Esra Aygin
The new Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı, emerges
unscathed from his first official visit to Ankara as Turkish Cypriots are going
through a historical period openly challenging decades of submissive relations with
Turkey and demanding the restoration of their dignity.
Contrary to expectations, Akıncı’s visit to Ankara on
Wednesday, which was deemed an important indicator as to what Turkey’s stance
would be in the face of this important transformation within the Turkish Cypriot
community as well as the solution process, was no stage to new crises.
During the visit, which took place a week after Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Akıncı that “his ears should hear what his
mouth is saying” in response to the new leader’s call for a “relationship
between brothers” with Turkey rather than one of a “motherland” and a “baby
land,” the sides were poised for a positive start as they confirmed
mutual-desire for a solution in Cyprus and agreed to cooperate to this end.
During the press conference that followed the meeting
between Akıncı and Erdoğan, the latter refrained from using the phrase “baby
land” and referred to the northern part of Cyprus as a “brother.” Erdoğan,
reading from a carefully prepared text, stated that the year 2015 could be the
year for solution in Cyprus and stated that Turkey would always support Akinci
and his negotiation team in the peace process. The planned Q&A session at
the end of the press conference was cancelled last minute in an apparent bid to
prevent the revival of last week’s conflict.
Besides his commitment to a solution in Cyprus, Akıncı won
the support of the majority of Turkish Cypriots in last month’s elections on
his promise to build a different relation with Turkey based on an equal
standing, rather than one between the dominant and subordinate. By electing
Akıncı, Turkish Cypriots made a clear demand for a change in the traditional
relationship with Turkey where the northern part of Cyprus is treated like an
unofficial 82nd province.
Erdoğan’s public discourse, as well as the way the press
conference was conducted contained many hints that the two had reached some
kind of a modus vivendi. The negotiations set to resume in the coming days will
show Ankara’s sincerity in her support for solution and Akıncı, but political
analysts agree Erdoğan cannot take the risk of blocking an
internationally-backed process, or mounting the tension with Turkish Cypriots. As
a country already alienated in the region and in the world, it would be very
difficult for Turkey to reject or hinder an agreement in Cyprus, which is based
on the parameters of political equality, bi-zonality and bi-communality she has
advocated for decades, and which will also serve her long-term interests.
“Akıncı’s vision for a federal solution is completely in
line with the Turkish official positions tabled since 1974,” said Prof. Niyazi
Kızılyürek, Dean of School of Humanities at the University of Cyprus. “I don’t
expect any tension regarding the dimensions of the Cyprus settlement. And Turkey
is clever enough not to play power games with a community, which started an
identity movement based on dignity.”
The choice of Nami as
negotiator
New Turkish Cypriot leader Akıncı, in a controversial
decision last week, appointed “foreign minister” Özdil Nami as his chief
negotiator. Akıncı was harshly criticized on social media for his choice
especially by his far-left supporters, who argued Nami was a nationalist who did
not believe in a federal solution and furthermore, was Ankara’s man
representing the official Turkish positions rather than the aspirations of
Turkish Cypriots.
Others speculated that Nami was imposed on Akıncı by either
the Republican Turkish Party CTP in exchange for supporting him in the second
round against Derviş Eroğlu, or worse, or by Ankara, who wanted to make sure
Akıncı stays in line with Turkey’s policies during the negotiations.
A closer look at Akıncı’s decision however, shows that this
was a well-contemplated, strategic and pragmatic decision that enabled the new
leader to kill a couple of birds with one stone. Nami, who was the special
representative in the talks between former leaders Mehmet Ali Talat and
Demetris Christofias between 2008 and 2010, is an experienced negotiator, who
knows inside out all the topics of the Cyprus problem and therefore, is ready
to literally dive into the process, which is expected to be a speedy and
results-oriented one.
By appointing Nami, Akıncı has also taken CTP on board and
secured its cooperation and support in the negotiations process, literally
creating a peace alliance. As a person coming from the political circle and who
has positive relations with not only Ankara, but in general with all the international
actors, Nami will be key in managing sensitive liaisons. He is also one of the
few who if necessary, could use his leverage to convince Ankara to support certain
steps Akıncı may want to take along the process.
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