Written by Dr Yiorghos Leventis | 25 April 2012

[Speech delivered at the University of Nicosia conference on New Threats and Challenges  for Regional Security in the Eastern Mediterranean, 24 April 2012]

First of all, let me take this opportunity to join everyone I believe in this room wishing that the fighting and consequent sad loss of innocent civilian lives is terminated in the neighbouring country as soon as possible. I think that I express the wish of every one of us in this auditorium to urge for the swift implementation of the ceasefire as envisaged by Security Council resolutions and the resumption of peace talks without preconditions in order to resolve the political crisis in Syria.

In the limited time available I will seek to analyse the sad developments in Syria in two main perspectives. On the one hand, the perspective of international law and on the other, the view from Nicosia but also I would say the view from Athens and any other capital that is concerned by the rise of Ankara's Neo-Ottomanism and Muslim fundamentalism.

Written by Dr Yiorghos Leventis | 13 April 2012

The issue of the British Bases in Cyprus is invariably visited by London every ten years, that is the time that lapses in between British strategic and defence reviews. The last such review took place in 2011. David Cameron, the British PM, appointed Lord Ashcroft to report on the utility of the Cyprus military bases. Lord Ashcroft duly submitted his report. London decided to sustain the bases at an annual cost to the British taxpayer running to about 350 million pounds sterling.

On the island itself, Greek Cypriot politicians continue their usual practice of paying lip service to the removal of the British bases in every election campaign period. Four years ago, in the Spring of 2008, President Demetris Christofias, upon his election to office - of both Head of State and Head of Government of the Republic of Cyprus - ordered the Press and Information Office of the Republic to issue and circulate his five-year programme of government. It was the same policy document which won him the ticket to lead Cyprus government for the next five years. In it an explicit reference was made that regarding security arrangements his steadfast policy promoted 'the ultimate aim of the complete de-militarization of Cyprus with the removal of the British Bases' (Government Programme: Cyprus Problem - Just and Viable Solution, p. 2 in Greek)

Written by Famagusta Gazette | 09 April 2012

The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned Russian citizens about the dangers of buying land in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus. In a statement at the Interfax News Agency, Deputy Director of Press and Information Department Zacharova Maria, stated that the administration in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus, is an illegal state and property purchases should be avoided. She stresses that the so called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is an illegal entity which was declared in the Turkish occupied areas of the independent and internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus. Zacharova underlines that UN Security has condemned this illegal action in its resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984).

''Buying a property in occupied Cyprus is illegal since several properties belonging to Greek Cypriots legally who fled their homes after the invasion of Turkish occupation troops in 1974. The property market is at great risk because under legal lawsuits filed by the owners, ''Zacharova warns. She also explains that under the Criminal Code of Cyprus any property without the consent of legal owner, is fraud and punishable by imprisonment for seven years. The Russian Foreign Ministry urges Russian citizens to be informed in detail about this issue.

Written by Dr Yiorghos Leventis | 05 April 2012

As oil started to be pumped out of the Middle East, Cyprus served as London's outpost securing the uninterrupted flow of the vital energy resource for the formidable industrial machine of the British Isles. It is no coincidence that Sir Anthony Eden explained in strong and unyielding words, the British government's position in Cyprus clear and flat. Without bothering to clothe it in the familiar language of imperialistic idealism, Sir Anthony defined Britain's stake in one word: oil. He stressed:

Our country's industrial life and that of Western Europe, depend today, and must depend for many years, on oil supplies from the Middle East. If ever our oil resources were imperiled, we should be compelled to defend them. The facilities we need in Cyprus are part of that. No Cyprus, no certain facilities to protect our supply of oil. No oil, unemployment and hunger in Britain. It is as simple as that.[1]