Cyprus and the Arab world

Cyprus and the Arab world
21.05.2010 · Posted in Cyprus News, Cyprus Real Estate, International Real Estate

THE RECENT signing of a multimillion euro deal between Cyprus and Qatar to develop a hotel, residential and commercial complex in central Nicosia constitutes an economic event of the first magnitude.

Its huge political benefits for Cyprus cannot be ignored and as President Christofias said: “This fact shows the high level of our relations and the rapid development of the co-operation between our countries, sealing our desire for further strengthening the friendship and solidarity between our people.”

As a matter of fact, the relations between Cyprus and the Arab world are characterised by a deep-rooted traditional friendship, which took a concrete form after the independence of Cyprus. It started first between Cyprus and Egypt, and then covered all other Arab countries of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Makarios and Nasser became leading figures of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The foundations of the Cyprus-Arab friendship are very solid. The friendly attitude of the Arab world towards Cyprus is due to two factors; first, the consistency with which Cyprus supports the struggle of the Palestinian people, and second the inimical climate towards Turkey prevailing in the Arab countries.

One should not forget that they were under the economic, political, racial and linguistic oppression of the Ottoman Empire, that secession of minorities represents a menace to certain Arab countries, that Turkey as a member of NATO and a US ally provokes the sentiments of certain hardline Arabs and that Turkey was the first Muslim country to recognise Israel.

The friendly feelings of the Arab world were confirmed immediately after the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey in 1974, when President Makarios visited the Presidents of Egypt Sadat, Algeria Boumedien and Yugoslavia Tito to ask for help.

As a result the Contact Group of the Non-Aligned Movement was established and it was this Group which prepared the draft of the Resolution 3212, adopted by the General Assembly of the UN in December 1974.

Prominent role in the Group was played by Algeria, India and Yugoslavia. Failure of Turkey to associate herself with the Non-Aligned Movement, in whatever form, led her to the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) in order to promote her interests.

Working methodically, after the illegal declaration of the “TRVC”, and upgrading her participation in the work of the OIC, Turkey gradually managed to have her positions on the Cyprus problem accepted in the texts of the OIC, using the Islamic card. Moreover, she managed to have elected a Turk, Mr. Ishanoglou, as Secretary-General of the OIC.

Today, Turkey is playing the same Islamic card, as it is proven by the following: the Turkish prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemned the Israeli invasion of Gaza in Davos, Switzerland, in front of President Shimon Peres.

He himself received the leader of Hamas, an organisation considered by Israel as terrorist. Turkey conducted common military exercises with Syria, arch-enemy of Israel, whereas it avoided inviting Israel to military exercises in Turkey, in accordance with the Military Co-operation Agreement of 1996 between the two countries.

Turkey does not consider as dangerous the nuclear ambitions of Iran, whereas Israel does. President Gul of Turkey visited Iraq and talked also to the Kurds, whereas in Tehran he was received by Ayatolah Khamenei, who for the first time accorded audience to the leader of a NATO country. All these moves clearly show that Turkey has chosen the Arab camp and that she plans to mediate between the West and the Muslim world.

The question is whether Turkey is convincing, as there as many suspicions, blackmails and doubts about her trustworthiness. How can you avoid having suspicions when Turkey is supporting an organisation like Hamas? Who will forget the blackmailing of Syria by Turkey over the supply of water? Concerning now the trustworthiness of Turkey one should expect that it will be tested when the question of sanctions against Iran will come for voting at the UN Security Council.

Will Turkey vote in favour, in order to satisfy the United States? Moreover, the new Davutoglou policy promoted by Turkey in the Middle East undermines the pioneering role of Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the Arab world, and their strong reaction should not be excluded.

Within this framework, as created by the ambitions of Turkey in the Middle East, Cyprus steadily continues to follow a policy of friendship with the Arab world, as it does with Israel.

Actual recognition of the importance Cyprus attaches to the Arab world are the reciprocal visits at the highest level. President Christofias visited Egypt from 6-9 April 2009, Qatar from 5-7 May 2009 and Syria from August 31 to September 1, 2009.

Cyprus was visited by the President of the Palestinian Authority from 8-9 July, 2009), the President of Lebanon from12-13 February, 2010) and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Al-Thani from 20-21 April 2010.

The recent visit of the leader of Qatar, apart from constituting a unique expression of confidence to the Cypriot economy, carries a particular political weight, as it heralds the start of a new era of closer co-operation and strengthening of the traditional bonds of friendship with the Arab world.

Published on May 20, 2010, Cyprus Mail

Dr Andrestinos N Papadopoulos is a former ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus