MOLDOVA AND CYPRUS: PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
january 28 2005 - 18:20 (Public Center for Strategic Analysis and Monitoring)

There is one common problem – the separatism. But one of the main differences is its duration, as for Cyprus it lasts 30 years, while for Moldova – “only” 12 years. We shall refer to other differences on the way. The Cypriot Gordian knot: a very short history The Cypriot Republic is a small island country situated in the Mediterranean basin, at an equal distance from the coasts of Europe, Africa and Asia. Due to this economic-geographic location, the island falls prey to several conquerors and served as a subject of debate between empires, from the oldest times. Cypriot Kingdoms try to preserve their independence but come variously under the domination of Assyria, Egypt and Persia. This country has been ruled by Hittites, Macedonians, Ptolemies, Hellenic Laghuizes and Seleucs, Phoenicians, Romans. About 330-1191 AD Cyprus comes under the Eastern Roman Empire, known as Byzantium. In 647 Arabs invade the island under Muawiya. In 688 Emperor Justinian II and Caliph al-Malik sign a treaty neutralizing Cyprus, but violations are reported, and the island is also attacked by pirates until 965 when Emperor Nicephoros Phocas expels Arabs from Asia Minor and Cyprus. Isaac Comnenus, self proclaimed governor of Cyprus, is discourteous to survivors of a shipwreck involving ships of Richard I's fleet on their way to the Third Crusade. Richard defeats Isaac and takes possession of Cyprus, marrying Berengaria of Navarree in Limassol, where she is crowned...

“Cyprus lessons” for the Republic of Moldova
january 5 2005 - 19:41 (Public Centre for Strategic Analysis and Monitoring)

The political analyst, Nicu Popescu, recently inserted in Eurojurnal.org a new article, in which he compares the situation in Cyprus with the one in the Republic of Moldova. The conclusion made by the author is of great interest for readers in our country. So, according to his opinion, the Cyprus’s model can interest Moldova through the combination of two processes, which superpose each other: EU accession and the settlement of the secessionist conflict. There are clear differences between Cyprus and Moldova, mentioned the author, and however, some relevant conclusions for Moldova can be identified. What are the lessons, which we can learn from the Cyprus’s case? In 1959 Cyprus gained its independence from Great Britain. After a decade of tensions between Greek and Turkish communities, and a coup d’etat from the side of Greeks in the southern part and entrance of Turkish army in 1979 in northern part of Cyprus, the auto-proclamation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus takes place. During the last 30 years, the efforts to reunify the two sides did not bring any result. But adhesion of the Greek Cyprus to European Union radically modified the process of conflict resolution. In 2003/2004 the Cypriot Turkish wanted a rapid union, the Cypriot Greek though did not. On May 1, 2004 the Greek part of Cyprus (Cypriot Republic) adhered to...

Significance of Saint Cross in Orthodoxy
october 1 2004 - 14:20 (Public Centre for Strategic Analysis and Monitoring)

“For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (I Corinthians 1, 18). If we look at human history from the beginning until nowadays we can observe 2 pieces of wood that marked all its development. First is the knowledge tree of good and evil from the paradise, and the second is the Cross on which was crucified Our Savior, Jesus Christ, first seems to have life, but brings death, the second seems to be dead, but brings life. The wood of the tree from paradise brought death to the human, removed Adam from the paradise and all human beings, made humankind gratify all the pleasures, the cravings of sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts, made the human learn what means hostility, suffering, pain. But, wood of the Cross, brought him eternal life, took him back into paradise, made the human to leave “the skin wear” and to comprehend that body can be transfigured, made the human to acknowledge and appreciate God’s love, that can be reached thru effort, suffering, renunciation. The symbol of cross to pre-Christian peoples   To understand the significance and importance of Cross for Christianity we have to show the role it had for the pre-Christian peoples and for Jewish. The sign of Cross...