CYPRUS BEWARE

Gibrahayer
Oct 21, 2009

Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra – Nicosia 21 October – I fear that
the currently sizzling topic of the Armenia-Turkey protocols will
influence matters regarding the Cyprus problem, namely the continuous
occupation of 34,85% of Cyprus’ land by the Turkish military since
1974, while at the same time about 1.500 people are still missing,
142.000 Cypriots are refugees, and over 115.000 Turkish settlers from
Anatolia have illegally colonised the northern part of our island.

The diplomatic conjurers of Turkey may very easily exploit this
infamous agreement to trick the world into believing that Cyprus
is the real problem; they may project the illusion of peace with
Armenia to say that it is the Republic of Cyprus that poses the
problem to the illegal pseudo-state. Not only that, but this "magic"
has unfortunately taken over segments of our society – firm believers
of a federal Cypriot state -, arguing that "Since Armenia and Turkey
have patched things up, why can’t we too?".

Suppose we sign a protocol with Turkey or, to please the eyes of
the federalists, a solution to the Cyprus problem. A committee of
historians will be set up to re-evaluate the tumultuous 20th century
history of this island. Are we to deny the Turkish-Cypriot mutiny in
December 1963? Are we to deny the brutal and unlawful Turkish invasion,
in two phases, of summer 1974 and examine if it was an intervention
or even a "peace operation"? What are we going to say to the refugees
who lost their homes and villages? What are we going to say to the
relatives of the ones who were killed defending their homeland or
had been missing/are still missing for 35 years now? "And will the
dreadful Turkish flag on Pentadhaktylos be erased?"

Haunting and daunting questions… We have seen what "peace" in
Turkey’s terms means for Armenia and the Diaspora, let it not be
repeated over Cyprus. I cannot possibly imagine a solution to the
Armenian issue that fails to recognise an undeniable and unquestionable
fact: the Armenian Genocide. Back to Cyprus, the workable solution
I envision is infeasible: Turkey will never accept to take away its
35.000 troops, it will never accept to take back the 115.000 settlers,
it will never admit guilt for 1974, it will never accept a COMMON
state with a G/C majority and a T/C MINORITY, and never will it give
back the lands it took or, at least, a reasonable compensation for
them. I cannot accept a solution to the Cyprus problem that does not
meet these terms. A final point-question: in 1975, Cyprus became the
first European country to officially recognise the Armenian Genocide;
suppose the Cyprus problem is solved, will the Turkish-Cypriots
ever agree to honour the three (3) resolutions of the House of
Representatives on the matter?