Essay: Turkey’s occupation of Northern Cyprus

In many ways, the conflict on the island of Cyprus is one not commonly discussed. However, also referred to as a ‘diplomatic graveyard’, it is one of the most complicated diplomatic challenges the EU faces. The complexity of the issue is often compared to that of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Not to mention the fact that Cyprus, due to this conflict, is home to the longest-serving peacekeeping mission in United Nations history. How is it that this conflict came into existence? And how is it possible that one of the European Union’s very own Member States is divided by an armed conflict?
Description of case:
Ever since Great Britain’s annexation of the island Cyprus, the area has been the scene of many conflicts. When the british invaded, they ended 300 years of rule under the ottoman empire, and started off a series of events that lead to the current strife. The first 25 years as a british colony were rather peaceful, but in 1955 Greek Cypriots start guerilla warfare opposing great britain in search of unification with greece, which led to the election of the first Cypriot president. In 1960 Cyprus becomes an independent country, but still, great britain, turkey (the former Ottoman Empire) and greece keep their influence and now have a legal guarantee of their right to interfere in the shape of a treaty. From this moment onwards the nations keep bouncing the ball back and forth as they provoke each other, the main players being turkey and President Makarios of Cyprus, until the failed coup against the president in 1974 led to Turkish forces invading the northern part of the island. Immediately following this, Greek Cypriots start fleeing away from the north, whilst Turkish Cypriots travel upward towards the new border between the two territories. At this point the division had never been more discernable. The UN security council unanimously vote to pass a resolution requesting Turkey to withdraw its forces from the island, a request that is denied, and will be repeatedly denied over the following decades. In 1975 the Turkish part of cyprus, which consists of the top one third of the country, declares their own independent administration. UN forces continue to push for negotiations, which resume in 1980 to last for three years until Rauf Denktash, the Turkish-Cypriot leader, proclaims the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, naturally only recognised by Turkey itself. In 1998, Cyprus is listed by the European Union, and the government also decides to let go of plans to install missiles that were meant to prevent against turkish threats. Many would say the Cypriots are well on their way to stability after long periods of disquiet. Three years later the UN, ever the bearers of peace, sends another force of peacekeepers to form a total of 2,400 patrolling the Green Line, the buffer zone between the two territories. By this time, the UN sponsored negotiation talks have finally, after many decades of stalling, resumed. United nations secretary general then proposes a plan for a united federation with rotating presidency, which is presented as the ultimatum in order to join the European Union by the EU summit in Copenhagen. This decision is held off by Greek Cypriots by means of the referendum held, ending in Cyprus being one of the 10 new EU Member States, but not as a unified country. Turkey, for one, does not recognise Cyprus as an Independent country. From this moment on, the islands governments set foot on the road to improval. Reunification talks commence after the borders that still divide the two parts start crumbling down little by little. There is a little setback when pro-independence Dervis Eroglu wins the Turkish Norths leadership contest, and added to that a diplomatic conflict is born when Cyprus starts drilling for oil and gas. Then, with the downfall of Greeces economy, Cyprus struggles to endure, and appeal to the EU for monetary assistance. In 2014, tension reaches new heights when Cyprus discontinues reunification talks due to new issues in the gas-drilling conflict. Somewhere during all this, Russian president Putin manages to convince the Cypriot president to gain access to Cypriot ports. Luckily, the discontinuation of negotiations is only short-lived, as only two years ago the presidents of the two conflicting areas held a joined New Year’s conference to ensure their population of the success, and merely 14 months prior to this moment in time, met with the UN in Geneva to directly speak of reunification.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17219505
Points of view:
It is obvious that the Greek and Turkish Cypriots have opposing views on the matter. Where on the one hand Greek Cypriots strive for and believe in enison, meaning unification with Greece, the Turkish Cypriots fight for autonomy and sovereignty over their self-declared state under Turkish influence. However, only Turkey officially recognises the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).1 Turkish president Erdogan continues refusing to recognise the Republic of Cyprus and supports the TRNC politically, financially and militarily.
The Republic of Cyprus (which controls only the southern two-thirds of the island) is internationally recognised, also by the EU. It is also only this republic that is de facto member of the EU. This is because, as of 2018, the northern part is exempt of EU legislation.
Efforts of reunification have been more supported by the Turkish Cypriots than their Greek counterparts. This has led to a shift of sympathy from the Greek to the Turkish side among several European Commissioners.
Prospects:
Many attempts at normalising relations between all sides have been done. With some success, like the lift of the blockade in Cyprus’ capital, Nicosia and the end of annual military exercises on both sides.
However, attempts for actual reunification have failed time and time again. There was great hope when in 2004 when the UN-facilitated Annan Plan of reunification was put to vote and the Turkish Cypriots voted in favour. However, the Greek Cypriots voted against the plan in a referendum just a week before the official entry of Cyprus into the EU.IIIII This was a great set back and disappointment to especially the EU.
Turkey’s accession to the EU:
The negotiations for full membership of the EU for Turkey commenced on the 3rd of October 2005. A main obstacle for deciding to open negotiations, was the relation between Turkey and the TRNC. However, with a promise of goodwill by Erdogan, and the revision of the Ankara Agreement with the Ankara protocol,, the official negotiations began.1
However, Turkish unwillingness to recognise or collaborate with the whole of The Republic of Cyprus, and thus not conforming to the Ankara Protocol, led to suspension of negotiations. The national ministers of foreign affairs of all EU Member States, followed the European Commission’s recommendation and blocked 8 of the 35 chapters- as laid down in the Copenhagen Criteria,. These chapters are: Free Movement of Goods, Right of Establishment and Freedom to Provide Services, Financial Services, Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries, Transport Policy, Customs Union and External Relations.
As long as these chapters remain blocked, Turkey cannot become a full member of the European Union.
It is no