Gözde AKBEN
Ozan Ceyhun, a former Member of the European Parliament and guest of Cem Kar on the Öğlen Ajansı program broadcast on Ada TV, discussed developments concerning the country’s current affairs.
Kar: Our country is going through turbulent days, and new developments are emerging every minute. Most recently, DP leader Serdar Denktaş announced that he would run for mayor of Nicosia. How do you interpret this?
Ceyhun: Honestly, I was very surprised. I like Serdar Denktaş very much. In my view, a party leader should have other visions, and given that he could one day consider running for president of this country, it is genuinely surprising that he would run for mayor, unnecessarily risking being worn down in the process. Serdar Denktaş has become a brand in this country, but given that even his chances of winning are in question, I think he should have had other goals.
Kar: What effect did Derviş Eroğlu’s victory in the presidential election have in Europe?
Ceyhun: The election of Mr. Eroğlu prompted the question “What might happen?” among a certain group in Europe who know little about Cyprus and had no chance to get accurate information before the election. The talks for which the new president, Derviş Eroğlu, is responsible are now being closely monitored. I expect these questions to be answered soon, and those who are wondering will see that Ankara–Nicosia cooperation is continuing just as before.
Kar: Mr. Eroğlu has put forward a vision for a solution by the end of the year. Do you think there will be a solution, or will the EU impose restrictions on reaching one?
Ceyhun: I believe Ankara and Nicosia are taking a very consistent approach on this issue. Mr. Talat, whom I greatly admire and whom I was happy to support abroad in the past, was also very determined on this issue. Mr. Eroğlu is showing the same determination. I have no doubt that the sound policy initiated by Ankara and Nicosia will bear fruit by the end of the year. A solution means that the two sides can agree on a text and that the people accept it. I have no doubt that the citizens of the TRNC will accept it, but I doubt that people in the Greek Cypriot side will. If Christofias and Eroğlu say “yes,” they will be candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize; if they say “no,” then the time will have come to end the hardships the TRNC has unjustly endured until now, such as embargoes and isolation. The EU and, indeed, world opinion will have no other choice on this matter, and the TRNC will continue to exist in a different environment, no longer groaning under embargoes.
Kar: They say that negotiations cannot continue forever. Do you think a deadline will be set for them?
Ceyhun: I also believe that negotiations will not continue forever. Ankara is making a very gracious gesture to Greece today. The Republic of Türkiye is no longer a country that receives aid, but one that provides it. It is in a position to offer Ankara Plans, rather than Marshall Plans, whenever it deems necessary. I believe that Mr. Tayip Erdoğan, who is in Greece with ten ministers, is holding important talks and taking the right stance. I am sure this aid will lead Greece, which has made major mistakes regarding Türkiye up to now, to act more consistently in the coming period. If it does not, it will have no standing in the eyes of the EU. There are 40 million people in Germany who do not want to hear the word “Greece” right now. In conclusion, a result must be reached within the anticipated timeframe. The negotiations will also be affected by all these circumstances and reach a conclusion by the end of 2010.
Kar: Is this timeframe also being mentioned in Europe?
Ceyhun: Many issues in Europe are taken up by voters. This issue had not caught voters’ attention until now, but lately they have been waking up more and more each day. They are learning new things about Türkiye and the TRNC. A friend of mine, a member of the Bavarian State Parliament, made a mistake three years ago: he went to meet with the Greek Cypriot side without listening to what was being said here. We could not get him to come here. Then he came and said, “I saw how far from the truth the nonsense they had told me was, and that’s why I’m here.” All these developments are truly encouraging. That is why I believe this timeframe applies in Europe as well.
Kar: We have information that tourism organizations are interested in taking over KTHY. Do you think these organizations can run KTHY?
Ceyhun: It is commendable that tourism professionals are willing to take the risk of trying to run an airline with five aircraft that is in such a bankrupt state, despite having no practical experience in aviation to date. They are taking responsibility for the country’s problems, but I can only interpret this initiative as a well-intentioned effort that, in practical terms, has little chance of achieving long-term success under a businessperson’s approach. I think that to claim one can get KTHY out of its current predicament, one must genuinely have airline expertise and logistics capabilities.