Cyprus-Forum.com

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Cyprus is the homeland of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots

28.11.2008

Ozcan Ozcanhan

*There is no future of Cyprus without friendship with Turkey. Cyprus has to maintain friendly and good neighbourly relations with Turkey. We cannot have Turkey as an enemy and we cannot be an enemy of Turkey. That is why we are not against Turkey’s membership of the EU. We cannot overlook the reality of Turkey in the region.
* We do not want Turkish or Greek troops - nor British forces and sovereign bases - on our island.
* A Cyprus solution can be found if the two sides work with good intentions and political good-will. Christofias is ready and willing but Talat is not. He cannot act and decide alone.
* I am not an outspoken critic of Christofias. The Greens supported him. But, he did not live up to his promises and party manifesto. We disagree with him on some basic issues
* He went wrong. He should not have said ‘Yes’ to two founding states and he should not accept 50,000 settlers at the beginning. It is not acceptable. No to two founding states and we do not want a single settler from Turkey.
... Those and more ... are the views of Mr. George Perdikes, Green Party Deputy in the House of Representatives, and current party leader.
I interviewed him at the Cyprus Green Party head office in Nicosia. He was straight forward and spoke out on his feelings and the party approach to a Cyprus settlement. Nonetheless, he double-talked about the bloody Greek Military coup d’état in Cyprus in 1974 which toppled President Makarios and declared ‘the Hellenic Republic of Cyprus’. He said that he was a child at the time and that the Green Party did not exist then. AKEL, DYSI and DIKO existed. Green party, EVREKO and others did not exist. Let us talk about the future, not the past.
Yes, the Greek junta made a mistake but Turkey should not invade and occupy Cyprus as a guarantor power. It could restore order and the Cyprus Republic and go back. “We, definitely, do not want any guarantors, neither Greece, nor Turkey nor Britain. Cyprus is a member of the European Union.”
In his view the leaders should now negotiate about the future structure of a federation...

Questions and Answers

Q: Why are you so much opposed to President Christofias’ policies for a Cyprus solution? Are his policies any different from yours? Why are you so openly a critic? What is it that you want that Christofias does not want and support; for example,he demands a unitary state with one sovereignty, single citizenship, single international identity, withdrawal of Turkish forces and return of all Greek Cypriot displaced persons back to their properties, no Turkey guarantee. EDEK leader Omirou, DIKO Leader Karoyan and the EVROKO leader seem to have made an alliance with you against Mr. Christofias...
A: There is no alliance. We supported Christofias in the beginning. But, he gave a wrong impression. We now disagree with him on ‘two founding states’ as demanded by the Turkish side, we want two provinces of the Cyprus Republic. We do not agree on the number of settlers and the start of talks with Talat without proper, sufficient preparation. He did not comply with his party programme and promises he made before. Why did he say ‘Yes’, at the start of negotiations with Mr. Talat, so that 50,000 settlers from Turkey can stay in Cyprus in the event of a settlement, without discussions? Christofias accepted 50,000. We do not want even one settler in our country. Cyprus belongs to Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and not to the settlers from Turkey. Turkey invaded and brought them to Cyprus. Turkey does not want a solution and does not want to withdraw its forces and the settlers.

Q: But Turkey did not come without a reason. Greece invaded Cyprus with a bloody coup against Makarios and the Cyprus Republic, before Turkey, and declared a Hellenic Cyprus Republic and shed much blood - Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot blood.. Turkey came as a guarantor to stop bloodshed and to restore the Constitutional set-up. Turkish politicians and army commanders said many times before that when the sides in Cyprus reach an agreement and find a fair, honourable and workable settlement, it will withdraw its forces.
A: No, Turkey does not want a solution and to withdraw its forces. We do not want Turkey’s guarantee.

Q. You are aware that Makarios and Denktas, in 1977 and Kyprianou and Denktas in 1979 reached agreement on a bizonal, bicommunal Cyprus republic based on political equality.
Why has the agreed federation not been implemented since 1979 and the leaders are now working for a new agreement?
A: Turkey did not want a federal solution. How could a bizonal, bicommunal federation be sovereign and be implemented. We must have a common state

Q. Now the two leaders have begun talking and trying to find a new solution, who is going to set up the new republic, federal or co-federal. Is it not the two founding states as mentioned in the Annan Plan? You remember Denktas and Clerides negotiated for many years and found no solution.
A. No. Not two founding states, there will be provinces of the Cyprus Republic. Christofias made a mistake by accepting founding states. What is the definition of a bizonal, bicommunal federation and two founding states? We the Greens do not want our island to be divided with a Turkish Cypriot state and a Greek Cypriot state

Q. But the two mini-states exist. The Cyprus Republic and the Turkish republic or administrations as you say. They will form the new republic. If the Cyprus Republic is legitimate the Turkish administration, also, is legitimate. Negotiations now are about bringing them together. In 1963 the Republic and government were seized by Greek Cypriots. There were three Turkish Cypriot ministers in the ten-member cabinet and seven Greek Cypriots with Turkish Cypriot MPs in the parliament. Where are they now? The 1960 Cyprus Republic does not exist under international agreement of 1959 and 1960 (Zurich and London)
A. No, Turkish Cypriots were taken from the republic by your leaders, who told them to withdraw. It was their choice. The Cyprus Republic exists, is a member of the European Union and there are the United Nations Resolutions which give it international recognition. It is recognised by the world’s nations. The talks now must deal with the human rights of all Cypriots, their equality, freedom of movement, settlement, ownership and the freedom for Cyprus. There are so many UN resolutions about Cyprus, but Turkey does not comply. (Despina, a member of the Greens executive committee underlined. “Who is going to push Turkey out ...?” )

Q: UN resolutions are advisory and not mandatory.
A: Look at Israel. Pulled out. Went in again. We do not believe what Turkish leaders and commanders say that they will withdraw their forces if a fair settlement is found. Turkey does not want a solution, does not want to withdraw.

Q: What do you think about the Annan Plan which you have rejected? Christofias was one of its supporters until he allied with the then President Tassos Papadopoulos (Who is seriously ill now. Would you please convey my sympathies and wishes for his quick recovery) and gave the plan a ‘resounding ‘No’’ as asked by President Papadopoulos. Mr. Christofias in our previous interview confided in me and said, “If they gave more time so it was explained to the people to study it well before the referendum, I could have got a ‘Yes’ vote in six months, after some changes.” Is the plan not a thorough summary of the Canadian Plan, Ghali Plan, Cuellar plan, Acheson Plan, confidence building measures and other plans drafted by outsiders?
A: The Annan Plan was a trap. It was not prepared for the people of Cyprus. It was planned for the interests of others and gave the Turkish side more rights or less rights and chances for the Turkish army to stay in Cyprus.

Q: But was the chance for the return of Varosha, other Greek villages and more than one hundred Greek Cypriots to return to their homes not lost?
A: The problem was more about its implementation. Would Turkey implement it if the Greek Cypriots had said ‘Yes’ in the referendum? There was no guarantee that Turkey would implement it.

Q: Do you believe that Talat and Christofias will solve the problem? Mr. Alexander Downer said that the leaders have committed themselves to solve the problem and that he was hopeful.
A: Yes, if they are left alone. Christofias wants a solution. Talat is not free to decide and act. He is under the influence of Turkey

Q: Just because Talat consults with Ankara? What about Greek Cypriot leaders and Christofias who visit Athens often for consultations with Greek government and military commanders
A: No, never with military commanders. Yes, some times Christofias and others go to Greece for exchange of views and consultations. Cooperation is alright. Athens does not, and cannot, dictate to our leaders, political and other issues. The Cypriot government has close relations and cooperation with all the European Union countries. But, it is not the same with Talat and Ankara. Talat is under the pressure of the Turkish government and military leaders. Greek Cypriot political parties have no close and special relations with Athens and Greek parties. They have very good relations with European parties.

Q: What kind of a settlement does your party envisage, that will be honourable, acceptable and workable?
A: One Cyprus Republic: not divided; based on UN resolutions, human and equal rights for all its people, freedom of movement, settlement, and property ownership without any outside guarantees. We are, you also, Europeans - EU citizens. Why should we have outside guarantees or military bases? All foreign troops and bases - the British and their bases - should be out of the Cyprus Republic. The political human and other rights of individuals must be equal. We have to remain away from nationalism and fanaticism and respect the rights of all the people.

Q: What is your opinion about the Moscow-Nicosia Manifesto?
A: Normal. Russia (former Soviet Union) has always been a close sympathiser of the Cyprus Republic

Q: What is Green about your party, what is left of the dry island of Cyprus that is green, without water and dying forests? You are importing water from Greece, thousands of miles away and not from Turkey, so close and more economical?
A: Very good question. That is why personally I say there is no future for Cyprus without the Turkish reality. Water from Turkey is a very good idea. There must be friendly and good neighbourly relations with Turkey. Cyprus cannot have hostile towards Turkey, a Turkish enemy for Cyprus cannot be good for us. We cannot imagine Turkey as an enemy of Cyprus. That is why we say Turkey can be a member of the EU and we are not opposed to it. It will be beneficial for all.
We must have close relations, cooperation and solidarity with our compatriots - Turkish Cypriots and of course friendly relations with Turkey, Israel and the Arabs in the region.
Let us hope green and let us think green. We are looking for a viable solution.

from weekly Cyprus Observer Newspaper.