Sir,

Having read the comments about my opinion published in your newspaper, I would like to clarify one point.

The reunification of Germany and Yemen was easy to obtain because the separation was due to political reasons, not ethnic conflicts. Political or social differences are transitory factors, but ethnic differences are far more difficult to overcome.

The Cyprus Mail made a very important observation, that my suggestion of partition rewarded aggression. I have some considerations about the subject.

First, not all acts of evil have evil consequences.

Second, I am against all foreign intervention. But we have to analyse without emotion the consequences of a specific act of aggression. Without passion and with a cold heart.

Let us imagine two hypotheses.

A) Suppose that the Turks withdrew and the status quo ante bellum was restored. Greeks and Turks would return to their homes. The 1960 socio-legal stage would be recreated.

The Constitution of 1960 is, for the Greek Cypriot side, completely unfair, as Makarios recognised. It is more than unfair, it lies at the origin of the conflict.

Positive consequence

No refugees. Greek Cypriots enjoying Kyrenia and elsewhere. I don't deny that this would be a magnificent consequence. To underestimate this situation would be inhuman.

Negative consequences

1. Possible recreation of old ghosts and intercommunal struggles. Life from 1960 to 1974 was far from the Garden of Eden.
2. Greek Cypriot prosperity will be seriously threatened as a consequence of the need to improve Turkish standards of living. The example of the German case, and the Korean analysis against unification are impressive.
3. More important than all these, the Greek Cypriots will have to abandon their present free determination and return to shared determination. Remember that even Makarios did not endure Turkish vetoes and he had to elaborate the 13 proposals.

You must realise that a shared determination was, and is, utopia. If you don't realise that you are deceiving yourselves.

B) Suppose my ideas prevail. (Rethinking Cyprus)

Negative consequence

Some refugees do not return to their homes. With my plan, this would be less than 10 per cent of the Greek Cypriot population, but everybody nevertheless accepts that is a very significant negative factor.

Positive consequences

1. End of the intra-Cypriot cold war and possibility of common enterprises and dialogue. With prudence, the problem of refugees and the 3 freedoms can gradually improve.
2. No more intercommunal struggles. Greek Cypriot life is now more secure than almost all nations in the world.
3. Greek Cypriot prosperity will increase. Cyprus and Israel have the best income per capita in the whole area.
4. The most important achievement, self-determination without any control. Looking only to a common Hellenic destiny.

I consider that my second hypothesis is reasonable, because land for peace is a universal and accepted experience. Of course I don't ignore the sacrifices that this involves. But the return to the status quo ante bellum to the 1960 situation, means more sacrifices for a larger quantity of population.

It will be the return to a utopian or an impossible shared determination. All ways that propose common determination are condemned to failure.

The last election proves that people in Cyprus are abandoning old elites, old schemes and prejudices, they are looking ahead, thinking only for a Hellenic future. They have confidence in their own strength, not in solutions with foreign partners.

One last thing; 15 years after my departure from Cyprus I am still trying to find a national solution for this beautiful island. Perhaps my suggestions are not the best, nevertheless, it shows that part of my soul is in Cyprus.

Hugo Gobbi,

Buenos Aires Argentina

(Hugo Gobbi is a former United Nations Secretary General's resident representative in Cyprus)