I’ve been trying to keep tabs on the Cyprus talks. It’s not easy, time constraints etc., It seems to me that Cyprus is being used to provoke Turkey. The media here is pushing the usual “bad Turkey” meme. That’s not exactly the case. I’ll shed some light on that fact!With one qualifier- I worry for the people, on that beautiful island, what lengths the UK and Greece will go to to further provoke Turkey. Frightening.For more background read the relinked post from earlier in the week. That tiny island has an oversized importance in the region
Israel-Turkey pipeline hangs on Cyprus peace talks- A Fail Benefits Russia
A reply to Ally, yesterday:
PennyJanuary 14, 2017 at 3:01 PMI'm starting to think Cyprus is being used as another front in the war against Turkey..I notice the slanted news- Turkey won't withdraw troops from Cyprus- scream the headlines- but neither will Greece or UK- so obviously Turkey isn't going to- But the focus is on "bad Turkey"rather then what is actually ocurring
The news story below made clear, my suspicions had been correct
Greek minister blamed for derailing Cyprus talks
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will be kept out of future negotiations to reunify Cyprus after he “went rogue” and disrupted fragile talks in Geneva last week, according to two officials who follow the talks closely.
Went rogue did he? Nice spin. He was intentionally provocative.Provocateur
The next political meeting on how to ensure Cyprus’ security and independence, which has not yet been scheduled, will be between heads of government rather than foreign ministers. Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras can represent his country following complaints by the United Nations and others about Kotzias’ behavior last Thursday.
This may be a move to get Erdogan out of the Turkey...for some nefarious reason.. Perhaps another coup attempt? An assassination?
The first-ever conference between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders and the three countries charged with guaranteeing the Cyprus’ security and independence — Greece, Turkey and the U.K. — ended unexpectedly after just one day of talks.The setback underscored the hard work that remains after 20 months of negotiations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, facilitated by the U.N. Both sides and the U.N. still insist it’s a matter of weeks, not months, before they reach a deal. However, they have only just started to broach the divide between Athens and Ankara, both of which will ultimately have to sign off on the agreement.
Kotzias holds presser
Despite weeks of shuttle diplomacy between the United Nations, the two Cypriot leaders and the three guarantor countries to lay the ground for a Cyprus peace deal at the negotiations in Geneva last week, Kotzias entered the conference with surprise demands for Turkey and Turkish Cypriots, including the full and quick withdrawal of Turkish forces, and reiterated them at an impromptu press conference during a break in the talks.
This was where we got all the headlines here screaming Turkey refuses to withdraw troops...Kotzias waltzes into a meeting with a pile of outrageous demands and then holds a press conference- Provocation
The Tsipras government seemed to soften Greece’s position on Friday in an informal position paper, stressing that Athens is determined to protect the “considerable momentum” built toward a “just and viable” deal to reunify Cyprus.
Tsipras to play 'good cop" -Tsipras is a lackey
“In constant coordination and cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus, we will continue to process and put forward proposals based on the principles we have proclaimed in the areas of guarantees and security, in which we are involved,” the document said, adding that “aggressive” statements have no place in the talks.
Kotzias’ comments angered Nicos Anastasiades, the Greek Cypriot leader and Cyprus’ internationally recognized president, who didn’t know about the press conference, and raised tension when the conference resumed on Thursday evening.
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