Minister of Foreign Affairs 1978-1983
Minister of Commerce, Industry & Tourism 1998-2003
Member of the House of Representatives 1991-1996
President of the Liberal Party 1986-1998
Vice-President of Liberal International 1994-1998
19 July 2017
On the 28th January 1956, the British Government proposed to Archbishop Makarios, through Colonial Secretary Alan Lennox-Boyd, the “Harding Plan” which provided for self-determination in 10 years, with a minimal involvement of the Turkish Cypriots. It was a unique opportunity for Cyprus. Makarios however rejected it, he wanted to improve it. Lennox-Boyd stood up and told him tersely: “God save your people”.
Sixty-one years on, in the early hours of the 7th July 2017, after Cyprus had gone in the meantime through very hard times, adventures, a coup d’ etat, an invasion and occupation by Turkey, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at Crans Montana, Switzerland told leaders Anastasiades and Akinci after the collapse of the Cyprus talks: “I wish the best to all Cypriots, north and south”.
So, we have two wishes addressed to the people of Cyprus. The difference is that in the second wish, “north” and “south” appears, which was not there in the first wish. The reason for this addition is a sad story of the Greeks and Turks of Cyprus, who during all these years, had been chasing what would be better for their own benefit, but eventually they achieved the opposite. Until they reached “the bottom of the ladder of evil” as Greek poet Costis Palamas had put it.
Many Cypriots wonder which is the position today. To which direction are we sailing? Could we recommence a dialogue for the re-unification of the country? And if we do so, what could be the outcome? How can one address issues like security, the turkish army, guarantees, the territorial adjustments (Morphou), properties, settlers, the “large” and “small” vetoes of the Turkish Cypriots, the four freedoms for the Turkish citizens, virgin birth and many others.
There may be another attempt after the presidential elections – before the elections any efforts will be aborted by the many ambitions for the top job. Of course, the question remains: Can national issues be resolved after the lapse of half a century? When the train for a solution was at our station we refused to embark, because some people did not want it. Now we are desperately running after it.
But anyway, what will happen if a federal solution proves unachievable? What will be the future of this beautiful island? How will the main players react?
- Turkey: My opinion has been and still is, that in the aftermath of the 1960 treaties (turkish army in Cyprus, guarantees) and especially after Turkey won the war in 1974, whether we end up with a federal solution or one of the other eventualities, Turkey will insist and will have a role in Cyprus. On account of our sins and blunders of the 1960-1974 era, with the coup d’ etat at the pinnacle, Turkey has managed to justify her own sins and so nobody ever condemned her.
- Greece: She wants to help but for the past 60 years she cannot effectively deliver. At times, her advice was constructive but on other occasions her guidance or intervention was unproductive. The coup d’ etat of 1974 is also debited to her. In the remote part of the Eastern Mediterranean where Cyprus lies, Greece can exercise some influence not of real substance. Furthermore, she cannot cover Cyprus in an effective manner in the military field.
- Israel and the Arab Countries: I shall be very brief. No country in the world, irrespective of friendships, is prepared to sacrifice her own children for the sake of another country. She cannot justify such a sacrifice to her own people. Unless a major national interest is involved.
- Europe: She can offer some institutional assistance but her effective involvement is doubtful. After all, Europe has proved time and again, through her decisions, that her interests with Turkey are predominantly taken into account. It should also be noted that Cyprus can block the accession of Turkey to Europe, as long as Turkey wishes such an accession.
- The British will be the masters of what goes on behind the scenes. They will supervise and follow up everything, with their military bases and their wider interests in the area as the main objectives.
- And Cyprus? The island with a history and civilization of 10,000 years, which has recently acquired a potential dowry of billions of dollars due to natural gas? (which may prove a blessing or a curse). What will happen to our country?
I set forth herebelow, in a raw and realistic language, the various eventualities, in case the last efforts for a federal solution are doomed to failure. What will follow after the lapse of some time, once a revolution for freedom has been excluded because it will clearly lead to disaster and the so-called campaigns for enlightenment of the international community are, in practical terms, tantamount to a big zero?
1st Eventuality: Partition and strong efforts for recognition. Ankara will speed up her political and diplomatic engines to this direction. The effort will be to partition Cyprus and create a new recognised state on the basis of today’s occupation line. There will be additional large turkish and other investments and Famagusta will be re-erected. Turkey will be the Big Brother. I believe that in such a case Ankara will claim, possibly through military means, a large stake in the hydrocarbons.
The Greek Cypriots will of course react strongly with the help of Greece and other countries, in order to avert the definite partition, which will result in a turkish political, military and economic hegemony over 37% of Cyprus. It is difficult to predict the outcome.
2nd Eventuality: Annexation of the occupied territory by Turkey (37% of Cyprus). Turkey annexed in 1939 the district of Alexandretta (Iskenderun), which used to belong to Syria. Other annexations took place in our area in recent years: The Golan Heights of Syria and the West Bank of Jordan (by Israel) and Crimea of Ukraine (by Russia). Turkey has sent out many signals towards this direction in recent years. In such a case, the whole occupied Cyprus territory will be incorporated into the trunk and become part of Turkey. It will end up as one of her districts, probably with a special status. Turkey will also claim part of the hydrocarbons.
3rd Eventuality: An agreed velvet divorce between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, including the return of territory to the Greek Cypriots. In such a case, the existence of two states on the island of Cyprus will be agreed and the hydrocarbon reserves will also be equitably divided. Such a solution will of course cause very big confrontations and objections on the Greek Cypriot side, because a Greek signature will be used to divide Cyprus into two parts.
4th Eventuality: This may one day occur if we are not extremely cautious, even if one of the other solutions is initially adopted. It is nightmarish. It is highly unlikely but not impossible, because Turkey was proven to be a domineering, unpredictable and dangerous country. It is the possible intention of Turkey to occupy the whole of Cyprus in the remote future, by using her strong military machine. Such a detestable outcome will probably cause a Greco Turkish war, a collapse of the South-Eastern wing of NATO, an earthquake in Europe, a reaction by Israel and other countries. However, a great lot of wisdom and caution is needed. What Turkey did back in 1974 was also impermissible. But she did it, taking advantage of the prevailing circumstances, our many mistakes and the weakness of Hellenism at that time.
The two wishes, that of Alan Lennox Boyd and the other of Guterres are floating at present in the blue seas of Cyprus. I pray that the God of Cyprus and at the same time our wise actions (The God alone is not enough) will lead to peace and prosperity and avert any negative outcome.
