The Cyprus issue: the bitter truth 

By Serdar Atai

I recently had the opportunity to read a memorandum of protest by the Association of Alumni and Friends of the Greek Gymnasiums of Famagusta, condemning the long-lasting occupation of the city of Famagusta and of “numerous other segments of our homeland”, the uprooting from their homes and the forced division of the country and its people, while asserting their determination not to accept these events as unalterable and to do everything possible for their annulment, the return to their homes and the reunification of our country. 

 The press release also included the following statement: “We demand the attainment of a solution that finally reunites the country and the people in a territorially united, bicommunal, bizonal federation, with political equality and effective participation, and we reject with anger any attempt to split Cyprus into two unrelated pieces.” 

I wish to assure you that many (probably most) Turkish Cypriots and quite a few of the settlers that are likely to remain in Cyprus adopt this goal but, at the same time, I feel the need to remind readers that for the current tragic situation in Cyprus a very substantial responsibility for what has happened lies with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot community. Let me explain why: 

1. It was Archbishop Makarios who sought the internationalisation of the Cyprus problem and then, in collaboration with Grivas, started the guerrilla war against the British, without any consultation with the Turkish Cypriots, who constituted 1/5th of the Cypriot population, leading the latter to the conclusion that they would suffer the same fate as the Turkish-Cretans, who, a century ago, were forced to abandon their homes in Crete, against their will.

2. It was Archbishop Makarios who signed the constitution of the Republic of Cyprus and he was the first to violate it with his decision to integrate Cyprus into the Non-Aligned Movement (despite the disagreement of the vice-president of Cyprus that was based on an explicit right reflected in the constitution). It was he who attempted to unilaterally amend the constitution and it was he who effectively prevented the creation of five Turkish Cypriot municipalities (as provided for in the Cypriot constitution) and all this within a short time from the proclamation of the Republic of Cyprus, with his own agreement and consent.

3. It was Archbishop Makarios who then attempted to impose his views on the union of Cyprus with Greece, by force, driving the Turkish Cypriots (whose lives were threatened) into isolated Turkish Cypriot enclaves for securing their physical existence.

4. It was Archbishop Makarios who systematically flirted with the Soviet Union and naively believed that small Cyprus could rope-walk between east and west and end-up being the winner.

5. Most of the Greek Cypriot presidents who followed remained loyal to Makarios’ legacies, rejecting all peace plans proposed by the international community for the reunification of Cyprus, naively believing that justice was exclusively on their side and that by remaining unyielding they would be the ultimate winners.

6. Throughout the life of the Republic of Cyprus, Greek Cypriot leaders have systematically accused (and continue to accuse) Turkey for doing what it could be argued that she had an obligation to do, namely to protect the Turkish Cypriots from a total annihilation.

Turkey is often accused of coming to Cyprus in 1974 supposedly to protect the Turkish Cypriots and remaining on the island for 50 years.  However, it is an indisputable fact that during these 50 years there has been no concrete proposal nor any effective measures had been taken by the Republic of Cyprus to provide the desired level of security to the Turkish Cypriots.  On the contrary, Greek Cypriot voices were often heard advocating the isolation of Turkish Cypriots “until they are forced to kneel”. 

The consequences of the reckless behaviour of our leaders led to the territorial partition of Cyprus with tragic consequences for both Turkish and Greek Cypriots.  Undoubtedly, tragic mistakes and barbarities have been committed, on both sides, but that is the past. 

Today, we must approach the future with seriousness, honesty and fairness and we must show that our intentions are honourable. 

The Greek Cypriot side, as the majority community of Cyprus, has an obligation to formulate and submit a comprehensive, balanced proposal for the reunification of Cyprus, based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with political equality and effective participation, ensuring the security of all Cypriots. 

A specific proposal was made three years ago by the bicommunal Eastern Mediterranean Think Tank (eastmed-thinktank.com). I believe that a proposal along those lines would be acceptable by the majority of Turkish Cypriots, but also by those settlers who will have the right to remain in Cyprus. I believe that it will also be acceptable to Turkey, with some reasonable trade-offs and safeguards. 

The time has come for all Cypriots, who favour the reunification of Cyprus to speak out. They must speak out loudly, so that they can be heard. Cyprus is heading at full speed into an irreversible set-up, which will be the beginning of new political dangers and, ultimately, of catastrophe. 

Serdar Atai is a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus and an advocate of reunification