We want peace, says Cyprus High Commissioner

In an exclusive interview, Republic of Cyprus High Commissioner tells Londra Gazete:

• We did object to Nami and Lidington’s visits

• Gas reserves are for both communities

• Erdoğan could fix Cyprus if he wanted

Cyprus High Commissioner occasionally spoke Turkish during his wide-ranging interview with Londra Gazete

By Michael Daventry and Timur Ekingen

Peace in Cyprus would have been achieved long ago if it was up to the Cypriots themselves, according to the highest ranking Greek Cypriot in Britain.

In a wide-ranging interview with Londra Gazete, High Commissioner Euripides Evriviades admitted he had objected to recent meetings between UK and Turkish Cypriot government officials.

He held Turkey responsible for last month’s suspension of peace talks although he praised Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Turkey’s foreign minister, as “impeccably good”.

But the high commissioner was adamant a peace deal could still be achieved: “I may not be able to agree about the history of the past. I want to be able to agree about the history of the future: that we have a common vision as Cypriots.”

‘TRNC NOT TURKISH CYPRIOTS’

The interview with Mr Evriviades at the Cyprus High Commission in central London is the first from a Republic of Cyprus official to the Turkish media in more than a year.

He used the occasion to repeat traditional Greek Cypriot positions – such as his country’s refusal to recognise the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in any capacity.

“The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus – quote unquote – is not the Turkish Cypriots. It’s a big difference for us,” he said.

He admitted he had personally objected to the UK government when meetings were held between Turkish Cypriot leaders and the Europe minister, David Lidington.

“When [Özdil] Nami came here – nothing personal against him. We go way back with Özdil. We participated together in an inter-communal workshop in 1980s, when it was not fashionable.

The Republic of Cyprus High Commission building in St James’s Square, Central London

“So it’s nothing personal against Özdil Nami. It’s what he represents and what he holds. He came here as the foreign minister of the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. I have a huge problem with that.”

His comments appeared to confirm what London School of Economics academic James Ker-Lindsay told Londra Gazete in October was a change in Greek Cypriot rhetoric towards North Cyprus.

But Mr Evriviades also attempted to inject a positive tone to the prospect of peace on the island: “I can say ‘so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ and I say so because it is not recognised under international law. But when a child is born can I say a ‘so-called child’? Of course not.

“Now, I’m not going to be dwelling about the past because I know that we will not agree about the history of the past. I want us to agree about the history of the future. I want us to be forward-looking, I want us to turn the page without tearing it up.”

HYDROCARBONS FOR EVERYONE

The Greek Cypriots withdrew from peace talks with the Turkish Cypriots in response to Turkey’s plans to drill for oil and gas off the southern coast of Cyprus, which the Republic of Cyprus describes as its exclusive economic zone.

Turkey said it was exploring the area because the Greek Cypriots had not taken into account Turkish Cypriot proposals to share the resources.

“On more than one occasion the president [Nicos Anastasiades] has said that all the natural resources of Cyprus – on land, off land, all of them – belong to the state. They do not belong to our community,” Mr Evriviades said.

But he insisted potential gas reserves could not be included in any peace deal between the island’s two communities because it will be “10-15 years before any money will start coming into the coffers”, implying Cyprus could be reunified be then.

Euripides Evriviades spoke to Londra Gazete at the Cyprus High Commission

“It has taken us forty years to try to solve the question, the Cyprus question, unfortunately unsuccessfully. If you put hydrocarbons in the mix it will be another forty years.”

ERDOĞAN AND ÇAVUSOĞLU CAN FIX IT

The Cyprus High Commissioner said it was in the power of Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to resolve the island’s division.

“I do not know if the Erdoğan of today is the same Erdoğan that was 10 years ago, 15 years ago. People go through a metamorphosis but I do believe that if President Erdoğan wants to solve it, it can be solved, after all it is Turkish troops that are occupying the northern part of Cyprus.”

He continued: “I do believe Mr Erdoğan has the gravitas – and you have a good foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavusoğlu, who I like to call my friend because we co-served together in the Council of Europe. He was president of the parliamentary assembly for the Council of Europe and he was impeccably good.”

“No self-respecting country, no self-respecting people can accept foreign troops on its soil. Simple as that.”

ANNAN RESULTS ‘NOT A PUNISHMENT FOR TURKS’

Greek and Turkish Cypriots came closest to a peace deal in 2004, when a plan brokered by UN secretary-general Kofi Annan was put to both communities on the island in a referendum. This ‘Annan Plan’ was accepted by the Turkish Cypriot side but overwhelmingly rejected by Greek Cypriots.

The Republic of Cyprus subsequently became a full member of the European Union while the Turkish Cypriots remained isolated, unable to trade with or travel directly to the outside world.

It was when Londra Gazete asked the Cyprus High Commissioner if he accepted the Annan Plan had had a devastating effect on the Turkish Cypriot side that the usually buoyant Mr Evriviades fell silent.

“It was a democratic decision. I always say ‘argue all you want within democracy but never argue without democracy’,” he eventually said, adding: “It was not the idea of punishment.”

Then he spoke the Turkish words biz barış istiyoruz (we want peace).

“If the debate is going to be constantly about the past, we become prisoners of it. We shouldn’t become prisoners of it. Enough.”