OXI ! NO

Όχι στο Σχέδιο Ανάν ! No to the Annan Plan

A book to set the record straight

Cyprus - A Contemporary Problem in Historical Perspective

``Over the years, influential Western policy centres have flooded the market with studies on Cyprus rationalising attempts at imposed solutions that served short term foreign strategic interests rather than the needs of the people of Cyprus,’’ Prof. Van Coufoudakis, the author of a new book on the island problem said.

Many of these studies in English ``even hold Cyprus, the victim of Turkey’s aggression, accountable for Turkey’s failure to live up to its international obligations in connection with Cyprus,’’ Coufoudakis said.

He was speaking in an interview with The Cyprus Weekly and later during the presentation of his book in Nicosia this week.

He explained that it is this that prompted him to write his book, which is published in the United States, ``with the express purpose of making available to English speaking audiences information and analysis about Cyprus which is not easily available and which does not conform to the traditional Western interpretation of the Cyprus question.’’

Complexity

Coufoudakis admitted that his book, which he said is intentionally short, ``has nothing new to offer,’’ to many who are familiar with the Cyprus problem.

However, my experience has shown that policy audiences whether in Washington, in other European capitals and even in Athens understand little of the complexity, the background and the significant implications of the Cyprus problem for the rule of law, for international stability, for the protection and promotion of human rights, for European integration, and for conflict resolution theory and practice.’’

The book explores the causes for the lack of a political settlement of the problem ``despite decades of negotiations, and, I might add, continuous concessions by the successive Cyprus governments....I wish that more foreign diplomats had taken the time to understand this land and its people, rather than attempt to impose schemes serving interests other than those of the people of Cyprus.’’

He said he felt that a book in English was needed ``to introduce the reader to basic aspects of the contemporary phase of the Cyprus Question...and it also discusses the prospects for a viable solution in line with European law, the UN resolutions on Cyprus, international law, and earlier agreements between the leaders of the two communities.’’ In this respect, he added, the book ``explores the causes for the lack of a political settlement despite decades of negotiations and, I might add, continuous concessions by successive Cypriot governments.’’

It also examines the outcomes of the attempt by Kofi Annan, the United States and the United Kingdom to impose a solution’’ before Cyprus’ accession to the EU ``in order to legitimize many of the derogations from European law included in the plan. This attempt failed because the overwhelming majority of the Greek Cypriots was not intimidated by the pressures and threats of foreign interlocutors.’’

Reasons

``My analysis explains the reasons that led to the Greek Cypriot rejection of Annan-V, and analyzes the lessons learned from the 1999-2004 negotiation cycle. ’’

``I want to emphasize the fact that Cyprus is a small and weak state makes it even more imperative that the solution guarantees the enjoyment of fundamental rights by all the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, rights enjoyed by all other EU nationals under European law and the European Convention. Discrimination based on ethnicity or religion simply has no place in 21st century Europe.’’

Koufoudakis also deals with what he describes as ``the myth of isolation’’ of the Turkish Cypriots, something that ``Turkey has so effectively exploited in her attempt to bring about the de facto recognition of the occupied areas.’’ He stressed that ``this isolation myth must be destroyed once and for all with an effective information campaign.’’

The book also analyzes threats created to the reunification and to the reconciliation process by actions of third parties. He said that ``in the aftermath of the April 2004 referendum such threats have arisen from actions intended to end the so-called “isolation” of the Turkish Cypriots.

Coufoudakis concluded saying that the Cyprus problem was and remains a problem of invasion and continuing occupation that has led to:

§ The forcible division of the island;

§ Documented violations of human rights;

§ The massive colonisation and demographic changes in the areas under occupation;

§ Ethnic cleansing and separation;

§ Property usurpation.

Dark page

He said the missing and the plight of the refugees provide another dark page in Turkey’s 1974 invasion.

``All these actions violate major international treaties that Turkey has also ratified but feels no obligation to observe thanks to the support it receives from certain influential states.

``Some find it convenient to forget these facts. I do NOT and I will NOT. This is why some have criticized me for not moving along with the times and for presenting positions that may not be in tune with the current thinking in Washington or London. Frankly I do not care because I know that no self-respecting democratic European country would accept externally imposed solutions violating its vital interests.

``Why then should a small and weak country like Cyprus sacrifice itself, its culture and history to please others? To me the rule of law, the promotion and protection of human rights, the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus and the survival of Cypriot Hellenism are non-negotiable.’’

By Alex Efthyvoulos

Cyprus Weekly, January 19, 2007

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