Enosis in the era of the solution

Article by Stefanos Stefanou, member of the Political Bureau of AKEL, MP

13/2/2017

“We must know our history”, declared the parties which voted in parliament in favour of introducing an “Enosis Day” in our schools.

But the Enosis referendum is already included in the school curriculum. It is taught to children. Everyone knew this in Parliament, while a relevant reference was made to this fact.

Therefore, this isn’t the reason for the anniversary to be honoured. Something else is behind the decision of the parties DIKO, EDEK, Citizen’s Alliance, Solidarity and the Greens to vote for the proposal tabled by ELAM.

Something else is behind the governing DISY party’s decision to abstain, which resulted in the proposal being approved. Let each party explain the stand it took.

We won’t deal with this. We will focus on the implications of the decision. When a decision is taken what counts is not its intentions, motives and considerations, but its results in relation to the goals and aspirations we have as a country and people.

As for those whose goal is the achievement of a solution that will liberate and reunite the country within the framework of the agreed basis, the results of this decision are negative. They are inconsistent with the sought goal; they do not serve and facilitate it. On the contrary, they counter and undermine this goal.

There are political forces who reject federation. It is logical that they would want to oppose it in any way. But what of the parties who (at least) claim to be in favour of federation? How can they justify their decision? How did the ruling party DISY, which launches fierce daily attacks on all those opposing the President’s policy on the Cyprus problem, arrive at its decision? Does it believe that by doing so the President’s policy is strengthened and that our side’s good will for a solution is demonstrated?

It is interesting to hear what DISY party has to say. It is interesting for us to know what the rest of the parties are saying who claim to support federation, that is the coexistence and co-management of the common state with the Turkish Cypriots. Are we convincing the Turkish Cypriots of our intentions? Do we persuade the international community by on the one hand talking about a common state and on the other by honouring Enosis? Is this the way the culture of a solution and coexistence with the Turkish Cypriots is being cultivated? Those forces and circles who believe they can reconcile the celebration of the Enosis referendum with the cultivation of a culture of a solution, should think about what we would say if the Turkish Cypriot community decided to honor (whatever) anniversary for partition.

The decision to honor the Enosis referendum pulls us back into the past. It revives it. Back then the ruling elites of the Right took the decision for independence and subsequently instead of supporting the newly established state they were constantly flirting with union with Greece. By projecting Enosis as their policy the Greek junta and EOKA B brought the Turkish army of Attila to Cyprus. Their contemporary advocates are following in their footsteps. Why are the rest of them becoming their tool?