A chain of events lately aimed at highlighting the need to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community and establish Direct Trade may at first glance appear as positive developments in the Cyprus problem, but do they give Turkish Cypriots any reason to celebrate?  
 

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

Emphasizing Turkey’s strategic importance to Britain, the recent Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Downing Street pledged to deepen the UK-Turkey defense relationship, including within the framework of NATO and through support for Turkish participation in ESDP operations and end Turkish Cypriot isolation. Unsurprisingly, it is the views of the current UK government that Direct Trade, with the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would actually help facilitate a solution to the Cyprus problem. 

UNFICYP AND UK MEDIA REPORT

The idea is also shared by the United Nations (UN). As if planned to coincide with the Strategic Partnership Agreement, this week UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his report on UNFICYP also called for the lifting of “sanctions on Turkish Cypriots” and an end to their isolation. Mr Ki-moon cautioned that calls for an end to isolation did not necessarily mean an upgrade of the status of the TRNC.

With almost perfect timing, again this week, the UK Independent Newspaper published an article by Jeremy Taylor in effect calling for an end to isolation on the Turkish Cypriots, while claiming that 60% of Turkish Cypriots now yearn for partition, the exact same figure was bizarrely also quoted to me recently by a British MP, another ‘friend’ of Cyprus.  
 

ENCOURAGING PARTITION

With the current UK government talking of Direct Trade as a human rights issue, even though not so long ago Britain was the one of those very countries who imposed an embargo on the Iraqi people, one cannot help but think there is a slight attempt to undermine the Republic of Cyprus. In reaction to the UK’s green light to direct trade, Greek Cypriot blogger John Akritas poses the question, why it is the UK seeks to end Turkish Cypriot isolation through a bilateral agreement with Turkey and not with the Cyprus government of which the Turkish Cypriots are citizens. Distrustful of the UK’s motives, Akritas also asks “Doesn’t treating the occupation regime in the north as an entity separate from the Republic of Cyprus encourage partition?”  

Even though Mr. Ki-moon may have thought he covered this by inserting a reference to how the UN does not seek to upgrade the TRNC and how the issue of isolation should not be coupled with that of TRNC recognition. He failed to add weight to his promise by explaining how the UN could prevent this from culminating. After all, any direct trade would inevitably require direct agreements, treaties and signatures with this entity in order to facilitate the two-way trade. Effectively, the EU will then form its own relations with the TRNC separate to those of the Republic of Cyprus, whose rights and privileges this community will continue to enjoy as citizens.  

WHAT ABOUT GREEN LINE TRADE?

What is equally sad for those of us who still seek reunification is that all this is happening at a time when the current TRNC authorities have blatantly banned trade with the Republic of Cyprus through the Green Line Regulations. We forget that the Green Line Regulations (long supported by the EU and UN), which aim to integrate the economy of the North with the Republic of Cyprus as well as the EU is a prerequisite for reunification. But now it seems that Green Line Trade is being forgotten in favour of Direct Trade. Clearly with a policy change on Cyprus, neither the UN nor the EU are challenging illegal obstacles created by the TRNC administration to thwart Green Line Trade. Direct trade with the Greek Cypriots that would help reconciliation is no longer necessary it seems…. 

CONTINUED ILLEGALITY

As I mentioned last week, surely, an emphasis on Direct Trade alone and not on developing Green Line Trade simultaneously will only help develop the basis for a separate TRNC economy. And why do you need a separate economy if you support reunification based on a bi-communal, bi-zonal federal state? In actual fact, if such an economy flourishes would it not is with the continued unethical sale of land by those illegally dispossessed? Naturally nobody should then be naïve enough to assume that those profiting from this “Cash convertor” style trade would then have any incentive to solve the Cyprus problem.  
 

A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

It seems to me, the aforementioned string of events constitutes a step towards upgrading the status of the TRNC but make no mistake this is a double-edged sword for the Turkish Cypriots. While no doubt Direct Trade may make life easier in economic terms for Turkish Cypriots it is important to note that the issue of isolation is a symptom of and not the Cyprus problem itself.

While a Direct Trade may provide long awaited trade with the outside world, it is a second rate solution for Turkish Cypriots as this community will not only remain politically isolated but Turkey’s occupation will continue. Throughout its occupation Turkish Cypriots have suffered from limited democracy and intrusions in their civilian government. In what country in the world does the President ask his chauffeur to drive him to see the Ambassador in order to make public policy? Is this the kind of state we seek to upgrade?

Furthermore, I wonder will Direct Trade halt the number of Turkish settlers that even the TRNC administration cannot stop. Will cultural assimilation end? Indeed with the combined presence of troops, a flourishing economy and with open doors to settlers, their flow will only increase further marginalizing and disenfranchising Turkish Cypriots, while diluting their Cypriot culture.  

ROAD TO PARTITION…

Furthermore, once we embark on the process of separating issues in the Cyprus problem by dealing with them bit by bit, by presenting each of them as ‘human rights issues’ (Cyprus has a list human rights issues), we may in fact further complicate the problem at heart. For instance even if you manage to solve the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, the community will still be politically isolated and unable to make diplomatic agreements or participate in international decisions. Naturally, there will then be calls for an end to this “political embargo.” And what next then I wonder will the reply of the International Community be, the recognition of the TRNC?  
 

NO SUBSTITUTE FOR A SOLUTION

Isolation is undoubtedly one of many tragic circumstances created by the continued unresolved Cyprus problem and like all other issues it can only be effectively eradicated through a comprehensive Cyprus settlement agreed between both Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. But attempting to establish Direct Trade is no substitute to a solution, nor with he risks it involves is it preparation for a solution, in fact increasing independent ties with the TRNC will not increase ties with Turkish Cypriots necessarily, but will simply acknowledge recognition of Turkey’s control of that entity and legalise its grip over this community. Of course economic trade is essential to each and every community but equally important are issues pertaining to its cultural existence, political freedom, and democracy and universal human rights. These issues cannot be ignored in a priority system that will allow Direct Trade. This may have the opposite effect of cementing division. I believe only through a solution based on a partnership bi-communal, bi-zonal federal Cyprus, where Turkish Cypriots are empowered to share the government of Cyprus can we even begin to resolve all these issues.