Speech by AKEL Parliamentary Representative G. Loukaides at the meeting to denounce the anniversary of the declaration of the illegal regime in the occupied territories
Either we solve the Cyprus problem with bizonal, bicommunal federation, or we will end up with partition
AKEL continues the struggle together with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots
15 November 2021, Orfeas checkpoint, Nicosia
Today marks 38 years since that fateful day when the then Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, in full coordination and with Ankara’s support, declared the pseudo-state in the occupied areas. He made sure, beforehand, to stifle any dissenting voices within the Turkish Cypriot community.
With this illegal secessionist action, which violated international law, yet another decisive link was added to the chain of Turkey’s illegal plans seeking the final division of our homeland. Nine years earlier in the summer of 1974, nearly five decades from today, Turkey, exploiting the American-engineered treasonous coup of the Greek Junta and EOKA B, committed the crime of the Turkish invasion and ongoing Turkish occupation of our country, which was planned in the headquarters of NATO.
From the podium of tonight’s mobilisation we denounce in the strongest possible terms the invasion, occupation and illegal declaration of the pseudo-state. We renew our vow to continue the struggle against the fait accompli of the invasion. We strengthen our voice and unite it with that of our progressive Turkish Cypriot compatriots who also reject the partitionist status quo. Together we keep the hope alive, strengthening the struggle for the liberation, solution and reunification of our homeland and people.
We send a loud message to be heard both inside and outside Cyprus that we will never compromise with the occupation and division. That we will never stop fighting for a Cyprus that belongs to its people. For our people to become masters of their land again. To vindicate the blood that was shed by those who have left us, sacrificing their own lives for democracy and freedom. Primarily though to secure the perspective for the future generations. Building together with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots a common future of peace, security and fraternity in our common homeland.
Unfortunately, developments on the Cyprus problem do not permit us to be optimistic that the day of vindication for our homeland will come soon. On the contrary, dark clouds have been gathering in the Cypriot skies in recent years, creating a dangerous political situation.
New, unprecedented illegal acts aimed at the colonisation of Famagusta.
Provocative actions in the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), accompanied by military tension.
A prolonged negotiating deadlock, which does not even permit the appointment of a UN special envoy for the Cyprus problem.
With each passing day, Turkey is intensifying its actions for the full integration of the occupied territories at a rapid pace. Turkey and Ersin Tatar, after two decades, are officially putting forward their position for a two state solution.
At this point, the danger of states gradually accepting the illegal regime is more than visible, leading to its upgrading from an illegal to an unrecognised entity. Literally, we are just one step away from permanent partition. The Cyprus problem is at its worst point ever.
There is no doubt whatsoever that Turkey bears the main and primary responsibility for these negative developments and for the dangerous situation that has evolved. Its responsibility for the creation and perpetuation of the Cyprus problem is equally grave.
On the other hand, there is no doubt that Mr. Anastasiades’ handling of the situation, instead of hindering or at least making it more difficult, has on the contrary greatly facilitated the Turkish adventurist plans and illegal fait accompli against our country.
Mr. Anastasiades took over the handling of the Cyprus problem from D. Christofias with joint communiqués that ensured our just demands, with strong convergences, agreed and recorded. With the international community crediting us with the will and desire for a solution of the Cyprus problem. With an open window for the exploitation of natural gas and realistic possibilities for this to be used as a catalyst for a solution, as the subsequent developments leading to Crans-Montana demonstrated.
Nine years onwards, where have we been led to?
First of all, the loss of the historic opportunity for an agreed solution at Crans Montana, with Turkey leaving the conference completely exonerated and relieved of responsibilities, but also praised for its stance by both the UN Secretary General and the European Commission. And Nicos Anastasiades’ narrative on the reasons for the collapse clashes completely with that of the Secretariat of the UN.
We recall that Mr. Guterres, not only did not act hostile to the Greek Cypriot positions at the conference, so that expediencies could not be attributed to him, but on the contrary, in a clear manner, both in the well-known Framework bearing his name and in an informal document he submitted, he proposed the position for the abolition of the Treaty of Guarantee and its replacement with a mechanism for the implementation of the solution, with the guarantor powers retaining only an advisory role. This proposal was rejected by Nicos Anastasiades, according to the relevant statements by Greek Foreign Minister Mr. Kotzias.
Consequently, the President’s complete inability to officially challenge, through diplomatic channels, the UN Secretary General’s narrative, was not at all a coincidence. As a result, the impression has since become internationally entrenched that the Greek Cypriot side is equally responsible for missing this historic opportunity. The facts about Nicos Anastasiades’ criminal handlings at Crans Montana speak for themselves and the selective invocation of UN Secretariat minutes, as well as their misinterpretation, does not change that impression.
An impression that subsequently deteriorated due to the regressions, delaying tactics, contradictions, inconsistencies and adventurist handlings by Nicos Anastasiades that were followed at Crans Montana up to the present day.
While the President of the Republic has declared and continues to declare his respect for the negotiating acquis, he has never ceased to challenge it in various ways. For a long period of time he questioned the Guterres Framework. From the beginning to the present day, he has challenged key convergences that he himself had accepted. Most recently, he has also questioned the very basis for a solution of the Cyprus problem when he proposed a return to the London-Zurich agreements and the 1960 Constitution and thus the solution of a unitary state. Worst of all, of course, is that, without any shame, he went so far as to flirt with a two state solution.
As a result, the blow to his international credibility has now assumed dramatic proportions and borders on discredit. We now have admissions of Nicos Anastasiades’ untrustworthiness, not only made by his former Foreign Minister, Giannakis Kasoulides, but also his Chief Negotiator, Andreas Mavroyiannis.
It was therefore only to be expected that Turkey would seek to take full advantage of the ‘gifts’ that Mr. Anastasiades constantly gives it.
It was also entirely predictable that Turkey would impose new, unprecedented illegal fait accompli against Cyprus and the prospect of a solution to the Cyprus problem, exploiting the prolonged deadlock, for which the Greek Cypriot side is now considered jointly responsible for.
It is no coincidence that despite Turkey’s unprecedented provocativeness and aggression, the international and European reaction has not been commensurate and corresponding. On the contrary, this reaction remained timid and lukewarm and ultimately totally unable to prevent the Turkish machinations. We certainly do not underestimate the interests served behind this stand. But these have always existed.
The question is why is it now that Turkey has felt that it has found a fertile ground to impose new fait accompli against Cyprus?
To this we must add the government’s inability to correctly assess the dangers, but also make a problematic evaluation of our own capabilities, as well as of the intentions that have dominated the handlings that have been made in recent years.
The government ruling forces downplayed and underestimated the danger of losing Famagusta when, via statements made by the Foreign Minister himself, they told us that Turkey’s moves were mere “communication games”, reassuring the people that Famagusta cannot be lost easily.
They also underestimated and failed to take preventive measures with regards the illegal actions that Turkey was planning in the Cypriot EEZ, when once again Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides reassured us that Ankara has neither the cooperations with other countries in place, nor the technical means and capabilities to carry out its threats.
Similarly, by misjudging the realities and for internal consumption purposes, the government ruling forces turned the imposition of European sanctions on Turkey into an end in itself, ignoring the self-interest of the EU member states, with the result that we suffered an unprecedented diplomatic defeat and isolation.
AKEL promptly warned about all that is tragically unfolding today. We certainly did not have any clairvoyant abilities. It is the absence of any expediencies, as well as our insight and the drawing of correct conclusions from the long history of the Cyprus problem, which enabled us to make correct assessments and propose realistic and feasible positions for dealing with developments on the Cyprus problem.
These elements are unfortunately completely absent from the government’s own handlings. Not only have we not been listened to, but on the contrary we have and continue to be slandered, as well as facing the distortion of our positions, the mockery of Mr. Anastasiades, which goes as far as making the insulting aphorisms that “AKEL must stop representing the interests of Turkey and the pseudo-state and start representing the interests of the Greek Cypriots”.
The leadership of the ruling DISY party is certainly not blameless either, since all these years it has not only tolerated, but indeed has fully supported Nicos Anastasiades and his policy on the Cyprus problem too.
For that reason, neither Mr. Anastasiades, nor DISY seems to be particularly concerned about the negative developments and the dangers that have been created to the Cyprus problem. On the contrary, they continue to pursue the same, dead-end policies.
So long as Mr. Anastasiades and the DISY leadership pretend that they don’t understand where Cyprus is heading, time is running out. Turkey is implementing its plan for the permanent partition of Cyprus. We must repel this plan before it is too late for our country, before it is too late for the Cypriot people.
We insist on pointing out that Cyprus will only be saved if it is liberated and reunited.
That is precisely why we call for consistency to the goal of resuming the talks from where they left off in 2017.
We insist that even belatedly Mr. Anastasiades must show full respect for the negotiating acquis (agreed body of work).
We will continue to warn that his inconsistency and backtracking on his part over what was agreed fully facilitates Turkey to put forward unacceptable proposals that are not only outside the framework, but also abolish the agreed framework of the solution itself.
Similarly, such behaviour on the part of President Anastasiades creates space for third party proposals to be tabled, which attempt to bridge the gap between what has been agreed and the unacceptable proposals of Turkey and Ersin Tatar.
What we as AKEL are proposing is very specific and it would be useful if Mr. Anastasiades would finally take the time to discuss it seriously with us.
Of course, we don’t claim to have discovered the magic formula. But it is, in our view, a path that we should at least try to pursue by removing the pretexts and excuses invoked by Turkey. If we do not succeed, then at least the responsibility will not be assigned on us, but on Turkey and its intransigent stand.
With our proposal, we urge Mr. Anastasiades to declare and demonstrate his insistence on a solution of a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as defined in the relevant Resolutions of the UN Security Council. He needs to demonstrate consistency to the position for a continuation of the talks from where they left off at Crans Montana and reaffirm the convergences that have been reached.
Mr. Anastasiades should proceed with negotiations on the Guterres Framework and express his readiness to submit bridging proposals with a view to reaching a speedy conclusion on a strategic understanding.
And then, and only then, when we reach a strategic understanding with the Turkish Cypriot side, to bring the natural gas factor into the discussion with the involvement of the Turkish Cypriots.
And then and only then, when the Cyprus problem is resolved, will the United Republic of Cyprus and Turkey begin talks on a mutually beneficial agreement on the route of a natural gas pipeline to Turkey, if it is deemed beneficial from an economic and technical point of view.
And then and only then, when there is a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, the Federal Republic of Cyprus will not put any obstacles in the way of Turkey’s participation in the wider energy plans in the region, provided that it acts within the framework of international law.
At this point, we must finally speak plainly, clearly and truthfully and assume responsibility for our own actions.
Partition is knocking on our door.
Colonalisation represents a direct threat to the very survival of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in the land that gave birth to them.
Time is running out. The generation that lived before 1974 and has memories of the occupied territories is slowly fading away in the refugee settlements.
Greek Cypriot properties are changing hands.
Our homeland is slowly changing hands.
Famagusta will be opened, but it will not belong to us.
For that reason, there is no room for any more illusions.
It is an illusion that time is on our side.
It is an illusion to believe that we can go on as we are today.
It is an illusion that there are other solutions.
Either we solve the Cyprus problem, with the solution that we have agreed, the solution of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality as described in the United Nations texts, or we will be left with partition.
Either we reunite our homeland, or we will have borders with Turkey in our own country and permit half of Cyprus to be colonized and armed uncontrollably until the day Turkey takes the step of also moving into the free areas.
We continue to struggle for a reunited Cyprus, together with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots who are reaching out over the barbed wires of division, to strengthen our common struggle for our common homeland.
We continue to struggle with conviction because we want our children to know their whole homeland, to experience the beauties of our whole island.
To live the scents of the orange trees of Varosha, the golden beauty of the plain of Mesaoria, the jasmine that blossomed and spread throughout Nicosia, the life that the older generations lived together with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, together at work and in struggle, together in joys and sorrows.
To live and enjoy the wave that lulled the people of this place to sleep in Kyrenia but there on the edge, at Apostolos Andreas, where the world seemed so small but so big.
To live again the hour when mother Cyprus will embrace all her children.
So we continue the struggle. For the future we envision.
We continue to raise the Cypriot flag high, with the motto, written in blood: Cyprus! One homeland – One People!
