Cyprus is celebrating the 56th anniversary of its independence on October 1, with a military parade in the streets of Nicosia, and the bittersweet reminders of the road the island has travelled since its freedom in 1960.
The parade in Nicosia is set to begin at 11:00 am, where President Nicos Anastasiades will be greeted, along with Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos.
Members of the military, police, and the fire service will all be taking part in the celebrations.
But the day has brought to surface the reminders of a past that brought the island to the Turkish invasion of 1974, which has seen the country essentially split and in a struggle to achieve reunification.
Bittersweet messages on island’s independence
On Friday evening, President Anastasiades had addressed the people, leaving a bittersweet message on this day of celebration, as the Cyprus problem hangs over the heads of the whole island.
The President had called on all Cypriots, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot, to think back on whether all opportunities were taken advantage for a better future for the country.
As far as the Cyprus problem goes, President Anastasiades had said that he and the Turkish Cypriot side remain committed to process.
“We must be the ones that put our country above anything else,” the President mentioned.
Parliament President Demetris Syllouris also had a message of hope to give for the island, on the occasion of its independence.
Syllouris said: “We ask for something which is self-evident, the restoration of the human rights and the basic freedoms of our people, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites and Latins.”
He had also noted on Friday evening that the island remains committed to the values outlined in international law and the European Union acquis communautaire.
US remains ‘deeply committed’
As Independence Day raises the memories of a brief freedom, marred by intercommunal violence through the ‘60s and ultimately Ankara’s invasion and seizure of 37 per cent of the island, the US President sent his congratulations to President Anastasiades in a letter for October 1.
US President Barack Obama had said in his letter: “A settlement would unlock great potential for regional cooperation and would offer all Cypriots a brighter future. We remain deeply committed to supporting your efforts and we believe a settlement is within reach.”
Independence, where Cyprus has come, and the road ahead
Cyprus had officially gained its independence from the British rule on August 16, 1960, when the agreements for the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus were signed.
However, Independence Day was moved to October 1 after the cabinet of ministers in 1963, then made up of seven Greek Cypriots and three Turkish Cypriots, voted to move the date, so as to celebrate appropriately, with honour and the presence of an international diplomatic corps.
Peace, however, did not last as long as was hoped after the island was given its freedom, as in 1960, Cyprus signed the London-Zurich agreements, which allowed the UK, Greece, and Turkey to retain guarantor power status over the island.
The agreement was incorporated into the constitution of the island, which essentially allowed any of the three countries to intervene militarily if violence erupted between the two communities.
This led to the intercommunal violence of 1963, which was brought when President Archbishop Makarios III proposed constitutional changes, abrogating powers.
Enclaves were formed by the Turkish Cypriot community following the violence, prompting the UN to bring its peace keeping forces to the island.
However, peace was still unattainable.
Unacceptable status quo
1974 saw a series of events that led to the dark summer, which has left what President Anastasiades has called the ‘unacceptable status quo’.
As a military junta in Greece had taken control of Athens, a military coup was plotted against Makarios. On July 15, the coup took place, causing Makarios to flee the Presidential palace.
July 20, however, saw the first phase of the invasion, that left thousands displaced, many missing, and a wound across the island, that leaders of both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities have since been trying to heal.
Turkey launched operation Attila on July 20, entering the island from Kyrenia, and seizing control of the area. On August 14, a second wave of attacks followed, this time form Famagusta, which ended in approximately 37 per cent of the island left under Turkish occupation.
Negotiations restarted in May 2015, when Mustafa Akinci was selected as Turkish Cypriot leader. President Anastasiades and Mr Akinci have been working since then to achieve convergences and bridge gaps, to bring an agreement that the people of Cyprus will accept.
A new round of intensified talks is set to start next week, as the two leaders seek to close, what the President has called the ‘open wound’.
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