Dear prominent Europeans and members of the EP,

You are about to commit a serious mistake which could compromise irreversibly the Acquis of European integration. The proposed Anan plan for the so called “solution of the Cyprus problem” is an aberration. In support of this view, I would like to make the following comments:

First, the Anan plan violates flagrantly and explicitly everything we stand for as a community of civilized states: It flagrantly violates human rights (in fact it is illegal), it violates flagrantly democratic principles and it violates flagrantly international law.

Second, some say this is “political settlement of a long standing problem”. This is political and scientific nonsense: No political agreement can violate human rights, democracy and international law. That’s for what we stand for I call you to denounce calls for the opposite.

Third, the honorable members of the EP should fully grasp the “challenge of Cyprus”: Innumerous Declarations of the EP and other documents of the EU are since many decades advocating a “European political identity”. Instead of grasping the chance to promote a solution of the problems of Cyprus, a European state –and member of the EU–, )strictly on the grounds of the European legal and political Acquis) some do hide behind “political agreements” in order to allow the establishment of permanent violations of human rights, democracy and international law.

Even worse, you proceed to endorse this monstrous plan when all the facts are there favoring positive action: i) The only legally and politically committing document is Cyprus’ Act Accession which I urge to read carefully before proceeding to any decision. ii) European political institutions are eligible and competent to develop an urgent and active initiative to support the Republic of Cyprus as regards the Turkish Cypriot claims for additional privileges, economic support and wish to participate in democratic institutions at all levels. iii) Turkey is claiming to join the EU, a fact which provides a unique chance to help this country comply with human rights and international law.

Fourth, regarding the latter point, any endorsement of the political madness incarnated in the Anan plan would encourage various political forces within in Turkey to be more demanding, less willing to comply with international law and less willing to proceed with internal reforms. Such catastrophic development –which in fact will very soon put the EU in an utmost embarrassing situation– would in fact “legitimize” the violation of international law and would encourage the “candidate Turkey” to follow an utterly aggressive attitude. To put it otherwise, the “terms” and “conditions” for entry would be Turkey’s ones against the EU and not vice versa. Certainly such a situation would not favor the Turkish people, peace and stability in the area, the EU and the people of Cyprus.

Fifth, if the EP and the EU follows a catastrophic course destroying everything we stand for, you would not only be responsible for the flagrant violation of international law, human rights. You would furthermore cause a tremendous setback in EU legal and political practices. You would also allow the presence of occupation armies (elegantly and hypocritically called “guarantee forces”) on European soil. These armies, I remind you would belong to a state which is a … candidate to the EU! Is Cyprus not demilitarized????? Why then station Turkish forces? Are your aware of the declarations of Turkish military and political leaders statements that this is not for the sake of the Turkish-Cypriots but for the sake of “Turkey’s vital strategic interests”!!

Sixth, a call by the European Parliament for the endorsement of the “Anan plan|” would by all means be politically, morally and legally impoper: it comes as a pressure against the social will of Cypriots who have the right to decide without blackmails, pressures, extortions and ultimatums. For God sake: Why the referendum if all this immoral, illegal and political improper pressure is put on the Cypriots!! Is this for what we stand for as political and legal system in Europe? Is this civilized posture? Lets not let the EP form part of this grossly uncivilized and undemocratic game.

Last but not least, lets not encourage the violation of international law and the abuse of the role of the General Secretary of the United Nations. As all Know, this top institution of international order and Collective Security went through many adventures during the last five years culminating during illegal act against Irak. In the case of Cyprus, the G.S. went much beyond his role as a guarantor of international order in accordance to its Chart and the Treaties, we witnessed blackmail and extortions against one of its members, we witnessed his insistence to propose the abolition of a member of the UN (so far the first example in history) and we witnessed his insistence his hitherto unsuccessful attempts to secure a Security Council resolution endorsing his grotesquely illegal and immoral “plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem”.

Dear members of the EP,

Voting in favor of the Anan plan, the EP would commit a huge mistake. In fact if this happens you would write a “black page” in the history of European integration and European political history and you would cause a tremendous setback of our legal, moral and political Acquis. I call you to reflect, study all the parameters of this important issue and think over the moral, legal and political consequences.

Many regards

Panayiotis Ifestos