By ourselves, we can work to a solution

IN his New Year’s message, President Tassos Papadopoulos said he hoped that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can agree on a political settlement this year, although he claimed this could only happen if Ankara ends its “unacceptable terms and unreasonable demands”.

“Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots together can reach the solution. Not distracted by outside interventions, we can bring down the walls of separation and consolidate peace, prosperity and progress in our common homeland, which is large enough to make room for all of us, but too small to be divided,” Papadopoulos said.

Papadopoulos referred to Cyprus as a “tormented country” that has “already experienced 33 years of tragedy, ordeals and agony”.

He said that the dialogue for a solution is the responsibility of the two communities and that a solution “cannot be expected to be given as a gift or imposed by foreigners”, but added that no dialogue can bring substantial results “if Ankara is unwilling to allow its fruition”.

Papadopoulos lent vocal support to a bizonal, bicommunal federation under the auspices of the UN and in conformity with the principles of the EU, which he said “should have a say and play a more active role in the effort to find a solution”.

“Attempts for political upgrading of the pseudo-state and the monotonous slogans for the lifting of the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots are not conducive to a solution of the Cyprus problem,” he said

Papadopoulos conveyed a “message of sincere friendship” to Turkish Cypriots, whom he characterised as compatriots, claiming that the government “understands their difficulties, their concerns and their worries”.

He then called upon Turkish Cypriots to reciprocate by understanding the difficulties and concerns of Greek Cypriots. “Only through common understanding, can we find the road to co-operation and build together a common future, based on our common prosperity and progress.”

In closing, Papadopoulos wished that 2007 might bring “joy and happiness to all the lawful inhabitants of our island, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins. Cyprus belongs to all of them. All of them deserve a happy Cyprus.”

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.