Lawyer and politician Achilleas Demetriades says Cyprus has yet to come to terms with the events of 1974, arguing that the failure to confront the truth continues to hamper efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue.
Speaking to Politis radio on the anniversary of the coup, Demetriades stressed the importance of honestly recording and understanding the events of the past, not only for historical reasons but also because of their relevance to Cyprus' future.
‘Schools do not even teach it’
Asked how younger generations should understand the coup, Demetriades said perceptions differ from one generation to another and that explaining both what happened and where Cyprus is heading today remains difficult.
Reflecting on 1974, he noted that 52 years had passed since the Asia Minor Catastrophe, suggesting that history often appears to move in recurring cycles. "We still have not agreed what the coup was. Schools do not even teach it," he said.
Demetriades argued that truth has been the greatest casualty of the Cyprus tragedy, adding that society has yet to properly explain how it arrived at the coup and the subsequent Turkish invasion, or what direction it wishes to follow today. "We do not have the education, nor the politicians, for a possible solution," he said.
Truth Commission proposal stalled
Referring to proposals for the creation of a Truth Commission, Demetriades said the idea had also fallen victim to the prevailing political climate and remained little more than an election pledge. "We are afraid to face the truth. The truth of the past should be a compass for the future," he said.
He argued that Cyprus has failed to make a serious effort to properly document and understand the events that led to the coup and invasion, making efforts to solve the Cyprus problem even more difficult.
No return to a unitary state
Demetriades was equally categorical in rejecting calls for a return to a unitary state.
Asked whether Cyprus could return to such a model, he replied: "No, we cannot."
He questioned whether those advocating the idea wanted to return to the circumstances of 1960 or 1963, when Turkish Cypriots withdrew from the institutions of the Republic.
Demetriades added that some supporters of a unitary state had not sufficiently studied the 1960 Constitution, which required significant compromises at the foundation of the Republic of Cyprus.
‘We never accepted it’
Asked whether the Greek Cypriot side ever truly accepted the agreements reached in 1960, Demetriades said it had not. "We never accepted that Enosis was not what we wanted and that federation is the solution to the Cyprus problem," he said.
Warning over Cyprus leaks
Demetriades also criticised ongoing leaks relating to the Cyprus issue, describing them as dangerous.
According to him, their purpose is to demonise and undermine whatever proposals may eventually emerge from the United Nations process. "The aim of these leaks is to demonise whatever may come from the United Nations," he said.
Questioning that approach, he added: "If we do not want help from those bringing these proposals, then who exactly do we want to help us?" he asked.
