By Achilleas Dimitriadis
I call for respect for the territorial integrity of every state. This is the only way to security and stability in the Old Continent, which is once again at the centre of a war. There are internal differences in Ukraine. The framework for resolving them was the Minsk Agreement, such as giving the Russian-speaking provinces in Eastern Ukraine autonomy. Unfortunately this did not materialise, but that cannot be an excuse for military intervention. The only way is resolution through diplomacy and talks.
On 16 March 2022, the International Court of Justice in The Hague issued provisional measures under the International Convention against Genocide against Russia calling for a ceasefire.
Still, Russia has withdrawn from the Council of Europe leaving effectively 144m Russians without the protection of their Human Rights by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Cyprus is in line with the EU on the issue of sanctions. We are not members "a la carte". Decisions at Council level must be respected by all member states. A discussion then arose as to whether the non-closure of airspace by the subordinate Local Administration of the Occupied Territories is likely to lead to flights directly from Russia to Tympos airport.
It is known that Turkey has been a candidate for membership with the vote of Cyprus since October 2005. But no one knows exactly where the Euro-Turkish relationship stands. All that is certain is that there has been talk recently of renewing the EU-Turkey Customs Union, which has been in force since 1 January 1996.
The issue is particularly complex as today the level of EU-Turkey relations is far from clear. Is it a candidate country or not? What leverage does Cyprus have to resolve the Cyprus problem? Since the Euro-Turkish relationship is in limbo, is Turkey not bound by Council decisions? Who has an interest in maintaining such a dead-end relationship? Certainly not Cyprus and that is why a deep and full analysis is needed.
In summary, I say that the discussion on the EU-Turkey "Positive Agenda" is beneficial for Cyprus. Cyprus can express its readiness to move forward with one essential condition: a return to the Cyprus settlement talks on the agreed basis that all Presidents of the Republic have accepted. In this respect we have the very important Guterres Framework, which in point 1 provides for the termination of interventionist rights and in point 2 for the withdrawal of the occupying army.
As we see the dramatic developments in Ukraine, I think it is useful to draw our own lessons from the war crisis.
To anticipate developments and take decisions at the right time. I am reminded of Crans Montana when we got up and left! Now we see what is happening. Conditions are changing, we are losing momentum and the international community is turning its attention elsewhere. But how do we succeed, so that we are not stalling for life? I suggest:
- A President/President with advisors who possess the special knowledge, not a President full of party officials, as is the case today.
- National Council that has scientific support, so that decisions are based on evidence resulting from thorough analysis.
- Economy that has a robust "Economy Council" as an advisory guide, modelled on similar institutions in EU countries. Its recommendations should have a weighty bearing on the management of crises such as Ukraine and the government's corrective measures.
- Energy strategy. European countries are currently desperately seeking, because of Ukraine, energy independence from external factors. This means a quick shift to Renewable Energy Sources - RES We have not done this for so many years.[BR]
- Finally, we need to understand the circumstances and turn to a strategy of exploiting any gas deposits using them as a catalyst for the solution of the Cyprus problem together with Turkish Cypriots within a united federal state.
Crises offer opportunities only if we have the will and the programme to exploit them quickly and effectively. Otherwise, we will be overtaken by developments and continue to remain passive spectators.
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