On Monday Cyprus will mark the 50th anniversary of the coup against Archbishop Makarios and on Saturday the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion that followed it and led to the occupation of 37 per cent of the Cyprus Republic’s territory. Since August 16, 1974, when the second offensive by Turkish troops was completed and the dividing line drawn, nothing has changed on the ground. The Republic has no sovereignty over 37 per cent of its territory, north of the dividing line, which has been under the control of the occupation regime for 50 years – much longer than it had been under the Republic’s control.
Time has exposed the folly of the unyielding struggle for vindication, which Archbishop Makarios made his rallying cry after the invasion and was adopted by a large section of the political establishment. Hollow rhetoric has been the one political constant of these 50 years, marked by empty promises and the cultivation of false hopes, which vulnerable people, who had lost everything and were desperate for something to cling on to, believed. Successful political careers were built on this cynical exploitation of the desperation of refugees, who were promised they would all return to their homes by the demagogues, who ensured with their patriotic grandstanding that not a single one did.
Glafcos Clerides, the only political leader who questioned the hollow rhetoric and warned that time was working against the Greek Cypriots was vilified, labelled a foreign agent while his calls for a pragmatic approach to talks were mocked by the uncompromising salesmen of the unyielding struggle. Fifty years later, Turkey still occupies 37 per cent of Cyprus’ territory, which is fast becoming a part of Turkey, the Turkish Cypriots have become a minority in the north thanks to the influx of Turkish nationals, and it is only a matter of time before Unficyp is withdrawn and the Republic has a border with Turkey. The failure of the Greek Cypriot political leadership could not be more emphatic. Its aversion to compromise has gifted the north of Cyprus to Turkey.
Of course, our political leaders have never taken any responsibility for their short-sighted policies and for treating all dealings with the Turkish Cypriots as a zero-sum game. They could always blame Turkish intransigence, British conspiracies, American double standards, Nato, the European Economic Community and the United Nations for their obdurate refusal to agree a compromise that would end the occupation and make the country whole again. The objective has always been to punish Turkey for its occupation, either by securing condemnation for some of its actions or by placing obstacles in its relations with the EU. This has become an end in itself, celebrated when achieved, although it is clear it leads nowhere – if anything, it makes the possibility of a settlement even more remote.
“Too many years have been spent in confrontation and discrimination, too much time blaming the other side,” said the UNSG’s personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin in her letter marking the end of her mission. Sadly, after 50 years of occupation, our political leaders prefer to live in the past, refusing to develop a plan for the future that would ensure our security. Surely the objective should be the withdrawal of Turkish troops, something that can only be achieved with a settlement – it will not happen by any other means. Once there is a settlement, the north will also become part of the EU, making how much territory is administered by each constituent state – a big cause for disagreement – an irrelevance.
The choice is between all Cyprus being EU territory or the Cyprus Republic staying as it is and having a border with Turkey. This should be a no-brainer. Greek Cypriots would be able to live without fears for their security as would the Turkish Cypriots who will become EU citizens and keep their identity rather than becoming an irrelevant entity in a Turkish province. This is what we should be focused on achieving instead of bickering over how power will be shared, what powers the central state will have and how many refugees will return to their homes. As long as the sides agree a fair and viable compensation system the property issue will also be resolved.
After 50 years of occupation, it is time we realised that it will not end with fiery speeches, heroic grandstanding or a fixation with process. It can only end with a compromise that will give everyone on the island a secure future.
