Reflections on empty promises of Greek protection
THREE months ago, Greece’s Minister of National Defence Demetris Avraamopoulos came to Cyprus on an official visit. On November 18 he met our president and after the meeting he spoke to journalists.
This was when he opened his mouth and let fly the familiar demagoguery and slogans that are standard discourse, unfortunately, of all the politicians of Greece when they are in Cyprus. And he showed no restraint.
“The message from my visit to Cyprus is deeper, higher and more significant. It is the meaning of security and the protection and safeguarding of the integrity and independence of the island, which is guaranteed by the Greek Republic, by Greek policy and the defence system of the country.”
After singing the praises of President Christofias who, according to Avraamopoulos “is waging his own national struggle”, he added: “In the defensive field - and this is underlined by my presence here- Greece, once again, publicly declares that it guarantees the integrity, security and independence of the Cyprus Republic.”
I become very annoyed every time I hear politicians engaging in these appalling displays of pseudo-patriotism, resorting to demagogic slogans, which sound nice to naive citizens while ignoring the real consequences of this irresponsible rhetoric. I become particularly annoyed with this ruthless mocking by politicians from Greece.
These empty promises, regrettably, mislead a lot of naive people, creating hopes and expectations that can never be realised. In Cyprus we have experienced many times in the past the disastrous consequences of such slogans.
The trust ordinary people have in Greece, based on the illusion that she could protect us from the Turks, inevitably creates the wrong impressions and lulls people into a sense of security that does not exist.
This is why I was so irritated hearing Avraamoupoulos’ big words. On Sunday, watching Athens burning on my television, I remembered him and thought of asking him a few questions, even though it might be a bit late.
Are you being serious Mr Avraamopoulos when you claim that Greece guarantees the security of Cyprus? You cannot guarantee the security of Athenians, 100 metres from the Greek Parliament building and you think you are in a position to guarantee the security of 700,000 Greek Cypriots, 1,060km away?
Are you being serious Mr Avraamopoulos when you say you guarantee the integrity of the island? You cannot even guarantee the integrity of 50 buildings in the centre of Athens and you claim you could guarantee the integrity of a whole island with 250,000 buildings and so far away?
You in Greece, have surrendered your country to a few hundred hooligans who are running rings around the security forces but still insist that you could protect us from the Turkish army which numbers 500,000.
Are you being serious Mr Avraamopoulos when you say that our security was guaranteed by “the defensive system of the country”? What defensive system are you talking about? The defensive system that cannot defend Greece against 800 masked hooligans will defend Cyprus against Turkey of 70 million people?
Who do you think you are kidding? When you open your mouth to utter this nonsense do not assume that we are all simpletons. You would do well, instead of talking to us about protection and security, to focus on how you would protect the hapless Athenians and how you would offer protection to the buildings in Stadiou Street from the marauding, masked hooligans.
Find someone to guarantee your security and leave us to our own fate. After all we deserve what we get just as you do.
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/refle ... n/20120219
What else can I say? Loucas nails it!
