Opinion
By Costa Constanti*
Yesterday’s announcement by the two Cypriot leaders of two new crossings between Louroujina–Lympia and Kampos–Karavostasi is welcome news. Yet disappointment was widespread across Nicosia and in Athienou, where the much-anticipated Kaimakli–Mia Milia and Athienou–Aglantzia crossings were not announced.
These would be game changers for tens of thousands of residents, strengthening communications across the divide and offering relief to Agios Dometios, where crossing queues choke streets for hours.
Could the Athienou crossing, sought by the Greek Cypriot side, be opened alongside the eastern Nicosia crossing and the Pyla bypass, which the Turkish Cypriot side so keenly wants? These proposals have been discussed before. Whispers suggest Pyla was put on the table yesterday, derailing progress on the four crossings initially expected. We must ask, should one community’s needs come at the expense of the other’s?
And let’s not forget Tylliria’s dire need for a Kokkina crossing. As with the road through the sensitive Turkish military zone at Kato Derynia, a similar arrangement could apply through the military zone in Kokkina. No innovation needed - just political will!
Make no mistake: all progress is good progress, even if it falls short. Restoring Maronite churches and Sourp Magar Monastery is long overdue. For Armenian Cypriots, the monastery is central to their heritage. I recall years of negotiations over Apostolos Andreas Monastery. Today, it is hard to fathom that restoration was ever debatable. Every confidence-building measure (CBM) looks simple and obvious in hindsight. It is always easier once it is done. The challenge is getting there.
Then there is the Imagine programme at the Home for Cooperation, which spent years teaching peace and reconciliation to younger generations before both sides effectively spat the dummy. Having to reinstate a CBM that already worked illustrates just how fickle our peace process is. We should be discussing much more ambitious measures, not resurrecting those already proven helpful.
Environmental CBMs are another example. These were agreed upon earlier this year, covering biodiversity, invasive species, plant diseases, climate research, mining pollution around Lefka, island-wide air-quality monitoring, wildfire alerts and microplastic pollution. How is re-announcing these not taking the mickey? These are not controversial issues. These are undeniable win-wins that benefit everybody. Why are we still announcing them instead of implementing them? Just get on with it already!
And then there is the crisis-management debacle. And yes, I call it a debacle. When Greece and Turkey can cooperate following earthquakes and disasters, tiny Cyprus cannot get a firetruck across a checkpoint or a water bomber into the air to save our forests. Surely nobody on this island would reject help from the ‘other’ if it meant protecting our environment, property and, most importantly, lives.
So why are the leaders not brave enough to deliver what the vast majority want and need? Are they overly influenced by vocal minorities of disrupters?
If both leaders commit to serious CBMs and an eventual comprehensive settlement, under UN auspices and in the international spotlight, no foreign power could credibly reject it without paying a political price. No one could reject it without exposing true intentions.
We need our leaders to deliver what they announce. Cyprus needs two steps forward, not one step back.
*Costa Constanti is an Executive Council Member for Volt Cyprus and a social and political analyst for CONSTANTi.org
