed the previous condition of the Confederation, i.e. the creation of two independent states, and agreed to the federation of a united Cyprus. Greek Cypriots offer Turkish Cypriots security guarantees from the UN Security Council, the EU and NATO. Turkish Cypriots will become members of the EU and take positions in all offices of Cyprus in the European structures. Nicosia insists on a withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus and suggests the formation of a national army - 60 per cent of Greeks and 40 per cent Turks, or completely abandon the idea of the Cypriot army. Another important aspect is the possibility of developing a major gas field "Maras" in the TRNC. There is a major project of building a gas pipeline from this field to Europe. According to the assurances of the Cypriot president, this field is the property of all Cypriots irrespective of nationality and income from it should be appropriately distributed among all. The Turkish side believes that all Turks living in Cyprus should be provided with a citizenship of the future united Cyprus. The point is that a lot of people have migrated from Turkey to Northern Cyprus over the past years, where they take an important part in the social and economic life of the unrecognized republic.

Resat Akar, president of the Association of Journalists of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, comments on the prospects for resolving the Cyprus conflict, which has lasted since 1974, to R+.

- Do you share the optimism of politicians in Nicosia and Lefkosa? 

- Yes. After all, Anastasiadis is quite optimistic, while our president Akinci is optimistic even more. The history of negotiations on the Cyprus issue has seen progress several times. But this time there has been a breakthrough. I would rate the chance of success at 80 per cent. It's obvious that we are moving towards a comprehensive peace agreement on the settlement of the Cyprus conflict. The parties are currently working on an important issue: what will happen if there is a failure and if the future peace agreement on Cyprus is disrupted for whatever reason? How would the rights of the Turkish Cypriots be safeguarded? Another issue is the property of the Turks on the Greek side and of the Greeks on the Turkish one. What to do? Should compensations be paid or should we leave it as it is? We suggest leaving everything as it is. After all, people have owned this property for over 40 years. The most important issue in the settlement is security.

- How will the population react to the unification of Cyprus?  

- On both sides people are waiting for a successful conclusion of the negotiations. The head of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus has approved and expressed support for the ongoing negotiations between leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cyprus. On the Greek side there are already political organizations of Turkish Cypriots. The issue of security guarantees for the Turkish population has been postponed until the last stage of negotiations. Let me remind you that according to the agreement of 1960, Turkey and the United Kingdom are the guarantors of the security of Turkish Cypriots. If we an agreement can be reached, the Turkish army will withdraw from Cyprus. But Ankara has the right to remain the guarantor of security of the Turks.

- Anastasiadis suggests that in order to enhance confidence between the parties, Turkey should open ports to all vessels with the Cypriot flag and allow the Greeks to visit the graves of their relatives in places where Turkish troops are stationed. What do the Turkish Cypriots suggest?

- We are also concerned about the issue of confidence. The point is that the Greeks number more than 800,000 and Turks are 250,000. What happens if after the conclusion of the agreement and the withdrawal of Turkish troops the Greeks attack the Turkish federation? The only thing we want is a guarantee of the Turkish state and a just solution to the issue of real estate. It is extremely difficult to implement the offer of the Greeks regarding a return of all refugees to their homes. The best option for us is for all to stay where they have lived for 40 years.