Apostolos Tomaras
Throughout the history of the Cyprus issue, particularly after the Turkish invasion of 1974, ultra-patriotic rhetoric has emerged from time to time, revealing a lack of understanding about what truly happened in Cyprus in 1974. These views come from within Cyprus but also find support from Greece, where commentators, safely in Athens, speak of injustices and call for the liberation of Cyprus from Turkish occupation. They talk about the suffering of Cypriot women, without the slightest empathy for what they have endured since 1974—it's all imagined. They throw around patriotic slogans, ignoring the consequences of perpetuating the invasion and occupation.
In the 50 years since the invasion and occupation of northern Cyprus, these late-coming "patriots" surface every time there's a glimmer of hope for a better future for the island. They thrive on doom-mongering, yet fail to propose any real solutions for how Cyprus could break free from its current situation. They limit themselves to nationalist rhetoric, warning of the disappearance of Hellenism if the Cyprus problem isn’t resolved by returning to the pre-1974 status quo. However, they conveniently ignore the consequences for the Cypriot people—particularly the women whose suffering they claim to care about—if the problem remains unresolved.
Former Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is a prime example of such unbridled patriotism whenever he visits Cyprus. Mr. Samaras is no stranger to Cyprus; he has long-standing friendships on the island, which he relied on during tough times in his political career in Greece—especially after his ousting by Konstantinos Mitsotakis. Samaras was recently in Cyprus again, using the platform of a glamorous lifestyle event to roll out his views on the Cyprus issue. He spoke extensively about Cyprus' plight, weaving in references to the glories of ancient Greece and the goddess Athena, whom even Ares, the God of War, dared not challenge. He wondered aloud why Cyprus had not yet been liberated, adding that "Greece, as the Motherland and as a guarantor power, has responsibilities."
With that logic, any listener might remind Mr. Samaras that since 1974, his own political party has governed Greece for several years, and he himself was once Prime Minister. He also reminisced about the Annan Plan, which he claimed legitimized the invasion’s outcomes. However, he conveniently forgot that had the plan been accepted, there wouldn't be 40,000 Turkish troops in Cyprus today. Samaras failed to mention to his audience that both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots are now openly demanding two separate states.
But it’s not just Mr. Samaras who shows up as an overzealous patriot, preaching to an audience that has been burned by past patriotism. If Mr. Samaras is serious about liberating Cyprus, he should lead the way, and we’ll gladly follow him. If he isn’t serious, which he isn’t, then he can continue to visit Cyprus, enjoy its hospitality, and catch up with his friends. As for patriotic slogans, we’ve had enough of them.
[This op-ed was translated from its Greek original]
