From the Common Defense Space Doctrine to diplomatic blunders
From the Common Defense Space Doctrine to diplomatic blunders
Her Dr. Anna Konstantinidou , Historian-Internationalist *
Even within the framework of diplomatic courtesy, you don't talk to the Occupier, even to state the obvious...
There are both the competent bodies and officials of your State who are in charge of these specific talks, as well as the international bodies and officials who take on the role of negotiator...
And because it may be said by some that even in times of armed conflict there is negotiation between the parties involved, simply in this case we have neither a war, nor a recognized state entity for the leader of a State to talk, I emphasize even for the obvious, with the "leader" of an occupied, geographical part, which nor does it enjoy the characteristics of a de facto state....
Should the Prime Minister see his advisors again???... At this stage, there is no room for mistakes, as on the one hand only wrong messages are being projected in every direction, and on the other hand, the dynamic, diplomatic maneuvers from February 2019 onwards are being indirectly but clearly undermined...
And if the Greek State wants to do something dynamic at this stage for Cyprus, to restore the Unified Defense Doctrine which has been abandoned...
One of the General Staff of the Hellenic National Defense Forces who left his mark and legacy on the Armed Forces and therefore on the Greek State, Admiral, Mr. Christos Lymberis, initiator of the unified defense area with Cyprus and with the cooperation of Pterarchou Nikolaos Kouris and General Nikolaos Vorvolakos They built a unified military defense, recognizing only on this basis the unified “territorial”, that is, geographical area of Greece and Cyprus…
Unfortunately, the political governments of the years that followed abandoned this "bracelet", which if they had "worn and shown off" in every conversation with Turkey and its mouthpiece, today the neighboring country would simply not have a voice....
The objectives of the Doctrine, according to Admiral Mr. Christos Lymberis, were:
“The Doctrine aims to promote the functional unity of the defense efforts of two independent states, Greece and Cyprus, within an area of mutual interest and with a purely defensive orientation. Its main features are that it recognizes Turkey as a common military threat, respects the international entity of the Republic of Cyprus, strengthens the local defense potential, commits Greece to providing military assistance to Cyprus in the event of an attack and strengthens the Greek aeronautical presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. (…)”
The Doctrine boosted the morale of the Greek Cypriots, increased the defense potential of Cyprus, upgraded operational planning and training, overturned the psychology of the Greek Cypriots' hostage to Turkish dispositions, does not oppose NATO and the US defensive objectives in the Eastern Mediterranean, is in line with the UN Charter, was accepted by a broad majority of public opinion in Greece and Cyprus and can be adapted to new circumstances, e.g. to a possible demilitarization of Cyprus.
The connection between the Aegean and Cyprus thus came to the fore more strongly. Cyprus, militarily and strategically, functions as a bridgehead for Greece's security.
The Doctrine serves the Greek strategic goal of our presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. How can we ignore that? 10% of the Greek population lives in Cyprus; "
*Dr. Anna Konstantinidou is a Historian-Internationalist, Doctor of Public Law and Political Science at the Law School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, researcher at the same School, External Associate of the Higher Interdisciplinary War School and member and researcher at the Hellenic Institute for Strategic Studies (EL.I.S.M.E.).