Interview on MEGA TV With Alex Papahelas

(4:10 p.m. ETD) 
 
MR. PAPAHELAS*:  Well, Mr. Secretary, thank you very much for being with us tonight.  I know how busy your schedule is.
 
SECRETARY POWELL:  My pleasure.
 
MR. PAPAHELAS:  Let me ask you first of all, it's not very often that, you know, we get to interview the Secretary of State and everybody's wondering here, why so much interest on the part of the U.S. and the Bush Administration?
 
SECRETARY POWELL:  Because we believe this is a very historic opportunity to settle a dispute, a conflict that has gone on for 40 years and we don't want this opportunity to be missed, because an opportunity like this will not be coming around again.
 
So the United States, our friends in Europe, and around the world are anxious to encourage the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots to vote "yes" on this plan that has been put forward by the Secretary General.  A lot of work has gone into it.  The equities of both sides, we believe, are protected adequately.  A donors conference has been held.  A lot of money will be coming to the island to help the island.  The United States has pledged $400 million.  120,000 Greek Cypriots will be able to return to their homes.  Compensation will be available.  Security will be dealt with by the international community.  Both sides will be required to meet their obligations.  We're working on a UN resolution that would do that. 
 
It is in everyone's interest to seize this landmark opportunity and not waste it, because if it is wasted, then where do we go?  What is next?  This is the time for Greek and Turkish Cypriots to vote "yes" and enter the European Union as a single entity.
 
MR. PAPAHELAS:   Mr. Secretary, I'm sure you've been seeing the same polling data I've been seeing from the Greek Cypriot side.  Can you, for a moment, put yourself in their shoes, you know, through the traumatic experience they've had over the last 30 years, and do you think, by any chance, that all this pressure might backfire, they might have the perception they have been strong-armed into a bad deal?
 
SECRETARY POWELL:  No, I'm not trying to strong-arm them and I don't think any of my European colleagues are trying to strong-arm anyone.  We are trying to suggest to the Greek Cypriots that, really look at this plan very, very carefully, look at what is in it for you and how it would benefit your island, how it would benefit your people.  And I hope that when they look at it in that way and talk about with their family members, with their community, friends, with their neighbors, with their leaders, they will come to the conclusion that says, well, you know, this may not be perfect, it may not be everything we wanted, but there is so much in this for us and for the Turkish Cypriots, there is so much in this for the whole island, that I vote yes.  This is our effort to help educate the Cypriot population, both north and south.
 
MR. PAPAHELAS:  Sir, if you can explain to me for a moment, what happens if Turkey -- now we have a moderate government in Turkey.  We might not have a moderate government in four or five years.  What happens if Turkey invades this new country?  What would you do as the U.S., and what would the international community do?
 
SECRETARY POWELL:  I think this is such an unlikely occurrence.  When this action has been voted on, when the referenda are completed, and if we have a "yes" vote, there will be a UN resolution.  We're trying to get it before the vote, but maybe it will be after the vote, but hopefully before the vote.
 
This UN resolution will essentially show that the international community is standing by to monitor this.  The international community, including the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, are going to hold both parties accountable for their commitments and for their obligations.
 
I think it is really stretching the issue to think that this is going to lead to some kind of military conflict.  The fact that Turkey has had a government that is able to bring this to the table now and accept the Secretary General's plan -- Secretary General's plan, recognizing that it wasn't fully satisfied, this kind of government may not come around again in a long time.  I hope this government is here for a long time. 
 
So this is the opportunity of, frankly, a lifetime and it should not be lost.  And I think there is sufficient international guarantees that no Greek Cypriots should believe that they are less secure after this agreement than before this agreement.
 
MR. PAPAHELAS:  I'll tell you what, you know, some of Greek officials are telling me.  They're telling me that if this is so unlikely, and if this is going to be part of the EU, this new country, why wouldn't Turkey resign of its right to intervene?  Why wouldn't you force Turkey and Greece to remove all their troops by the end of this agreement?
 
SECRETARY POWELL:  Well, I think the troops that will remain on the Turkish side are, of a minimum nature, based on the 1960 treaty, and I would not find that presence threatening.  But you said something that was very important.  This island will be part of the European Union.  It will be part of a much larger international organization.  It is very unlikely that, as a member of that organization, an organization that also has within it many NATO members, and we also hope the day comes when Turkey is in the European Union.
 
It's rather difficult for me to imagine that the kind of conflict that some people suggest could break out, could actually break out under this new set of future circumstances -- one island unified, all these years of enmity wiped out because one island has entered, as a single island, has entered into the European Union.  This is a tremendous opportunity not to be lost.
 
MR. PAPAHELAS:  If you can talk to me for a minute, sir, about how you see the Greek Government's position on this.  You talked about the Turkish Government positions.  How about Athens and Prime Minister Karamanlis?
 
SECRETARY POWELL:  Well, I think they are understanding and supportive of the need to get a positive vote.  But I'm not here to really speak for either of the governments.  I think that the two governments have done the best they can to make the case to their people.  I know that there are political leaders on the Cypriot side that have a different view of this, and I have been in touch with some of them.
 
But this is the time now for the people themselves to listen to their leaders, but even more importantly, examine the plans, see what it does for them, their families, their communities, see what it does for the hopes and dreams of their children.  And I think when they do that, they will see this as a far better deal than they may have thought.  And it's a deal that is not going to come again soon, if ever.
 
MR. PAPAHELAS:  And finally, sir, if the Greek Cypriots say no, because the polling data keeps being very persistent, I have to tell you, what do you contemplate for the day after in terms of U.S. foreign policy, in terms of the international community?
 
SECRETARY POWELL:  Well, I really would prefer just to talk about where we are now, not the day after.  I think it will be a very disappointing day after if, after all this work, we essentially have not moved the process forward, we have not solved this problem after all this work and after all these years.  And the international community will simply have to accept the judgment of the Cypriot people.
 
But I hope that is not the case.  I hope that we will discover on the 25th or 26th of April is that both the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots decided that this was -- this was worth everything that is on the table, it was worth doing this and voting yes.
 
Now, I know the polling data suggests that it is still not a positive vote on the Cypriot side, Greek Cypriot side.  But I also sense there has been some shifting in that polling data and I hope we will see more shifts in the days that are remaining.
 
MR. PAPAHELAS:  But sir, are you disappointed by what's happening right now?  I mean, do you think you have spent all this energy and you haven't really gotten that response?  And who is responsible for that in your opinion?
 
SECRETARY POWELL:  Well, I won't place responsibility or blame.  I believe that the Cypriot people are wise enough to examine the materials being put before them.  Some of their leaders are for it, some of their leaders are against it, and what they will have to do is measure it themselves to come to their own conclusion and judgment.
 
But I'm an optimist, and I'm still optimistic that a "yes" vote is possible, even though the polling is mixed right now.  I hope a "yes" vote is possible, and I hope that the Greek Cypriot people will go to the polls and say "yes" on 24 April.
 
MR. PAPAHELAS:  Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary.  I suppose we're going to see you with the President in this area around May, is that so?
 
SECRETARY POWELL:  Well, we will see.
 
MR. PAPAHELAS:  Around the NATO summit, I gather?
 
SECRETARY POWELL:  Yes, we will -- we will be in the area for the NATO summit in June.
 
MR. PAPAHELAS:  Okay.  Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary.  It was very kind of you to be with us tonight.
 
Thank you.
 
SECRETARY POWELL:  My pleasure, thank you.
 
2004/429

*Editor's Note: Due to a last-minute change, MEGA TV interviewer Michael Ignatiou was replaced by interviewer Alex Papahelas. Apart from the interviewer name change, the transcript text remains the same as posted previously. We regret the oversight.