Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s announcements that the Turkish side is piloting the opening of 3.5% of the besieged city of Famagusta threaten the basis for a solution and the continuation of talks. This way of settling Famagusta (Ammochostos), consolidates the perception in some circles of international diplomacy that the dispute of Cyprus is changing form.
The context of the solution so far
The framework for the solution of the Cyprus dispute is being discussed until today from the discussions that started in Crans-Montana (18.06.-07.07.2017) in Switzerland. The two-state solution is the solution proposed by the Turkish side and the pilot opening of 3.5% of the enclosed city of Famagusta (Varosha) by the Turks, tries to lead the developments in this direction but without giving a shred of land as an exchange in Greek-Cypriot side.
by Thanos S. Chonthrogiannis
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The Greek Cypriot and Greek sides, respectively, propose a solution within the framework of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. The British proposals that have come to light in the last six months show that the international community is looking for a solution within the confederation.
Some circles in the international community present the bi-zonal, bi-communal federation as a very enlarged framework-solution that can, however, accommodate part or all the Turkish positions. The resolution on whether to renew the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) carries risks for the course of the Cyprus dispute.
Why the President of Turkey proceeded to these announcements and the role of Russia
The Turkish announcements are being made at this time because the President of Turkey is under pressure from the internal economic situation prevailing in Turkish society and wants in any way to present projects that will create thousands of new jobs.
At the same time, he wants to keep his promises to large construction groups in Turkey, which have financed his election campaigns, handing over the reconstruction of the city to them.
The Turkish intentions are to start opening the 3.5% of the enclosed city first, for a while, in order to defuse and then gradually absorb any reactions of the international community and when the specific program is achieved having the international community accept any accomplished events, then they will proceed to the opening and reconstruction of the entire enclosed city of Famagusta.
Photo by the website https://en.wikipedia.org
The goal is to transform this area into a new Las Vegas in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Russian funds are also pushing for the complete reconstruction of the city where they intend to invest billions of dollars, and among all other investments, they want to build a large marina. This marina will later be able to function as a small station/base for the supply and mooring of small-medium surface ships of the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.
Future planning of Russian investments in the territories of the Turkish Cypriot community is the construction-reconstruction of a submarine supply station/base of the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, giving it a strategic advantage.
The EU reaction
The EU, through the High Representative of the EU, Josep Borrell Fontelles, expressed its concern about the events, without proceeding to an extraordinary convergence of the Foreign Affairs Council because there was no reason.
Certainly, many EU member-countries have strong interests with Turkey and do not want to damage their relations. But on the other hand, the constant perpetuation of the Cyprus dispute will begin to burden the Greek Cypriot side and Greece, as they indirectly show a reluctance to find a viable solution.
Photo by the website https://commons.wikipmedia.org
The sustainable solution
The lasting solution to the Cyprus dispute was and is the Annan Plan also known as Cyprus reunification plan or any variant of it, was a United Nations proposal to resolve the Cyprus dispute and which the Greek Cypriot side rejected in a referendum (2004).
Unfortunately, the demagogues are in excess on both the Greek Cypriot side and the Greek side, leading their peoples to dead ends. According to the rejected Annan Plan, except other things, Famagusta, Morphou and dozens of villages passed into the hands of the Greek Cypriot side.
In 2017, when talks between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots were under way, the map presented by former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci provided for the return of Famagusta, while the framework presented by UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutierrez included the return of Morphou under Greek Cypriot side.
In Morphou today, investments are made by Turkey, changing the agreements for any territorial concessions.
Greece has an interest in perpetuating the Cyprus dispute, because it considers that Turkey is in a constant financial hemorrhage to maintain its troops there, while maintaining many open fronts with both Greece and its neighbors, who are forced to work military forces in Cyprus.
It is in the interest of the Greek Cypriot side to implement the Annan Plan or some variant of it as a basis for dialogue and a sustainable solution. If the perpetuation of dispute of Cyprus is perpetuated, the blame for not finding a solution will fall on them and the international community will move away from their positions.
