By Bouli Hadjioannou
TURKEY has been persuaded to abandon its sabre-rattling over Cyprus’ plans to deploy S-300 missiles after a “re-evaluation”, a newspaper said yesterday.
According to the Turkish Daily News the change of heart came after Ankara decided Greek Cypriots would never use the missiles because it would lead to war between Greece and Turkey.
Turkey’s reported softening on the missiles is matched by a tougher stance on the Cyprus problem. Citing “official Turkish sources”, the same paper said Ankara and the Denktash regime have decided to abandon efforts for a federation and to insist instead on a “two-state settlement”.
On the missiles the paper said Ankara was dropping its previous position to do whatever possible – including preventive military strikes – in order to prevent their deployment. It has instead decided to “respond in an adequate manner” if there is ever an attempt to use the missiles. According to unconfirmed reports the new approach was adopted after the US told Ankara it had a right to defend itself.
In a related story, the Turkish daily Hurriyet said the US had persuaded Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz that the Greek Cypriots would never use the missiles. Turkey also feared that a strike against the missiles during their shipment or once they are deployed in Cyprus would lead to confrontation with Russia and possible trouble with Greece.
On the air base at Paphos, the Turkish Daily News quoted sources as saying the base may open on January 24 but it has not been fully built and could not become operational in the near future.
The same sources told the Turkish paper there were only six fighter hangars at the base, capable of holding 12 aircraft. “Those planes may fly once, but they cannot return to Paphos… If they manage to, they won’t be able to find a base there,” the newspaper quoted a source as saying.
On the substance of the Cyprus issue, Turkish and Turkish Cypriot sources told the newspaper policy would now focus on mutual recognition of two states on the island, security, border demarcation and land claim issues.
This stance lends support to “ultra-nationalist Turkish Cypriots” who have argued since 1974 that the current situation in the island was the solution, it added. Minor changes would be needed to the Green Line, but there would be no substantial land concessions.
This policy is a response to the European Union’s decision to begin accession talks with Cyprus in spring, it added.
“We have warned the Europeans that if they decide to open accession talks with Greek Cypriots as the sole government of the island, and demonstrate once again that the principle of equality of the two peoples of the island is just a matter confined to the intercommunal talks process, the parameters of our approach to the Cyprus problem would be altered,” the source told the Turkish Daily News.
“Now, parameters have changed… talks could resume at two-states level and the aim could only be to resolve the issues of security, border demarcation and land claims,” the source said.
The paper also notes that even though February’s presidential elections have shifted international efforts for a settlement into low gear, intense behind the scenes efforts are continuing. It said Washington has been despatching senior officials for secret talks in the region to prepare for a new initiative in March. As an example the paper said US State Department special Cyprus co-ordinator Tom Miller travelled to Ankara last week.
