Greek PM’s Turkey visit may kickstart Cyprus talks

By Dina Kyriakidou

ATHENS (Reuters) – The first visit to Turkey by a Greek prime minister in nearly half a century crowned a decade of warming ties between the age-old rivals and could help relaunch talks to re-unite the divided island of Cyprus.

The visit last week by premier Costas Karamanlis may provide the impetus to make a fresh start on Cyprus, a major obstacle to Turkey joining the European Union.

“It’s important that he went, it had been a long time coming,” said a European diplomat who requested anonymity. “The next thing everyone will be watching will be the window of opportunity for Cyprus after the election.”

Cyprus has been divided since Turkey invaded the island in 1974 in response to a Greek-inspired coup in Nicosia. President Tassos Papadopoulos, who led Greek Cypriots in rejecting a U.N. re-unification plan in 2004, is seeking re-election in next month’s election.

Ankara backs the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north, where it keeps about 30,000 troops. The rest of the world recognises the Greek Cypriot government in Nicosia as the island’s only legitimate authority.

Greek foreign ministry officials said the two sides had agreed to make a new push on Cyprus, no matter who wins the election. Both Karamanlis and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan voiced the need to redouble efforts.

“The process after the election is very important. We expect an effort from Mr Karamanlis to restart the negotiations,” Erdogan said.

Karamanlis’s uncle, Constantine Karamanlis, was the last Greek prime minister to visit Turkey, in 1959. Traditional rivals but NATO allies, Greece and Turkey came to the brink of war over a deserted Aegean island in 1996.

Such territorial disputes were not put on the table but Athens and Ankara agreed to speed up exploratory meetings.

“This trip re-launched Greek-Turkish relations, it confirmed our will to have real improvement. Yes, we may have problems but we will resolve them through talks,” said a senior Greek foreign ministry official who requested anonymity.

Greece re-affirmed its support for Turkey’s EU accession, provided it meets criteria, but told Ankara that improving its relations with EU-member Cyprus was key to its accession.

Both hailed booming bilateral trade as proof that cooperation was possible despite their differences.

“It’s a new era. From now on we are going to have less bickering and fewer crises,” said Turkish political commentator Mehmet Ali Birand. “Are we going to resolve all problems? No. But the consensus is to cooperate.”

He said one of the first concrete results of the visit on the Turkish side could be the reopening of a Greek Orthodox seminary shut down in 1972. (Reuters)