Athens and Nicosia do not say “two states” or a confederation: Will Moscow recognize the pseudo-state of the occupied?
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a press conference in Moscow, Russia. EPA, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ORDER
Murat Magometovich Zyazikov is Vladimir Putin’s personal choice for the position of Ambassador of Russia in Cyprus. This is the first time that a Muslim has been chosen for this position and there is concern in Nicosia. Zyazikov has served as President of the autonomous Muslim Republic of Igushetia in Russia.
What does this option mean? There is the pragmatic interpretation and the suspicious treatment of the subject.
The pragmatic interpretation puts forward the view that foreign policy is not based on persons, but on state interests, principles and lines drawn by the government of a country.
- It could be said that Russia is a country with a strong Muslim minority, and President Putin wants to show that everyone is equal and that he is taking advantage of the system not only from the Orthodox Christian majority.
After all, he also has an obligation towards the Muslims of his country, given that in Ukraine and Syria many Muslims are fighting in the Russian army.
Good connoisseurs of diplomatic history will remember that Greece also, at another critical moment, chose a person based on qualifications and not religion.
Specifically, when our country refused to support NATO’s aggressive policy against Serbia and Greek-Serbian relations were very warm, one of the Greek Ambassadors in Belgrade during that period was capable, but he belonged to another Christian denomination. He was not Orthodox.
This did not prevent his excellent cooperation with the Orthodox Patriarchate of Serbia, whose representatives also publicly expressed their appreciation.
Supporters of the dubious interpretation argue that the choice of a Muslim is a good gesture on the part of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots and that this is a clear indication that Russia is considering recognizing the pseudo-state in the Occupied Territories. They attribute this to the fact that Putin is annoyed with the attitude of Cyprus and Greece, which condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Suspicion is not unwarranted given that on February 21, 2022 we had a disturbing statement from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He had publicly said the following, associating the pseudo-state with the Russophile separatist movements in Ukraine:
“Look at Cyprus. The “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” has been unilaterally declared in the north. It refuses to comply with the resolutions of the UN Security Council, but no one denies the representatives of Northern Cyprus the right to participate in the dialogue.”
- I believe that the Republic of Cyprus must remain firm in its position, because a country that has been invaded and occupied cannot approve another invasion and occupation of an independent country.
Russia will have the Ambassador and other means to exert psychological pressure and leave the possibility of recognition hanging. At least in the immediate future it will not recognize the Occupied, because this will be interpreted as a green light for separatist Muslims inside Russia.
In Nicosia and Athens we must reject any plan for two states or for a Confederation in Cyprus.
*THE Konstantinos Holevas is a Politician of Scientists. Posted in Parapolitics
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