Policy on Cyprus problem slammed during coup House session

By Constantinos Psillides
Political parties attended an extraordinary session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday to denounce the July 15, 1974 military coup, with most party leaders focusing on condemning Turkey and criticising President Anastasiades for his handling of the Cyprus problem.
The coup, by members of the Greek junta led a few days later to the invasion of the island by Turkish troops, on July 20 1974.
Ruling DISY leader Averof Neofytou called for national unity, adding that we all need to “build bridges of understanding amongst us”.
Averof pointed out that the key for solving the Cyprus problem lies in Ankara and that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots cannot solve it themselves.
“President Anastasiades started a new attempt to reach a proper and viable compromise which will ensure that the solution of the Cyprus problem is based on international law, on EU principles and UN resolutions. A solution that secures the legal rights of all Cypriots,” Averof said, adding that bickering between parties hurts that cause.
“Turkey is called upon to prove to the international community that is really ready for a solution; with actions, not just promises. It is there that we must focus our energy and attention,” he added.
The DISY leader chastised those who – according to him – are focusing on dividing the people. “We have no right to sell out our country. We have no right to slip into complacency and focus on everyday life. We should not settle with stagnation. And above all, we have no right to divide our people. We have paid dearly for civil strife in the past. No interest and no expediency can be placed higher than the titanic effort to create a better Cyprus.”
Main opposition party AKEL’s general secretary Andros Kyprianou criticised the president for his handling of the Cyprus problem, urging Anastasiades to wonder whether “the road he has chosen is the right one.”
“Turkish Cypriot community leader Dervis Eroglu insists on his unacceptable positions and unfortunately the president not only failed to expose him but actually made it easier for him. Not because he has followed the bankrupt – as he used to call it – strategy former president Christofias did but because he has abandoned it. He adopted the strategy of those who argued that the negotiation must start anew. We are already counting losses, chief of which is the very real possibility of hitting a dead-end,” said Kyprianou, adding that his party favours confidence building measures but making clear that they shouldn’t replace the solution.
AKEL also accused Anastasiades of insincerity, claiming that a year ago he said he would extend an open arm to the left, “and instead exhibited arrogance and authoritarianism.”
House President Yiannakis Omirou – also the leader of EDEK – has called for the adoption and implementation of a common national strategy on the question of Cyprus, saying that this would enable the political leadership to expose and report Turkey’s real intentions.
“Turkey’s proposals on a political settlement and its approach provide for a two state solution to the problem. Those views and positions, he pointed out, violate international law, UN decisions and resolutions and the UN charter. The Turkish side insists on those positions during the ongoing negotiation process as well, stressing at the same time that Turkey continues its provocative moves as regards Cyprus’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone,” said Omirou.
The House President stressed that those interested in security and stability in the region should call on Turkey to comply with international law. In particular, the EU should make it absolutely clear to Turkey that if it continues to refuse to fulfil its EU obligations regarding Cyprus; its EU accession course will be terminated for good.
DIKO leader Nicolas Papadopoulos asked the president to admit that his strategy has failed, adding that this is not the time or the place for blame games.
“What we in DIKO are saying is that we need to change our strategy on the Cyprus problem, considering that the one followed over the last months and during the Christofias administration has failed.”
Papadopoulos further argued that the body and the state have an obligation to work to overthrow the status quo, recognising that any coming solution would be a “bitter and painful compromise.”
“What we don’t accept is a solution that will establish partition, while legalising occupation and the settlers, that will abolish the Cyprus republic and turn the island into a protectorate of Turkey.”

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.