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September 11, Crisis Resolution
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Cyprus: A Potential Missed Opportunity"Dennis J. D. Sandole John Ward Anderson's article in The Washington Post (5 December 2001, p. A20) dealing with a renewed impetus for peacemaking in Cyprus raises the issue that there are conflict situations in the world that have been overshadowed by the events and aftermath of 11 September, and understandably so. However, the U.S. and others in the international community should continue to pay attention to those other conflicts precisely at this time for a variety of reasons: the "overshadowing power" of 911 may encourage parties to those other conflicts to finally call it a day and lay their conflicts to rest; some of those other conflicts may be ethnically, religiously or otherwise linked to 911; and if the U.S. and others in the international community were to play an effective role in facilitating the resolution of some of these other conflicts, a model may finally be created for sorting out similar problems elsewhere (e.g., in the Middle East). As Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and Greek Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides prepare for their next historical meetings in January 2002, in response to pressing EU criteria for eventual Cypriot and Turkish membership, the U.S. can encourage the development of a concerted effort among organizations whose membership includes some combination of Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus (UN, OSCE, NATO, EU), as well as international NGOs (e.g., the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy) and business organizations, to make themselves available to the two main parties to finally put their conflict to rest and in the process, reduce some of the motivation for others elsewhere to commit terrorist acts, perhaps providing a model for the resolution of other, similar conflicts. There is a window of opportunity here that should not be missed by a narrow focus on the otherwise compelling global campaign against terrorism. |
