Speech by

Vasos Lyssarides

I wonder whether I could define borders between the so-called internal and external dimension of the Cyprus problem.

I will speak medically.

The history of the patient

The ex-colonial power (I am hesitant to say ex) Great Britain introduced a third country, Turkey, for the solution of an internal (intercolonial) problem.

The aim was to utilize Turkey and through her use the Turkish Cypriot community, create the myth of the impossibility of peaceful co-living and impose a divisive racial, non- functionable regime and thus safeguard their politico-military presence.

This strategy persists till today.

Present condition of the patient

Turkey, taking advantages of the coup, invaded imposed ethnic cleansing and created a geographical dividing line.

Further through settler’s colonization they tried to change the demographic structure of the island and render the indigenous Turkish Cypriot population a minority in the occupied regions.

This happened against the protests of the Turkish Cypriots.

Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots have been the victims of the expansionist policy of Turkey and the divisive policy of Great Britain.

Kissinger was the mastermind of the last stage. Coup-invasion-ethnic cleansing, elimination of the legitimate government of President Makarios, imposition of a manageable regime and a solution based on functioned, racial and up to a point geographical partition. The intercommunal dialogue was exploited by Turkey to acquire an alibi and present the problem as an intercommunal feud.

The opposing sides are Cyprus on one hand and the occupying power on the other.

It is my firm conviction that if Greek-Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots were left alone, against any differences of approach they could reach a mutually accepted solution.

The U.S. managed to manipulate the activities of the U.N. Secretary General and present a proposal which should be foreseen to be rejected by the Greek Cypriots.

I need not elaborate on the Annan plan unless there is a request to do so.

Through it, Turkey would safeguard a permanent military presence and supervision rights over Cyprus.

The rejection of the Annan plan was not a rejection of the unification of the island, but a rejection of legalization of a divisive regime.

The obstacle was not the privileges granted to the Turkish Cypriots.

It is my belief that if any solution is functionable and if foreign interventions are eliminated, the people in the process will work on the basis of their class (allow me the expression) interests and create common organizations and parties, which at the same time maintaining the special rights given to the Turkish community.

Cyprus is now a member of the E.U. as a whole. Europe offers enough guarantees for security and democratic structures which would guarantee the well-being and equal participation of all individual citizens in the everyday control of its affairs.

I need not add that the acquis communataire is incompatible with occupation, with violation of human rights and with bypassing the decisions of the European courts which declared the regime in the north as legally non-existent, Turkey as being responsible for any violation, and reconfirmed that the right of ownership of property in inalienable.

Therapy

The procedure adopted did not correspond to the nature of the problem, i.e. a question of invasion, occupation, ethnic cleansing and de facto partition. Rather it corresponds to a diagnosis of pneumonia and as a treatment the bandaging of the knee.

The therapy should aim at establishing a unitary country, without foreign hegemony and foreign military presence presence, with safeguarding the human rights of all citizens, including the privileges allotted to the Turkish Cypriots.

I already mentioned that I accept this last deviation because I believe that in time with the consent of both parties this will lead to a normal society not based on ethnic criteria, but social.

That is why I rejected, and I will continue rejecting, plans that solidify foreign hegemonic rights and racial criteria.

I want to stress that I will struggle in defense of the rights of any group whether I belong to it or not and I hope that I have given signs of this approach even outside my country (Africa, Middle East and elsewhere)

As long as Turkey can militarily and politically manipulate the Turkish Cypriot community, the problem will not lead to a solution.

An added negative factor is Great Britain with its target to maintain her permanent politico-military presence on the island.

And the case is complicated by U.S. policy. Though its interests are not essentially damaged by a correct solution of the Cyprus problem, the U.S. sides with the views of Turkey which they consider as a valuable and important proxy element for their oil and Middle East policy.

Means and ways should be found to bring the two communities together in the spirit of real co-habitation.

Research Center - Intercollege