This question has been asked a lot this week. This is only the second time that a US vice president has visited Cyprus, after then-vice president Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit in 1962. So just what was US Vice President Joe Biden doing in Cyprus late last week?
We must discuss numerous things together whenever Cyprus is mentioned; there is always more than one answer to any question about the troubled island.
Cyprus is very important for anyone analyzing the Middle East, Russia, the EU or the US. The southern half of the island is an EU member-state with close relations to Russia and newly discovered natural gas reserves. Northern Cyprus is under the “guarantorship” of Turkey, which is a US ally and NATO member state, and also the route for the flow of Israeli and Cypriot natural gas. A solution to the ongoing situation in Cyprus is therefore of direct concern to Russia, Syria, Israel, the EU and the US.
Following his arrival on the island, Biden said that he did not have a solution to the “Cyprus problem” in his back pocket. A solution to this problem had been before the two sides since February. Biden said his objective in visiting Cyprus was simply to send a message to “unblock” the stalled talks. But the subject of energy, of course, plays an important role in Washington’s sudden interest in Cyprus; Biden was accompanied by officials from the US Department of Energy. The EU is in the process of looking for new sources of energy following the events in Ukraine, and it has been looking to the Mediterranean as an alternative to Russia.
The real objective is not access to the limited natural gas in Cyprus, however. It is to prepare for the flow of natural gas located off the coasts of Israel and Lebanon into Europe. The only path for this vital energy corridor into Europe is through Turkey, via Cyprus.
Due to newly discovered natural gas reserves on its own territory—not to mention the rise of shale gas production—the US has guaranteed its own energy requirements for the near future. So if the real issue is not energy, why is the US becoming involved in the Cyprus problem?
Elections are approaching in the US. Obama, who has adopted a moderate policy on the Middle East, has been accused of failing on a number of issues. When monitoring this region, which has been rocked by the troubles caused by the Arab Spring, one must take into account the changing balance of power in the Middle East. But many people are failing to do so, attributing failures in the Israel–Palestine peace process, the situation in Syria, and the Ukraine crisis and Russia, to President Obama.
There is no doubt that success in resolving the situation in Cyprus might perhaps alter the balance of power ahead of US midterm elections later this year, delight the Greek lobby in the US and please the EU.
Another reason is the crisis with Russia. The US is concerned by Russia’s efforts to expand its Eurasian Economic Union and its moves in Crimea. We must also not forget the role that Russia is playing regarding the situation in Syria—and Moscow could also seek to expand its presence in the Mediterranean in Cyprus. The Transatlantic Free Trade Area, planned through the unification of NAFTA and the EU, is also great important to the US at this point. The US wants Turkey to be part of this union in order to guarantee its dominance in the region. But Turkey is not an EU member-state, and the Cyprus question is one of the main obstacles to Turkish membership. Therefore, the US would like this problem to be resolved as soon as possible.
That is the position regarding the US but there are, of course, other dimensions to the Cyprus question.
While the US is pursuing these great aims, should we regard the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) imposing a record fine of 90 million euros on Turkey over what happened in 1974 as a blow to peace talks? What about the dozens of Turkish villages attacked by the Greek–Cypriot paramilitary group EOKA between 1963 and 1974, and the hundreds of people who were killed? What about “Bloody Christmas,” the period of unrest between Greek and Turkish Cypriots in December 1963 which saw many Turks killed? Turkey’s dereliction of duty lies in not having applied to the ECHR over these crimes against humanity. Turkey is paying the price for this neglect.
Let me remind readers that the Turkish half of Cyprus has been fighting for survival since 1963. Turkey has remained committed to Northern Cyprus over the past 51 years, not making even the slightest concession on the subject. Not even the prospect of EU membership—which is so important to Turkey—has been enough for Turkey to relinquish its commitment to Cyprus.
It would certainly be ideal for the pains of the past to be forgotten and for a union to be established with brotherhood, friendship and alliance, and for stability to be brought to the area. We have longed for this over the years. But if the US really wants a solution on Cyprus, it must forget about self-interest and develop the capacity to understand the Turkish side of the island, which has been fighting an existential battle for decades. This must be Washington’s priority if it wants to establish a meaningful, long-term influence on the island, as well as in Turkey and the rest of the Mediterranean, securing the much-needed energy pipelines to Europe.
Let’s hope and pray that solution to Cyprus problem is the genuine intent of whomever is interested in it. The days of self interests of ‘superpowers’ or ‘minnowpowers’ or ‘hangersonpowers’ hence crushing the aspirations of many others is long gone in the Eastern Med. … however, on a note of interest.. Johnson visited Cyprus in 1962 and massacre of Turks started in 1963 (coincidence or an encouragement?) whereas USA or West did not help then. 1974 Turkey went into Cyprus to help the Cypriot Turks and since then not a single Cypriot Turk has been hurt by anyone, thus peace and quite prevailed in the Island; yet USA set embargo on Turkey in 1974 as a gesture of things !!??!!. Let’s remember Turks have been NATO partner and trusted ally of West since 1923.. So, Biden visited the Island in 2014 … henceforth, eagerly awaiting the outcome …. If a genuine help is offered to all the peoples of Cyprus then an attempt to repeat 1962-1963 would be impossible re-enact. Let’s wait and seeeeeeeeeeeeeee who is a genuine friend !!!!! NATO PLS LEND A LISTENING EAR TO THIS!!!!
While you make excellent points on the reasons for Biden’s visit to Cyprus , you are misinformed about the island’s history. In 1974, when the Turkish invasion took place, Turkish Cypriot population was the 18%. Following the invasion Turkey kept with an army of 40,000 the 37% of the island and since then moved over 130,000 Turkish settlers from Anatolia to change the demographics. This violent change of Cyprus’ demographics is considered a war crime by the international law.
Any solution of the problem in order to be lasting and viable should respect the Rule of Law and the basic freedoms and fundamental human rights. Cyprus is a member of the EU and no solution can ignore the European principles upon it was built. Turkey in order to become an EU member must comply with that.
Regards
Apostolos Zoupaniotis
Publisher/Editor
Greek News, NY
I have never read such an historically inaccurate article regarding events in Cyprus in the years preceeding the Turkish invasion of 1974 – or since.
After Cyprus attained independence from the United Kingdom, the Republic of Turkey set about systematically undermining the functioning of the unitary Cypriot State. It did this by, amongst other means, using extremist elements in the Turkish Cypriot community to impose its segrationist policies. This was achieved by force of arms, sent from Turkey to arm the terrorist TMT organisation, who killed many Turkish Cypriots who endeavoured to continue working and cooperating with their Greek speaking compatriots.
Ms Kocaman would do well to appraise herself of this history. She will then realise that the reason why Turkey did not take the Cypriot state to the ECHR for events in the 1960’s is because Turkey’s hands were clearly and demonstrably bloodied.
On the other hand, Turkey’s so called “peace operation” of the 1974 brought murder, disappearences and mass expulsions of civilian populations (and subsequent alteration of demographics) – contrary to the Geneva convention and, of course, the founding principles of the ECHR.
Turkey, Ms Kocaman, still has a lot to learn about itself, both from its actions at home and abroad – and having its dirty history glossed over by apologists serves only to delay this process and so is most unhelpful in this regard. A mirrorr, for some much needed self-reflection, would be a much better starting point.
Nigel Green
United Kingdom