ON Monday 3 May a webinar prepared ahead of the Geneva Cyprus talks and aired on TRNC TV and online with PR Consultant, political strategist and elections and campaigns director Jason MacKenzie spoke to the former Conservative MP, international law expert and legal advisor to Rauf Denktas, Michael Stephen about his long-standing interest in the Cyprus conflict. The event was organised by the British Turkish Cypriot Association (BTCA).
Stephen shared the story about how he first developed an interest in Cyprus during his time in Parliament. Tasked with providing a report on the island, he conducted his own research about the Turkish Cypriot community. When asked why he chose to start the webinar focusing on the year 1963, Stephen discussed Cyprus’ history and how the situation had come to that point, starting with its time as an Ottoman territory from the sixteenth century, to its coming under British administration in 1878, and its independence from Britain as a shared republic in 1960.
He added that from 1960 onwards, President Makarios and the Greek Cypriot leadership had a different vision, either Greek Cypriot dominance or union with Greece. He also said, that these sentiments continue to exist among Greek Cypriot leaders today, but explained that “until they get that idea out of their heads, there’s no way that there’s going to be a settlement in Cyprus that both the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots can live with.”
MacKenzie and Stephen also discussed the role of the United Nations and the European Union. Michael said that the UN and EU are both part of the problem because they legitimised the Greek Cypriots and admitted them as members. He added that some lawyers have said that the EU acted unlawfully as Cyprus was not allowed to join the union without the consent of the three guarantors Greece, Turkey, and the UK. Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots did not give that consent, but Cyprus was still admitted as a single entity.
On the subject of recognising the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Stephen said recognition is possible, however, Britain refuses to do so because of the threat to their military bases, which the Americans also use. He added that if a powerful country like China could do it. Stephen also mentioned that Bangladesh had recognised the TRNC before, but was pressured into changing its position. However, if a number of Muslim-majority countries recognised the TRNC he noted, that could change the game.
Commenting on the role of Britain, Stephen explained that the UK has been trying to maintain the status quo, and as such has been making efforts to encourage the Turkish Cypriots away from a two-state solution model and bring them towards another version of the Annan Plan. “The British Government doesn’t care about Turkish Cypriots, nor do the Americans” he explained, adding that “Cyprus to them is just a strategic asset.”
Saying that there is no downside for Britain in the status quo at the moment. This is because the UK’s sovereign bases on the island have meant that London is prepared to ignore human rights violations and its own legal obligations, focusing instead on the strategic benefits.
When asked about the Turkish Cypriots’ position at the Geneva Conference, Stephen argued that they have nothing to gain by going to Geneva, and that there is no one around the table there that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots can trust.
Bringing the discussion to a close, Stephen concluded that a two-state solution is the best way to solve this issue. If two states cannot be achieved, arguing that the next best thing for the TRNC would be to stay as they are and allow Turkey to encourage other countries to recognize them.
