The absence of a solution in the Cyprus problem is due to the fact that the West will not exert the necessary pressure on Turkey, Peter N. Marudas, former Chief of Staff of Senator Paul Sarbanes, has told the CNA, adding that the sense that Cypriots have that the US is always backing Turkey “is partly justified” in that there is a misplaced emphasis on security concerns rather than issues of justice.
Speaking to CNA, during his week long visit to Cyprus, Marudas, now retired, also said that the Republic of Cyprus is a functional democracy in this part of the world, notwithstanding the division.
Marudas was full of praise for what Cypriots have achieved following the disaster of the 1974 Turkish invasion and the continuing occupation of the island`s northern part, and in recent years the near collapse of the country`s economy.
“My last visit here was in July 1975, there have been big changes since then,” he said, noting that people have faced challenging and difficult experiences, economic and other but Cypriots emerged relatively well.
“I am impressed by the achievements of the Cypriots, the invasion was an enormous blow, Cypriots established an impressive country,” he told CNA, and wondered what the USA would have done if it had lost 37% of its land.
Cyprus, he pointed out, has good ties with everybody, except Turkey, in the area, which is very volatile and controversial. Nicosia, he acknowledged, has a good reputation and plays a positive role in the region and is an EU member.
“It is a respected member of the international community and as we say in the States, it carries its load,” he noted.
Asked about his working life with Senator Sarbanes, he explained that he has dealt with domestic and foreign issues. “Cyprus-US-Greece issues were a big concern and I had to ensure that Senator Sarbanes` priorities were reflected in his work. We talked to people at the White House, the State Department, the Defence Department, Greek American organisations and none of them ever closed the door to us,” he added.
He did admit however that after 1974 there was much more sympathy with Cyprus, than in later years.
Marudas recalled that for the first time the US Congress imposed an arms embargo on an ally (Turkey) and in opposition to the President.
“Carter went back on his word, the State Department, the Defence people and the Intelligence agencies wanted it lifted, we lost because the ground shifted under us, stake holders believed the US had to have a strong Turkey. Remember this was the cold war era,” he says as he explains the failure to maintain the arms embargo against Turkey.
Asked to identify the greatest achievement and the biggest failure in his tenure in office with Sarbanes, he replied: “the arms embargo was the greatest achievement and the absence of a solution the biggest failure.”
Referring to US backing of Turkey and the belief Cypriots have that Washington would always support Ankara, he said that “this image of the US is partly justified as there is a misplaced emphasis on security concerns rather than issues of justice. Many in the USA view Cyprus as a rather minor issue, and there are a lot of forces pushing to back Turkey.”
Assessing the current situation, he points out that “Cyprus is an oasis of stability, notwithstanding the division, the only functional democracy in this part of the world – apart from Israel in its own country -, and this elevates Cyprus and its strategic role.”
On the failure to reach a solution in Cyprus, he had this to say: “The West will not exert the pressure needed on Turkey for a solution”, noting at the same time that the solution in Cyprus is not the same as the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
“It is in the US interests, economic, political and in relation to the values the country subscribes to, to support Cyprus in any way we can, the Cyprus issue is a struggle for values the US values highly,” he concluded.
