Are you among those saying, “Nothing’s happening, so why is Ban coming?”
Or are you saying, “You said there was no progress in the negotiations. Look, the UN Secretary-General is coming to the island. He isn’t coming for nothing!”?
I don’t know what you think, but what these remarks are trying to convey will shape the upcoming presidential process.
Those who say today, “Nothing’s happening, so why is Ban coming?” are expressing the view of people who think the process is moving slowly and that no agreement will come out of it at all…
Underlying this view, put forward by Eroğlu’s supporters, is the desire to prevent the 2004 will from resurfacing and pro-solution forces from gaining strength again. For Eroğlu’s supporters were not at all pleased by Ban’s arrival on the island, the first sign of the atmosphere of a solution that may take shape by April. Without a doubt, this visit also signals certain things about the future.
In this context, for example, while Ban is on the island—and even during his meeting with Talat—the movement organized under the name “United Cyprus Peace Initiative,” which brings together more than 40 trade unions, civil society organizations and political parties from North and South Cyprus, will hold a demonstration for peace. This is an event that recalls the demonstrations during the Annan Plan period.
In short, downplaying Ban’s visit to the island and portraying it as unnecessary seems likely to serve Eroğlu’s interests at this stage. But if the “nothing’s happening” part is filled in by the agreement Talat has indicated, many groups, such as the initiative mentioned above, will come together in the period ahead. Moreover, if that agreement is a substantial and strong one, recreating the 2004 will will be entirely possible.
On the other hand, it is not hard to make sense of the remark made by those who are aware of what I have said above and support Talat: “You said there was no progress in the negotiations. Look, the UN Secretary-General is coming to the island. He isn’t coming for nothing!”
That is why Ban’s arrival on the island is awaited with such longing…
Note that what both sides say about Ban’s arrival on the island and what follows will always fall within this framework: some will extol the visit and its results, while others will try to make light of them.
In other words, Mr. Talat’s failure to announce his candidacy, his decision to wait until after Ban’s visit, and his explanation that “I’m doing this so the campaign period doesn’t begin” are not very sincere.
FOR BAN’S ARRIVAL ON THE ISLAND IS THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD ITSELF. Eroğlu’s supporters—and Eroğlu himself—are well aware of this. Indeed, perhaps this is why Eroğlu visited England! And, in response to Talat’s move, EROĞLU MAY MAKE OVERTURES AND HOLD SURPRISE MEETINGS IN ENGLAND OR ANOTHER COUNTRY.
“Given all this, is Ban’s arrival on the island interference in the elections?” The question essentially answers itself. UN officials are well aware of this too. And they are doing it to support Talat—in other words, to promote a solution, in their view.
This shows that no matter how much Eroğlu says, “If I’m elected, I’ll continue the negotiations,” he has not changed the perception of him as an intransigent leader, either at the UN or in the international community. The UBP’s stance on the Annan Plan and Eroğlu’s occasional statements have played a major role in shaping this perception.
But at this point, how sad it is that both leaders are trying to use external forces in the elections that will take place in this country…
In the period ahead, the pot will boil over in Cyprus, and we will experience all of this one by one. The funny thing is that, by the end, we’ll be saying, “We’ve seen this movie before.”
Until we meet again…
Pay attention to your surroundings, keep them clean, and please be considerate in traffic!