By Jean Christou
GERMANY warned yesterday that the deployment of the Russian-300 missiles on the island was likely to affect Cyprus’ accession negotiations with the EU.
It also believes that Turkey does not pose a security threat to Cyprus, and that even if the island was “armed to the teeth” it would still be undefendable.
In addition, Turkish Cypriots are unlikely to receive recognition without returning to negotiations, while Turkey has no hope of EU membership as long as the Cyprus problem, among other conditions, remain unresolved.
Germany – which is one of four European countries which says it would prefer a Cyprus solution be found before membership of the Union comes through – takes over the six-monthly rotating EU presidency from Austria in January.
Speaking to journalists in Nicosia following a two-day visit, Germany’s special representative for Cyprus, Detlev Graf zu Rantzau, strongly stated his country’s opposition to the missile deployment.
Rantzau will take over from Sir David Hannay as the EU special representative for Cyprus when Germany takes over the presidency.
“I find it very likely the deployment of the missiles here would change the environment of the negotiations,” Rantzau said. “What it really means? We shall see if the unwanted happens,” he added, referring to the deployment.
Rantzau, whose visit focused almost entirely on the missile issue, met separately with President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and also with Unficyp Chief of Mission Dame Ann Hercus.
“I expressed to the President the concern of my government about a possible bringing into the country of the S-300 missiles, a concern that was well known to President Clerides,” Rantzau said.
“I also expressed the confidence of my government that Clerides would find a solution to the S-300 missile question that would be compatible with the security issues of Cyprus and compatible with the relations of Cyprus with the European Union.”
Rantzau made it clear, however, that Germany fully respected Cyprus’ sovereign right to defend itself and added that Germany did not believe that Turkey posed a security threat to the island.
“We feel there is no such threat,” Rantzau said, but added that he, of course, was not a permanent resident on the island and that often, even if there is no real threat, people can feel threatened.
“My government’s argument is that even if there were a threat, we would feel that the deployment of these missiles would not enhance the security situation because, if anyone wanted to attack Cyprus, these missiles would not help Cyprus, because they would be taken out before hostilities began,” he said.
In effect, he said, the only results obtained from the missile deployment would be the risk of destabilising the island and the region.
“Cyprus is not defendable against the military attack of a determined antagonist… Even if, I think, one would want to arm the Republic of Cyprus to the teeth and cram tanks, planes and missiles into the country… the island is not defendable.”
Rantzau said Germany believed the best way forward in terms of security would be the finding of a political solution.
President Clerides has put forward a proposal for the demilitarisation of the entire island, an idea which has been rejected by Turkey.
The Turkish Cypriot side is insisting on full recognition before it returns to any kind of talks.
“I told Mr Denktash that it is unlikely that the Greek Cypriot side will agree at the beginning of negotiations, what should normally come at the end of negotiations,” Rantzau said. “But he wants to first get this (recognition) at the start of negotiations. I told him it will not happen this way, so there is a stalemate.”
“As long as both sides stick to positions they know the other side will not accept, there will be no negotiations.”
