Published in the Economist News magazine February the 1st 2014
Turkey and Cyprus
SIR – Is Cyprus being “obdurate” in its relations with Turkey, as Charlemagne claims (January 18th), because it expects Turkey to honour the solemn commitments it undertook in 2005 to open accession negotiations with the European Union? Indeed, “a more democratic and European Turkey” is to the best interest of Cyprus as well as the entire union. The way to go about it is for the EU to continue applying strict conditionality, as with all other candidates for accession.
Appeasement never worked. It is not the EU joining Turkey, but Turkey joining the EU. And it is not Cyprus that invaded Turkey. If Turkey were to honour its obligations, a substantial boost to its EU membership would naturally follow. The same would be the case if Turkey were to accept the confidence-building measures proposed by Cyprus, including the return of the ghost town of Famagusta.
Regrettably, we get zero reciprocity whatever we do unless we lie prostrate, as people did in the bygone days of Ottoman rule. We live in the 21st century, not the 18th. The empire is gone and so should the mindset that went with it.
Euripides Evriviades
High commissioner of Cyprus
London
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