www.talkcyprus.org

[bg_turk]

I propose the current status quo as a final solution with minor territorial corrections such as the return of Varosha.

The main issue of contention for Greek Cypriots is the issue of property and I believe the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is fully in position to deal with the issue without having to dissolve itself.

According to a datatable presented by Kifeas the current property ownership is as follows:




After correcting this table for Turkish Cypriot land in the Republic of Cyprus and the Buffer Zone(which will be returned to the Republic of Cyprus):
Code:
             
                G C          T C            other         state         total
TR NC       1368         1113         9              734            3224
                42.4%       34.5%       0.3%        22.8%        100.0%
R oC         3966         0               11            1554          5531
                71.7%       0.0%         0.2%        28.1%        100.0%
Buffer       188           0               2              52              242
                77.7%       0.0%         0.8%        21.5%         100.0%
UK Bases   120           18             20            96              254
                 47.2%      7.1%         7.9%         37.8%       100.0%



Under this scenario privately owned Greek Cypriot land in the North ammounts to no more than 43 percent of the total land. Of course this assumes that Turkish Cypriots will willingly give up their land in the South in exchage for land in the North. Approximately 120 thousand Greek Cypriots will be expected to return to their properties, the other 50 thousand will be granted the Turkish Cypriot properties in the South and will not be allowed to return. Greek Cypriots will eventually form around 30-35% of the current population of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which is around 220 thousand.

In order to prevent some Greek Cypriot extremists from using this initiative to undermine the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, restrictions should be placed on those who can get properties, such as acquiring a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus citizenship and signing a declaration of recognizing and accepting the soveregnity of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The courts of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus should be fully transparent on the issue of return of property, try to be as fair as possible and in order to ensure their fairness they should invite independent observers and should encourage Greek Cypriots that feel cheated to apply to the ECHR.

As you can see even if all displaced persons were to apply for restitution, it seems to me that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus would be fully in position do deal with the problem.

This would effectively solve the legal and human rights problem that exists today in Cyprus, and would leave only the political problem.

With the human rights problem solved the leverage of the Republic of Cyprus in the ECHR and the EU will be significantly weakened, and the recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will be inevitable.

In order to enforce this solution I propose that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus starts returning the properties of Greek Cypriots immediately in accrodance with the rulings of the ECHRs. In cases where return is not possible, refugees should be offered land which will have equivalent value or compensation.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus should try to faciliate the integration of citizens of Greek origin by offering Turkish lessons and encouraging the use of Turkish in official places.The study and use of the Turkish language should be the right and obligation of every Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus citizen. Primary and secondary education in Turkish should be compulsory for all citizens. Citizens whose mother tongue is not Turkish shall have the right to study and use their own language alongside the compulsory study of the Turkish language.
If there is a demand for lessons in the mother tongue the state should cover all the costs of the teachers that are to undertake such an education.

The freedom of conscience, the freedom of thought, and the choice of religion and of religious or atheistic views are inviolable. The state shall assist the maintenance of tolerance and respect among the believers from different denominations, and among believers and non-believers.

No autonomous territorial formations shall exist.

The territorial integrity of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is inviolable.

All citizens shall be equal before the law. There shall be no privileges or restriction of rights on the grounds of race, nationality, ethnic self-identity, sex, origin, religion, education, opinion, political affiliation, personal or social status, or property status.

There shall be no political parties on ethnic, racial, or religious lines, nor parties which seek the violent usurpation of state power.

What do you think?

[bg_turk]

Sorry I forgot,
I called it the Bulgarian solution because partly it is based on the BG constitution.

[Crash Test Dummy]

Seems reasonable but it will never work. No solution wil be agreed to. It will have to be forced through by the EU

[repulsewarrior]

Maybe reasonable to a person who has no respect for the people who have been displaced anywhere in the world. I am sure that many dictators will take heart, the opportunity to isolate themselves from the "discomfort" the others may feel, but after all, there are some who would agree.

Realistically speaking, your plan has a great chance of working, but that is not a good thing, unless you could care less about the state of the Human condition.

[Dhavlos]

so, basically, is it that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus shall exist as a separate state, and all Greek Cypriots shall be able to return, or get compensation if their property is being used by a Turkish Cypriot?

that seems reasonable...

HOWEVER: Quote: The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus should try to faciliate the integration of citizens of Greek origin by offering Turkish lessons and encouraging the use of Turkish in official places.The study and use of the Turkish language should be the right and obligation of every Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus citizen. Primary and secondary education in Turkish should be compulsory for all citizens. Citizens whose mother tongue is not Turkish shall have the right to study and use their own language alongside the compulsory study of the Turkish language.
If there is a demand for lessons in the mother tongue the state should cover all the costs of the teachers that are to undertake such an education.

i dont think this is acceptable, since it smacks of hypocracy imo. It is often argued in this forum, that Turkish Cypriots do not want to become a minority, and be 'assimilated' into the Greek Cypriot community...what you propose, imo, is exactly the opposite...the Greek Cypriot community would be assimilated into the Turkish Cypriot community.

[bg_turk]

Hi Dhavlos,

thanks for your feedback. I already said that it is based on the BG constitution. In Bulgaria the official language is Bulgarian and despite the fact that regionally turks are a majority in the South, we are still obliged to use the Bulgarian language in official places.

A single language is necessary for people to be able to communicate with each other. The right of Greek Cypriots to study greek in school will be guaranteed by the state.

Concerning your first question, Greek Cypriots will receive compensation only if they want to. The state should be obliged to return their land, but if Turkish Cypriots use it, then the state will be obliged to return land of equivalent value, or compensate with the land of Turkish Cypriots in the south.

[Dhavlos]

but if a Greek Cypriot was to suggest that all Turkish Cypriots should be obliged to learn Greek, because that is the majorities language in the state...im sure you would be the first one to jump up in defence of the right for Turkish Cypriots not to have to...it is just role reversal imo.

now i think i understand what Turkish Cypriots areon about when they dont want to be assimilated! lol

[bg_turk]

Dhavlos,

To be honest, I did not expect you nor any other Greek Cypriot to accept this solution. For you this solution is probably the worst possible solution next to outright recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in its current form.

In proposing this solution my main concern was preserving Turkishness on the island. If the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus leadership really intends to make that state sustainable in the long run they must start taking the steps outlined in this solution proposal.

I just wanted to hear the opinoin of mainly Turkish Cypriots and also Greek Cypriots whether such a solution would actually work. Would Greek Cypriots in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus rebel against it? Would there be enough land to satisfy the needs of all refugees, this solution after all requires the return of 40% of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus landmass.

I know many Turkish Cypriots would prefer an Annan Style unification, but as I stated before this will eventually lead to the formation of a unitary state where ideally all people should be Cypriots of a single Cypriot identity and be equal before the law. In my eyes this is a faulty logic, the Cypriot identity is non-existent. The divide between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will always remain, and I do not want Turkish Cypriots to be in the disadvantageous position, in which they will be if they accept any unification proposal.

Partition is the best solution for Turkish Cypriots and now that they have the balance of power on their side they should do all that is possible in order to achieve it within the framework of democracy and the convention for human rights.

[Dhavlos]

oh no, dont get me wrong, i would never dismiss partition, if it was the right thing to do. However, i do not see partition as a lasting solution to the problem.Mainly due to immigration factors, and freedom of movement, especially if they were to join the EU, would inevitably lead to Turkish Cypriots being the minority agian...not in 10 years, but possibly 40 or 50 years time...

[repulsewarrior]

bg turk, glad that you like the idea of a cantonal, bi-zonal system. It is the most effecient way for a government to provide to its citizens the service they want where numbers warrant their demands. Also, I do not like the idea that the living patrimony of the island will be forever lost to the Turkophones or the Grecophones who wish to continue with their cultural enterprise. I do not want to see sites in the South or in the North devoid of the people whose heritage they represent, relegated to being nice places for tourists to visit.

[Dhavlos]

such a cantonal system could alos ensure the continued existance of a vibrant maronite community

[bg_turk]

Back to partitition ...

Why are there no Turkish Cypriots comments? Are Turkish Cypriots against this kind of a solution? Does it seem unrealistic and impossible to implement, or do they disagree with it in principle?

[Bullika]

Dhavlos wrote: such a cantonal system could alos ensure the continued existance of a vibrant maronite community

yes, it could assuming that canton was very small and based in the kormakitis area.

[Bullika]

Dhavlos wrote: oh no, dont get me wrong, i would never dismiss partition, if it was the right thing to do. However, i do not see partition as a lasting solution to the problem.Mainly due to immigration factors, and freedom of movement, especially if they were to join the EU, would inevitably lead to Turkish Cypriots being the minority agian...not in 10 years, but possibly 40 or 50 years time...

i agree and would like to add that partition is not a favoured solution by the international community. Reunification is not only a way of bringing lasting peace to Cyprus but a way to bring lasting peace to the whole Eastern Mediterranean and reduce tensions between Greece and Turkey. Without this, NATO would suffer as would the functioning of the EU. Too much is at stake to leave things the way they are. Also lets us not forget Cypriots geberally do want a solution. thats why 65% of Turkish Cypriots voted for the last annan plan.

[repulsewarrior]

The pockets or cantons would have to number several in the North and few in the south to reflect the need for security and demographics. It is unlikely, in the event of a violent upheaval, for Grecophones who are encircled and seperated to organise an attack without a great deal of planning and preperation. Turkophones in the south will be able to live in complete security knowing that reciprocal effects will certainly cause much harm to their opposite counterparts, as they too are an isolated body, without immediate support from their brethren.

Furthermore, any violence or uprising would have to have the support of a clear majority of a population islandwide to succeed, and would be easily isolated and controlled by the authourities, since the consequences, all can recognise will have harmful results for the population as a whole.

Mostly, this proposal addresses the desire of each community to live as Greeks, or to live as Turks, since the service that the government can offer will be focused to serve one population or the other, with the abiliy to serve each's respective minority, or minorities. Safety will come from the desire of each population to secure reciprocal behaviour from their commitment to protecting the minority right.