Southeast Europe Publications
Greece's Financial Crisis: The Politics of Resolution and Reform
Jul 07, 2011March 2010- This paper is based on a discussion the author gave at the Wilson Center with the same title.
Greece faces the greatest challenge since the restoration of democracy and the war in Cyprus in 1974. The challenge is economic and social, but, unless successfully managed, it may threaten the foundations of the political system, as well. Structural reform that needs to be implemented in the medium term – over the course of the next few years –if the crisis is to be put under control in the long haul. Such reform should extend to practically all areas of policy and should correct the long-established distortions and ‘conventional wisdoms’ of the economic, social and foreign policy of the country. more
Union and Disunion: Lessons from Macedonia for Cyprus
Jul 07, 2011Aug./Sept. 2001 - The disunion of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia—initially through the nonchalance of Slav Macedonian authorities, then sped into overdrive by ethnic Albanian extremists, and now codified by NATO and European Union mediators—provides stark lessons for negotiators confronting ethnic tensions, political disputes, and security and stability problems at the other end of southeastern Europe, in Cyprus. more
Economic Partnership in the Aegean: A New Understanding between Turkey and Greece
Jul 07, 2011July/August 2000 - Until the summer earthquakes of 1999, the distance between Greece and Turkey was wider than the Aegean Sea. Although ordinary Greeks and Turks longed for friendly social and political relations, it took natural disasters to provide new opportunities. Now it is time to reap the fruits of rapprochement between two conflicting and unnecessarily hostile neighbors. For this new era to endure, political good will must be backed by economic initiatives and improved business relations. more
Greece's New Geopolitical Environment
Jul 07, 2011September 2005- The geopolitical landscape of Greece has changed considerably in the past few years given not only the various geographical challenges but the emergence of a number of ‘functional' ones as well. According to the author, Greece's political landscape is now much wider as a result of Greece's continued Europeanisation and the effect of globalisation. more
Marching to Baghdad Via Cyprus
Jul 07, 2011October 2002- Napoleon was the master of Europe. His unprecedented ability to move large armies to Spain, Russia, and Egypt relied on a system of supply depots throughout Europe. more
Turkey in the EU Means a New Kind of US-Turkish Relationship
Jul 07, 2011Turkey's qualified nod from the European Union to begin formal accession negotiations in October 2005 is good news for the United States, but will require fresh thinking about the "strategic relationship" between Washington and Ankara. It is a relationship suffering from deferred maintenance. The historic EU decision paving the way for eventual Turkish membership is the right moment for Turkey and the U.S. to put their own relationship on a better course. more
Untying the Aegean Knot: Options for Washington
Jul 07, 2011Aug./Sept. 2001 - As the 21st century opens, Greece and Turkey may face the best opportunity in years to settle their outstanding differences. That was not so during most of the 1990s. Experts feared that the end of the Soviet threat, which had overshadowed bilateral differences, would expose their rivalry to more nationalistic tension. more
Cyprus and the Military Component of Diplomacy
Jul 07, 2011May/June 2000 - In his inaugural address in 1969, five years before the division of Cyprus, President Nixon said, "The greatest honor history can bestow is the title of peacemaker." He was referring then to America's role in the world. Today, that promise of greatness and the title of peacemaker are within reach of Greece and Turkey should they find a settlement to the Cyprus problem. more
THE ROAD THROUGH BRUSSELS:CYPRUS ON THE US-TURKEY AGENDA
Jul 07, 2011Spring 2005- (Published in Vol. 4, No. 1 issue of Turkish Policy Quarterly.) Historically, US-Turkish relations have been deeply affected by events in Cyprus ever since the 1963 crisis, and especially the 1974 coup and invasion. Since the Greek Cypriot rejection of the Annan Plan in April 2004,decades of vigorous diplomatic efforts by the US State Department to resolve the Cyprus problem have ground to a near halt. Turkish and Turkish Cypriot support for the Annan Plan, which was strongly endorsed by the European Union, have also diminished the impact of Cyprus developments on US-Turkish relations. Separately, however, the relationship is in a state of severe disrepair in the wake of Turkish misconceptions about US aims and actions in Iraq and the broader Middle East, as well as the profound mutual mistrust that has only hardened since the March 1, 2003 Turkish parliamentary vote rejecting a Turkish role in the Iraq invasion. At this point, even a historic and welcome solution to the Cyprus problem will have little positive influence on US-Turkey relations, which may have entered a transformational phase with uncertain outcomes. more
Turkey: Europe Our Friend, America Our Partner
Jul 07, 2011December 2002 - Disappointed, Turkish leaders left the December 12-13 European Union summit in Copenhagen without a firm date for accession talks, but they promised to forge ahead with the country's European orientation.
Turkey's new government, led by former Islamists, has indicated its willingness to meet Europe's membership criteria by delivering further political reforms and a solution to the Cyprus issue. It is expected to continue to push for progress on both fronts until the EU's December 2004 review of Turkey's eligibility for accession talks. The country may, in fact, begin talks soon afterwards. more
