The credibility of Cyprus’ foreign policy is at stake – Article by Giorgos T. Georgiou – AKEL Political Bureau member
Saturday 1 October 2022, “Haravgi” newspaper
The Republic of Cyprus is in danger of losing credibility also in the conduct of its foreign policy. In recent years we have witnessed an increasing dependence and subjugation of Cyprus’ foreign relations with countries of the Western world. I want to make it clear from the outset that the participation [of the Republic of Cyprus] and implementation of the policies and decisions of the European Union is given. However, as an equal member, Cyprus is entitled to maintain its views and judgments on a number of issues, particularly with regards local and regional crises, indeed when they concern issues that directly affect our country and the struggle we are waging for the vindication of our people.
What we are currently witnessing and experiencing is a blatant American intervention in the internal affairs of Cyprus which is reaching the point of total domination. These American aspirations are part of the wider geopolitical, geostrategic and geo-economic interests of the US and are aiming at completely alienating the Republic of Cyprus from its traditional friends and allies.
These policies have assumed a concrete form and substance with the election to the Presidency of President Anastasiades and have since evolved into a daily slide into erroneous paths.
The government ruling forces started with policies to combat terrorism, extended to the issues relating to the banking system and the alleged fight against corruption, to the targeted takeovers of large institutions and enterprises, such as hospitals, universities and other key institutions. The culmination of all this development was the promotion into law of the Rubio-Menendez bill for the lifting of the US arms embargo. This was a due restoration of justice by the US, which has been equating the perpetrator Turkey with the victim Cyprus since 1987, accompanied by conditions that bring us into full conflict with both Russia and China and deepen our dependence on the Americans and NATO.
The Americans, if they do have a role to play as a catalyst, it is to work for the vindication of Cyprus, the withdrawal of the Turkish troops, the liberation and reunification of our homeland. Is that too much to ask? Of course not! This is the only way can all the statements made by Americans can have any substance and the only way principles and values can be applied without discrimination. To solve the Cyprus problem and to discuss everything that concerns mutual cooperation and benefit. Otherwise it is like selling air in a bag.
Unfortunately, under the Anastasiades-DISY government, our multidimensional foreign policy is becoming one-dimensional. Our international credibility is being undermined. President Anastasiades’ decision to cancel his meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister, Mr. Sergey Lavrov, sends the wrong messages. It is one thing to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and it is quite another and fundamental thing to cut off ties with a country like Russia, which has always supported the Republic of Cyprus on many levels.
The credibility of any country in international diplomacy is judged on a daily basis by its consistency and positions of principle. All the more so when this concerns a small and semi-occupied country like Cyprus. The policy of pinning all our hopes on one power comes at a corresponding cost. We are not the harbingers of evil, but there is a lot of suffering ahead for Cyprus!
