Interview with Giorgos Koukoumas, member of the Central Committee of AKEL and AKEL C.C. Spokesperson
July 2021, “Abril”, Portuguese blog of alternative news
- 47 years have passed since the coup d’état promoted by the fascist junta in Greece, which was followed by the invasion and occupation by Turkey of part of the territory of Cyprus, an occupation that continues to this day. How do the Cypriot people, and in particular the youth, face this situation after 47 years? Namely living in a heavily militarized area, including with the presence of UK military bases?
Cyprus is a country so small that nevertheless is still divided by the force of arms and at the same time is one of the most militarised places in the world. For many years after 1974 the status quo created an illusion of stability. In recent years, however, the intensification of Turkey’s aggression against Cyprus – and other states in the region too – has confirmed that the partitionist, occupying status quo poses enormous dangers for peace, security and our future. The Cypriot people – Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots – and its youth have the right to live in a free, united and secure homeland, without barbed wires of division, armies, minefields and bases. It is enough to think that if the billions spent for decades on military armaments were be channeled into social development and the people’s needs, our country would be a much better place.
- Over the years, the Cypriot people have faced many difficulties as a result of the division of the country. What interests are at stake and who gains from maintaining this occupation?
Partition was a strategic choice of NATO and its ultimate goal was “double enosis”, that is one part of the island to be united with NATO member Greece and the other with NATO member Turkey. By doing so, this would ensure that Cyprus would remain under NATO control forever, as a military base against the peoples of the region – an “unsinkable aircraft carrier” -, as a spy/surveillance base against the Soviet Union and a centre for controlling trade corridors. Turkey, the Greek Junta of Athens and the chauvinists in the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities collaborated in the implementation of this plan, resulting in the massacre of the people and our country being partitioned.
Today, Erdogan’s Turkey sees Cyprus as an extension of Anatolia (Note: peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent). and is promoting the incorporation of the occupied areas and the cultural assimilation of Turkish Cypriots, despite the resistance of a large section of them. At the same time, it is obvious that the EU and US not only do not intend to impose sanctions and adopt a strong stance against Turkey’s aggression, but on the contrary, seem ready for new ‘give and takes’ with Erdogan, seeking to keep Turkey away from Russia. Finally, we must acknowledge that in Cyprus too, making use of nationalist ideological concepts, interests exist that are comfortable with the status quo have been formed over the decades. In the Turkish Cypriot community, forces have become addicted to the idea of a separate state, such as the illegal entity that was set up in the occupied territories since 1983. On the other hand, within the Greek Cypriot community – where some consider themselves as sole owners of the Republic of Cyprus – various economic and political circles see their interests as being better served by the status quo, without the presence of Turkish Cypriots in the state.
What is certain is that the only loser from a conclusion of partition is the Cypriot people themselves, who will continue to live divided within their own country, with permanent uncertainty and dangers hanging over their heads.
Faced with all the pressures and misinformation aimed at perpetuating the status quo, what are AKEL’s initiatives with a view to the reunification of the Cypriot homeland?
AKEL is the big pole that expresses and unites those who believe in independence, reunification and demilitarisation. At the political level, AKEL submitted to the President of Cyprus a comprehensive proposal with initiatives that must be taken towards the Turkish Cypriot community and in every other direction in order to overcome the current dangerous deadlock. Unfortunately, so far, we have not been listened to. However, we haven’t given up. We are mobilising the people in demonstrations against the occupation and partition, in favour of the resumption of negotiations for a solution of a bizonal, bicommunal federation. We use the European Parliament and other international platforms to promote the struggle for liberation and reunification. We take initiatives at every level to strengthen the rapprochement and cooperation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. We are struggling against nationalism-chauvinism that is being cultivated in society, the educational system and the mass media. International solidarity with the struggle of Cyprus is of great importance to us. The resolution expressing solidarity with Cyprus adopted last year by the Portuguese Parliament, on the initiative of the Portuguese Communist Party, was indicative of this.
- The Cypriot people’s struggle to put an end to the Turkish occupation has been persistent and tireless, namely for the creation of a bi-communal and bizonal federation. How do you do this action continuing in the near future?
The truth is that the current phase is extremely difficult. First and foremost, because of the insistence of Turkey and the new Turkish Cypriot leadership of Ersin Tatar on changing the basis of the negotiations and discussing a two state solution, namely partition. Various “ideas” being floated, by Britain and others, for a “middle solution” between federation and confederation, are also dangerous. President Anastasiades, who for a long period of time appeared reluctant to enter into negotiations, was not clear enough about the solution. However, we believe that the majority of the Cypriot people realise the horrific dangers that have appeared on the horizon. AKEL has made it clear in every direction. We will never accept the partition of our homeland and people. That is why we are focusing all our efforts on the objective of resuming negotiations on the agreed basis and framework, from the point where they had remained at the last conference on Cyprus at Crans-Montana in 2017.
