TURKISH Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat is often accused by Greek Cypriot politicians and media of being a Denktash in the making. They cite his often terse public statements and the arrogant way in which he sets out his demands to support their case. It is true that Talat frequently resorts to aggressive rhetoric and has openly attacked the Cyprus government’s policies relating to the Turkish Cypriots, be they on direct trade, the Green Line status or confidence-building measures.
Yet despite similarities in style, when it comes to the substance of his positions, Talat is very different from Denktash as he has always been committed to the re-unification of the island and had successfully campaigned for acceptance of the Annan plan. In the final analysis, he is a man with whom the Greek Cypriots could do business if they were committed to re-unification. For this to happen, some direct channel of communication would have to be opened with Talat rather than sitting back and waiting for the next peace initiative which may take years to materialise.
This why yesterday’s meeting in the north between Talat and DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades should be applauded. Anastassiades, on whose initiative the meeting was arranged, is once again showing the way for the rest of the political leadership who grudgingly approved his move. Direct contact, with the leadership of the other side, is the only way of creating momentum after the stalemate that followed the referendum and of exploring the possibility of new courses of action. Regular meetings and the exchange of views are also important for building trust and a spirit of co-operation between the two sides.
Two weeks ago, the government announced certain confidence-building measures which to be implemented would require the agreement of the Turkish Cypriot leader; without it, the measures are just an academic exercise. How would they ever be implemented when the government has not even discussed them with Talat? One of the proposals, the re-opening of Famagusta port under joint administration, could only materialise if there was communication, on some level, between the two sides. It will never happen by the issuing of decrees by the government, but could be made possible through some form of co-operation.
Of the party leaders only Anastassiades has grasped this point and yesterday took a first step towards building a working relationship with Talat. It was a welcome development, and the DISY leader deserves praise for undertaking such an initiative. Hopefully, other leaders will soon follow suit.
