www.talkcyprus.org

[pg]

Following my proposal for a Bi-communal Parliamentary System
http://www.talkcyprus.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3266&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=
I will here outline an arrangement for Municipalities of Cyprus.

To start with, I believe that in order for the municipalities to be able to fulfill their obligations to the citizens they need to be sized according to the realities of today. For example, I can not see why there needs to be different municipalities for Nicosia, Strovolos, Aglandia, etc, etc, in (southern) Nicosia.

For the municipalities to do their tasks properly (list of tasks below) I think one (South) Nicosia municipality should be better. For all of Cyprus I think we need no more than about 20 municipalities. Here is a suggested list of them, as a first proposal:

Polis
Paphos
Limassol
Troodos
Dhali
Larnaca
Lysi
Southern Famagusta
Northern Famagusta
Southern Nicosia
Northern Nicosia
Morphou
Pyrgos
Kormakitis
Kyrenia
Lefkoniko
Karpasia

The main responsibilities of a municipality would be: town planning (master plan, permits), schools (planning, running but educational content from central government), water, sewage, garbage, fire-brigade, basic health care (emergency, childcare, elderly, handicapped), road network (except national highways). Naturally they are also involved in promoting cultural issues, etc. These responsibilities are things 'close to the citizen' that can be handled on a local level.

The municipalities will be financed from the government, receiving funds based mainly on the population it provides services to, with some weights for the number of school children, elderly, etc, etc.

Each municipality should have an elected council of 49 members. These would not be full-time employed by the municipality. The elections should be according to community membership. For example, if there are 10% Greek Cypriots in a community then 10% of the council members should be Greek Cypriots. Each community elects their members.

The council will need to approve the budget, major investments, master plan (town planning), etc.

I believe we do not need 'weighted cross voting' in the municipalities. One reason it is needed in the central government is that the Turkish Cypriot community is over represented there, compared to the size of its population. In the municipalities the council is a mirror of the population of the municipality. Also, I think that the weighted cross voting in the central government will promote political parties that co-operate with the other community. This will bring good things also at community level even without cross voting.

Especially within the EU I see it difficult to limit Cypriots rights of settlement within Cyprus. However, in order to promote bi-zonality I believe that municipalities that we consider Turkish Cypriot should have a rule saying at least 25 council members should be from the Turkish Cypriot community no matter what the Turkish Cypriot share of the population is; that is the Turkish Cypriot would have a majority in the council. I suggest this would be the case for the following municipalities:

Northern Famagusta
Northern Nicosia
Kyrenia
Lefkoniko

The rest of the municipalities should have council as exact mirrors (Greek Cypriot/Turkish Cypriot) of their populations.

Kormakitis may be a special case.

If we foresee an enormous growth of the Turkish Cypriot population, we should perhaps designate many of the remaining municipalities as 'majority Greek Cypriot'.

The municipal council would designate one mayor and 7 more full-time employed council member as an executive organ of the municipality. These should be elected on a common list, and will in a way represent a coalition in the municipal council. The executive council will have no quotation based on community membership.

Naturally the municipality is by law bound not to implement any decisions that include ethnic discrimination. If there is a Greek Cypriot minority in the municipality there must be Greek Cypriot schools, etc, etc.

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There are specific issues with municipalities that now have a Turkish Cypriot majority, but we foresee having a Greek Cypriot majority in the future, like: Lysi, Morphou, Karpasia (and possibly Kormakitis depending on how Maronites are counted). Either we just leave these in the above set-up, or we assign them a Greek Cypriot majority municipality. I am not sure what is best, yet.

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With the above proposal, combined with the Bi-communal Parliamentary System quoted above, and considering the fact that a large amount of policy decisions are taken at EU level, I see little need for additional level of government.

At EU level Cyprus will be represented by the ministerial council - which is a bi-communal coalition government. In the EU parliament there should be 4 Greek Cypriots and 2 Turkish Cypriots.

Note that this proposal in a way creates new 'super municipalities' compared with today's situation. It may even be compared to a cantonal system, but with the central government elected directly, based on bi-communality.

By designating certain municipalities as "Turkish Cypriot majority", bi-zonality is protected.

I do foresee some Turkish Cypriot objections to the fact that this is not formally a federation in the traditional concept. However, combining the Bi-communal Parliamentary System and the Bi-communal Municipal System proposed here, I believe the island will have a very effective government satisfying all needs of all Cypriots and both communities. I do not want to invent additional levels of government with nothing to do. I prefer to have politicians only where they are needed and can do good.

Instead of having federal states, I have suggested perfect political equality at the highest level, in the central government.

[pg]

So, no thoughts on this one...

[repulsewarrior]

Pg want to say that the work is well thought out.

Have to say that Municipal bodies are the responsibility of Regional bodies, (states and provinces), and I have thought of the bicommunal nature of your other thread, respectfully suggest that the system must take into account the size and the desire of the local population, that will make a muncipality, its townships and villages.

The framework in the North will doubtlessly change with any significance, in as far as the existing population is concerned. And in the South, we have not come to grips with the need to create a legal authority to mirror it. Instead we continue to depend on the Republic, to serve our needs as a Nation of People as well as our needs as an ethnic community, a People within the Nation, only one level of government, rather than two.

I suggest to you that you may consider this State of Helens, as a good focus toward the establishment of a forum of government which needs to recognise the rights of minorities, and the ability to provide legislation which is balanced, to this effect.

The central government is our expression as a people, to other people, as equals on the world stage, and its purpose is to assure that our individual rights are inalienably defended, without compromise, within the Nation and with other Nations.

[pg]

I read somewhere that 60% of legislation in EU states originates from the EU.

Add to that the importance of local governance which I think is best performed in large municipalities - we are living in urban times.

We say we want political equality in central government, and in my other thread I believe I have suggested something very functional for power sharing between the two communities.

With the above in mind, I see little need, or place, for additional levels of government. An example: The central government will promote Cyprus tourism abroad - 'Visit Cyprus' - and the prospective tourist will choose a town to stay in in Cyprus. Each municipality will try to attract as many tourists as possible by making the town attractive; town planning, reinforcement, garbage collection, sunbeds, local transport, ... What function would constituent states have in that?

Another example: Would it be realistic to have different VAT in different areas of Cyprus? Tax on petrol? Road tax? Water resources? ...

Each community's municipalities could perhaps create their common union/constituent-state, but to what use?

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For some reason I think the average Turkish Cypriot would be the first one to react to not having something that looks like the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus left. However, I think my suggestions truly protects bi-communality and bi-zonality, and also gives true political equality in central government. I consider it would be a good deal for an 18% founding partner. Add to this that with a central fiscal policy, and with central funding of municipalities based on population not economy, there would be a true convergence of economic development.

The average Greek Cypriot may complain due to the 50/50 representation in central government - 'rule the north and half of the south' - but I believe that the cohesion created by weighted cross voting in central government would win in a Greek Cypriot deeper analysis; especially since I foresee 'European' personal rights in terms of settlement, investment, etc. Also, the Greek Cypriot reflex will be 'a single state is good'.

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Overall, it is a BB state and not the anticipated BBF. However, to my knowledge there are no successful two-state federations, and since endless lines of diplomats has been working on the BBF two-state recipe for three decades without coming up with something really good, we should perhaps change the recipe somewhat.

[Alexandros Lordos]

pg wrote: However, in order to promote bi-zonality I believe that municipalities that we consider Turkish Cypriot should have a rule saying at least 25 council members should be from the Turkish Cypriot community no matter what the Turkish Cypriot share of the population is; that is the Turkish Cypriot would have a majority in the council. I suggest this would be the case for the following municipalities:

Northern Famagusta
Northern Nicosia
Kyrenia
Lefkoniko

The rest of the municipalities should have council as exact mirrors (Greek Cypriot/Turkish Cypriot) of their populations.


Pg, the only changes I would make to your proposal would be to add a Kyrenia-west municipality or something like that, which would have to be majority Greek Cypriot, a Limassol-West municipality which would be majority Turkish Cypriot, and similarly a Paphos-north and a Larnaca-West municipality with Turkish Cypriot majority. The other main city municipalities (Southern Nicosia, Southern Famagusta, East Limassol etc.) should be guaranteed Greek Cypriot majority, while for all other smaller townships I second your proposal that the population should be exactly mirrored in the council.

This arrangement would not detract from anyone's rights, or from the essential "bizonality" that one would experience within his own municipality, while it would grant greater freedom to those Greek Cypriots that might like to resettle in the north and those Turkish Cypriots that might like to resettle in the south.

[pg]

Alexandros Lordos wrote: pg wrote: However, in order to promote bi-zonality I believe that municipalities that we consider Turkish Cypriot should have a rule saying at least 25 council members should be from the Turkish Cypriot community no matter what the Turkish Cypriot share of the population is; that is the Turkish Cypriot would have a majority in the council. I suggest this would be the case for the following municipalities:

Northern Famagusta
Northern Nicosia
Kyrenia
Lefkoniko

The rest of the municipalities should have council as exact mirrors (Greek Cypriot/Turkish Cypriot) of their populations.


Pg, the only changes I would make to your proposal would be to add a Kyrenia-west municipality or something like that, which would have to be majority Greek Cypriot, a Limassol-West municipality which would be majority Turkish Cypriot, and similarly a Paphos-north and a Larnaca-West municipality with Turkish Cypriot majority. The other main city municipalities (Southern Nicosia, Southern Famagusta, East Limassol etc.) should be guaranteed Greek Cypriot majority, while for all other smaller townships I second your proposal that the population should be exactly mirrored in the council.

This arrangement would not detract from anyone's rights, or from the essential "bizonality" that one would experience within his own municipality, while it would grant greater freedom to those Greek Cypriots that might like to resettle in the north and those Turkish Cypriots that might like to resettle in the south.

There was a few reasons I did not go that way.

One is that I want large municipalities in order to have as effective local government as possible. Also, making small 'minority municipalities' (like Limassol-West) would run into geographical difficulties. In addition, in my proposal the municipal councils in town were people would return (Kyrenia, Limassol) would be bi-communal instead of separated. I think that is important, since when both communities are in the same room less stupid things are said. And last but not least, by keeping the Turkish Cypriot zone collected in the north of the island I hope to receive more Turkish Cypriot support for the proposal.

In general I do not like the idea that people will only move back if they will be governed only by their own community. Naturally this need to be followed up with protection against ethnic discrimination, a mixed police force mirroring the population mix in each district (municipality), etc.

[Alexandros Lordos]

pg wrote:
In general I do not like the idea that people will only move back if they will be governed only by their own community.

Ok, I can see how this belief you have has shaped your proposal.

From my end, what has been nagging me for a long time is that - according to my previous surveys - both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots would strongly oppose living under the local administration of the other community. This hangup has deep historical roots, and for this reason I see any "bizonal" solution as amounting to an apartheid solution in the long run, however sincerely we try to ensure the mingling of the population.

On the other hand, I have seen from my surveys that the Turkish Cypriots would not be opposed to a unitary state solution so long as power sharing is guaranteed in the government. Adding separate municipalities is the "small extra" that will add a "security-through-bizonality" sentiment, thus making the proposal more acceptable to the Turkish Cypriots.

If we look at the issue historically, the issue of separate municipalities is what sparked off the Cyprus Problem and led to today's escalation. The Turkish Cypriots wanted separate municipalities, the Greek Cypriots refused to offer them, because it was "partitionist" in Greek Cypriot eyes (not so much because it was difficult to implement, that was just the official excuse). In the end, by refusing separate municipalities we ended up with something far worse, a whole separate zone in the north on the basis of which we are now negotiating (see, High Level Agreements, Annan Plan, etc ...)

I believe Greek Cypriots would now gladly consent to the precise same issue on which they refused 40 years ago - separate municipalities - if it is the price to pay for the dissolution of partition.

I don't know if you've been to Limassol or Larnaca: the Turkish Cypriot regions of town are very easy to pin point, and they have very specific boundaries. Defining Turkish Cypriot municipalities in these towns would not be difficult. Adding a Greek Cypriot municipality in Kyrenia would be much harder - I've seen what the town is like now - but with some creative town planning it would open the way for many Greek Cypriots to return ...

As for Famagusta and Nicosia, the situation is very simple - what is now the enclosed town of Varosha would become the Greek Cypriot municipality of Famagusta, while the two municipalities of Nicosia would more or less remain as they are now - perhaps with a special joint authority to manage Nicosia-within-the-walls integrally.

[depurple]

Hey I would live under the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus if given a chance and IF the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is under EU Rules and regulations NOT Turkey:
NO problems:

[pg]

Alexandros Lordos wrote: pg wrote:
In general I do not like the idea that people will only move back if they will be governed only by their own community.

Ok, I can see how this belief you have has shaped your proposal.

From my end, what has been nagging me for a long time is that - according to my previous surveys - both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots would strongly oppose living under the local administration of the other community. This hangup has deep historical roots, and for this reason I see any "bizonal" solution as amounting to an apartheid solution in the long run, however sincerely we try to ensure the mingling of the population.

I believe this recent is mainly when 'local administration' means a constituent state as, for example outlined in the Annan Plan, including also limited right of settlement. In my proposal there is no constituent state, only the municipality is majority ruled by 'the other community'.

People 'going back' would still live under the central government, only, and in the EU.

Alexandros Lordos wrote:
I don't know if you've been to Limassol or Larnaca: the Turkish Cypriot regions of town are very easy to pin point, and they have very specific boundaries. Defining Turkish Cypriot municipalities in these towns would not be difficult. Adding a Greek Cypriot municipality in Kyrenia would be much harder - I've seen what the town is like now - but with some creative town planning it would open the way for many Greek Cypriots to return ...

(I live in Cyprus, have done so many years, and is deliberately stuck here...)

The 'creative town planning' is still something focused at creating an ethnically based area, aimed at improving peoples quality of life in that area. A bit of mini-apartheid.

Indeed it is possible that people moving back will end up in 'pockets'; at least in the initial period, and specifically in the villages outside main towns. However, with a system of local ethnic municipalities in each town, it essentially means that people will need to settle in these pockets in order to enjoy proper community services. For people owning property outside these pockets it will be a difficult choice.

Also, I think running these mini-municipalities (Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca, Kyrenia) may becaome a cause of friction instead of co-operation.

In Nicosia and Famagusta things are much simpler - and there would be little use of trying to merge the municipalities. It does mean there are different solutions in different areas but, hey, there is no patent solution on this island.

[pg]

pg wrote:
Also, I think running these mini-municipalities (Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca, Kyrenia) may becaome a cause of friction instead of co-operation.


Have been thinking about this on and off...

One more thing: If these mini municipalities were created, they would first be a bit empty and risk property prices in they dive. If people still move there they will start being too full, and then properties might be un-naturally high..., and then we might want to expand these mini-municipalities on the expense of surrounding areas... In general not an healthy option, imho.

[repulsewarrior]

Still prefer Cantonal "city-states", for development, by those returning, and those who seek to re-settle. (They will always mix)

Rules for municipalities, in the territory, on which these Cantons have been added will either have a Grecophone or Turcophone Majority, and in this manner both communities, will have more diversity in their own culture, while they will strive to promote the goodwill which is so necessary all over the world, toward inculsiveness.