'Unfortunately, we do not learn from our lessons'

Tue 18 January 2011 13:17 GMT | 15:17 Local Time

News.Az interviews Takis Hadjidemetriou, Founding Member of the Socialist Party (Republic of Cyprus), former MP, EU Accession Coordinator in 2003.

I know you will soon visit Azerbaijan. Could you say anything about this visit?

Yes, I am going to come to Azerbaijan in early March. During the visit I am planning to meet a number of representatives of the country's authorities. I am looking forward to this visit and the upcoming meetings with people.

Which issues are you planning to discuss? The Cyprus problem?

No, we are planning to discuss the problems of your region. We want to discuss the experience, you got, to see how you are settling your problem. We are going to discuss these issues, exchange views.

Who is the organizer of the visit?

It is an international organization, dealing with crises in the Caucasus.

I know that you are planning to visit Armenia within this visit as well. Armenia's former President Kocharyan is famous for his statement about the impossibility of coexistence of Armenians and Azerbaijanis in the same territory. But  in Cyprus we see the good example of co-existence of Greeks and Turks despite the unresolved conflict between them. Which recipe can you offer for the peaceful coexistence of the two nations, who have been through a war with each other?

If I knew, I would apply this experience in Cyprus (laughs). Unfortunately, in our case aggressive nationalism is playing a very negative role. And, unfortunately, we do not learn from our own lessons. We have gone through many events, but, unfortunately, we do not take a benefit from this accumulated experience. I hope the situation will further change for the better.

Is the Cyprus problem the problem of enmity of Greeks and Turks or the geopolitical interests of other countries clash here, or probably there is a different problem lying in the issue?

No, this is an issue of nationalism. We have no religious problems in Cyprus. In fact, we really have a wonderful model of coexistence, including in cultural and religious sense. The community representatives are free to visit mosques and churches. But nationalism is a decisive factor, spoiling our relations.

Is this nationalism between the two communities or in a wider global scale, between Ankara and Athens?

I would say like this, it is both between Ankara and Athens and here between people supporting enosis (movement to annex Cyprus to Greece-ed.) and Cypriot Turks. We need to understand that Cyprus is a common country for all, including Cypriot Greeks and Cypriot Turks.

The interview is made in Nicosia during the visit of a group of journalists from the South Caucasus countries to Cyprus within the framework of the European Neighborhood Journalism Network, held these days.

W.W.
News.Az