Blog

The Cyprus Problem on a Path to Destruction

By Phoebus Klokkaris*

After the failure of the five-party conference on the Cyprus problem in April 2021, a new one was scheduled for the summer, without any change in the participants and the positions they support for the solution of the Cyprus problem. Inevitably, since the facts that are all to the detriment of the Republic of Cyprus (RC), have not changed, and the new conference will lead to deadlock or a solution that is disastrous for the Greeks of Cyprus since  :

• The two solutions being discussed are of a confederal form.. The Bizonal Bicommunal Federation (BFF) solution, supported by the CCP and the two-state solution supported by Turkey. They are solutions that serve the Turkish expansionist strategy and the British. They destroy the CCP, legitimize the partition, Turkish control is extended throughout Cyprus and the presence of British bases is perpetuated.

The DDO solution, imposed by Turkey and Britain (with the recommendation of which it was also included in the UN Security Council resolutions, resolution 649/1990) it is a disguised form of confederation. It violates the unity of the state, human rights, the democratic principle of majority decision-making, functionality and security. Despite the fact that the SMP was rejected in a referendum in 2004 (Annan plan) by the overwhelming majority of Greek Cypriots, it continues to be supported by the Governments of the Republic of Cyprus and the leaderships of the major parties, who have the illusion that this solution <<reunifies>> our homeland, while transforming it into a Turkish protectorate.

The two-state solution is a confederation solution , which will result from the dissolution of the TRNC and its transformation into a disarmed EC state and from the legalization of the "TRNC", which will be transformed into a Turkish state controlled by Turkey (settlers - bilateral dependency agreements - troops) which will exercise control over the island through the confederal umbrella and the Turkish state. Turkey does not want two independent states, because it wants to control ALL Cyprus.

• The conference is attended byTurkey and Britain, unbending enemies of the CRC and the Greek Cypriots. The participation of the CRC in five-party conferences with the guarantor powers, without representing itself but the two communities (EC, TC), is a wrong choice, which contributes to degradation of the CD and the resurrection of the  Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance 1960, which have become inactive and invalid because the guarantor powers have violated and are violating their provisions. Furthermore, these treaties are contrary to the UN Charter (Articles 2.1, 2.4, 103) and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (Articles 53 and 60).

• Also worrying is the UN Secretary-General's statement that diplomacy can be "... squaring the circle". He obviously has in mind the new British plan, to combine the PDO solution with that of the two states.

The data for the new five-party system predicts a ominous future for the solution of the Cyprus problem in combination with other worrying elements, such as the action of non-governmental organizations (NGOs)funded from abroad to promote PDO and the indications for an effort   bypassing the referendum, which overturned the Turkish-British Annan plan in 2004. An attempt should be made to ratify the solution by a decision of the parliament. In the upcoming parliamentary elections, positions on the national issue should be the decisive criterion for selecting our representatives in the parliament. We do not forget that by a decision of the parliament, the 1950 unification referendum was prohibited from being taught in our schools.

To the agonizing question of what we should do about the Cyprus problem, the answer is radical revision of our policy  to stop the disastrous course. In military field to strengthen the resistance capacity of the National Guard (National Guard - National Defense Doctrine - Defense Alliances) and in political field to reject solutions in Turkish terms such as PDO, federation, confederation, two states, etc. To support the continuation of operation of the CC as a single state, as it joined the EU with its entire territory and adapted to the European Acquis, reintegration of the occupied territories and further modernization of its constitution, based on the democratic principle of "one person, one vote". The Republic of Cyprus should not take part in any five-party conference and not recognize the power of Treaties Guarantee and Alliance. The Cyprus problem is not a problem of bi-communal difference but the international crime committed by Turkey against the Cyprus Republic. Our struggle with political, diplomatic and legal means should focus on the implementation of international law (removal of occupation troops and settlers, return of refugees, abolition of <<TRNC>>)

*Phoebus Klokkaris is a Lieutenant General (retd.) and former Minister of Defense of the Republic of Cyprus.