Turkey must negotiate on Cyprus, says new leader

Turkey's leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, broke with the country's hardline policy on Cyprus yesterday, urging Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, to negotiate for the reunification of the island as a European Union deadline for reaching an agreement looms.

"I'm not in favour of the continuation of the policy that has been maintained in Cyprus over the past 30 to 40 years," Mr Erdogan was quoted as telling a local television station. "We will do whatever falls on us. This is not Mr Denktash's private matter."

The European Union asked Greek and Turkish Cypriots at a summit last month to settle their differences by the end of February, as part of an invitation for Cyprus to join the bloc. Failing that, only the Greek part, the majority, of the island would be invited to join the EU.

The two sides failed to agree on a much-hyped United Nations reunification plan at the summit. Mr Denktash stayed at home, claiming he was ill.

The European Union has made clear that the future of Cyprus is also crucial to Turkey's bid to join.

Since the summit, the ageing Mr Denktash has faced massive protests from Turkish Cypriots who accuse him of blocking an agreement with Greek Cypriots. Last week, about 30,000 demonstrators demanded his resignation in the largest pro-EU rally held in northern Cyprus.

Mr Erdogan, the head of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), said the protest served as a warning. "This is not an ordinary event," he said. "You can't push aside the views of the public. A decision should be taken with the largest public participation and should be implemented."

Many Turkish Cypriots see the EU deadline as a make-or-break turning point. Reunification, they argue, is the only way to end three decades of isolation in which they have seen the south prosper while their economy stagnates.

Northern Cyprus, which has almost a quarter of the island's 750,000 inhabitants and a government recognised only by Ankara, has been cut off from the rest of the world since 1974, when the island was divided after Turkey invaded in response to an Athens-backed coup in Nicosia. The breakaway republic cannot trade with other countries, its citizens have no passports and its economy is financed entirely by Turkey. It also suffers from a brain drain in which young people emigrate in droves to escape unemployment.

Mr Erdogan warned of grave consequences if there was no agreement by 28 February. "There really could be a problematic future ahead," he said.

The Turkish side is concerned about the return of land to Greek Cypriots envisaged in the UN-drafted plan. The proposal seeks to unite the island's divided halves into a federation loosely based on the Swiss and Belgian models. Mr Denktash and his longtime Greek counterpart and rival, Glafcos Clerides, would govern the federation together for the first 30 months.

Mr Erdogan has endorsed the UN plans for reunification but Mr Denktash has said he is unwilling to negotiate with the Greek Cypriot government.

The Turkish leader, whose government has previously hinted at frustration with Mr Denktash's uncompromising attitude, urged him to put aside his reservations. "He says he can't trust the other side. Let's leave confidence aside here," he said. "If we find this negotiable, let's negotiate."

Ioannis Kasoulides, the Cypriot Foreign Minister, welcomed Mr Erdogan's comments. "The Erdogan statement spells the end of the monolithic policy of Denktash on the Cyprus issue. We are witnessing the beginning of the post-Denktash era," he said. "It is clear the mirror has cracked. The sooner Denktash realises this the better. If he does not, then the only thing left is either for him to be forced to comply or to be sidelined."