Crucial days in Cyprus

With the question "When will they collapse this time?" occupying minds, the Cyprus negotiations left behind yet another crisis and resumed on April 11. In Turkey, meanwhile, only five days were left before a crucial vote that may be of existential importance for the future of the country.

I recently hosted a guest from Northern Cyprus. He has been very close to the negotiating team of President Mustafa Akıncı. Cypriots are not like mainland Turks, at least in terms of their understanding of democracy. In Cyprus there has never been a requirement to succumb to someone else's position in order to become friends.

I asked my friend whether he thinks the talks this time might carry Cyprus to a resolution. My friend was skeptical.

"The atmosphere of confidence has vanished. The good chemistry between [Mustafa] Akıncı and [Greek Cypriot President Nikos] Anastasiades, which had helped talks reach a very promising stage, is no longer there. There is immense pressure on the two sides for the resumption of talks so they have moved around the problem issues as if they have been solved, and they will present a picture tomorrow [April 11] as if the talks have resumed with optimism," he said.

"For the Greek Cypriot side, for Anastasiades, what is most important is to reach the February presidential election without a settlement but with the talks continuing. He is apparently planning to tell people that talks are in progress toward a settlement, that he has run out of time, and that he needs another term in office to deliver a resolution. Only if talks are continuing could he have a chance of reelection."

In 2004, the same tactic did not help Glafkos Clerides and the people ended up voting for the fascist Tassos Papadopoulos, who days...