Throwing away a winning hand

Sir,
I found your article on the poll figures (‘Changes key to vote, poll shows’, March 30) very interesting. Apparently, “President Papadopoulos’ handling of the negotiations was highly rated, as 77 per cent of respondents said they were ‘very’ or ‘quite’ satisfied with his performance so far.”

It’s interesting that President Papadopoulos’ handling of the negotiations was judged so favourably by Greek Cypriot citizens. The perception amongst Hellenic Americans is that the Greek side is getting “rolled” at the negotiating tables.

Turks make demands, demands are met by Annan. Greek Cypriots make demands (they are making some demands, aren’t they?) and they are ignored. Since the Greek side, supposedly, holds the strong hand on negotiating – with guaranteed EU accession on May 1 –it’s utterly baffling how nearly all perceived changes to the plan are in accord with what the Turk side is asking for.

The real “invisible man” in the negotiations is Greek PM Karamanlis. Did he really arrive in Burgenstock, or was that just a school teacher from Piraeus on vacation who was misidentified as Karamanlis? You would think with the disastrous settlement signed off by his uncle in 1960, he’d take a more active interest in promoting a just, workable settlement this time-one that is in accord with EU norms and the acquis.

In international, affairs public perceptions are everything. Right now, the perceptions are that the Turkish side is masterfully – and assertively – controlling events in Switzerland. The Greek side appears, once again, to be timid, non-assertive and non-confrontational. We had hoped for a Spartan when Karamanlis entered the talks. We may have ended up with the second coming of Neville Chamberlain.

Hellenes seem to have a gift for being handed winning hands and throwing them away. Utterly discouraging.
Philip G. Vorgias
Troy, Michigan, USA

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.