Politicians accused of obfuscating the truth often do so not to evade revealing a murky under-world of sinister dealings but to avoid explaining the complex behind the door decision-making process. The dimensions and factors of decision making are highly complex, and often are non-accessible because people will not understand or worse will misunderstand. This is as true for the Cyprus question as it is for all other similar problems. But avoidance of explanation comes with a price. The down side is that if the people are not aware of some of the dimensions and factors of decision making, ignorance will grow and will inevitably lead to frustration and befuddlement to the intricacies of the political process, which will in turn cause people to react in different ways. Some will sigh in pity and choose apathy; others will simply switch allegiances in a bid to seek solutions. But the rest and this is often the case for Cypriots whatever their background will grow angry, bitter and frustrated voting or steering dangerously to the extreme. 

TARGET FOR MANIPULATION

Ignorance of the political process, of political actors and factors can make people behave in different ways. Some will become targets for manipulation within small communities. Depending on which Cypriot community you were born into, you are automatically subjected to a predefined way of thinking, a kind of community policy adopted and imposed by undemocratic means by self-important personalities and self-declared community leaders. If you are a Turkish Cypriot you are told that you are victim of the Greeks who started the Cyprus problem and if you are a Greek Cypriot you are taught that the Cyprus problem began in 1974 and that you arte victim of the Turks. As a remedy, each angry and frustrated side demands the unrealizable. One chants for TRNC recognition and the other for the return of pre-1974 days with the removal of all Turkish troops and settlers and return of all refugees. Common sense alone dictates that neither will be achievable.

But this indoctrination causes sensitivities and obstacles to develop within communities that can in a democratic process destroy progress. A Turkish Cypriot who once spoke of a reunited Cyprus was called a traitor by many people, times have changed and in the Greek Cypriot community anybody who talks of a solution with Turkey as well would after being attacked be taken to a lunatic asylum. Such sensitivities can destroy dialogue and progress within communities let alone a referenda.  

WIDER PICTURE

Yet understandably amongst high level politicians in both the main Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, there is a better understanding of the situation on the ground. Unlike Tassos Papadopoulos who had no understanding of power politics and Rauf Denktash who was happy with the status quo, current leaders Mehmet Ali Talat and Demetris Christofias both realise the need to enrol Turkey in a solution. Yet to ordinary folk, the impression is that a Cyprus solution is only going to be a solution for the Cypriots. Few look at the wider picture and the need for a regional solution that will also appease wider interests. Cyprus may have been an Ottoman backwater once, but Cyprus today is essential for the security of the West and Turkey, anchored to the West as a member of the European Union (EU) and strategically and geographically located at a listening distance to the oil rich Middle East, even if the island is devoid of all troops tomorrow, a race will quickly begin to deploy troops and a base there. The mutual benefits of a Cyprus solution for our neighbours is thus just as bountiful and desirable as it may be for Cypriots themselves. And in my opinion, there can be no question of any other kind of solution that does not address regional not just national interests.  

INSEPARABLE

You could say Cyprus’ destiny is intertwined and inseparable with that of Turkey. Long regarded as an enemy by many Greek Cypriots, Turkey is not Atilla but made up of many Turkeys. Even if hard liners mired in the past will tell you that Turkey invaded and occupied Cyprus, and Turkey has expansionist ambitions, this is counterproductive as at some point, Cypriots who seek a solution will have to deal with Turkey. Whether Cypriots like it or not Turkey holds the key to a solution and Cypriots will also need dialogue with Turkey even if Cypriots have already agreed amongst themselves.

This need not be daunting; Turkey is a modern country with millions of progressive Turks to talk to.  I am not just talking of Turkish intellectuals such as the Noble-Prize winning Orhan Pamuk, but an ordinary sympathetic Turkish public who would welcome a Cyprus reunited and of course the democratically elected Turkish government. Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been one of the few governments in Turkey’s political history to encourage Cypriots to negotiate towards reunification.  Like the two progressive Cypriot leaders in power now, the AKP are intrepid pioneers to a bright future not only for Turkey but for South Eastern European Union. They seek a European Turkey democratic and economically prosperous, and internally united yet multicultural and diverse. Likewise, Cypriots seek the same for their island country.  

AKP AND DEMOCRACY

Sadly, the party, which was elected by 47% of Turks, is at risk of being closed down by Turkey’s Constitutional Court after prosecutors filed law suits against the party accusing it of threatening secularism. Accusations, assumptions and even forecasts of what the AKP might do are the basis of their opposition to AKP. Ignoring the economic growth in recent years, some opponents to AKP have warned that Turkey will turn to become a theocracy. Steadily escalating into sense of foreboding, if AKP is closed down, Turkey will be in an embarrassing situation where it’s President, Prime Minister and Government all belong to a party that has been banned. If they themselves are also banned from politics, Turkey will enter a situation of political instability that will have a negative economic and social impact and will undoubtedly cause a deadlock in its accession talks with the European Union.   

POTENTIAL ALLY

Although opinions are distributed over a continuum from Left to Right in the UK and in other European countries, democracy is the commonly accepted medium for politics. There is no shame of having diverse opinions as long as there is respect and a commitment to democracy and the rules. Yet assumptions, accusations and even predictions serve as justificatory premises for anti-democratic acts both in Turkey and consequently in north Cyprus. But Turkey must break the opaque coating of its authoritarian shell, and their allies the British and Americans should stand behind Turkey and promote what is only natural in their own countries. Likewise, Cypriot leaders must inform Cypriots of the value of a democratic Turkey on an EU path. Without a democratic Turkey, there is no hope for any solution in Cyprus even if Cypriots found consensus. Similarly, a 1974 Greece under a junta was quite worthless and damaging to Cyprus. Cypriots too who are serious about a solution should work with and support those Turkish progressives who are fighting to democratize their country; their battle is no different to that of the Cypriots. Keeping an eye open to events in Turkey with alarm, Cypriots should realize that Turkey is not an enemy but a potential ally and partner to Cyprus.