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THE outcome of the Sunday’s election was a reflection of Turkish Cypriots’ “hopelessness” and “disappointment” over prospects for a Cyprus settlement, according to the Turkish service of German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.
In an article published on Tuesday, it said “political parties who favour closer ties with Turkey rather than uniting with the Greek Cypriots [had] increased their vote, bringing . . . new possibilities” in Cyprus.
The article quoted Turkey’s Gazi University international relations professor Soyalp Tamçelik as saying the feeling that the “opposite side did not want a settlement” had been strengthened among Turkish Cypriots by recent peace talks failures, and the notion of “rather than uniting, let us do our homework and concentrate on strengthening internally” was developing.
While, “aside from a marginal group”, no-one was talking about annexation by Turkey as an option, now there was “no chance of success” for a federal or a confederal solution, the “next phase is for increased recognition”, said Prof Tamçelik, and “if the TRNC can largely meet the requirements of the Northern Cypriots, the psychological and sociological part of negotiations would also be blocked”.
Professor Ata Atun, previously an adviser to former TRNC president Derviş Eroğlu, was quoted as saying relations between Turkey and North Cyprus would be “further developed” and the “content” of any future negotiations would change, looking to a different settlement “model”, such as that of Taiwan.
The European Union, he claimed, was showing “body language” favourable to such an approach and “can find bypass solutions” to any obstacles.
Writing in Britain’s Guardian newspaper on the eve of polling, Helena Smith claimed the election was taking place “under the shadow of the giant Hala Sultan mosque” being built at Haspolat, which she called a “symbol” of Ankara’s “tightening grip” on North Cyprus.
Ms Smith quoted pro-unification activist and journalist Esra Aygın as saying: “So much hangs on this election . . .
“The mosque represents the change in lifestyle and culture that Turkey would like to impose on us.
“It is very important that the forces of reconciliation do well if [President Mustafa] Akıncı’s hand is not to be weakened and further mistrust avoided.”
She added: “In the past, there were efforts to make us more Turkish because it was felt we weren’t Turkish enough . . . Now we’re not Muslim enough and the answer is more mosques, more religious classes, more [Koran] courses. The only thing we want, and can’t be, is Cypriot.”