Zupanjevac: Slim chances for the Turkish part of Cyprus to join the SE, Kosovo would open Pandora's box

The recommendation by the rapporteur for Kosovo in the Council of Europe, Greek MP Dora Bakoyannis, for Kosovo to be admitted to this organization has sparked criticism in Greece, including remarks that it sets a precedent for Cyprus. In this regard, former Serbian ambassador to Greece, Dragan Zupanjevac, says that there are slim chances for the Turkish part of Cyprus to become part of the Council of Europe, considering that none of the EU and UN member states recognize it except Turkey. However, he also notes that every precedent has its repercussions.

"The problem is that with the unprincipled decision of Dora Bakoyannis, Greece has departed from respecting international law principles, and when a principled stance on respecting international law is abandoned, it can have a boomerang effect both in terms of Greek interests in the Aegean Sea and regarding its territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as concerning the Cyprus issue. That is indeed a potential Pandora's box. However, in my opinion, the chances are slim for the Turkish part of Cyprus to become part of the Council of Europe, but one should never say 'never'," says Zupanjevac.

He adds that Turkey will certainly analyze what happened in the Council of Europe and will try to draw some conclusions that could be useful for Ankara. He also mentions that at one point, Pakistan and Bangladesh considered recognizing the Turkish part of Cyprus, but this was swept under the rug.

"The so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is an observer in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, they make some attempts... That's why what is happening with our province and its admission to the Council of Europe is dangerous because it is clear that it goes against the basic principles to admit a 'state' to the Council of Europe that is not a member of the United Nations and is not recognized by five EU member states. This is turning a blind eye, and it is a violation of basic principles. When principles start to be violated, Pandora's box opens, and anything is possible. That's why some Greeks fear that this could be bad for Greek interests. When principles are violated, chaos is possible, and in the long run, anything can happen. In the short term, I don't see the possibility that the Turkish, northern part of Cyprus will submit an application to be admitted anywhere," says Zupanjevac.

Bakoyannis's recommendation, he notes, came as a surprise because Greece does not recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo.

"Bakoyannis is part of the party in power in Greece, her brother is the prime minister, her father was a famous prime minister, her son is the mayor of Athens, and they are part of the Greek elite. That fact alone deserves serious attention. Dora Bakoyannis carries weight, and it is to be expected that part of the Greek public will raise their voice and say 'why did Greece do this?'" Zupanjevac points out.

As he emphasizes, Greece has not recognized the independence of Kosovo since 2008 for several reasons, the first of which is that it believed that international public law, which is very important for Greece, had been violated, both due to the situation in Cyprus and due to Turkey's dissatisfaction with Greece gaining de facto control over all islands in the Aegean Sea.

"There has been tension between Greece and Turkey for over a hundred years, and Turks have certain undisguised aspirations regarding the islands, regarding Thrace, and all of these are reasons, including Cyprus, why Greece does not recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo. Another reason is that Greeks, mostly but not all, see Serbs as brothers. We have gone through similar historical circumstances during the struggle for freedom from the Ottoman Empire; in both world wars, we were on the same side, and there is closeness there. When NATO bombed Serbia in 1999, Greeks as a nation were overwhelmingly against it. They lit candles for 78 days in front of our embassy. Greece did not participate in the bombing, but the government led by Kostas Simitis decided not to veto it and did not prevent it. Simitis famously said: 'Above all, Greece's interest.' So, 'we don't like that our brothers are being bombed, but we have to take care of our interest; we are a member of the NATO pact and the EU, and that is our paramount interest,'" Zupanjevac explains.

In response to the question about the interests Athens pursued when MPs from New Democracy, the ruling party in Greece, supported Kosovo's admission to the Council of Europe, our interlocutor says that the essential question is what is of greater interest to Greece - to remain in the NATO alliance and to have key EU members, as often happens with France, act as protectors of Greek interests against potential threats, or whether there is a danger of the precedent set by Kosovo being repeated on the Cyprus issue, with a scenario emerging in which the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is admitted to the Council of Europe.