Interview with Stefanos Stefanou AKEL Political Bureau member

Sunday 25 Octοber 2020, “Haravgi” newspaper

• ‘The passage of time without a solution permits the consolidation of the occupation’
• ‘We are not discussing anything other than a bizonal, bicommunal federation’

Q: What does Ersin Tatar assuming leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community mean for your Party and the prospects for resolving the Cyprus problem on the agreed basis?

SS: For us it was very clear, besides we have stated it many, many times long before the voting procedure took place in the occupied territories, that the assumption by Tatar of the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community will make things even more difficult, both as regards the Cyprus problem and relations between the two communities. Tatar is in favor of a two-state solution and rejects the agreed basis of the solution, which is bi-communal, bi-zonal federation. The very negative development of the assumption of the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community by Tatar underlines the need that existed for a resumption of negotiations for the time that Mr. Akinci was at the helm.

The three years that have elapsed with the absence of any negotiations were exploited by Turkey, taking advantage of the fact that the international community had relieved it of responsibilities, to create new serious fait accompli. N. Anastasiades also bears responsibility for not breaking the deadlock in the negotiations, who with his contradictory and erroneous positions, especially on issues regarding the convergences that were recorded, provided an alibi for Ankara to drag its feet.

Q: How must the fact that roughly half of the Turkish Cypriot community is resisting Turkey’s suffocating embrace be utilised?

SS: The fact that a large percentage of the Turkish Cypriot community has come out against Turkey’s very strong interventions in the voting procedure in favor of its chosen candidate Mr.Tatar is both comforting and important. This percentage becomes even higher if we take into account that the settlers from Turkey basically voted for Tatar. The principal message emanating from the Turkish Cypriot’s stance is that they do not tolerate Turkey determining their future. The majority of Turkish Cypriots are very worried about Turkey’s interventions, and especially of the Erdogan government, because they feel – and not unjustifiably – that it changes their character, identity and that it will at the end of the day make them disappear as a community.

It is the belief of the overwhelming majority of Turkish Cypriots that their future can only be secured with the solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of Bizonal, Bicommunal Federation. This is what the Turkish Cypriots expressed with the support they gave to both Mustafa Akinci and the President of the Republican Turkish Party Tufan Erhürman, who joined forces in the second round of voting.

The messages conveyed by the Turkish Cypriot community must be evaluated correctly by the Greek Cypriots and at the same time be utilised in the direction of the international community to show that the majority of the people want reunification within the framework of bizonal, bicommunal federation. We must serve this perspective, on the one hand for the promotion of the procedures for a solution and, on the other, to strengthen the trust between the two communities.

Q: All the indications are that a five-party conference will be convened in November by the UN Secretary-General to sound each side’s intentions. How must the Greek Cypriot side react if the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot side demand a change in the basis of the solution?

SS: In such a case, the Greek Cypriot side’s position must be very clear and without any ambiguities. Besides, our stand must be – and should have been – always clear, which it was not. We do not discuss anything other than a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality, as described in the relevant resolutions of the UN. This basis of the solution has been agreed between the two sides since 1977. It has been adopted by the UN and the EU and we must not discuss anything else. If we are thinking of discussing something else, this will lead to partition and that is precisely why we must not harbor any illusions whatsoever.

Q: If the Cyprus problem is derailed from the agreed basis of the solution provided for in dozens of UN Security Council resolutions, does it mean the abandonment of the effort by the international community and the UN?

SS: It will mean the abandonment of the international community’s efforts for a solution of the Cyprus problem that will liberate and reunite the country and the people within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation. At the same time, this will also mean searching for ways to handle the de facto partition. The fact that the UN Security Council has for some years now changed the reference it makes its resolutions on the status quo is not coincidental. Previously, the UN called the status quo “unacceptable”. Now it calls it “unsustainable”. And that says a lot…

Q: If there is one lesson to be drawn from the developments on the Cyprus problem in recent years, what would it be for you and the President of the Republic?

SS: There are many lessons to be drawn. The latest developments should have convinced all those who are in touch with reality that the passage of time without a solution, includes and creates many dangers for our country and people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Developments must have convinced that the status quo is not a stable and unchanging situation, but a situation that is increasingly getting worse and worse with regards the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, for security in our country and region.

The non-solution of the Cyprus problem is not a solution, but a source of anomaly and danger. There is only one realistic and effective way out to put an end to the fait accompli caused by the Turkish invasion and occupation: the solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of Bizonal, Bicommunal Federation.