CYPRUS: Greek Cypriots are still suspicious of Ankara's intentions, writes Michael Jansen in Nicosia
While Turkish Cypriots express relief over the resumption of UN-brokered reunification talks here on Thursday, Greek Cypriots remain suspicious of Ankara's intentions and voice concern that strong US and European pressure to reach an accord could produce an unworkable arrangement and conflict.
The power-sharing deal laid down in the independence constitution of Cyprus led to political deadlock, Turkish Cypriot withdrawal from the republic, warfare and de facto partition.
Adopting an upbeat attitude, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, vowed yesterday to work sincerely to reunify the island, divided after Turkey occupied the north nearly three decades ago.
Speaking in Istanbul en route to Cyprus following breakthrough talks in New York, Mr Denktash said: "We will be happy if we can reach a positive outcome."
Upon his return to the island on Saturday, the Cyprus President, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, was more measured.
He said that his objective was to secure improvements in the plan for a bizonal, bicommunal federation tabled by the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, in order to reach a settlement which will serve the interests of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
Mr Papadopoulos observed that a settlement depends on whether the Turkish side is determined to reunite Cyprus or whether it continues to insist on division.
"This was not made completely clear from the New York discussions," Mr Papadopoulos said.
During three days of talks in New York, Mr Denktash and Mr Papadopoulos agreed, reluctantly, to negotiate on the basis of the UN plan, allow Mr Annan to resolve any differences, adhere to a strict timetable, and submit the result to separate referenda in April ahead of the entry of Cyprus to the European Union on May 1st.
Mr Denktash was more reluctant than Mr Papadopoulos to submit to the secretary general's will. Mr Denktash rejected the plan outright last March and refused to negotiate on it until last month when he reversed his stance under strong pressure from the Turkish government.
Even then he continued to call for recognition of the self-declared Turkish Cypriot state, recognised only by Turkey, and a settlement based on two independent sovereignties.
Mr Denktash (80) has based his entire career on Turkish Cypriot separatism and cannot envisage the reunification of the rump state proclaimed in 1983 with the larger, wealthier, and more populous Greek Cypriot south.
Until the Justice and Development party formed a government in Turkey in 2002, Mr Denktash, who enjoys the support of the Turkish political establishment and the powerful military, could count on Ankara.
But the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, eager to advance Turkey's EU candidacy, accepted the Annan plan and pressed Mr Denktash to agree to reunification. However, opposition politicians, determined to secure electoral advantage in coming local elections, and influential commentators oppose Mr Erdogan's line. So far, the military has remained silent but the generals are the ultimate arbiter of Cyprus policy, which they have placed in the security sphere. In spite of uncertainty in Ankara, a majority of Turkish Cypriots favour the Annan plan.
The aim of Mr Papadopoulos is to achieve a "solution which is functional and viable within the framework of the Annan plan". He warns that this arrangement "might not be as fair as it should be or certainly as we wanted". Most Greek Cypriots long to see Cyprus put back together as it was before the Turkish army invaded. But since last April, when Mr Denktash allowed the two communities to cross the dividing Green Line, the thousands of Greek Cypriots who visited the north have come to realise that it is impossible to return to a unitary Cyprus.
Therefore, they must accept that half the 200,000 Greek Cypriot refugees from the north will not be able to return to their villages and homes and that Greek Cypriots will not be able to enjoy unlimited freedom of movement, residence and property ownership in the Turkish Cypriot majority area.
Mr Papadopoulos enjoys the full support of Greece and politicians contesting next month's election will not attempt to exploit the Cyprus issue during the campaign.
But Mr Papadopoulos and Greek political leaders are concerned that the US and Britain, allies of Turkey, could exert pressure on the Greek side to accept a deal which would grant disguised separate sovereignty to the Turkish Cypriots. If this happens, the Greek Cypriots could turn the plan down.