Angelos M. Syrigos, Professor of International Law and Foreign Policy at Panteion University – Member of the ND Parliament in A’ Athens
THE DEVELOPMENTS on their war fronts middle East show that everything is fluid and can easily escalate into a large-scale regional conflict.
There is already reasonable concern about waves of refugees from Lebanon arriving directly in Cyprus or the Aegean islands via Turkey. At the same time, the possibility remains that terrorist organizations across the region will attempt to transfer the essence of their ideologies and choices to our lands. Let us remember the terrorist incident on the tourist ship City of Poros, in 1988, with seven deaths.
HOWEVER Whether or not we get into regional conflict, in fact every state to the east and south of us is actually already involved in some kind of war.
The only exception is Egypt, where the government’s iron fist prevented the dissolution of the state and the creation of an immigration problem, in the face of which all previous immigration crises will seem like child’s play. Therefore, the EE must support Egypt’s stability in every way.
THE MOST IMPORTANT for us is that, despite our immediate and disturbing proximity to this world, we define the borders of the zone of peace and security. This state of peace and security must be preserved and emphasized.
We saw the practical application last year: How it works Cyprus as a basis for the withdrawal of American citizens from Israel immediately after the October 2023 attack by Hamas, the massive and long-term rental of apartments by Israelis in Greece and Cyprus and now by Lebanese in the aid operation in the Gaza Strip; based again in Cyprus.
A few days ago, the summit of Southern European leaders took place in Paphos, Cyprus, in the presence of the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the King of Jordan, Abdullah.
ALL OF THIS show that Cyprus is slowly moving away from the single-issue Turkish occupation.
Since 2004, when Cyprus joined the European Union, until today, the almost exclusive issue raised by Cypriot foreign policy concerns Turkey.
This makes sense, given the tragic problem that has lasted 50 years. At the same time, however, it “links” Cyprus to Türkiye. In the ears of Europeans, the word Cyprus is associated with Türkiye. This also fits into their broader picture of this Cypriot.
Seen with the Annan plan. Any solution plans that reach the table are adapted to the logic that Turkey is the strong actor in resolving the Cyprus problem.
THE CRISIS in the Middle East offers the West the possibility of confronting Cyprus from another perspective, completely free from the Turkish factor.
Precisely because Turkey is involved in the Middle East crisis, the Republic of Cyprus’ apparent separation from Erdogan’s ways contributes to the island’s stability. It thus proves that, if the Annan plan had been accepted in 2004, today Cyprus would function as an annex of Türkiye and would probably have been involved in the entire dispute.
One more conclusion emerges from all this. The relationship between Greece and Cyprus does not duplicate the footprint of Hellenism in the Eastern Mediterranean. This multiplies that.