www.talkcyprus.org

[cannedmoose]

What follows are some preliminary suggestions for a comprehensive solution, based upon a multi-region, bizonal federation. You'll note that I've avoided the term bicommunal and have tried in this plan to avoid all categorisation of Cypriots of whatever ethnicity, religion or culture into 'communities'. I think that was a mistake in 1960 and its a mistake now.

So, the entire plan is contained within this thread, broken into separate posts, each dealing with a different element:

(i) Administrative map of the Federal Republic of Cyprus
(ii) Map illustrating areas where full right of return of property will take place.
(iii) Government system
(iv) Security
(v) right of return, Property and Compensation
(vi) British Base Areas

Given the huge contention around right of return, property and compensation, I'm still working on the exact details of this aspect of the plan, beyond the map in section 2. I will post this when ready to do so, but in the meantime would welcome suggestions via PM from those with an interest.

Happy reading... all comments welcome... but please try to keep this thread on-topic. Apologies to all, but given that this is an attempt to use the forum in a serious context, any posts that are deemed not to contribute to this debate will be removed. If you can preface your post with the number of the section that it relates to, it would be very helpful.

I would also ask that when replying, you don't quote each section in your reply as that will make the thread unreadable. Rather, it would be better to quote the particular element that you are referring to. If you are unsure how to do this, send a PM to one of the moderators who will be happy to advise ;)

Finally, I would like to note that I consider this a work-in-progress and not a final plan by any means. If you object to particularl areas, don't just denounce them, but make a suggestion as to why they fail to address your concerns and how you would like to see them changed. Hopefully, that way we can work towards amendments to this, rather than simple destruction.

Many thanks all, I hope we can have a productive discussion on this. It would be disappointing to have wasted many hours on this otherwise. :wink:

[cannedmoose]

Section I: Administrative map of the Federal Republic of Cyprus

Click the thumbnail to enlarge (warning large file):



Note that once the picture has loaded, if you click on it again, you can see it in extreme close-up full size.

[cannedmoose]

Section II: Map illustrating right of return of property to dispossessed persons of the Federal Republic of Cyprus

Please note that this does not illustrate the right of new movement or settlement of Cypriots across the island. This is designed to highlight the areas in which the vast majority of those dispossessed would be entitled to regain lost property. In all areas not marked, dispossessed persons would receive compensation for lost assets.

Click the thumbnail to enlarge (warning large file):



Note that once the picture has loaded, if you click on it again, you can see it in extreme close-up full size.

See section V for full details.

[cannedmoose]

Section III: Governmental systems

Government system:

Federal structure

The Federal Republic of Cyprus is a bicommunal, bizonal, multidistrict federation, comprised of two regions, Northern Cyprus (constituting approximately 27 per cent of the island) and Southern Cyprus (constituting the remaining 73 per cent). These two regions have limited administrative responsibilities, mostly related to European Union regional relations and sub-Federal judicial matters.

The two regions have no legislative responsibility, but have powers of representation in the EU Committee of the Regions and for disbursing regional funds from the EU with devolved responsibility from the Federal Government. They are also responsible for the organisation of European Elections in their respective districts. Each region will have a staff of civil servants to conduct their administrative responsibilities. Oversight is provided by district representatives appointed by the District Prime Ministers in each region on a five-year mandate.

The two regions also have autonomous judicial mechanisms and structures, linked through a Federal Supreme Court, which acts as both a Constitutional Court and as the final domestic court of appeal. Judicial responsibility is further devolved to the individual districts within those regions. Within each region, a High Court acts as the regional court of appeal.

For administrative purposes, the Federal Republic of Cyprus is divided into seven districts, two of which – Lefkosia/Lefkosa and Gazimagusa/Ammoxostos span the regional boundary. The other districts are: (i) Pafos district; (ii) Lemessos district; (iii) Larnaka district; (iv) Yeni Iskele district; and (v) Girne district (see FRC administration map in section I).

There is a single Federal administration with its capital in Lefkosia/Lefkosa, with overall legislative and administrative responsibility in the following areas:

Education
Economic Co-operation and Development
Environment
Finance
Foreign Relations
Health
Immigration/Asylum
National Defence and Security
Transport

All legislative and administrative powers not appointed to the Federal government are devolved to the seven district governments. Unanimous agreement by all district governments is required for the Federal Government to assume new powers from the District level.

Each district is further subdivided into municipalities, along the established boundaries of traditional municipalities in Cyprus (except where the boundaries of the newly established districts and regions intersect). Municipalities are administered by elected Councils and an executive, the Mukhtaris (Mukhtar in Northern Cyprus), who is elected by the Council members. Municipalities have two major responsibilities. First, they administer programs authorized by the Federal or District government. Such programs typically relate to youth, schools, public health and social assistance. Municipalities are also responsible for cultural activities, such as support of local artists and artisans, construction of arts centres and holding of local fairs and markets. They also play a role in local planning issues.

Presidency

The Head of State is a Federal President, occupying a ceremonial position. The role of Federal President is similar in some ways to that of a constitutional monarch found in other European states, with the important difference being that the Federal President is elected, and selected based on his distinguished reputation. Other apt comparisons would be to a court philosopher, or even a national conscience. The Federal President is called on to develop, interpret and communicate a long-term view of trends affecting Cyprus and its role in the world. Formulating such vision calls for reflection about Cyprus’ past, for example encouraging Cypriots to constructively confront their history during the period of division. The Federal President is, by tradition, a unifying presence and usually takes great care to steer clear of day-to-day politics. For that very reason, on rare occasions when the Federal President does take a stand on a contemporary issue, he/she would expect to generate great attention and, if carefully crafted, their expressed viewpoint would carry great moral weight.

Federal Government

Federal Cabinet

The Federal Cabinet consists of the Federal Prime Minister and a 9 member Cabinet appointed by the Prime Minister. It is responsible for initiating most federal legislation.

Federal Council

The Federal Council is the representation of the seven districts of the Federal Republic of Cyprus at the federal level. The Federal Council is composed of delegates from the seven districts. Its composition based on the equality of the districts, each of which is represented by 3 Council members as the table below shows.

Girne – 3
Yeni Iskele – 3
Gazimagusa/Ammoxostos – 3
Lefkosia/Lefkosa – 3
Pafos – 3
Lemessos – 3
Larnaka – 3
Total 21 members

In the FC, representatives from each district vote are required to vote as a bloc and represent the position of the state government (the same as the Federal Council system in Germany). The delegates are members of the state governments appointed and recalled by the district cabinets and normally include the district Prime Ministers. Since coalition governments are very common in state governments, many states choose to abstain if their coalition cannot agree on a position. This is a compromise only on first sight: Since every decision of the FC require a majority of the votes of all members, abstaining means, in effect, casting a "nay" vote. Conflict between delegation members may lead to a split vote, which would invalidate the respective state's entire vote. The delegates (or their leader) are not allowed to reconsider and cast a unison vote.

The chairperson or speaker is the President of the FC. The presidency rotates annually among the representatives of each of the federal districts, in. The President of the FC convenes and chairs plenary sessions of the body and is formally responsible for representing the Federal Republic of Cyprus in the FC. He or she is aided by a Vice President who plays an advisory role and deputises in the president's absence. The Vice President rotates annually among the representatives of each of the federal districts, one rotation ahead of the President.

Because the FC is so much smaller than the Federal House of Representatives, and also because it is more or less an organised cooperation of districts governments rather than a real parliament, it does not require the extensive organizational structure of the lower house. The FC typically schedules plenary sessions once a month for the purpose of voting on legislation prepared in committee. The voting FC delegates themselves are not required to attend committee sessions and may instead delegate that responsibility to civil servants from their ministries. The delegates will tend to spend most of their time in their district capitals, rather than in the federal capital.

The legislative authority of the FC is subordinate to that of the Federal House of Representatives, but it nonetheless plays a vital legislative role. The federal government must present all legislative initiatives first to the FC; only thereafter can a proposal be passed to the Federal House of Representatives. Further, the FC must approve all legislation affecting policy areas for which the Basic Law grants the district concurrent powers and for which the districts must administer federal regulations. The Basic Law also provides the FC with an absolute veto of such legislation. Constitutional changes require a majority of 2/3 of all votes, thus giving the FC an absolute veto against constitutional change. Against all other legislation the FC has a suspensive veto, which can be overriden by passing the law again. As an added provision, a law vetoed with a majority of 2/3 must be passed again with a majority of 2/3 in the other chamber. If the absolute veto is used, either chamber or the government can convene a joint committee to negotiate a compromise. That compromise cannot be amended and both chambers are required to hold a final vote on the compromise as is.

Federal House of Representatives (FHoR)

The Federal House of Representatives is the elected representation of the seven districts of the Federal Republic of Cyprus at the federal level. The Federal House of Representatives is composed of elected members from the seven districts. Its composition is based on a combination of weighted population distribution and district size. The table below indicates preliminary numbers for each district.

Gazimagusa/Ammoxostos (approx pop. 90,000) – 4+5 = 9 seats
Girne (approx pop. 35,000) – 2+3 = 5 seats
Larnaka (approx pop. 120,000) – 5+5 = 10 seats
Lefkosia/Lefkosa (approx pop. 365,000) – 16+12 = 28 seats
Lemessos (approx pop. 205,000) – 9+6 = 15 seats
Pafos (approx pop. 70,000) – 3+6 = 9 seats
Yeni Iskele (approx pop. 20,000) - 1+4 = 5 seats
Total 81 members

The FHoR members are the only federal officials directly elected by the public; the FHoR in turn elects the Federal Prime Minister and, in addition, exercises oversight of the executive branch on issues of both substantive policy and routine administration. This check on executive power can be employed through binding legislation, public debates on government policy, investigations, and direct questioning of the Federal Prime Minister or Cabinet officials. Upon submission of a formal written question from any member of the FHoR, a government representative can be summoned to respond to the House during an allotted one-hour session. Members can ask related questions during this hour. The questions can concern anything from a major policy issue to a specific constituent's problem.

Members serve four-year terms; elections are held every four years, or earlier in the relatively rare case that the FHoR is being dissolved prematurely by the President on the recommendation of the Federal Prime Minister. All candidates must be at least eighteen years old; there are no term limits. The election uses the d’Hondt method of proportional representation, according to party lists.

Although most federal legislation is initiated by the executive branch, the FHoR considers the legislative function its most important responsibility, concentrating much of its energy on assessing and amending the federal government's legislative program. Committees play a prominent role in this process. Plenary sessions provide a forum for members to engage in public debate on legislative issues before them, but they tend to be well attended only when significant legislation is being considered.

District Houses of Representatives

Gazimagusa/Ammoxostos – 30 seats (15 FPTP, 15 PL)
Girne – 26 seats (13 FPTP, 13 PL)
Larnaka – 40 seats (20 FPTP, 20 PL)
Lefkosia/Lefkosa – 80 seats (40 FPTP, 40 PL)
Lemessos – 60 seats (30 FPTP, 30 PL)
Pafos – 30 seats (15 FPTP, 15 PL)
Yeni Iskele – 20 seats (10 FPTP, 10 PL)

The members of the District Houses of Representatives (DHoR) are elected by universal suffrage for a term of 5 years. The DHoR in turn elects the District Prime Minister. The DHoR are responsible for all legislative and administrative functions not exercised by the Federal branch. Members of the DHoR are elected according to the Additional Member System of voting, in which all electors have two votes to cast. Half of the representatives are elected from geographic constituencies and others are elected under proportional representation from party lists. The constituency representatives are elected under the first-past-the-post voting system. The party list representatives are elected by a secondary vote, where the electors vote for a political party, not directly for an individual. This party vote determines the number of representatives the party has in the assembly. The particular individuals selected come from lists drawn up by the political parties before the election.

Each district is governed by a cabinet led by the District Prime Minister, together with a unicameral legislative body known as the District Council. Each District Council is popularly elected for a term of five years, with a District Prime Minister and District Deputy Prime Minister chosen by majority vote among the District Council’s members. The District Prime Minister appoints the cabinet to run the District’s agencies and to carry out the executive duties of the District’s government.

All international ports and airports are under the jurisdiction of the Federal government. These include: Girne seaport, Lefkoniko Airfield, Gazimagusa/Ammoxostos seaport, Larnaka seaport, Larnaka International Airport, Tymvou/Ercan International Airport, Lemessos seaport, Pafos International Airport, and Pafos seaport. Guardianship and maintenance of the holy sites of Apostolos Andreas and Hala Sultan Tekke is also the responsibility of the Federal government, devolved to the appropriate religious authority.

Responsibility for preservation of the ecological balance in Karpas would fall to the Iskele district government in Iskele. Responsibility for preservation of the ecological balance in Akamas would fall to the Pafos district government. Oversight will be provided by the Federal Ministry of the Environment.

European Regions

Southern Region
Lefkosia subdistrict+Troodos – 1
Pafos – 1
Lemessos – 1
Larnaka+Paralimni subdistrict – 1

Northern Region
Lefkosa subdistrict+Girne – 1
Gazimagusa subdistrict+Iskele – 1

For EU purposes the island would be split into two European regions – Northern Cyprus and Southern Cyprus, similar to the arrangement achieved by Malta for the main island of Malta and smaller Gozo. The result of this would be that the Northern region would elect two of the country’s MEP’s, while the remaining 4 would be elected to represent the Southern region. The likely European Parliament constituency arrangement would be a combination of Lefkoşa and Girne districts electing one MEP; a combination of Gazimağusa and Karpas districts electing one MEP; a combination of Lefkosia and Troodos districts electing one MEP; a combination of Larnaka and Paralimni districts electing one MEP; and Pafos and Lemessos districts each electing one MEP.

For purposes of European Structual and Cohesion funding, differential funding could be allocated to the two regions, e.g. it is likely that given the significant income differential between the two regions, the Northern region would initially be granted Objective One status as its GDP per capita would be below 75% of the EU average.

Judiciary

The highest court in the FRC is the Federal Supreme Court located in Lefkosia/Lefkosa. The Federal Supreme Court consists of 10 judges, each representing a district (so 6 Supreme Court Justices would be from Southern Cyprus, with the remaining 4 from Northern Cyprus). Appointments of judges to the Federal Supreme Court is based upon recommendation by the District Prime Ministers, subject to confirmation by the Federal Cabinet. They are not subject to ministerial direction or control. The Federal Supreme Court is headed by the Chief Justice, appointed for a single term of 7 years by the Federal Prime Minister and subject to confirmation by the Federal Assembly. The Federal Supreme Court is responsible for overseeing adherence to the Federal Constitution and also acts as the final domestic appeal court for all cases (with the European Court being the final stage).

Both Northern Cyprus and Southern Cyprus regions possess autonomy in legal affairs (similar to the arrangement in the UK with the English and Scottish legal systems). Structurally, the court systems in Northern and Southern Cyprus are identical, with Common law forming the basis of both legal systems, except where legislation supercedes it. The High Courts (as the name implies) are the highest courts in both regions and act as the court for all serious offences committed in each region and also as the regional appeals court. Appointments of judges to the High Courts are made by the Chief Justice of each region, and subject to confirmation by the Federal Supreme Court.

[cannedmoose]

Section IV: Security structures

Military forces

Initial security during a 60-month transitional period would be provided by 5,000 forces from the European Union Rapid Reaction Force (EURRF) and commanded by representatives appointed by the European Union Military Staff (EUMS). This force would have the following missions:

- Ensuring the maintenance of civil order.
- Overseeing disengagement and repatriation of all Turkish and Greek forces and associated installations within a period of 3 months from establishment of the FRoC.
- Disengagement and demobilization of the Turkish Cypriot Defence Forces and the Greek Cypriot National Guard.
- Removal and/or decommissioning of all weapons not required by the new armed forces units.
- Establishment of FRCDF headquarters at former Nicosia International Airport (henceforth FRCDF HQ facility).
- Establishment and training of FRCDF.
- Maintenance of external security for the FRoC against third countries and other threats during the transitional period.

The 60 month transitional period would witness the establishment and maintenance of the Federal Republic of Cyprus Defence Forces (FRCDF), a professional force of around 5,000 personnel, plus around 1,000 civilian staff. As FRCDF units come on-stream, these would interoperate with the EURRF forces which would be gradually phased out subject to 6-monthly reviews by the force commander. The initial budget for the FRCDF would be $350,000,000, representing a cost reduction of around 30% on current figures, but a marked increase in both the flexibility and capability of these forces compared to those existing now.

The force structure of the FRCDF is largely modelled on that of the New Zealand Defence Force and is as follows:

Army: 3,000 personnel (+400 civilian staff)
Navy: 800 personnel (+200 civilian staff)
Airforce: 1,000 personnel (+200 civilian staff)
HQ Staff: 200 personnel (+250 civilian staff)

The FRCDF does not have ethnic quotas and is established on the basis of equal opportunities for participation in the force. Initial selection of the personnel for the FRCDF would be made by instructors from the EUMS. Existing professional armed forces personnel from both communities would be encouraged to apply for roles in the new force. The only official language of communication within the FRCDF will be English, with officers required to issue all command instructions in English and recruits/existing personnel receiving intensive schooling in the English language upon joining the FRCDF. Failure to achieve a satisfactory command of English (after intensive schooling and a further period of remedial instruction if so required) will result in discharge from the FRCDF.

Promotion will take place on the basis of merit and decided by the FRCDF commander, upon recommendation from lower commanders. The FRCDF commander will be a Cypriot citizen and may come from either community. For a transitional period of 12 months, until the appointment of a commander, the FRCDF commander will be appointed from EUMS staff and shall not be a member of the Greek armed forces. The appointment of the FRCDF commander will be made by the Prime Minister of the FRoC, subject to ratification by both the Federal Council and the Federal House of Representatives. In the absence of agreement, the FRCDF commander will be selected by the EUMS. For a further transitional period of 48 months (i.e. for the duration of the EUMS mission), a command observer appointed by the EUMS will be appointed as co-commander to the FRCDF commander.

The FRoC will become a member of both EUFOR and NATO and integrated into the relevant command structures therein (e.g. NATO Southern Command). Involvement in EUFOR and NATO missions would require the agreement of both the Federal Council and the Federal House of Representatives. No EUFOR or NATO forces would be permanently station

The employment context of the FRCDF is as follows:

EC1 – Security challenges to the FRoC and its environs
EC1A – Civil disruptions/Industrial actions affecting essential services.
EC1B – Disasters posing a threat to life, property or the environment.
EC1C – Incursions into and through the FRoC’s exclusive economic zone and other areas within the FRoC’s jurisdiction that threaten the FRoC’s interests.
EC1D – Terrorism and acts of sabotage.
EC1E – Asymmetric attacks on FRoC territory (such as information warfare attacks and mining of the FRoC’s territorial waters).
EC1F – Acts of piracy.
EC1G – Illegal immigration by sea and air.

EC2 – Security challenges to the FRoC’s interests in the Eastern Mediterranean
EC2A – Disasters posing significant risks to life, property or the environment.
EC2B – Civil disturbances leading to breakdown in law and order, and/or posing risks to FRoC nationals.
EC2C – Terrorist acts.
EC2D – Challenges to legitimate governments, including civil war and secessionist conflict.
EC2E – Acts of piracy.
EC2F – Illegal immigration by sea and air.

EC3 – Security challenges to the EU/NATO
EC3A – Disasters posing significant risks to life, property or the environment.
EC3B – Acts of piracy.
EC3C – Involvement in/Provision of logistical support for EUFOR/NATO missions where protagonists have sought third-party assistance.
EC3D – Illegal immigration by sea and air.

EC4 – Security challenges to the FRoC’s interests in global peace and security
EC4A – Unresolved conflict where protagonists have sought third-party assistance.
EC4B – Act(s) by states or non-states actors that contravene international norms of behaviour or threaten international security or stability.
EC4C – Impeding supplies of essential resources (such as oil, water, electricity) to force political concessions or threaten the security of a nation or group of nations.
EC4D – Significant internal conflict with risks to the stability of surrounding states or involving large-scale suffering.
EC4E – Aggression to affect maritime or land boundaries or seize/expropriate resources.
EC4F – Major breakdown in international security leading to wide-scale war.

Most current military structures would be disbanded and the land returned to civilian use. Major military installations will be retained for use by the FRCDF. The major facilities of the FRCDF will be:

(a) Former Nicosia international airport (FRCDF HQ and Central Command)
(b) Former Andreas Papandreou airbase (to be renamed) (Western Command)
(c) Military port in Gazimagusa/Ammoxostos (Eastern Command)

Central Command, headquartered at Nicosia international airport will have command responsibility for all forces located in Girne and Lefkosia/Lefkosa districts. Western Command, headquartered at Andreas Papandreou airbase will have command responsibility for all forces located in Pafos and Lemessos districts. Eastern Command, headquartered at Gazimagusa/Ammoxostos port will have responsibility for all forces located in Larnaka, Gazimagusa/Ammoxostos and Iskele districts.

All Guarantees under the 1960 constitution are declared void. The FRoC is free to negotiate military alliances with any third country, although its Constitution prohibits the permanent location of any third country troops on the island (with the exceptions of British forces located in the SBAs and EUMS forces on the island during the transitional period).

After the expiry of the EUMS mandate, a small number of EUMS-appointed advisers (c.200) will remain on the island in biannual rotation to assist the FRCDF with training and integration with EUFOR and NATO. 1/5 of these advisers may be sourced from the forces of the Hellenic Republic and 1/5 may be sourced from the Republic of Turkey.

Police forces

Headed by a Federal Commissioner, with two subordinate Regional Commissioners, the FRoC Police Force is a decentralised organisation divided into two regions and further subdivided into six districts, each with a geographical area of responsibility, several service centres that each provide a range of core nationwide services in their specialty areas, and an Office of the Commissioner that provides policy and planning advice as well as national oversight and management of the organisation. Due to the legal autonomy of the northern and southern regions, the following district responsibilities are established:

(i) Girne and Lefkosa [including Kokkina subdistrict] (northern region)
(ii) Gazimagusa/Ammoxostos and Iskele (northern region)
(iii) Lefkosia (southern region)
(iv) Paralimni and Larnaka (southern region)
(v) Lemessos (southern region)
(vi) Pafos (southern region)

Policing will initially be provided by 3,500 recruits. These shall be recruited from existing police forces in the Republic of Cyprus and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with retraining provided by 300 advisers sourced from the European Gendarmerie Force (EGF), of which the FRoC will become a member. The FRoC Police Force is a member of Interpol and Europol. The northern region and southern regions will provide the representatives to Interpol and Europol respectively and will provide manpower and lead activity on behalf of the FRoC Police Force in those organizations. Coordination between regions on cases raised by either agency will be conducted through the office of the Federal Commissioner.

All intelligence and other information will be shared between the two forces through a central database. Extradition rules will not apply between the two regions, movement of suspected offenders will be automatic between the two. Crimes committed in a particular police district will be tried in that district. Wherever possible, convicted felons will also be imprisoned in the district where the crime was committed.

[cannedmoose]

Section V: right of return, Property and Compensation

Just to give an idea what I'm looking at. Majority right of return to all the areas indicated by the map in Section II. For Greek Cypriot's this would mean right of return in most cases of property and land in all areas, except in Girne and Yeni Iskele districts. For Turkish Cypriots, this would mean right of return in most cases in all districts except for Lemesos and Pafos districts (given that Greek Cypriots would have right of return to approximately 2/3rds of the north, the same rule is applied in the south).

For all those unable to return to property (according to preliminary calculations, this would be around 25-30% of refugees), compensation for their material losses would be paid through an initial payment, followed by annual payments over a period of X years (TBD).

I also envisage right of settlement, following a transitional period for all Cypriot residents, regardless of ethnic origins, across the entire island, i.e. Greek Cypriots would be able to buy property and move to Girne or Dipkarpaz, Turkish Cypriots would be free to buy property and move to Lemesos or Pafos.

I'm still fleshing this out, but this should give an idea of the bare bones of this. It will also help to put the map into some sort of context, as well as the political structures.
TBC

[cannedmoose]

Section VI: British Base Areas

Formal sovereignty would pass from the UK to the Federal Republic of Cyprus, with the SBAs considered as Federal zones. The British government would be offered immediate refusal for an exclusive 99-year lease on the SBAs within the boundaries offered by the UK government in Annan Plan V. Areas ceded would be returned to the appropriate district governments (Larnaka and Lemessos).

The lease of the territories would be calculated according to land area and aggregate market value of land. In this case 53 square miles of remaining territory would be valued at around CYP£2.5bn. This value would be divided by the term of the lease to calculate the annual payment. Thus, the British government would be required to pay an annual rent of CYP£25m to the Federal Republic of Cyprus, increasing by the annual rate of consumer price inflation (not land price inflation). Thus, by the end of the lease term, the annual rent would amount to around £CYP500m per annum.

Ten years prior to the expiry of the lease, negotiations would commence between the UK and the Federal Republic of Cyprus for renewal. If either party wishes to terminate the lease after its expiry, the land will revert to the full control of the Federal Republic of Cyprus, all UK military installations will be removed and any port/airport facilities converted for civilian use, at a joint 50/50 cost to the UK and the Federal Republic of Cyprus.

Under the terms of the 99-year lease, the UK government would retain jurisdiction over the SBAs, although certain conditions would apply. No nuclear, chemical or biological weapons would be permitted to be based, stored or transported through the SBAs. The number of troops would be limited by agreement between the UK and the Federal Republic of Cyprus. Maintenance and upgrading of existing installations would be permitted without further authority, but any additional installations would require the agreement of the Federal Republic of Cyprus. Overland movement between the SBAs by UK forces exceeding 100 personnel would require 48 hours prior notice to the Federal Republic of Cyprus civilian and military authorities. There would be no right of refusal on this notice. Any damage to Federal Republic of Cyprus infrastructure (roads etc.) caused by such movements would be added to the following year’s SBA rent (as a one-off charge). The SBAs could not be used to launch military operations against neighbouring states, but could be used for logistical movement and in supporting peace-keeping operations sanctioned by either the EU, NATO or the UN.

British forces in the SBA would be required to participate in bi-annual exercises with Federal Republic of Cyprus civil defence forces in anti-terrorist, and sea-patrol exercises. British forces in the SBA would also be required to work closely with Federal Republic of Cyprus coastguard in interdiction of asylum seekers, drug-traffickers etc.

[cannedmoose]

No comments :(

[Crash Test Dummy]

Looks abit intimidating re moose. When I dont have an exam tomorrow eg next week i will read it. maybe print it off and read it on the bus. :wink:

[Xenos 2Fan]

cannedmoose wrote: No comments :(

You bet I will have some comments on this. Just trying to digest and visualise.

[cypezokyli]

exactly, give us some time.

[depurple]

CM good work and it is the foundation stone for a start: I have skimmed through it slowly and would point out a few bits and pieces:
1: Do we an Army at all? We have the EU and NATO?
2: The British Base at Akrotiri turned over to NATO and they pay rent and shut all the other down:
What idiot would at Cyprus with NATO and the EU there?
3:No weapons at all on the island? Shot guns and hunting guns: Set up a government but back scheme like in Australia and but back the guns we don't need any:
4:Compensation will be the issue:
Why cant you just return and live under that council or state or what ever:
With compensation people like me immediately think of being taken for a ride again:
Any decisions or ideas or suggestions should be put to a poll and get a reaction:
cheers

[Mete]

cannedmoose wrote:
No comments Sad

To tell you the truth, it was too long to digest. I tried to look at your maps to have an idea of what you're proposing but they didn't help. Most of us don't really care about the details of the plan but more the philosophy of it. Can you post a "summary" of the plan? Here are the points I want answered (I'm sure they're already answered in your long posts but no time to read the whole thing).

1- How's the political power shared between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots at the federal and constituent state levels?
2- What's the land percentage of North vs. South?
3- In the North, what's the percentage of Greek Cypriots living and what's their political status?
4- What's the "essence" of the solution to the property problem? Who gets to choose, a Greek Cypriot refugee or a Turkish Cypriot who migrated from south to north and invested his life to the Greek Cypriot refugee's house?
5- How is settlers problem solved?
6- How many Greek/Turkish/Cypriot troops? Do 1960 Guarantee agreements apply?

[cannedmoose]

I will work on a brief summary, but to be frank, those who are genuinely interested in finding solutions to the Cyprus problem would take the time to actually read the whole thing. We've done enough 'pie in the sky' discussion around philosophies of plans etc. and where has it got us? If you'd even read the very beginning summary of the governmental system, you'd have discovered that this plan isn't based on citizens as 'ethnic' citizens, which I feel is an undemocratic and racist approach to managing a state.

Given that it took a substantial amount of time to draft this, I think the minimum that those interested could do is to read the thing. If you don't want to, that's your choice, but I'm not going to make more work for myself as a result. As for being too long, hence why it's broken into manageable sections, most of which are no longer than some of the more detailed discussions in the Cyprob section. I don't ask you to comment on the whole thing in one go. If you wish, you can read one section and then comment on that.

As to your points:

1 is answered in section III.
2 is answered in the first paragraph(!) of section III.
3 is almost unanswerable, it would depend on how many decided that this wished to return to their properties in the north. It would also depend how many wished to resettle once the transitional period is over.
4 will be dealt with once I've published the full right of return/property section.
5 My first thoughts are that those settlers who arrived legally (according to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus law) on the island prior to the beginning of the Annan Plan negotiations will be permitted to remain and offered residency and citizenship of the new Republic. However, this is still something I'm looking at.
6 is answered in section IV.

[respiridus]

Mossey, I'm sure I'll have some comments on this, but I'll have to read it first, preferably after work. ;-)

A quicky: Why does the number and structure of the proposed armed force have to be in the plan? This is a matter for the ministry of defense, imho. I believe that only the initial budget and number of troops should be pre-agreed upon in the plan, with the government itself making any necessary future adjustments as needed.