Parliament’s decision to set a date for public schools to commemorate the 1950 enosis (union) with Greece plebiscite was an unfortunate and populist approach, President Nicos Anastasiades said in an interview with the Athens News Agency, published on Tuesday.
Passed 10 days ago, after hardline parties voted in favour of an amendment tabled by far-right Elam, the decision has threatened to derail reunification talks after the strong reaction of the Turkish Cypriot side.
“On the part of parliament, it was an unfortunate and unnecessary populist approach about something that is respected by all Greek Cypriots,” Anastasiades said, reiterating that it did not warrant such a huge reaction from Turkish Cypriots.
“At the same time I think it was of such small significance that it did not justify all this noise and the interruption of the dialogue,” the president told ANA.
The leaders’ meeting came to an abrupt halt last Thursday when Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci walked out.
Turkish Cypriots said Akinci left because Anastasiades stormed out of the room first, angry over something that was said, leaving the other side with no choice but to depart.
Anastasiades said the Greek Cypriot side was ready for a new conference but there was the matter of the Turkish Cypriot leader’s departure last week for an issue that should have been handled with calm and taking into consideration certain important factors.
Anastasiades referred to the unanimous national council decision, except Elam, which reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side sought a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal settlement.
“This decision should have assured Turkish Cypriots that no one is speaking about enosis,” he said.
He added that the Turkish reaction to the decision was related to possible problems inside Turkey over any move that could hurt President Tayyip Erdogan’s aspiration to change the constitution through a referendum on April 16.
Still, Anastasiades said, there is no indication that Erdogan might adopt a constructive stance on the Cyprus problem, even if he were to emerge victorious from the April plebiscite.
“There is just the rhetoric, which unfortunately has not translated to action, that Turkey wants a solution,” he said.
“And the big question is what kind of solution he wants. If it is one suiting Turkish demands, it cannot be a solution for Greek Cypriots.”
On Turkey’s demand for guarantor rights and troop presence as well as unrestricted movement for Turkish nationals in a reunified Cyprus, Anastasiades said these would “endanger the survival of Cypriot Hellenism”.
Asked whether the talks might be affected by the run-up to the presidential election in Cyprus early next year, Anastasiades said there is no timeline.
“If the solution meets the Greek Cypriot community’s expectations, without ignoring those of the Turkish Cypriot community, I don’t see time constraints,” he said.
“I don’t associate the solution of the Cyprus problem with the presidential or other election.”
