ANKARA APPROACHES “TAIWAN MODEL”

Nikos Stelgia
Kathimerini 22-8-2010 –exclusive-

IMPORTANT STATEMENT: -THE TRANSLANTION IS BASED ON GOOGLE TRANSLATE. PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH POSSIBLE INACCURACIES. THANK YOU-

Recently, Ankara and Turkish Cypriot leadership held a series of statements which warned the Greek Cypriot side and the international public opinion that the Turkish side is studying alternative scenarios in case of the negotiations lead nowhere at the end of this year.

From the perspective of the Turkish Cypriot leadership, which has serious doubts as to its cooperation with the Greek Cypriot side, these statements are part of established policy line. These settings give dimensions on request for "continuity and strengthening of existing structures in the northern part of the island through close cooperation with Ankara." But from the perspective of the Turkish government's new "tough" positions have different objectives and integrated into a different context. The Ankara government circles seem to want to compromise with Nicosia, within the negotiating framework set, a little - less, the Annan Plan and especially in light of a confederal or federal base.

Turkish pro-government think - tanks, such as The Bilgesam, which feed the new strategies the team Ahmet Davutoglu, approaches the "yes" of the Turkish Cypriot society in the Annan Plan as a major concession by the Turkish side. At the same time they blame the Greek Cypriots and the international community for not recognizing the value of the Turkish "concessions." Today, faced with many obstacles in the European integration process based partially to the serious reservations expressed by the Greek Cypriot side, government circles in Ankara made clear that there is a need to form a new "aggressive" foreign policy on Cyprus. As noted above, the main objective remains a compromise with Nicosia in a model which is based on a loose federation, while, it will intensify efforts accession of Turkey to the EU.

Recent reports in the pro-government press and several thesis papers by pro-government think - tanks, recommend strengthening, economic and international level of the northern Cyprus after the referendum of 12th September for the amending of the Turkish constitution. According to this opinion the Greek Cypriot side aim is the integration of the Turkish Cypriots into a state and the removal of Turkey from the island. In contrast to this perspective, Turkey next year will focus on economic and international support for the Turkish Cypriots, Turks say analysts, who chatted with "K".

The new strategy of Ankara on Cyprus

What are the measures of Ankara in terms of economic and international support for the northern part of Cyprus after September? Journalistic sources in Turkey and on the other side of the green line indicate that the Turkish analysts study carefully the case of Taiwan and Kosovo. According to a recent version of the Turkish pro-government newspaper «STAR», Turkey will not focus on the actual recognition of "TRNC". The Turkish side has set a goal to develop diplomatic and economic relations of the Turkish Cypriot side with the international community. Within this context the following steps will be:

• Creation of new T / C 'representations in various capitals, participation of Turkish Cypriots in international structures as observers, recognition of T / C "travel documents" from different countries based on the model of Taiwan
• Financial measures: Attracting foreign capital and developing tourist facilities in the "TRNC"

The Turkish proposal for the adoption of these measures comes at a time when Ankara has imposed a series of economic measures to the Turkish Cypriot side in collaboration with the government of the Party of National Unity. These measures are at the heart of the "privatization" and the development of the action of the emerging Turkish capital in the eastern Mediterranean, particularly in the TRNC. Please note that once the government circles in Ankara studying various scenarios based on the model of Taiwan, Turkish business circles expressed their satisfaction for the first steps of creating a "free trade zone" in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Arslan Mengüç, journalist – researcher, Turkish Cypriot newspaper «VATAN»

"What happens if there is no response to our efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue?. Thiw was the question of Turkish Cypriots to American senators sent shortly before by President Obama in Cyprus. The response of the senators was "in case of failure to resolve the Cyprus problem, you will be able to travel with the passport of the TRNC to Airport JFK». We must point out that the same position expressed in the past byforeign diplomats during the visit of Mehmet Ali Talat in Sweden. And this is because the EU countries no longer want to deal with international problems. In a period of great momentum of the presence of Turkish and Muslim voters in the EU , the Union and the U.S. does not want to see Turkey making alliance with radical Islamist forces in the Middle East. Within this context, comes to the "Taiwan model". The participation of the TRNC in the World Championship Taek Wan Doo is a first sign for the implementation of this model.

Nazar Erişkin, director of news in the Turkish Cypriot news channel «Ada TV»

The discussions within the Party of National Unity to create a new cohabitation, the twists in the Democratic Party and internal upheavals in T / C political scene, is sure to have an impact on negotiations. At the same time, the view that the Cyprus dispute is difficult to be solved under the treatments of leadership Eroglu, prevails in both communities on the island. It is important to state that the circles who claim that Ankara is monitor the developments in Cyprus, discussa "plan B". The same circles associate the project with the issue of direct trade. Under this plan, Ankara will increase the number of diplomatic representatives of the Turkish Cypriot side and make some important steps in the economic field. I think the new twists in the Turkish Cypriot political arena are part of "Plan B" in Ankara. Turkey wants to benefit from the experience of Turgay Avci and Tahsin Ertugruloglu in the diplomatic field.