The publication of the Council on Foreign Relations report entitled “Generating Momentum for a New Era in U.S.-Turkey Relations”, by Steven A. Cook and Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, in which it recommended, inter alia that the US should put pressure on the government of Cyprus, has sparked a hostile response from the Cyprus government.
Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis said on Monday, “I do not think that the ascertainments of the Council on Cyprus and the Cyprus question certify its impartiality and credibility.”
However, reading the contents of the report, you can see that Greek Cypriots have more in common with Turks than you would think.
While Greek Cypriot commentators continue to talk as though Turkey and the US are the best of friends and that US policy is geared only towrds pleasing Turkey at the expense of Greek Cypriots, the very reason for writing the report is the deterioration in relations between Turkey and the US since the invasion of Iraq.
It says that over the past three years “the U.S.-Turkish relationship has deteriorated markedly, and it is no longer a foregone conclusion that Turkey will support U.S. policies. The consequences of a rupture in ties between Washington and Ankara – or, more darkly, a Turkey that becomes strategically disoriented – would be great, but have received little attention in policy circles.”
Ironically, it is also partly because Turkey is becoming more democratic that the US can no longer rely on a small set of elites.
The report also talks of a “strident anti-American tone in the chambers of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and in the Turkish media”.
Anyone would think it was talking about the House of Representativesin Cyprus.
Risk of not joining the EU
In the commentary, which spans all the difficult relationships which must be handled by Turkey–Iraq, Syria, Israel, Hamas as well as Cyprus–the authors are clearly concerned about the risk to the region of Turkey not joining the EU.
“Should Ankara’s bid for EU membership fail, there is significant risk that the country will become unmoored from the West and look elsewhere for strategic advantage and opportunity,” the report says.
“In this scenario, Turkey’s democratic development would be slowed or even reversed while Turkish nationalism intensifies and compels the Turks to seek alternative partners in Russia and the Islamic world.”
“Real difference over Cyprus”
Surprisingly for a Greek Cypriot reader, who is normally told that US and Turkish interests are fully aligned, the report says “There are real differences between the United States and Turkey over what has now become an EU issue – Cyprus.”
However, it acknowledges that “while there are differences between the two governments over Cyprus, the United States has been considerably more sensitive to Turkey’s concerns than ever before.”
It notes the series of initiatives since the referendum in 2004 (which was supported by Turkish Cypriots but rejected by Greek Cypriots), such as invitations to Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to Washington and visits by US officials to northern Cyprus.
What has evidently annoyed the Republic of Cyprus government is the report’s reference to “Greek Cypriot hardliners” and its recommendation that the US lean on the Cypriot government.
“The outcome of those elections, which resulted in gains for Greek Cypriot hardliners, will likely make the secretary-general’s efforts [to solve the Cyprus problem] more difficult,” says the report.
It urges the US to “encourage EU leaders to use their collective clout to require more constructive behavior from the Cypriot government.”
It adds that Greece could play a role, since “Foreign Minister Theodora Bakoyannis has shown an inclination to be tougher on the Greek Cypriots.”
Worst of all from the Greek Cypriot perspective, however, the report suggests bringing pressure to bear on the government of Cyprus through steps such as “upgrading the U.S. diplomatic representation on the Turkish portion of the island, scheduling ports-of-call visits for U.S. Navy vessels at Turkish Cypriot ports, and expanding trade and tourism links with Turkish Cyprus.”
This is the ‘political upgrading of the illegal, Turkish-occupied pseudo-state’ that the government fears the most.
Fiona Mullen
