Cyprus-Forum.com

[Issy1956]

Dear All,
I picked this up in one of the on line Turkish papers. Interesting statement. Comments and observations please.
Issy
Former Greek Cypriot F.M.: We Have Rejected The Solution Seven Times Since 1974
Published: 8/21/2006
LEFKOSA - ''Greek Cypriots have rejected solution possibilities in the island seven times since 1974,'' admitted Nikos Rolandis, former FM of southern Cyprus, in a statement published in the Alithia newspaper.
''The Greek Cypriots carelessly waste time. The government in power in southern Cyprus had done nothing towards a solution in the past 3.5 years. All opportunities have been missed,'' confessed Rolandis.
Rolandis noted that, after the Greek Cypriots rejected the Annan Plan (in a referendum), he does not know the stance of the Turkish Cypriots.
''Train does not arrive at the station all the time. When the train came, we permitted it to go away,'' underlined Rolandis.
FM Rolandis added that a solution in Cyprus cannot be based solely on the expectations of the Greek Cypriots.
''If a solution cannot be reached, we must be ready for a division in the island'' added Rolandis.

[Kifeas]

Dear All,
I picked this up in one of the on line Turkish papers. Interesting statement. Comments and observations please.
Issy
Former Greek Cypriot F.M.: We Have Rejected The Solution Seven Times Since 1974
Published: 8/21/2006
LEFKOSA - ''Greek Cypriots have rejected solution possibilities in the island seven times since 1974,'' admitted Nikos Rolandis, former FM of southern Cyprus, in a statement published in the Alithia newspaper.
''The Greek Cypriots carelessly waste time. The government in power in southern Cyprus had done nothing towards a solution in the past 3.5 years. All opportunities have been missed,'' confessed Rolandis.
Rolandis noted that, after the Greek Cypriots rejected the Annan Plan (in a referendum), he does not know the stance of the Turkish Cypriots.
''Train does not arrive at the station all the time. When the train came, we permitted it to go away,'' underlined Rolandis.
FM Rolandis added that a solution in Cyprus cannot be based solely on the expectations of the Greek Cypriots.
''If a solution cannot be reached, we must be ready for a division in the island'' added Rolandis.

Nikos Rolandis is a failed politician of Cyprus that holds absolutely no credibility and respect by the vast majority political parties and other political personalities in Cyprus, with the exception of Edy party which collected slightly more than 1% of the votes in the last parliamentary elections and stayed out of the house. His views on almost all issues relating to the Cyprus problem are regarded as extremely pessimistic, defeatist and surrenderist, and are not even paid attention at by anyone in Cyprus. He is usually given space by Alithia newspaper which is one of the most yellow papers in Cyprus with a rather marginal and insignificant circulation.

As for the essence of what he said above, I have to say only this: A whole bunch of Nonsense! All the UN Secretary generals of the past (since 1974,) and all the special UN envoys and foreign diplomats have in numerous times documented in their reports that the main if not the sole source of failures in reaching a solution in Cyprus were down to the intransigent and separatist positions and practices of Rauf Denktash and Turkey, under the Ecevit doctrine and policies claiming that “the Cyprus problem was solved in 1974.” If Rolandis allegations and claimes had the slightest element of truthfulness, the EU would have never taken a decision to proceed with Cyprus’ (a divided country’s) accession process, nor it would have ever taken the decision to accede a divided country into the EU, if it had at any stage felt that it is the RoC and the GC side that are responsible for the lack of progress and the non-reaching of a solution during all the previous years. On the contrary, and this is documented in various, at times, EU commission, EU councils and EU parliament reports since 1990, the lack of a solution or progress is primarily attributed to the policies and practices of the Turkish side, and it is on this consideration that the EU always kept Cyprus’ accession process and final accession open, contrary to the otherwise standard EU policy that doesn’t want the accession of divided countries, or countries with boarder disputes, into it.

Nikos Rolandis talks nonsense! He probably, at the age of 80’s that his now, he suffers from some amnesia or arteriosclerosis problems and he doesn’t know what he is talking about, and what damage his above rubbish comments may have for the GC side.

[Issy1956]

Kifeas,
Thank you for your comments. I had no idea who he was and therefore could not put his comments into perspective.