Cyprus-Forum.com

[ZoC]

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/opinions/our ... 4/20110327

NOT VERY much was made of the WikLeaks revelations, about the rather peculiar relations between the governments of Athens and Nicosia in the aftermath of the 2004 referendum, published by the Greek newspaper Kathimerini. Some have already dismissed the observations contained in the telegrams sent by US ambassador in Athens Charles Ries as gossip, but this is because some unpalatable truths are mentioned.

Despite the public assurances by the governments – of Costas Karamanlis and Tassos Papadopoulos – that there was close co-operation on the Cyprus issue and unified policy, the truth was quite different. The then Greek foreign minister Petros Molyviatis, reportedly admitted that he could not communicate with his Cypriot counterpart, George Iacovou on Turkey-EU matters and therefore avoided talking to him.

Molyviatis was also reported as saying that President Papadopoulos was not “particularly popular among Greek officials but had more leverage over Greece than Greece had over Cyprus.” Prime Minister Karamanlis kept his distance from Papadopoulos, while Molyviatis, reportedly, did everything he could to avoid Iacovou. The source of Ries’ information was Molyviatis, who, as foreign minister, heaped lavish praise on Papadopoulos in public and paid lip service to the supposedly impeccable co-operation between Athens and Nicosia. He often repeated the mantra that “Cyprus decides and Greece supports”, which really means that Greece washes its hands of Cyprus.

An explanation about Athens’ vociferous public support of Papadopoulos’ decisions was contained in another telegram sent by the US embassy in Athens. The Karamanlis government was “more afraid of creating the impression on the voters that it doesn’t support its Greek ‘little brother’ than that it feared the Turkish troops in northern Cyprus.”

The arrangement suited Nicosia as it could pursue its own objectives while maintaining the myth of co-operation. But there was no joint decision-making as Greece chose to go its separate way in dealing with Turkey. Ries wrote: “Molyviatis believes and we agree that relations with Ankara are much too important to be held hostage by Papadopoulos’ negative stance.” While this has been obvious since the referendum, the telegrams offer proof.

Greek-Turkish co-operation has become much stronger in recent years and the Papandreou government has been pursuing the normalisation of relations with Ankara even more determinedly than its predecessor. George Papandreou and his foreign minister still resort to the public rhetoric about impeccable co-operation with Nicosia but this is even more difficult to believe now that Demetris Christofias is in power.

Christofias has never been a champion of close ties with Greece and only a few months ago advertised his disdain for Greece by accusing her of invading Cyprus with Turkey. AKEL has nursed a long-held animosity and distrust towards the Greek state, which dates back to the Cold War era, when AKEL was loyally following the orders of the Soviet Communist Party. Even now his public statements give the impression that he is closer to Russia than Greece.

AKEL’S arrogance towards Athens was laid bare by one of the telegrams from the US embassy in Nicosia, made public by WikiLeaks. It reported the party’s then parliamentary spokesman Nicos Katsourides saying the following regarding the appointment of a new, Greek foreign minister, who was not to the liking of Nicosia: “No Greek politician can afford a falling out with us. She will eventually have to make a pilgrimage here and she will have to say all the right things. Otherwise she will pay the price back home.”

This has been Christofias’ approach to his relations with Greece. He demands that Athens publicly endorses all his decisions on the Cyprus problem and repeats his rhetoric; he also arranges the occasional meeting with Papandreou to create the illusion of co-operation. Last year he went as far as to boast that a group of legal experts had been set up at Greece’s foreign ministry to offer advice on the handling of the Cyprus problem. It was nothing more than a gimmick.

The reality is that the close and constructive, Athens-Nicosia co-operation which existed during the Clerides presidency and paved the way for Cyprus’ entry into the EU, died in 2004. Christofias, like Papadopoulos before him, is not interested in joint decision making; he wants to call all the shots and Athens to publicly back him. Athens has shown full respect for these wishes, as it could not impose close ties unilaterally, leaving Cyprus to do as it pleases while focusing on full normalisation of relations with Turkey.

The rhetoric about co-operation may continue, but the truth is that we are on our own, quite astonishingly, by our government’s choice.


given the clear difference, which of the two has been pursuing 'hellenic' interests, since 2004, do you think, cyprus or greece?

[Get Real!]

athens-nicosia co-operation died in 2004

Good riddens to bad rubbish!

All we need to do now is get rid of all Cypriot bank branches opened there.

[Paphitis]

Yes well, it just goes to show that even Papandreou and Karamanlis believe that Christofias is an uncouth wanker, who has absolutely no diplomatic skill as a leader whatsoever!

He has no idea about political protocols, as he even addressed an Australian Premier as Australia's Prime minister in Parliament at one time when he was on an official visit. The Consul General, The Premier, and his entourage were very bemused and even looked at each other trying to hold back the urge to laugh! This is akin to saying that Arnold Schwarzenegger is the President of The United States!

This all seems to be very personal, and his reasoning dates back to the days of the Greek Civil War where AKEL would support Greek Anti Government Forces under direction of their Soviet Masters!

Christofias is just an idiot who is not fit to be President but be a village Mukhtari instead!

He is a statesman in wanking that little piece of kreas between his legs!!

[AWE]

Of course this is not news, right?

Greece wanted Cyprus in the EU so as to be rid of the Cypriot tail waging the Greek dog. Then they can happily say the Cypprob is now part of the EU so there is nothing more for us to do, then do business with the largest mixed economy in the region, Turkey, without having to worry about the mad eyed Hellenic nationalists calling them traitors blah blah...

It is all about self-interest and looking after my electorate, not some kind of Pan-Hellenic solidarity, if you think otherwise, grow up!

[ZoC]

Of course this is not news, right?

Greece wanted Cyprus in the EU so as to be rid of the Cypriot tail waging the Greek dog. Then they can happily say the Cypprob is now part of the EU so there is nothing more for us to do, then do business with the largest mixed economy in the region, Turkey, without having to worry about the mad eyed Hellenic nationalists calling them traitors blah blah...

It is all about self-interest and looking after my electorate, not some kind of Pan-Hellenic solidarity, if you think otherwise, grow up!

thanks for that. interesting way of looking at it...

[Cap]

in other words, the Greeks were trying to sell us out.. and it failed?

[ZoC]

this is wot the us ambassador (ries) said, cap:

“Molyviatis believes and we agree that (Greece's) relations with Ankara are much too important to be held hostage by Papadopoulos’ (Cyprus's) negative stance.”

wot i want to know is, which one of the two was acting in hellenic interests? the hellenic republic's foreign minister, molyviatis, or staunch hellenist, papadopoulos?

[insan]

Greek National Day
24 Mar 2011

NICOSIA - President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias, has sent congratulatory messages to the Greek leadership on the occasion of the Greek National Day, March 25, assuring that the excellent cooperation between the two governments at all levels will continue.

In his message to President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias, President Christofias pays tribute to the 1821 generation for "putting into action the dreams and hopes of the old generations, giving the Greek people the utmost gift, their freedom and freedom as people".

In his message to Prime Minister George Papandreou, President Christofias expresses his deep appreciation and gratitude to the support of the Greek government and people in the efforts of the people of Cyprus to find a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, which will constitute the real freedom and reunification of the island.

"I am convinced that the excellent cooperation between our governments at all levels will continue and will give a decisive push in achieving our common goals," President Christofias added.

Greeks celebrate on 25th March the 1821 revolution, marking the launch of the Greek struggle for independence from Ottoman rule.

Cypriot President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu have been engaged in direct negotiations which began in 2008 with a view to solve the problem of Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974. (CNA/ANA-MPA), A.Viketos

http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/1/39519
Someone is lying then...

[quattro]

in other words, the Greeks were trying to sell us out.. and it failed?

is that the first time they tried it .

[Piratis]

I am not sure what more you expected from Greece to do to show solidarity. They do what they can.

Unlike Turkey, Greece has no interests in Cyprus and therefore she of course wouldn't sacrifice the well being of 10 million Greeks to support the 800.000 in Cyprus. If Turkey did the same then the Cyprus problem would have been solved.