A Cyprus solution is as much a contract between foreign powers as it is between Cypriots themselves, but with a false sense of their own self importance and a belief that they have the luxury to choose whatever solution sounds more appealing to their communal interests, few Cypriots recognise the need to balance a solution with the strategic interests of both Britain and Turkey. Politically immature, often those Cypriots in power on both sides of the Green Line either completely under estimated outside security interests or act as puppets to these states. But a solution based on the membership of a future Cyprus in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) may help Cypriots find the delicate balance between a united Cyprus and good relations with these outside powers that is paramount to a solution. 

SOUTHERN FLANK

Nobody should underestimate the importance of Cyprus to NATO. The security of the West is closely linked to the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean has been important for NATO primarily in military terms since the Cold War, a fact reflected in the region being identified as the Alliance's "Southern Flank". Faced with the Soviet threat in the past and the more recent threat of nuclear proliferation by countries U.S President George. W Bush refers to as part of the “axis of evil,” Cyprus owing to its proximity to the Middle East still remains at the centre of this “Southern Flank”. The presence of SBA (British bases), recent talk of a Turkish naval base in Karpaz and an American base in Gecitkale / Lefkonico highlights the significance of the island to Western security interests.  
 

FULL INDEPENDENCE?

In 1956, British Foreign Minister once said “Many states in the British Commonwealth will over time be granted independence but Cyprus owing to its strategic position never will.” Despite outrage at the time, I believe this was one of the few occasions when a politician spoke openly and frankly. States, particularly small states are seldom fully independent actors in the International Arena, as often the foreign policy and defence of states are defined by their relationship to foreign powers, frequently greater military powers.

The independence of states like Cyprus is thus not guaranteed for nothing but rests upon a contract between larger states with whom they align themselves militarily. Like Cyprus, the foreign policy and defence of larger states Britain and Turkey are also limited through their alliance to the United States. Clearly, a solution to the Cyprus problem is in my view one that has to accommodate the security interests of these greater powers. 
 
 

VULNERABLE

The need for a Western alliance is all too clear. According to A C Chrysafis, author of “Who shall govern Cyprus, Brussels or Nicosia?” Deceived by the Western powers, Cyprus has always lacked military alliances. Chrysafis wrote in his section on foreign policy and defence “No one has any illusions about the difficulties of achieving a peace settlement, nor there can be any illusion about recognising the fact that Cyprus as an independent sovereign state had failed to make political alliances in the past with nations genuinely willing to offer their positive support in the event of foreign military aggression.” For this reason Chrysafis argues Cyprus remains “vulnerable.”  
 

WHEN ONE’S PRINCIPLES CAN HINDER A SOLUTION

However, this vulnerability does not stem as Chrysafis points out by a ‘betrayal’ by Washington or London to stand up to Ankara. Rather it stems from the failure of progressive circles in Cyprus to understand the wider picture.

Sticking to their principles blindly, many progressive Cypriots particularly on the left demand nothing less than a non-aligned Cyprus emphasizing that nothing less than total 100% demilitarisation (the withdrawal of Turkish troops) is acceptable. But faced with increasing turmoil in the Middle East can anybody really expect the West or Turkey to remove its troops leaving Cyprus non aligned? Although Cyprus is a founding member of the Non-aligned movement, the island is already used to defend the Western alliance, and a failure to exploit this to work for Cyprus when designing a solution is our greatest weakness as a nation. 

REALITY CHECK

Sadly on the island, particularly in the north where a pro-reunification party on the right is hard to find, many supporters of reunification badly mix cries for reunification with opposition to US imperialism – some of their ideas come straight out of the 1960s Student Revolution. But mixing reunification with revolutionary talk only weakens Cyprus’ progressive movement.  Few question whether the United States who pays the bill for many of Cyprus’ peace plans would agree to their idea.

With no idea of reality, among some Greek Cypriots often their stubbornness for wanting complete withdrawal of Turkish troops or nothing is breath taking, but again few question whether Turkey who has 50,000 troops in Cyprus would reduce its troop numbers completely in exchange for nothing in Cyprus.

But it is time for a reality check, if Cypriot politicians are serious about grasping peace they must stop misleading the Cypriot people and inform them that neighbouring Turkey is no equal to Cyprus. Cyprus cannot play games with Turkey and arise victorious. An influential country in NATO, with an army the second largest in the alliance, the United States has seven bases and twenty-one other sites, crucial to military surveillance or operations in the Middle East and Central Asia in this country. Faced with this, it is imperative for Cypriots to seek a solution within this alliance - an aversion to NATO will only leave Cyprus a pawn in an international security game.  
 

While I share their common objective for a reunified Cyprus, I believe that being too entrenched in one’s principles can ruin prospects for a solution. Cypriots do not need a hero like Che Guevara, a Hugo Chavez or a Dom Mintoff; they need to aim for a solution where a future Cyprus carefully balances its national unity with the security interests of London and Ankara without acting as a puppet for either. A dimension of the world order game, achieving this balance is far more challenging than simply rejecting the world order, while pretending that Cyprus can act independently in foreign policy and defence. 

NATO – A FORUM FOR RECONCILIATION

NATO is not only essential to Cyprus’ future, the very foundations of this state has rested on agreements made within NATO. Christopher Brewin, author of The European Union and Cyprus illustrates this point by explaining that NATO has often acted as a forum for reconciling the conflicts of national interest between its members Greece and Turkey. Brewin argues that Cypriot independence was the result of the bilateral agreements reached between the governments of Greece and Turkey. This may explain some of the imperfections within the 1960 Constitution.

But on a different note the benefits of NATO are best illustrated by the relationship of partners Greece and Turkey. The membership of both countries in NATO has played a key role in averting war between the two states on several occasions. If a future reunited Cyprus could be planned around NATO membership, surely it too would enforce a commitment to a regional peace while empowering Cyprus to better assert its own national interests?  

A PARTNERSHIP SOLUTION

To find a solution in Cyprus that would benefit Cypriots alone is not enough. Owing to its strategic position, Cyprus cannot afford to be non-aligned. If Cyprus is to be reunited as one single state again, a Cyprus solution must provide an incentive to these greater powers in order to truly speed up a solution. Moreover, if this future state is to survive without divisive external interference then Nicosia must be allies with London and Ankara, and recognise that its foreign policy and defence is linked to the continent of Europe. A potential ally to the West and Turkey, a NATO Cyprus would bring greater stability to the region, improving Greco-Turkish relations, eliminating hostilities, while providing NATO political and military backing to the unity of a future Cyprus. For Britain too, a NATO solution would strengthen its bases and its partnership with Cyprus. It is this partnership solution that would also help break the tradition of allowing outsiders to solve the problems of Cyprus, which has often left the island at the mercy of outsiders.