President warns against relinquishing federal solution

President Demetris Christofias has sent a stern warning to all those who tally with the idea of abandoning a bicommunal bizonal federal solution in Cyprus, saying this would lead to an unadulterated Turkish state in the country’s northern areas and a mixed state in the southern part of the island.

Speaking at the unveiling of a memorial for those killed during the 1974 Turkish invasion, he said those who reject today the federal solution because, as they say, is a bizonal settlement, are in essence relinquishing the philosophy which the late President Makarios set out in the past and successive governments adopted.

“Each time that we move away from what is feasible, we subject ourselves to increased trouble. If this time, which I can assure you will be the last, we depart from a bizonal bicommunal federation, Greek Cypriot refugees will be looking at their villages from a distance,” he warned.

He also warned that Turkey would be freed from its commitments and would seek, unhindered, to promote a two-state solution in Cyprus.

The President also pointed out that Turkish Cypriots would move to the southern part of the country, if Cyprus ends up with two states – a purely Turkish state in the north and a mixed state in the south – since they will not be able to tolerate Turkish oppression, as this is expressed by the thousands of Turkish settlers in Cyprus’ occupied areas.

Christofias recalled that similar warnings were included in a 1990 Council of Europe report on the demographic changes the Turkish invasion and the influx of illegal settlers have brought to the island.

He explained that in guidelines on a Cyprus solution, which all presidents have accepted, there is talk about two zones, one to be administered by the Greek Cypriots and the other by the Turkish Cypriots.

“During the negotiations I have had with Mehmet Ali Talat (former leader of the Turkish Cypriot community), we agreed on the right of all Cypriots to choose their place of abode and where to set up businesses,” he said, noting that the solution must provide for a strong central government which will secure the unity of the state, the economy and its people.

The last round of UN-led talks between the island’s two communities has not yieldged any tangible results. The dialogue was led to a deadlock in the summer of 2012, due to Turkish intransigence.