& nbsp & nbspΝικολέττα Κουρούσιη & nbsp; & nbsp;
Russia's invasion of Ukraine and tensions between Russia and the West are ushering in a new era of uncertainty in Europe and are expected to lead to geopolitical imbalances and a global economic downturn.
At the same time, for small states such as Cyprus, the challenges that arise & nbsp; at all levels & nbsp; are even greater, with the whole situation requiring careful and skillful handling .
In this context & nbsp; We spoke with the former Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidis, Erato Kozakou Markoullis and George Lillikas, who presented to Philenews their own perspective on the burning issue of our day and the impact of developments in Cyprus. < Answering three common questions , the three experienced politicians and diplomats analyzed the crisis at stake for Russia, the US and & nbsp; the European Union, while receiving & nbsp; < b> clear position on the position & nbsp; that Nicosia must adhere to. & nbsp;& nbsp; in Cyprus and the challenges posed to Cypriot diplomacy.
Nikos Christodoulidis: “Need for coherence and consistency in the way the EU reacts to such issues”
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-How did you see the developments in the Ukrainian issue and the escalation of tension between Russia and the West? What is at stake for Russia, the US and the European Union?
– & nbsp; This is undoubtedly a very negative development, which seriously affects the international system and transnational relations. Starting with Russia, I do not think that, based on past experience, he expected this dynamic reaction from the EU. Even belatedly, the EU reacted correctly, taking tough decisions, which, no matter how prepared Moscow was, would certainly affect. Decisions that, if taken when the crisis in the region first began in late 2000, we might not have had developments in Ukraine today.
At the same time, the EU should develop a diplomatic initiative to end the Russian invasion and resolve the crisis through dialogue. It must and can do so, given & nbsp; the fact that the United States cannot play this role, & nbsp; but also because the EU and its Member States will be severely affected by the current situation. The prevalence of Cold War logics will be a defeat for the civilized world, for humanity, and the responsibility lies with all of us.
It is also important for the EU to say that it will be judged whether it shows the same determination in such cases or whether the reaction we saw was due to Russian involvement.
In short, I would say that the crisis in Ukraine offers the EU the opportunity to play a leading role, in the context of its desire for a geopolitical Union with strategic autonomy.
, in order to have the least possible impact from the crisis?
As I said before, there will certainly be consequences, but there is no choice but to clearly condemn the Russian invasion and violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Clear talk, especially if we take into account that our country is a victim of the Turkish invasion and ongoing occupation. & nbsp;
Speaking of the effects of the crisis and given that EU sanctions will undoubtedly affect Member States, & nbsp; I consider it necessary for the EU to take targeted measures to mitigate any effects, as was the case with the & nbsp; Covid-19 pandemic, but also Brexit. In other words, there is a & nbsp; need for the EU to help, perhaps through energy subsidies for households and businesses in the short term, to help at the same time move towards a green transition & nbsp; or even & nbsp; as it did in the case of the pandemic, where State aid rules have been temporarily relaxed.
Is there a parallel between Ukrainian, as shaped by the invasion of Russia and the Cyprus problem? Can the developments be an opportunity for Nicosia to & nbsp; bring the Cyprus issue back to the international political scene?
– Definitely there is. The invasion of any country and the violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity can not have multiple interpretations and certainly can not go unpunished. Beyond that, some aspects of the crisis have a special Cypriot interest, in addition to the need for a clear approach and effective condemnation of cases of violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of any country.
The first concerns what I said above about the need for cohesion and consistency in the way the EU reacts to such issues, especially when the infringements concern EU Member States.
The second concerns Turkey's stance, which reaffirms its timeless approach, summed up in “expert neutrality”. It is an approach that should be considered, especially in the EU, and whether this behavior of Turkey is reinforced by the reluctance of the EU to respond effectively to Ankara's behavior that goes beyond the framework of international law.
The third concerns the “Energy” factor and the role it plays in the current situation, given the EU's heavy dependence on the Russian Federation.
Developments reinforce the need to develop new energy corridors for Europe, and the Eastern Mediterranean may be one such option. More substantial steps need to be taken by Brussels to speed up the prospects. The above affects, either indirectly or directly, the prospects for resolving the Cyprus issue. The question at this stage is how to create prospects for the resumption of substantive talks, which undoubtedly requires the active involvement of the international community, and in particular the EU. The attention of the international community at this stage is exclusively on developments in Ukraine.
Erato Kozakou Markoullis: “Without violating principles, & nbsp; we must keep some necessary balances”
-How did you see the developments in the Ukrainian issue and the escalation of tension between Russia and the West? What is at stake for Russia, the US and the European Union?
-After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the international order, which had been eaten in the past by unilateral, outside the United Nations, raids, has suffered a strong and perhaps irreparable blow and this is a tragic finding, with unpredictable consequences for small states, which base their survival and security on compliance with the rules of international law. We are also entering a new Cold War era, which will plague the international scene for decades.
Russia's actions have been condemned internationally and the sanctions imposed will deal a huge blow to its economy, to the extent that the cost of its actions, even if it achieves its military goals, will have the opposite effect, who will haunt her for a long time.
Russia's political isolation and economic strangulation may appear to be a favorable development for the United States, but if not handled properly and wisely by the latter, they can boomerang, pushing Russia closer to China in a strengthened policy. economic and military alliance, with all the consequences that would have for the US, causing, as American analysts have called it, an “Eurasian nightmare”.
Finally, for the European Union, which is coming out of The impact of sanctions against Russia on the economies of the Member States is expected to be greater and faster than expected, especially in the countries with the largest exposure to Russian capital, in the fields of energy, trade, tourism and services, of which Cyprus.
On the other hand, however, the great geopolitical and geostrategic stake remains as to whether it will now be possible to build a new architectural security for Europe that will rid the old continent of the nightmares of the past. & Nbsp; & nbsp;
-What do you consider the most advantageous position on the issue for the Republic of Cyprus, in order to have the least possible impact from the crisis?
-The Republic of Cyprus must uphold a position of authority throughout this crisis, condemning, as it has done, the blatant violation of all principles of international law by the Russian Federation with its invasion of Ukraine and the recognition of the two secessionist areas in Donbass.
The Charter of the United Nations, the principles of the Helsinki Declaration, the European and international human rights system and the principles and values of the European Union & nbsp; should guide our behavior and decisions. Our shield must remain international law, so that we can demand the same treatment on the part of the international community and against the Turkish illegalities and crimes committed against Cyprus.
On the other hand, Russia, which has always been a country that has consistently supported the rights of the Cypriot people in dealing with our problem, will continue to be a permanent member of the Security Council and therefore, without violating in any way principles and values, we must keep some necessary balances, precisely because we are facing a Cyprus problem, which is still bleeding and remains unresolved, and a revising Turkey with aggressive behavior and expansionist aspirations. & nbsp;
– There is parallelism between Ukrainian, as shaped by the invasion of Russia and the Cyprus issue? Developments can be an opportunity for Nicosia to & nbsp; to bring the Cyprus issue back to the international political scene?
Not only is there a parallel, but in my view there is a complete identification of Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine with the violations of all principles of international law by Turkey in July-August 1974, when the latter carried out its own mass invasion. , using its powerful military force and armament against the independent state of the Republic of Cyprus.
& nbsp; Russia copies the Turkish precedent, which resulted in the occupation of 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, the expulsion of one third of the Greek Cypriot population, (which in comparison with the Ukrainian would today correspond to 15 million Ukrainian refugees), significant losses mainly to civilians, the creation of a tragic humanitarian problem such as the missing, which remains unresolved, huge material disasters and economic consequences, as well as the attempt to secede from the occupied territories and the proclamation of a so-called state recognized by the occupying Turks.
Whatever the pretext used by the invaders, the use of force and the violation of international law can in no way be justified, and this is the position of principles from which we can not distance ourselves. That is why the current developments in Ukraine can be (in a tragic and at the same time substantial) way, an opportunity to remind the international community that the Republic of Cyprus, which condemns the Russian invasion and participates in international For the last 48 years, it has been the victim of the same violation of principles and values by Turkey, which remains an occupying power, violating all Security Council resolutions on the Cyprus issue, without, however, having suffered, unlike Russia, any consequences for its crimes and illegalities.
Recalling this obvious contradiction, we could demand the activation of the international community to end the Turkish occupation and to put pressure on Turkey to resolve the Cyprus issue, on the basis of what has been agreed and ratified by the United Nations. The two measures and two weights nurture Turkish intransigence and damage the credibility of the international community. & Nbsp; & nbsp;
George Lillikas: “There should be integrated political planning and strategy”
-How did you see the developments in the Ukrainian issue and the escalation of tension between Russia and the West? What is at stake for Russia, the US and the European Union?
– Russia's invasion is reprehensible, because it is a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent country. I hope that the war will end soon and that there will be the least loss of human lives.
With this war we are witnessing a game of geopolitical and geostrategic game, in which issues beyond the integrity of Ukraine are at stake, with the big victims being first the Ukrainian and then the Russian people.
Moscow's initial demands were to provide guarantees that Ukraine would not join NATO and to protect the Russian-speaking people of eastern Ukraine by implementing the Minsk Agreement, which provided for some sort of autonomy. In his speech, however, President Putin presented a revisionist approach that led to the annulment of the Ukrainian state. This revisionist approach led to Moscow recognizing the areas controlled by the separatists as independent & nbsp; possibly leading to the annexation of the territories of Eastern Ukraine, which the Russian army would occupy.
I believe that this revisionist approach and the precedent of the annexation of Crimea, in the context of the massiveness and intensity of the military invasion, have led to an unprecedented unifying reaction of the West. Disagreements and differences between the EU Member States, but also between the EU and the US have been set aside and replaced by a united front.
For Russia, the big issue is national security, which is linked to the gradual expansion of NATO into the former Soviet Union. The understanding, & nbsp; that existed between NATO and Russia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, was violated. The West did not seek to integrate Russia, but instead maintained a Cold War climate. Today Moscow seeks to participate in the formation of a new single European & nbsp; At stake for the United States is the weakening at all levels and in all areas of Russia and the strengthening of NATO.
On the other hand, in the new tragic conditions that have been created, the EU may be able to move forward with the formulation of a common defense policy and the establishment of a single European army. A big question in such a development will be whether it will be formed as an independent or as a complement to NATO. I do not think the United States would support the first choice.
There is another stake in humanity and peace. I believe it is time to review the international security system, in participatory terms, to make it more effective. & Nbsp; I believe that this is the time for the EU to take initiatives and play a leading role.
-Cyprus, as a victim of invasion and occupation, which invokes respect for international law, to restore its territorial integrity, could not but condemn the Russian invasion and not align itself with the rest of the EU.
< p> The attempt of some to revive and consolidate for the future a new confrontation between West and East does not serve us.
Perhaps it is an opportunity to review our economic model, developing new modern productive sectors, which are, as far as possible, less vulnerable to external factors.
– There is a parallel between Ukrainian, as formed by the invasion of Russia and the Cyprus problem? Can the developments be an opportunity for Nicosia to bring the Cyprus issue back to the international political scene?
-The basic parallel concerns the violation of international law and the sovereignty of independent states, with the argument & nbsp; the protection of minorities. The unanimity that prevailed in the EU and the intensity of the sanctions have created a new environment with a particular sensitivity to the issues of military invasion and occupation that the Cypriot Government must take advantage of.
Turkey's refusal to impose sanctions on Russia will create new problems in its relations with the EU, because while European countries will pay financial costs, in the near future Turkey will try to reap economic benefits. And this must be exploited by the government. But in order to have a positive and substantial result in our efforts, there must be integrated political planning and strategy.
It remains to be seen, of course, whether our European partners will remain consistent with their current positions and actions when issue will concern Turkey. The return of the Cyprus problem as a problem of invasion and occupation can be achieved if, in parallel with our actions within the European institutions and at the level of transnational relations, we sensitize the societies as well. Following the resolution of the UN General Assembly condemning the Russian invasion, it is worthwhile for the government to consider the possibility of a successful recourse to the General Assembly.
in Russia, then Turkey may interpret the climate for annexation of our occupied territories as favorable. That is why the government must act in a timely and preventive manner.
