www.talkcyprus.org

[Bananiot]

Speaking on Radio Super Spor FM, Foreign Minister George Iacovou admitted yesterday that every time we approach the EU for active participation in the efforts to find a solution to the Cyprob, we get a stereotype answer: Try the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

In essence he admitted that there is no such thing as a European solution. The promise for a European solution was one of the factors that prompted many voters to say "no" in the April 2004 referendum.

[cannedmoose]

The 'European Solution' promised by political leaders was simply a ruse to crush any potential opposition to EU membership. It's well known that pre-1995 AKEL was vehemently opposed to entry to the EU, they opposed both the Association Agreement and the Customs Union and 40% of the 1995 Congress voted against the change in policy. Even since 1995, AKEL has remained reticent about many aspects of joining. It's therefore likely that had the focus been on the economic and non-Cyprob political ramifications of membership, AKEL would have lead a 'no' camp against membership, thus making it easier for the EU countries to delay accession negotiations until a solution was in the offing. There are many other factors also involved which I don't have time to write now, but suffice to say that much debate in Cyprus over the merits of EU accession were sacrificed on the altar of a 'European Solution'.

In time, I think the European solution will come, if Cyprus plays its cards right and membership negotiations progress with Turkey. Ultimately a solution within the EU will have to be found in order to facilitate Turkey's progression towards accession - this will be the European solution, rather than any quick fix promised by Cyprus' leaders.

P.S. Bananiot, whose show was this interview on? I.E. What time?

[Bananiot]

A chat show at 08:30 on Monday with Pavlides and Pierides. By the way, AKEL has admitted publicly that had it not been for the Cyprob its attitude towards the EU would have been different, similar to the communist party of Greece, presumably.

[brother]

Bananiot wrote: A chat show at 08:30 on Monday with Pavlides and Pierides. By the way, AKEL has admitted publicly that had it not been for the Cyprob its attitude towards the EU would have been different, similar to the communist party of Greece, presumably.

What would their attitude have been if you don't mind my asking.

[cannedmoose]

Bananiot wrote: A chat show at 08:30 on Monday with Pavlides and Pierides. By the way, AKEL has admitted publicly that had it not been for the Cyprob its attitude towards the EU would have been different, similar to the communist party of Greece, presumably.

Have you got a source for this? I've seen comments that alluded to it, but did not explicitly state this. If you know of any explicit comments I'd be forever in your debt if you can find one, would be dynamite for the chapter I'm just writing :D :shock:

[cannedmoose]

brother wrote: Bananiot wrote: A chat show at 08:30 on Monday with Pavlides and Pierides. By the way, AKEL has admitted publicly that had it not been for the Cyprob its attitude towards the EU would have been different, similar to the communist party of Greece, presumably.

What would their attitude have been if you don't mind my asking.

Bro', before 1995 the AKEL attitude towards the EU was extremely negative. They regard the EU as an advanced predatory form of capitalism which threatens to destabilise the cozy relationship between Unions and employers in Cyprus and is concerned more with promoting free-market capitalism than social welfare. At the party's 18th Congress, this policy was changed 'to reflect changes in the global environment', i.e. the collapse of the Communist bloc. As a result, AKEL adopted a more pragmatic view to EU accession, in other words recognising that it was the only game in town. Their support for Vassiliou in 1988 had inadvertently facilitated the Cyprus application, a fact that is still difficult to reconcile. Since the application was in, AKEL became similarly fixated on accession as a solution to the Cyprob, the much-vaunted idea of a European solution. So, this made EU membership politically acceptable, whereas had it come down to a politico-economic argument, it's highly likely that AKEL would have led opposition to membership.

Cyprus is virtually unique in Europe in that support for membership amongst political parties was virtually universal (with the exception of a couple of minor fringe elements). In no other country was there complete political purpose on the EU issue. The Cyprob has without doubt played a major role in the development of such a consensus.

[brother]

cannedmoose wrote: brother wrote: Bananiot wrote: A chat show at 08:30 on Monday with Pavlides and Pierides. By the way, AKEL has admitted publicly that had it not been for the Cyprob its attitude towards the EU would have been different, similar to the communist party of Greece, presumably.

What would their attitude have been if you don't mind my asking.

Bro', before 1995 the AKEL attitude towards the EU was extremely negative. They regard the EU as an advanced predatory form of capitalism which threatens to destabilise the cozy relationship between Unions and employers in Cyprus and is concerned more with promoting free-market capitalism than social welfare. At the party's 18th Congress, this policy was changed 'to reflect changes in the global environment', i.e. the collapse of the Communist bloc. As a result, AKEL adopted a more pragmatic view to EU accession, in other words recognising that it was the only game in town. Their support for Vassiliou in 1988 had inadvertently facilitated the Cyprus application, a fact that is still difficult to reconcile. Since the application was in, AKEL became similarly fixated on accession as a solution to the Cyprob, the much-vaunted idea of a European solution. So, this made EU membership politically acceptable, whereas had it come down to a politico-economic argument, it's highly likely that AKEL would have led opposition to membership.

Cyprus is virtually unique in Europe in that support for membership amongst political parties was virtually universal (with the exception of a couple of minor fringe elements). In no other country was there complete political purpose on the EU issue. The Cyprob has without doubt played a major role in the development of such a consensus.


I see what you are saying but would it be right to say that 'AKEL' still is a little sceptical or are they now completely behind the EU.

[cannedmoose]

Their policy is best encapsulated by the statement "let us change things from within". After the collapse of the USSR, the legitimacy of Communist ideology was questioned, although in most respects if you read an AKEL position statement you'd think they were living in the 1950s or 1960s. AKEL's current approach to the EU is that they will work with other like-minded parties to change the EU's direction from the inside, i.e. changing the EU into a socialist union, rather than a free-market capitalist organisation.

AKEL's opposition to the EU remained muted during the accession period, as I said before, the debate was held hostage to needing to secure membership for advantage on the Cyprob, but since accession, AKEL statements have become more strident on certain issues and they opposed the vote on the Constitution, the only major party to do so. In reality, Cyprus' debate over the merits of the EU is only just beginning now, since the danger of being turned away has passed. You can therefore expect AKEL to become the predominant Euro-sceptic force in Cypriot politics, since none of the other parties seem to want this role.

[cannedmoose]

Bananiot wrote: A chat show at 08:30 on Monday with Pavlides and Pierides. By the way, AKEL has admitted publicly that had it not been for the Cyprob its attitude towards the EU would have been different, similar to the communist party of Greece, presumably.

Bananiot, is this Kyriakos Pierides? The same guy as this website?

http://www.kpierides.org/biography.shtml

[Bananiot]

Yes, this is the same Pierides. Regarding your previous question, I have just been through the newspapers and "Alitheia" has made Iacovou's interview its lead subject.

Iacovou, writes the newspaper, has said that efforts were made in the EU to press home the idea that the Cyprob is a European problem but the response we got from the EU is that we should look no further than the SG of the UN.

Iacovou was asked as to how we should exploit the current situation regarding the accession efforts of Turkey to our benefit. He said that Mr Perrakis, the Greek Professor of International Affairs and ex SG at the Greek Foreign Minister for European issues, has talked about the difficulties for the EU becoming a player in the solution process. For the moment, he said, all are happy to see the SG of the UN retain the initiative. He referred to Perrakis statement in order to stress his own understanding which apparently is the same as Perrakis's.

He also said that the only body that can play a role is the European Commission, but for the time being this is unlikely to happen. We have tried at times to put forward the idea, he said, that the Cyprus issue is a European problem, there are European principles at stake etc, but, every time we are referred to the SG of the UN and at this point of time there is no way to move away from the initiative of the SG.

He was asked whether we have the ability to tie the Cyprob to the accession aspirations of Turkey and Iacovou said: There is no chance for this to happen. The European Commission at best may cooperate with the SG of the UN.

Can we put the subject of the settlers, he was asked. No, he said, because if we did this, we would be considered as opposing the accession efforts of Turkey. Do not forget, he stressed, that the European Commission is most powerful and basically governs Europe and the Commission has negotiated the framework for the commencement of negotiations with Turkey. The Commission considers its framework to be ideal. We shall try to introduce some principles into the framework but because the decision for the commencement of negotiations was taken by the European Council, it is practically impossible to overturn the framework at the Council of Ministers.

[MicAtCyp]

Bananiot wrote: Try the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

In essence he admitted that there is no such thing as a European solution.

Don't jump into conclussions.European solution means according to the basic principles of the EU Aquis.

[-mikkie2-]

The so called 'European Solution' is the return of constitutional under the Republic of Cyprus. It is the only realistic option. It is the only option because we will never agree on anything outside of it.

[Mete]

mikkie2 wrote:
It is the only option because we will never agree on anything outside of it.

If return to Republic of Cyprus is the only option, why did your side bother with talks aiming a federal Cyprus since 1976? When is your side going to be honest with their real intentions?

[magikthrill]

Mete wrote:
If return to Republic of Cyprus is the only option, why did your side bother with talks aiming a federal Cyprus since 1976? When is your side going to be honest with their real intentions?

still waiting on the part where those talks showed Makarios agreeing to a federal solution mete. im guessing a transcript would be hard to achieve but can you find me the quote from an unbiased source that claims such a thing?

[Bananiot]

Makarios and Kyprianou signed the agreements and Kurt Waldheim (SG UN) endorsed them. Since then, all major parties in Cyprus adhere to these agreements and only one small party, that of NEO, called for the abolition of the agreements.

What mete is asking is quite valid and we will gain no sympathy from abroad if we continue our stupid denial of what we agreed.