In our previous articles we had highlighted the efforts of Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides to give new impetus to the Cyprus settlement during his visit a few months ago to Germany, where he asked the Chancellor to take the initiative and active involvement of the EU.
In fact, in a conversation with German leader Solts, the name of Merkel as the EU's special envoy for the Cyprus problem came up on the table, among other things.
All this is happening because of the refusal of the Erdogan-Tatar duo to accept any solution other than a two (2) state solution to the Cyprus problem, which is contrary to the UN Security Council's (UNSC) position and resolutions on a state on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.
It therefore seems that the Cyprus problem is entering a new phase, which, in our assessment, will require some movement and possibly concessions on the part of Cyprus.
Reactions in Cyprus to the invitation of the Turkish Cypriot Mayor of occupied Famagusta to an anti-Cypriot event
Meanwhile, according to an International Media article, there is "Outrage over the Turkish Cypriots' invitation to an anti-establishment event", which states:
"Controversy erupted on Thursday after the mayor of Famagusta invited Turkish Cypriots to an anti-establishment event to be held in the municipality on Saturday. National Popular Front and EDEK and others strongly criticised the move.
"The invitation to the pseudo-mayor of occupied Famagusta for the anti-communist event in Famagusta is unacceptable in every respect," the EDEK said in a statement.
"The so-called "mayor" Suleyman Ulucay, usurped the town hall of the occupied city and installed himself inside the building and supports the resettlement of Famagusta, which Turkey and the occupation regime are advancing, in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions," the EPP added, stressing that it is unacceptable to invite an illegal institution of an unrecognized state, which rose to its position through illegal procedures and is not covered by the 1960 constitution.
The party denounced the mayor's decision, accusing him of bringing before the city council a fait accompli and charging that the committee in charge of anti-communal events had not previously met for seven years.
"The mayor and those who supported his actions have downgraded the nature of the event from anti-Cypriot to bi-communal, sending the wrong messages to occupying Turkey, both internally and externally, and this cannot be accepted by the EPP, which will not participate in the event," the party said.
Speaking to state television station CyBC on Thursday, Famagusta mayor Simos Ioannou defended his actions, saying the community council meeting had gone normally and denied claims that it was undemocratic.
Famagusta Mayor Ioannou's rationale for inviting the Turkish Cypriot "Mayor" to the event
"We are not silencing anyone, everyone expressed their views, including dissent," the mayor said, claiming that the decision to invite Ulucay was taken in agreement with all those present.
The participation of a Turkish Cypriot delegation was a first and showed the will for a solution, Ioannou told the state broadcaster in his announcement of the decision on Wednesday.
The mayor explained that his Turkish Cypriot counterpart will be present, as well as a twelve-member Turkish Cypriot youth choir that will perform songs for reunification and peace.
"Council member Nikos Karoullas proposed the idea of inviting Ulucay and by agreement the invitation was made and it was accepted," Ioannou said. "Since Ulucay expressed the desire to be present, imagine if we said no," the mayor observed. "There will be no difference in the event and Ulucay knows what kind of event it is," the mayor said.
"The program of the event includes a speech by the mayor that will clearly state who the intruder was, nothing will change. All this shows is that there are Turkish Cypriots who share our view and who disagree with the current status of Turkish Cypriots," Ioannou said, calling the acceptance a positive development, referring to the previous Turkish Cypriot municipal authority of the walled city which did not want to make any contact for seven years.
The mayor went on to argue that the 1960 constitution provided for the election of two mayors, each representing his own community, operating in concert from a single municipal authority. "Under the constitution, a Turkish Cypriot mayor should be elected for the Turkish Cypriot communities within Famagusta," he said.
Pressed to clarify whether he considers his Turkish Cypriot counterpart legitimate, Ioannou said: "Uluchai should by right be called the 'mayor of the Turkish Cypriots of Famagusta'."
The President of the Republic of Cyprus will be present at the event.
President Nicos Christodoulides, who will attend the event, was informed of the Turkish Cypriot membership immediately after the decision was taken, Ioannou told cyBC.
The community leaders have met twice before, the last time earlier in June, in a show of friendship after Ulucay invited Ioannou for a town hall meeting.
"If we continue in the same spirit ,not talking to Turkish Cypriots, it will be to our detriment. The policy of exclusion will make us lose the forest for the tree," Ioannou said."
Conclusion
From the above we conclude that the Mayor of Famagusta Ioannou attempts through the invitation of the Turkish Cypriot "Mayor" of occupied Famagusta to the anti-state event to demonstrate that the Turkish Cypriots are in favour of the unification of Cyprus into one state, thus separating their position from the Tatar-Erdoğan line for two states on the Greater Island.
However, in our estimation, Turkey and the pseudo-state will try to project the presence of Ulutsai at the anti-state event, in the presence of the Cypriot President, as an acceptance of the "Mayor" of occupied Famagusta as the legal representative of the city and thus of the pseudo-state itself.
Besides, if subsequently Ulutsai, for example, attempts to establish twinning relations between occupied Famagusta and other European cities, how can the Cypriot government prevent this, when it has legitimized the Turkish Cypriot "Mayor" by inviting him to the anti-establishment event mentioned above?
In conclusion, we note that it is indeed in the right direction to dialogue and contact and not to exclude Turkish Cypriots from Cyprus, but always within the limits of no misinterpretation and future side effects.
