THERE was mixed reaction from the Greek Cypriot side to the election results in the north, with parties who had backed the Annan plan welcoming the victory of the Republican Turkish Party, while rejectionist parties said nothing had changed.
The government said it was examining the results, which puts ‘Prime Minister’ Mehmet Ali Talat back in power, adding actions such as elections in the north violated UN Security Council resolutions and exacerbated the division of Cyprus.
“The Cyprus government considers that yesterday’s voting constitutes a method on the part of the Turkish Cypriots to express their political wishes, inter alia, in relation to the solution of the Cyprus problem,” said Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides.
“The Cyprus problem is not only, nor mainly a bi-communal dispute. It is par excellence an international problem and its international parameters can only be resolved with Turkey. However, because an effort is being made by members of the Turkish Cypriot leadership to monopolise the desire for a solution, it is important to say that it is the form and content of a solution that is of value and not just finding any solution.”
He insisted that the Greek Cypriot side “fervently desires and consistently pursues” the reunification of Cyprus through a democratic solution. “While it is undisputable that this is also the wish of the Turkish Cypriot community, unfortunately it is not what can be deduced from the positions expressed by the Turkish Cypriot leaders who won yesterday’s voting,” he said.
“Turkey’s role in relation to the present and the future of the Turkish Cypriots remaining in the occupied areas should also be taken very seriously into account.
“Therefore the decisive participation of Turkish settlers in the voting should not be ignored,” he added, saying that Turkish settlers now constituted a majority in the north.
United Democrats leader George Vassiliou said Talat’s victory was important for the future of the Cyprus issue and stressed the importance of the Greek Cypriot side taking the initiative to resume negotiations.
“Europe greeted positively the victory of Mr Talat and for this reason we need to show clearly to the EU and the international community that we are interested in resuming talks,” said Vassiliou. “The ball is in our court.”
Vassiliou’s comments were echoed by opposition leader Nicos Anastassaides, who said the Greek Cypriot side ought to extend the hand of friendship to the Turkish Cypriots “to see how friendly it is”.
He said a new initiative should be undertaken “with courage” and without the need for name-calling; through dialogue, the concerns of the Greek Cypriot side could be addressed, which would lead to a solution, he said.
“We congratulate Mr Talat on his success and particularly his statement that he extends the hand of peace and reconciliation to the Greek Cypriots,” Anastassiades said.
But DIKO, the party of Tassos Papadopoulos, said in a written statement that the results of the election served Ankara and its policy on Cyprus.
“Consequently, it would be wrong to say with certainty that yesterday’s vote would create positive or negative prospects for a solution of the Cyprus problem,” the statement said.
“The Turkish occupied areas are a product of illegality and all it does is illegal.”
“This is an international problem of invasion and occupation, trespass and violation of international law and human rights.
“The responsibility and decisive role for the resolution his Cyprus belongs in Ankara.”
House President and AKEL leader Demetris Christofias said the results were a big victory for Talat.
“The election in the occupied areas reaffirms that the majority of people who live there have come out in favour the solution in the Cyprus question,’ he said.
EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou said the results meant little: he echoed DIKO’s comments that the solution lay in Turkey. Two thirds of the voters, he said, were settlers.
The US, UK and the EU also issued statements yesterday welcoming Talat’s victory as a means to take the Cyprus issue forward.
