A proposed ‘realistic’ approach

Disy’s deputy chairman has some explaining to do over his recent opposition to a federation

An article written by Harris Georgiades, Disy’s deputy chairman, entitled ‘The new realism’ appeared in last Sunday’s (January 3, 2021) online edition of Kathimerini.

The gist of what Georgiades was saying in this article could be summarised as follows:

Even though a federation was adopted as the desired structure of a solution to the Cyprus problem by successive governments in Cyprus, Greece, the United Nations and the international community, such a solution has failed to materialise. A federation, he argued, is not founded on a logical analysis of the current prevailing conditions nor does it take into account the drastic changes that have taken place over the past half-a-century the two communities have been separated. Georgiades said that many people have not stopped being in favour of a federation because they simply ignore the reality of the Turkey we have to cope with and feel somehow obliged to satisfy every unreasonable Turkish demand. They capitulate on every call for a surrender, extending over the whole spectrum of the Greek-Turkish relations, in order to facilitate the prospect of establishing a federation. There are also, he claimed, those who believe that a federation is the “correct political solution”, having jumped to this conclusion without much thought or reflection.

Georgiades added that most refugees have now died, and their properties have been taken over and developed, changing the demographics. Morphou and Famagusta are designated as Turkish territory (sic). Meanwhile, the continuation of the status quo is not a feasible proposition. As a consequence, a future solution is something dangerous and unpredictable. Georgiades’ conclusion is that the time has come for Greek Cypriots to adopt a realistic approach in which the facts are assessed correctly, and decisions made over what is worth preserving, bearing in mind what we can realistically expect to get.

I will not focus on the substance of Georgiades’ views. His views and positions have been dealt with in a coherent and fully substantiated article, written by Panayiotis Demetriou, a former deputy chairman of Disy and a widely respected founding member of the party, which was published in Alithia on December 27. I do not rule out the possibility that Demetriou was already aware of Georgiades’ intentions and decided to pre-emptively make it known that his views do not reflect those of Disy. In any event, in this article I focus my attention on four other issues, which I consider to be of great importance.

 

When should ‘we decide’?

 

In the closing paragraph of your article, Mr Georgiades, you state that “we need to decide”. It is not clear who you are referring to, nor is it clear as to when you anticipate these decisions being taken. May I respectfully remind you that you are the deputy chairman of the governing party and that a critical meeting between the parties directly involved in the Cyprus problem is expected to take place in a few weeks, under the auspices of the UN secretary-general. I am honestly terrified by the thought that your intention is to decide on the issue, to develop the negotiation strategy of the Greek Cypriot side and to coordinate your efforts the night before this very important meeting. I am afraid that this casual approach is almost certain to dash the ship, yet again, against the rocks, while Turkey rejoices.

 

Has there been any prior consultation on your views?

 

You are the deputy chairman of the governing party and until recently a senior member of the cabinet and a close associate of the president himself. Are the views expressed in your article your own personal views or are they those of the party? If the former, have you considered the possibility that publicly expressing a such a position without any prior consultation with your party and the government, constitutes a form of political amorality? If, on the other hand, your views reflect those of your party and the government, when did these consultations take place and what was the conclusion reached? The public and in particular the supporters of your party have the right to know.

 

Prior to adopting your views, did you consider the risk of causing a schism in your party?

 

That there are certain elements within Disy, founded by the late Glafkos Clerides, who crave power for their own personal gain, is an indisputable fact. Admittedly, such persons exist in all the other political parties in Cyprus. However, my assessment is that the overwhelming majority of Disy supporters are real patriots, who will strongly resist any attempt by a small minority to sell off northern Cyprus, by adopting a disguised form of partition, such as a confederation (regardless of how such an arrangement will be baptised in an attempt to render it acceptable to the long-suffering people of Cyprus). These honest people will not hesitate to distance themselves from any move by a small minority, aiming at the dismembering of Cyprus.

 

You are obliged to provide an accurate view of the position we are in

 

Finally, Mr Georgiades, I would beg you to understand that as a politician you have not been given a blank cheque to manage an issue of vital national importance for the present and future generations, and it is not enough to procure a referendum all of a sudden, which would be asking the people to choose between accepting or rejecting a disguised form of partition of our homeland. In such a case, both the acceptance and the rejection of such a proposal will have an equally catastrophic effect.

You have an obligation to speak openly and honestly to the people without any help from the so-called communication experts and, following an objective and sober briefing, to listen to the public’s views and concerns. Then, and only then, should you make your final and decisions on the subject. The games, which – regrettably – we have seen played by all the political parties in relation to the management of our most important national issue, have no place in a democratic society. Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots demand political decency and respect.

 

Christos Panayiotides is a regular columnist for the Cyprus Mail, Sunday Mail and Alithia