EU tries to soothe island hot spot

Date: 03/10/1996

THE European Union has long been aware that it had a challenge on its hands with Cyprus. It must now be feeling the heat more than ever.

Summer violence on the divided island has forced the Union, the United Nations and the United States to answer for their failure to find a solution to the problem which has plagued Cyprus for decades.

But of the three, it is the EU - which has set itself up as Cyprus' foster mother by announcing plans to bring it into the Union fold in the coming years - which will probably be saddled with much of the responsibility.

It is now being bombarded from all corners with demands to step up its efforts to straighten out the mess.

In the days leading up to this week's Independence Day celebrations on the island, which featured a parade of Greek Cypriot forces, observers were nervously watching the emotionally-simmering island for signs of unrest.

And when the Greek Cypriot National Guard holds its annual exercises this week, complete with air and naval units, tensions are likely to be running high in the Turkish part of the island, which is often described as “one of the most densely-militarised areas in the world”.

Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides holds no sway over the 35,000 Turkish soldiers in the Northern Cyprus zone, but he has asked their leader Rauf Denktash to join him in efforts to demilitarise the island.

Denktash might have grounds for scepticism, given Clerides' recent order for 40 Russian tanks, although Nicosia says it has ordered the tanks only to defend itself against an arms build-up in the Turkish zone.

Clerides reiterated his aim of demilitarisation in a letter to Denktash last month and is pushing the same idea at UN headquarters in New York.

Meanwhile, Cypriots on both sides of the 'green line' are looking for consolation after the funerals in August of two young Greek Cypriots killed by Turkish Cypriots and that of a Turkish soldier in September.

They take some solace from statements by the European Commission, in charge of conducting EU membership negotiations with Nicosia, that the killings will not deter it from its intention to start the accession talks on time.

The European Parliament has joined the Commission in arguing that the killings in fact provide more reasons, not less, for sticking to the timetable for negotiations.

In a resolution passed two weeks ago, MEPs declared it to be “more than ever necessary” to open the negotiations on the accession of Cyprus six months after the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference in order “to defuse an explosive situation”.

Although it was once an issue for debate, the Union now seems united in regarding the prospect of EU membership as the most helpful factor in attempting to resolve the island's problems.

Still, actual membership may be difficult for Cyprus if the island remains in a political shambles. More and more officials murmur under their breath that it would be impossible to let a divided island in.

So far however, say its critics, the Union has not done a lot to help, apart from sending in its fair share of mediators.

Currently, there are three present on the island: Kester Heaslip, the EU mediator sent by the Irish presidency; Sir David Hannay, acting as the eyes and ears of UK Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind; and Han Sung Joo, special representative to UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali.

Cyprus officials cheerfully welcome each one, despite the fact that none of their predecessors has accomplished much. “Any initiative which proves promising would be welcome,” said one.

The US promised to send troubleshooter Richard Holbrooke to the region over the summer, but he did not go because of a flare-up in tension between Greeks and Turks over the ownership of small islands in the Aegean.

While London and Dublin say their mediators are not working together, the European Parliament has asked EU governments to ensure that the three mediators “coordinate their initiatives in a joint and more effective action”.

In recent weeks, Cypriots have been cheered by rumours of a peace initiative being put together by France, Germany and the UK. But they may be kept waiting for quite some time - officials in Paris, Bonn and London all deny that any new proposals are being drafted.

“There is no impending initiative,” said a spokesman for the UK foreign office. But he added: “We hope there will be a concerted effort before the start of [Union membership] negotiations.”

French Premier Alain Juppé announced during a visit to Greece last month that France would be ready to take part in a Greek-Turkish dialogue on Cyprus if Athens and Ankara asked it to.

Paris and four other European governments already hold what they call “hexagonal” talks with Ankara, but although Cyprus can surface as a topic, it has not lately, according to France's foreign ministry.

Another source of hope is last week's re-election of Costas Simitis as prime minister of Greece. While Ankara made no comment, the Turkish press celebrated the defeat of Simitis' conservative rival, Miltiades Evert, whom they regarded as a warmonger.

Evert had promised to take a tough line towards Turkey, but Simitis is seen as a force for improved relations, if not reconciliation, in Cyprus. Western diplomats say he has shown a desire for a better rapport with Turkey, but that while his job was in question, he was unable to carry through his plans.

Popular Greek pressure to be tough with Turkey has often spilled over into EU affairs, with Greece blocking Union initiatives and funds to Ankara.

But now that Simitis has a solid base, he may feel freer to disregard the public's appetite for such gestures.

“Simitis' election gives hope that Greece will be a little bit more flexible on EU relations with Turkey and with Cyprus,” said one diplomat.

US Secretary of State Warren Christopher has told Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos that he hopes Washington can be more active in Cyprus now that the Greek elections are over, and that top US officials will soon be “closely involved” in efforts to find a solution.

In June, the UN Security Council agreed to extend the UN peacekeeping force's stay on the island, and the killings in August have focused EU minds more clearly on the problem.

The Union has called on both sides “to avoid further confrontation” and the European Parliament, convinced that Ankara financed the Grey Wolf organisation involved in the killings of the two Greek Cypriots in August, voted overwhelmingly last month to block all EU funding for Turkey.

It also called on the Commission and EU governments “as a matter of urgency, to intensify their joint action and joint endeavours to resolve the Cyprus problem”, asked Turkey to withdraw its “occupation forces”, and urged Clerides and Denktash to “continue to look for a peaceful and just solution to the Cyprus problem”.

For its part, the Nicosia government subscribes to the theory that the hope of EU membership will ease tensions on the island.

Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides has called accession “our first priority” and his government is making efforts to harmonise its legislation with Union rules, so that when negotiations do begin in 1997 or 1998, Cyprus will be considered an easy entrant.

Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou says the island's administration is working intensively to adapt Cyprus' economy to EU rules. The government has created 22 working groups which are focusing on harmonising legislation, from trade and customs to social policy, environment, telecommunications, taxation and even foreign and security policy.

The 'structured dialogue' between Cyprus and the Union is also gathering pace, with ministers meeting their EU counterparts frequently. Michaelides is to meet EU foreign ministers in November, when the justice and interior ministers from the two sides will also convene. Transport Commissioner Neil Kinnock heads for Cyprus later this month to discuss how the island can better adapt its important shipping centre to EU rules on maritime transport and safety, although aides say the meeting will not be “very political”.

One thing seems clear. The Union is going to have to get a lot more political if it is to fulfil the role Cyprus wants it to play in helping the divided island become whole again.