A state that, despite the weaknesses and contradictions with which it began, proved far more resilient than one might perhaps have predicted. A state that embraces both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
The history of the Republic of Cyprus is, to a large extent, the history of an enduring trial. The intercommunal clashes of the 1960s, the withdrawal of the Turkish Cypriots from the organs of the state, the coup and, above all, the Turkish invasion of 1974 called into question even the very survival of the Cypriot state. The Republic of Cyprus, however, as an institutional entity, did not collapse. And this carries deep political significance.
In 1974, the Republic of Cyprus lost control of a large part of its territory. Hundreds of thousands of people were uprooted, the country was divided, and a reality of occupation was established on its soil. Despite this, the internationally recognised state of Cyprus continued to exist. It preserved its international standing, its institutions, and its seat at the United Nations. Later, accession to the European Union added a further, powerful institutional and political pillar. It is no exaggeration to say that EU accession politically reversed the Turkish invasion.
And here, perhaps, lies the most important message of this anniversary.
The Republic of Cyprus is not the state of division. It is the state that was created in 1960 and endured violence, invasion and the passage of time. It is the only internationally recognised state on the entire island and, as such, constitutes the institutional framework within which reunification can be pursued.
Defending the Republic, therefore, cannot mean accepting the present situation. On the contrary, it means safeguarding that constitutional vessel which can make possible Cyprus's return to its political and geographic unity.
What is called for today is not to idealise 1960. It is to understand what managed to survive that difficult birth. The Republic of Cyprus has endured. And for as long as it endures, the prospect of a reunited Cyprus remains an achievable political goal.
Its preservation is not the end of the journey. It is the precondition for the next step to become possible. The Republic of Cyprus is the vehicle of the solution.
