Time is dangerously running out… – Article by AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou

 

18 May 2024, Saturday 18 May 2024, “Haravgi” newspaper

The efforts of the UN Secretary General envoy on Cyprus Ms. María Angela Holguín Cuéllar to find common ground, but also her latest statements should generate serious reflection. The prolonged stalemate on the Cyprus problem suits Turkey and all those forces and circles who are seeking to perpetuate the occupation and de facto partition our island. AKEL believes that we need a move that will move us forward and force the international community to turn its attention to Turkey.

We believe that our proposal, tabled from 2020, to make use of energy issues without violating our “red lines” can be the basis on which the President of the Republic can act on.

At the same time, we see Europe adapting its behaviour towards Turkey according to the economic and geopolitical interests of specific powerful EU member states. Nevertheless, we believe that the EU had and has a role to play on the Cyprus problem in order to support a solution to the Cyprus problem on the agreed basis and framework.

It proved this in 2017 with its presence at Crans Montana. That is precisely why, as in Cyprus and in the European Parliament too, we are constantly working to facilitate the creation of those preconditions that will pave the way for the resumption of the talks to solve the Cyprus problem. Our participation in the Left Group since 2004 has been decisive.

That is why we have been entrusted to participate in very important EP Parliamentary Committees, such as the Foreign Affairs Committee, which decides on crucial issues such as EU-Turkey relations. With the Cyprus at the forefront, we have found absolute and consistent support on a principled basis from the Political Group of the Left and we represent it, having taken over the supervision of the Progress Report on Turkey.

Within this context, a number of critical issues and recommendations for us and for Cyprus, which we submit and which concern the necessary improvements to the references on the Cyprus problem, are supported by our Group, other political groups and are adopted. By way of example, in the Turkey 2022 Progress Report we have ensured the inclusion of all Turkey’s Cyprus obligations and the need for Turkey to abandon its position for a two state solution and return to the negotiations, which must resume from the point where they were interrupted in 2017.

In addition, we have introduced important references on the violation of the rule of law and human rights in Turkey, but also particularly important reports on its provocative and illegal actions abroad: Syria, Libya, the migration issue, the ongoing occupation of Cyprus, the illegal colonalisation of Varosha, the violation of the UN-administered buffer zone in Pyla and the persecution of our progressive Turkish Cypriot compatriots.

Our actions extend to other areas of relevance to Turkey, such as our participation in the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, the tabling of parliamentary questions and tabling of amendments to other reports concerning Euro-Turkish relations in general. As we did, for example, with the tabling of an amendment to impose an arms embargo on Turkey, which was opposed by the Group of the European People’s Party…

Legislative work is only one dimension of our work. Equally important is our activity both within and outside our Political Group, the development of personal relations, as well as the cultivation of sustainable synergies with MEP’s from other Political Groups and senior officials of EU institutions.

Within this framework, in cooperation with the Municipality of Famagusta and with the support of other Cypriot MEP’s, we organised in Brussels (February 2023) a special photo exhibition on Famagusta entitled “Together for our common homeland, for our common future”.

The exhibition gave us a rare opportunity to present a glimpse of the harsh reality of the division and the toxic consequences of the ongoing occupation. Through the exhibition we denounced Turkey’s illegal actions and sent a strong message that partition is not an option for the Cypriot people.

The event was addressed by the President of the European Parliament, Ms Metsola, and was attended by, among others, the Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Shinas, the Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakidou, and the Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the EU, Christina Rafti. AKEL will continue this activity in Europe with the new parliamentary term of the European Parliament.

Although the prospect of Turkey’s full membership of the EU and, consequently, the catalytic role of this prospect for a solution to the Cyprus problem has faded, we believe that through correct moves, both here in Cyprus and in Europe too, we can create conditions for the resumption of the talks on the agreed basis and framework. We must not permit the solution of the Cyprus problem to be considered as “closed”…