Some days ago I posted about the Greek Cypriot inability to understand some of the EU realities in relation to the Cyprus problem. It is also true however that these EU realities are not better understood at the other side of the Green Line either.

Turkish Cypriots are insisting on the hot issue of Turkey’s guarantee over them in the same way their compatriots Greek Cypriots reject it. As a result of the traumatic experiences during 60’s which also led to the failure of the effort to establish a partnership Cypriot state, Turkish Cypriots are deeply reluctant about a potential federal state which they fear would end up to be controlled by the Greek Cypriots. In this context, Turkey comes as a guarantor of their multiaspect security. However, things have moved on since the ‘60s. The world has moved on and, above all, Cyprus was moved on, apparently, on its European way.

In a new European Cyprus, actions that Turkish Cypriots are concerned about go directly against the EU law which member states have adapted and comply with. In this context, the internal performance of the state is sufficiently guaranteed by the legal and political framework within which the state has to operate. At the same, the relations of the EU member state with both the rest of the EU members or third countries is also stabilised to a great extend- EU has been an ideal place of stability throughout its history. All those features of the EU create a safety net enough to battle the most deep-rooted Turkish Cypriot insecurities. Turkey in or out of the EU makes no difference to a member state Cyprus which is internally and externally safeguarded under the EU umbrell which becomes gradually stronger through EU’s deepening and widening progress.

It is true that the failure of Turkish Cypriots to understand the EU realities and their benefits is a bit more reasonable in compare to Greek Cypriots. In contrast to southern of the Green Line, Turkish Cypriots have been for years isolated from the international and European environment, a fact with obvious implications in the understanding of realities of those environments. in this context, It is also down to the EU to introduce its good and safe self also to the north part of Cyprus and fight the insecurities nested in it towards adressing the problems created by the accession of a divided island.