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[brother]

THE CYPRUS PROBLEM – A FRESH START?

By Dr Kypros

Chrysostomides

Government Spokesman

THE referendum of 24th April marks yet another landmark in the age-old history of our island.

However, it is not the end of that history.

Those who viewed or who still view it in that light are committing a logical and political mistake.

We now find ourselves in a new historical period of our country facing the same facts, but certain new ones as well.

The catalytic factor is, I think, that our country is now a full member of the European Union and the positive coincidence is that Turkey aspires to also become an EU member, having in the meantime obtained a date for accession negotiations on October 3, 2005.

There are, of course, conditions attached to this, including an obligation to sign the adjustment Protocol to the Treaty of Ankara, that is to say, the extension of the Customs Union to the ten new member-states of the EU, including Cyprus.

There is, therefore, a new European framework within which the efforts for a final settlement and the reunification of our country must unfold, thus putting an end to foreign interference and control.

The Annan Plan has been rejected by 76% of the Greek Cypriot population. It is an absolute axiom of contemporary legal practice, whether internal or international, that the democratic result of any referendum wherever held, should be respected.

The Plan itself stipulated that if the result was negative, it would be null and void ab initio without any further effect whatsoever.

This is how things stand from a legal viewpoint. Politically, however, the plan is still there.

Certain people considered the acceptance of the Plan to be a certainty, describing it as a sort of "ultimatum". It was a mistaken assumption, which showed a priori not so much an interest in a successful solution with a secured duration, but rather a hasty attempt to adopt the specific Plan, regardless of its inherent and obvious weaknesses.

What it sought to achieve was to predetermine the will of the citizens, rather than establish an expression of their free will.

It is understandable that what took place was an effort to primarily win over Turkey and one specific section of the population, i.e. the Turkish Cypriots, given the intransigence of their leadership so far and the "need" to satisfy the demands of Denktash’s allies in Ankara.

In no case, however, could the will of the other section of the same population have been taken for granted.

Once again, the absence of any interest of finding the kind of a solution which would wisely restructure the state in such a way as to safeguard the commitment of everybody, citizens and politicians alike, to their common home, was apparent.

No real efforts were made to come up with a solution that would aim at a social partnership that would secure prosperity and a better tomorrow for all, in the context of the European future of our country.

Compromise

After 1974, a historical compromise had occurred that had taken all the facts into account.

Since then, the solution has been described as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

At the same time, one believed this to have been also a historical commitment for everybody, which unfortunately did not materialise, in spite of all the attempts to date. On the contrary, any effort to put such solution into effect has been prevented by the continuous presence of Turkish troops, the secessionist "declaration" of 1983 and the continuing attempt by Turkey to secure full geostrategic control over Cyprus.

There is and there must be one and only one joint orientation for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots beyond their national origin: reunification through diversity.

This is what realism and our joint commitment to our common home, Cyprus, demand.

In order to achieve progress, however, the weaknesses and mistakes of the past must be acknowledged and the proper basis must be re-established, if the efforts are to be successful.

This basis must be a single, common one for both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots: and this consists in the safeguarding of full independence for our state in a sustainable perspective and the rejection of partition by all, not just now but also in the future. Furthermore, the joint administration of the state should rest exclusively with its citizens, without oppressive control from the outside, as provided for in the Annan Plan.

We aim at establishing a federation between compatriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, not with Turkey under one guise or another.

Clear position

The referendum is not the end of the road. This is what the Greek Cypriots, in their great majority, believe.

At the same time, they clearly say "No" to partition, "No" to the dismemberment of state sovereignty.

What they want is a solution and the reunification of our island. There is no intention on the part of the Greek Cypriots, and indeed no possibility, of making the Turkish Cypriots second-class citizens; besides, this is precisely the meaning of bi-zonal. bi-communal federation.

It is expected of the Turkish Cypriot side that they also take a clear position on these basic issues.

Discussion on these matters will continue with further articles. And let this not be considered a naOve approach.

The Cyprus problem may appear a complicated and difficult problem. However, it is in essence simple, provided that there is a will.

It is mainly for us, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, to lay strong foundations for a solution.

We should look to a future beyond the past, and to this end, we must create the right perspective. We will not give up our efforts to achieve this. This must be understood by all because there is no better way.

(Kypros Chrysostomides is Government Spokesman and President of the Political Grouping (Epalxi) for the Restructuring of the Centre)

[cannedmoose]

What was the source for that brother?

[brother]

One of my favourite reads 'The Cyprus Weekly'

[Alexandros Lordos]

I think Chrysostomides is very clear-headed and also very well educated, if only he focused more on communicating with the Turkish Cypriot side as well, rather than just being an apologist for the Greek Cypriot perspective, then he could offer our country great services ...

[cannedmoose]

I think Chrysostomides is very clear-headed and also very well educated, if only he focused more on communicating with the Turkish Cypriot side as well, rather than just being an apologist for the Greek Cypriot perspective, then he could offer our country great services ...

That's my perception of Chrysostomides too. Unfortunately, I feel that most officials, politicians and journalists in Cyprus also fail in this. I'm sure that a great deal of the alienation that TC's feel from GC society is that the political dialogue takes place in a language they are unable to understand.

If GC politicians want to get their points heard in the north (without having to go through a translator's filter), surely the best way to do this is to be able to speak Turkish. I don't know if anyone else has seen the rare creature called a GC official with Turkish-language ability? I'd be glad for reports of sightings. Somehow I think there are more moufflons.

[cannedmoose]

One of my favourite reads 'The Cyprus Weekly'

Thanks brother, will have to take a look.

[Alexandros Lordos]

I don't know if anyone else has seen the rare creature called a GC official with Turkish-language ability?

And in fact I think the situation is not much better in the TC side (correct me if I am wrong ...). Isn't Akinci the only front-line politician who can speak Greek?

It would have been such a good starting point, if our political leaders were bilingual in Greek and Turkish. Unfortunately, alongside with parenting, being a politician is the only job which requires no qualifications whatsoever ...

[metecyp]

Unfortunately, alongside with parenting, being a politician is the only job which requires no qualifications whatsoever ...

I agree. In the north, most politicians have either no qualitifications or they are trained for something completely unrelated to politics. For example, Eroglu is a doctor, Talat has some engineering degree...I would rather see politicians with Political Science, Law, International Relations, etc. degrees but I guess it doesn't matter in Cyprus.

[brother]

As for your 'have you seen a gc politician that speaks turkish, i spotted one hiding in the undergrowth near the trodos mountains but despite my attempts to catch him, i failed. Slippery little bugger.