The sad lady of the sea
Famagusta, 32 years on, 32
endless years
DORA Bakoyianni, the Foreign Minister of Greece has reminded us “that the Annan
Plan is already history”. In exactly the same way, the six plans for the solution
of the Cyprus problem, which preceded it and which were rejected over the past
thirty years, are history. Waldheim, de Cuelliar, Ghali, Annan are also
history. The last four Secretaries-general of the United Nations were
apparently useless, like their plans, which are already defunct. Of course, all
the above plans were unanimously approved by the Security Council, amongst the
members of which we have many friends. Still, everything turns sour for us. Is
it really so? Is the international community so wrong or is it that we are
useless and incorrect in our own mentality and approach? A mentality that leads
to “lost territories”…
So, what has become of you, Famagusta, 32 years and seven futile initiatives
later?
I cannot and I do not want to think of the words “lost territory”. I still wish
to hope. Even if hope starts fading when one looks back at the painful events
of your recent history:
1) July 20, 1978: Rauf Denktash proposes the return of Famagusta to its
residents. The President of the Republic rejects the proposal without any
second thought or discussion because he connects the proposal with the lifting
of the US embargo on arms sales to Turkey.
2) November 10, 1978: The Anglo American Canadian Plan in page 7 refers
extensively to “an early resettlement to the Varosha area of all its residents
without any numerical limitations”. The plan is rejected by the government.
There was a negative interference by the Soviet Union in this case.
3) Spring 1981: A proposal was made by the United Nations for a mini-package,
on the basis of which Famagusta would be returned to its residents and the
Nicosia Airport would operate under UN administration. A disclaimer would also
be signed by us refuting the legality of the “Turkish Federated State” in
connection with the operation of the airport. Professor Ian Brownlie (our
highly respected advisor in international fora) in a 70-page opinion dated July
9, 1981 concludes that “ the proposed arrangement would not amount to a
recognition express or tacit of the Turkish Federated State”. Despite the above
the proposal is rejected by the president.
4) October 2, 1981: The United Nations, under Waldheim, present the “Gobbi
map”, in which, for the first time, Famagusta (and Morphou) came under
Greek-Cypriot administration. The map is adopted later on by the new
Secretary-general, Perez de Cuelliar who was going to use it in the
“Indicators” initiative in 1983. The initiative is rejected. At that time
(September 20, 1983) I resigned from the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs. A
year later (December 22, 1984) AKEL broke its alliance with President Kyprianou
as well.
5) In January and April 1985 and in April 1986, Perez de Cuelliar, through his
“Consolidated Documents”, proposes that “Varosha and six additional areas be placed
under the temporary administration of the United Nations for the resettlement
of their residents”. The initiative is rejected on January 20, 1985 and in
April 1986.
6) In July 1992 Boutros Ghali by his “Set of Ideas” (page 23) proposes that
“pending the establishment of the Federal Republic of Cyprus Varosha will be
under United Nations administration and a programme of action for its
restoration will be prepared and implemented”. The “Set of Ideas” is rejected.
7) The Annan Plan provides that on August 10, 2004 the residents of Famagusta
will return to their homes. The plan is, however, rejected on April 24, 2004.
AKEL states that “the Annan Plan reunites the country, puts an end to its
occupation and restores human rights”. AKEL also indicates that the people of
Cyprus were brainwashed to vote against the plan. Despite the above, AKEL
itself rejects the plan.
It is worth noting that President Tassos Papadopoulos has rejected all the
above mentioned seven opportunities for the return of Famagusta to its
residents.
So, what do you now anticipate, Sad Lady of the Sea? What do your residents,
who have been packing and unpacking their luggage for their return, anticipate?
What can your residents really anticipate, once they were misguided and their
majority voted on April 24, 2004 against their return to you?
Today, Famagusta, you are choking in the foggy political chaos which surrounds
us. You are one of the so called by the Government four As (A is the first
letter of Ammohostos, the Greek name of Famagusta), which may be discussed, if
and when there is such a discussion at all. In reality you are one of the four
As which lead nowhere.
And while the waves kiss your sandy beaches you keep waiting and hoping. The
people of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, hope and trust that you
will constitute the first step towards a comprehensive reunification of our
divided country. They hope and pray that eventually you will not be “history”
as well, as Mrs Bakoyianni described it.
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NICOS A. ROLANDIS
POLITICAL BUREAU
4
Tel:+357 22 353811/2, Fax:+357 22 353100, P.O.Box 21700 – 1508 Nicosia. Email:
nicos@rolandis.com
Cyprus Mail 19/03/2006