Security issues: Guarantees, demilitarisation and multinational forces
What should be our position in the talks concerning security and guarantees? Firstly, it is inconceivable that the Greek Cypriot people should be asked, let alone compelled to agree to the Treaty of Settlement and Guarantee (1960) being reaffirmed as part of an overall settlement. ‘Guarantorship’ could give Turkey the reason or pretext of once again, masquer-ading under the mask of ‘restoring’ the constitution to launch yet another invasion against the people of Cyprus. Once bitten, twice shy as the proverb says. There can no longer be ‘guarantor states’, given Turkey’s inclination to use this role so unscrupulously.
The idea of deploying a multinational force on the island and the UN Security Council being responsible for the independence of Cyprus is an improvement on the obsolete and dangerous concept of ‘guarantor powers’. The multinational force can operate alongside UNFICYP and supervise the withdrawal of all foreign troops from the island (in particular the Turkish occupation forces). UNFICYP has never played a combative role in peacekeeping operations and therefore the idea of an international force being deployed to safeguard Cyprus’ independence and sovereignty is an improvement on the existing situation. It suggests that armed force would be used to repel any invader.
Demilitarisation, on the other hand, is an issue over which Lobby for Cyprus has often had reservations not because the principle is wrong (would the US, Russia and Britain voluntarily demilitarise?). However given Cyprus’ bitter experiences, no Greek Cypriot can reasonably trust Turkey. This is especially so when Denktash and Ankara insist on guarantor status being maintained and Turkey therefore reserving the right to invade yet again. Few Greek Cypriots can be happy at the thought of the National Guard being disbanded when Turkish warplanes can reach Cyprus within five minutes of flying time.
However, it seems that matters have been predetermined to some extent in so far as the Cyprus Government has agreed in principle to the disbandment of the National Guard, but the essential pre-conditions must be that:
• There shall be no guarantor states and no provision for Turkey to have any say, veto power or arbitrary role in Cyprus’s affairs;
• All Turkish occupation forces be withdrawn, in line with countless UN General Assembly and Security Council Resolutions;
• A multinational force with offensive power to be deployed to defend Cyprus’ independence and sovereignty and to act alongside UNFICYP forces;
• Cyprus’ independence and sovereignty to be guaranteed by the UN Security Council.
Lobby for Cyprus’ overriding concern over any overall settlement is that Turkey should not have guarantor status and that friendly powers should be entrusted with defending Cyprus against aggression.
We will never forget the barbaric Turkish military posters of 1974 urging their troops to crush the Greek Cypriots. Never again!
