Archbishop George of Cyprus expressed the view that Turkey seeks not only to consolidate the status quo but also to complete its occupation of Cyprus, was expressed by Archbishop George of Cyprus, who also called for reframing the Cyprus issue as a problem of invasion and occupation.
In remarks to reporters on Monday from the Holy Monastery of St. Neophytos in Tala, Paphos, which was celebrating its feast day, the Archbishop stated that, in his view, “Turkey’s position has been made clear,” which, he said, has always been clear and consistent.
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“Their goal is not only to consolidate the status quo but to complete the occupation of Cyprus,” he said.
Archbishop George referred to the need for Greece, Cyprus, and the Greek diaspora, as well as the need to leverage international alliances, in order, as he put it, “to avert the Turkish threat.”
At the same time, he argued that after so many years of occupation, it must be understood that compromise through continuous concessions cannot form the basis of efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue.
“We want our problem to be reframed as one of invasion and occupation; we want our rights as an EU member state,” he said.
The Archbishop made special reference to the rights of Cypriot European citizens, raising the issue of free movement, freedom of establishment, and the enjoyment of property rights.
“I will not stop saying that if all Europeans are entitled to freedom of movement, freedom of residence, and the right to own property everywhere, shouldn’t we have that right in our own homeland?” he asked.
As he said, this position must be consistently upheld in order to secure international support.
He also warned that if concessions continue—as he put it—the international community may limit itself to the position that “Work it out among yourselves, and whatever agreement you reach, we will support it.”
“We,” he continued, “should not support any agreement other than one that safeguards our rights—our human rights.”
When asked whether such a thing is feasible, Archbishop George referred to the role of the Republic of Cyprus and Greece as member states of the European Union.
“I believe that two EU member states, which also have the right of veto on many issues, can demand and obtain something that is self-evident,” he said.
He even referred to Cyprus’s accession to the European Union, noting that even then there were countries that did not want the accession to proceed as long as the Cyprus issue remained unresolved.
“Just as we were able to push through our accession to the European Union in the past, even though some countries wanted to keep us out while the issue remained unresolved, so can we do the same now,” he said.
He also raised the issue of Nicosia’s and Athens’ stance on European decisions regarding sanctions, wondering what justification there would be if we insisted on sanctions against Turkey.
Source: CNA
