Lukewarm welcome for potential Akinci win

By Constantinos Psillides

Greek Cypriot politicians are already trying to play down expectations that a change in the Turkish Cypriot leadership likely after Sunday’s election would have on the peace talks.

Veteran politician Mustafa Akinci will go head to head with current Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu in Sunday’s second round. After securing the endorsement of the Turkish Republican Party (CTP), whose candidate came in third in the first round last Sunday, he is seen as the favourite.

While welcoming the possibility that leftist moderate Akinci is elected, hardline Greek Cypriots argue the Turkish Cypriot leader is guided by Turkey.

“We must do away with exaggerations,” said the Greens’ George Perdikis, adding that “Turkey is the one who dictates policy when it comes to the Cyprus problem.

“Turkey has yet to show signs of wanting to resolve the Cyprus problem based on the best interests of the people of Cyprus. But it will be helpful – when Turkey decides to cooperate – to have someone whom you can talk with. Disagree of course, but after talking to him,” he said.

A shift of power in the Turkish Cypriot leadership is a welcome outcome, said deputy head of EVROKO Michalis Giorgalas, adding that it might strengthen the common goal of Greek and Turkish Cypriots to get rid of the occupying forces.

The EVROKO official went on to say that he wishes Akinci proves to be better that Mehmet Ali Talat, “who failed to break the Turkish Cypriot community away from the crushing embrace of Turkey.”
Talat – who was also considered a moderate – led the Turkish Cypriot community when former president Demetris Christofias held power but the pair failed to resolve the Cyprus problem.

“We harbour no illusions that Ankara’s stance will shift, even if Akinci takes the reins. Turkey will keep on with the same barren strategy, utilising the Turkish Cypriot community to establish its military presence in the area and maintain the geostrategical advantage it secured by invading and occupying the island,” he said.

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.