Cyprus: ‘Red’ in Confidence Building Measures with Erdogan orders

“Red” lit Ankara in the proposed MOE and gave instructions to the occupying regime to manage developments, according to philenews.com.

According to information, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs forwarded, through the Turkish “embassy” to the occupied territories, an instruction to the leadership of the occupying regime that it will not, in any case, enter the discussion on the Confidence Building Measures proposed by Nicosia (MOE).

The mandate given was clear and defines the position of the Turkish side in the proposal of the Cypriot Government and neutralizes any prospect of conciliation on these issues. It is no coincidence that the Turkish side rejected the package in advance. She tries to “kill” him before he officially appears before her. Obviously, as a foreign diplomatic source stated in this regard, Ankara does not want to start a discussion on the Cyprus issue at this stage, especially when the issue of land return is on the agenda.

The same source, who has been following the Cyprus issue for years, noted that under other circumstances and circumstances, the Turkish side would be open to discuss a package, which includes the recognition of the illegal airport of Tympos as this drastically facilitates its plans to upgrade the pseudo-state. as a separate entity with sovereignty, as well as for the legal air connection of the occupied with the outside world. But why does not occupying Turkey discuss the MOE package, even though it will be profitable? Because the country is in a pre-election period and Erdogan, who has announced that by 2023 (100 years of Turkish state, elections) will grow Turkey territorially, he could not accept an initiative during which he would discuss the possibility of the enclosed area of ​​occupied Famagusta is returned.

At the same time, it is clear that the Turkish side considers that it has entered a new phase of addressing the key issues of the Cyprus problem. The moves to open the enclosed area of ​​Famagusta, in the presence of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is an action that effectively closes – for the Turkish side – the return chapter of this area. An area that has been used as a bargaining chip since 1974. The “new approach” withdraws the Famagusta conservation tactic as a “window” (possibly the only one) of territorial discussion. It closes, at the same time, any discussion about the territory, as the only crevice left for years by the occupying power was the enclosed area of ​​Varosia. He had put Morphou out of the trade a long time ago, while he never discussed Kyrenia or Karpasia.

In view of the fact that in the past, during the reign of the former occupation leader Rauf Denktash, the Turkish side set the link: territory versus sovereignty, this seems to be abandoned at this stage by acts on the ground. In Ankara, they believe that the issue of granting sovereignty to the occupied part is gaining ground. Either with the consolidation of the occupation data, the logical normalization of “bilateral” relations within the Technical Committees, or because this issue is gaining ground in international players as well. It is recalled that in the informal Five-Party Conference on the Cyprus issue, in April 2021, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, referred to an evolutionary process, from the bottom up, which is of Turkish inspiration. He said that through this the two communities will contribute with a “reserve of sovereignty”, in order to create a federal structure. Earlier references, such as the agreement of 11 February 2014, referred to sovereignty deriving equally from Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. These are formulations that can be used by the Turkish side to promote its “new approach” to “sovereign equality”. Obviously, the Republic of Cyprus, which is the recognized state, can not cede sovereignty to the pseudo-state, as in such a case it capitulates naughtily and commits suicide as a sovereign and independent state.

Nicosia, however, is determined to stick to the line of the MOE, even though it knows the result. He may think that in an attempt with a predetermined end he has to win. What; The impressions? The “good boy” credentials to third parties? But beyond the impressions is the essence. And in essence, with such openings, such as the MOE, which contain proposals for the recognition of the illegal airport of Tympos, the dangerous slippage of the Cyprus problem continues.

Although occupying Turkey does not seem willing to seriously consider any proposal, in this case the MOE, however, foreign diplomatic sources note that when these ideas are presented to Turkish officials, the latter have a “ready” response. The Turks, therefore, note that any discussion should be conducted on an equal footing. That is, they raise the issue of “sovereign equality”, largely stating that without recognition they do not enter into discussions. What they demand for a resumption of negotiations. Furthermore, and in relation to the issue of upgrading the EU-Turkey Customs Union, raised by Europeans, Turkish officials note that this is an obligation of Brussels and contained in the 2016 agreement (so it is not considered a concession for Ankara). In relation to the airport of Tympos, Ankara clarifies that it does not discuss anything that refers to the Republic of Cyprus.

Ankara has set out the next steps in the country’s foreign policy, which is based on “diplomacy of peace, stability and security”. In this context of relations policy, occupying Turkey has defined openings to various countries, leaving unchanged its policy towards Cyprus and Greece. The Turkish daily Sabah recently reported that a meeting had been held under Erdogan and a roadmap for the next steps had been drawn up. Ankara has prioritized improving relations in four directions: the United States, Israel, Armenia and the Gulf states. Some steps have already been taken in this direction, either to improve or to restore relations. In relation to the Gulf region, Turkey has good relations with Kuwait and Qatar. Erdogan’s visit to the United Arab Emirates and the dialogue with Saudi Arabia are part of this plan.

At the same time, it is clear that Ankara is not prepared to take a step back in relation to Greece and Cyprus, especially the latter. The decision is that everything remains as it is. Turkey will remain aggressive and will push to force the Greek side to accept its demands.

Source: philenews.com