www.talkcyprus.org

[zalish]

im really glad to inform you about a peace platform which took place in Istanbul between 27th of December and 29th of December....(i was there too and as soon as i have free time i will write a detailed information about it)

you will find the press release below...


Press Release of the ‘United Cyprus Platform’

Acknowledging that a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem should be found by the leaders of the two Cypriot communities, on the basis of the UN resolutions and the high level agreements, under the auspices of the UN and expressing our call for the immediate and unconditional resumption of the intercommunal talks, We, the signatories coming from the Cypriot overseas NGO community, at our meeting in Istanbul on 27th December 2006, have united around the concern for lasting peace and a permanent solution to the Cyprus problem, and have decided to create a United Cyprus Platform.

Among others we have agreed on the following ideas:

• Demands concerning the daily life
1. We should abstain from any statement, act or measure that may hurt the people living in Cyprus. Any sign, expression or picture that may fuel the enmity between the communities should be removed and any declaration and statement that may hurt each other should be immediately criticized.
2. Any statement that create enmity and prevent the establishment of a common future should be removed from school books. Common books on the Cyprus history, literature and culture should be published.
3. The passages between the north and the south should be facilitated and new passages should be established. The registration system should be abolished, the bridge and the wall in Ledra street should be demolished.
4. The sides should abstain from any meaningless searches and arrests, under different pretexts, which may cause discontent and enmity.
5. A direct tele-communication system between the north and the south should be established.
6. All legal signboards, road signs and legal documents should be in three languages. The original historical names of roads, places, villages and towns should be used.
7. The communities should be encouraged to learn each other’s language. Besides teaching Greek and Turkish at workshops organized in the buffer zone, handcraft courses that will support our common culture should be initiated and common cultural, artistic and economic activities should be organized.
8. Programs of television channels should be subtitled in the other side’s language, and the establishment of bi-communal television and radios should be encouraged.
9. Open university courses emphasizing on issues of “Peace culture” and “mutual understanding” should be established.
10. Cultural, religious and historical places should be protected and restored. The people should have the right to use freely these places.
11. In the whole of Cyprus, every person’s freedom to education and worship should be secured and protected.
12. Common initiatives of youth organizations should be encouraged.
13. To make the new generation come together, there should be excursions between the schools and the communities should encourage exchanges and hosting each others children.
14. Arts & culture, books & magazines that familiarize the two communities and serve understanding and friendship should be encouraged.
15. Symbolical peace forests should be created and memorial parks of peace should be opened, particularly in the buffer zone, to commemorate the Cypriots who died for defending peace in their common country.
16. The buffer zone should be activated by promoting cultural, economic and other activities.
17. In order to deal with the pains of the past, a public rehabilitation program should be established and implemented.
18. Coordination of bi-communal initiatives should be established and encouraged.

• Demands concerning confidence building measures

1. Confidence building measures should be encouraged such as opening of Varosha, as stated in the relevant UN resolution, the start of commerce according to the EU Green Line regulation, the use of the Famagusta port, etc.
2. A moratorium on the sale and construction on each other’s land should be established until the time of a comprehensive solution is reached to the Cyprus problem.
3. The efforts of disposal of land and sea mines should continue in the buffer zone and sea passages.
4. Until a complete demilitarization is achieved military practices should be organized out of sight of the peoples and the two sides should abstain from any military force shows.

• Demands concerning humanitarian issues

1. The problem of the missing persons should be immediately resolved.
2. Health matters should be addressed immediately and no obstacles should be put whatsoever.
3. The right to work and social security should be guaranteed for all.
4. The issue of the settlers should be dealt exclusively through the humanitarian aspect and any new settlement should not be allowed.


The United Cyprus Platform will create a new website in order to announce every initiative for the realization of these demands, to provide mutual communication and to be a center where new proposals would be submitted. The Platform will realize these demands with the help of initiatives in Cyprus and with the cooperation of the NGOs operating in Cyprus and elsewhere.

The presence of representatives of political parties in our conference assisted us in understanding their approaches, and to make them aware of our initiative.

We initiated the first step and established a platform of common struggle. We shall work with consensus and respect to each other. Our work starts now. We dream for a united Cyprus in peace and we know that our dream will be materialized.

The coordination committee of the United Cyprus Platform:
1. Kıvanç Diren, Ophthalmologist, İstanbul, Secretary general of Cypriots Science Education Health and Solidarity Association (KIBES).
2. Sarper Övsay, Dentist, İstanbul, Chairman of KIBES.
3. Hasan Raif, Civil Engineer, London, Chairman of Turkish Cypriot Democratic Associaition (KTDD).
4. Georgios Michailidis, Mechanical Engineer, Athens, Secretary general of Federation of Cypriot Organization in Greece (OKOE).
5. Kakkulis Theodoulou, General Surgeon, Athens, Chairman of association of Cypriot Scientists (SKE) in Greece.
6. Neşe Yaşın, Poet – Academician, Nicosia.
7. Agni Hassabi, İnterpreter, Berlin, Advisor to the Cyprus German Forum (DFZ).
8. Tümer Mimi, Computer Scientist, Melbourne, Australian Peace initiative.
9. Chrysostomos Demetrıou, Mechanical Engineer, Athens, Secretary general of Union of Cypriot Refugees (EKPE).
10. Emrah Günen, Student, İstanbul, Chairman of Cyprus Youth Platform (KGP).
11. Stavros Polyviou, Medical Doctor, Patras, Chairman of OKOE Youth.

[Bananiot]

Excellent, well done every body.

[zalish]

well we are planning to take some of those actions during february...i will let you know what's going on so that you can come and join us:)

[RudeGal]

Interesting and 99% positive. I noted as I read that there seemed to be an absence of addressing some serious Turkish Cypriot concerns (e.g. why not ask for direct flights to Ercan or direct trade for North etc) and when I came to bottom of list to see who the Turkish Cypriot rep was I realised why! Those listed I've either never heard of or are too fringe for Turkish Cypriots and would not be representative.

If these great ideas are ever to be developed, surely it is in interests of such groups to woo a greater cross-section of NGOs? Or else they will just stay as ideas on paper...

[zalish]

well i gotta start explaining the general structure of the main idea of this platform...cyprus problem isnt just a political,strategical mess but it is also social problem...Many years passed...we couldnt get any results from the politicians(not yet)...what they made till now wasnt enough...this problem deserves more attention in social life...think about it; living with a wall during 30 years...without knowing eachother...i think that the first thing that we should do is help people come closer...this is the human side of the general mess...if we take care of this part it will be easier for us to solve the whole problem cuz we gotta know eachother better...thats why we dont emphesize on special occasions like problems including directly north side...we do have a common problem...
and i believe this wont be just on paper...student organisations like kgp-Ankara or kgp - Istanbul (Cyprus Youth Platform)will take some actions..im a member of cyprus youth platform in Ankara...so well do what we can do...

[cypezokyli]

good news.
and good work to everyone that participated.

keep us updated.

how come it took place in istanbul ?
and how is it possible to join ?

[Dhavlos]

this is great.....i think reading the list, i agree with everything! lol

its true, the humanitarian/social aspect needs to be delt with for a political solution to come about and last!!

bravo

[zalish]

im glad to hear that u are interested too...well the idea of having a platform is supported by KIBES (Cypriots Science Education Health and Solidarity Association) and also KGP too..These groups are located in Istanbul(KGP has another branch in Ankara )...and another reason why this platform was in Istanbul was that the amazing cultural heritage of the city...anyway you can join by taking place in these actions...dont worry you'll be informed by me...


there is a web site(not a professional one made by students)the english side is still underconstruction...but if u know turkish you can getto know KGP better from the link...

http://www.kibrisligenclikplatformu.net/



and also the list below shows the participants of the Istanbul Conference...

PARTICIPANTS

Vassilis Nicodemou (OKOE) Alpay Avşaroğlu (CTP)
Georgios Michailidis (OKOE) Kutlay Erk (CTP)
Antonis Koursoumpas (OKOE) Fanis Hristodulou (AKEL)
Stavros Polyviou (OKOE Youth) Vivien Kounaris (AKEL)
Simeon Charalambous (Association of Cypriot Scientists) Mehmet Çakıcı (BDH)
Agni Hassabi (German Cyprus Forum) Alpay Durduran (YKP)
Tümer Mimi (Australia) İzzet İzcan (BKP)
Panicos Mina (Australia) Şefik Par (BKP)
Spyros (Australia)
Niyazi Kızılyürek
Neşe Yaşın
Emrah Günen (KGP)
Osman Erçal (KGP)
Mertkan Hamit (KGP)
Çağrı Coşar (KGP)
Mustafa Denizer (KTDD)
Hasan Raif (KTDD)
Çağay Dürü (Ankara)
AKEL Britain (1-2)
KIBES (2)
Bicommunal Chorus (4)
Antonis Vafeas (France)

[Leyla]

Excellent initiative Zalish..well done to everybody involved.

[repulsewarrior]

Thank-you. We all wait with anticipation, and progress fron this hopeful endeavour.

[repulsewarrior]

P.S. ,z, welcome to the forum.

[pg]

This seems very promising - truly intelligent and thought through.

[RudeGal]

Given that CTP's Foreign Affairs spokesperson and party elder Kutlay Erk is involved in this, plus his party remains committed to a united Cyprus, there should be at least one side able to take some of these ideas forward. Will be interesting to see if CTP does (and if not, they are all talk, no action!).

Zalish, while I really dig the daily lives ideas, I think (from a Turkish Cypriot perspective), the latter two sections of CBMs etc fall well short of what I would expect to be fair to both sides - seems to reflect mainly sensitivities of Greek Cypriots - making it hard to garner broader support from our community based on your current mandate.

The list misses some fundamental concerns and needs of Turkish Cypriots like the isolation issue, which is not touched upon in any significant way.

I hope in future you can consult more widely so you can ensure that all needs are better reflected in this positive mandate.

[repulsewarrior]

1)...a new political party that runs a campaign for election on both sides of the green line could help if the issues it supports clearly are the concern of the electorate as people, rather than members of a cultural community.

2)...perhaps independant of government, an assembly of people for the reformation of the Constitution, of the Republic of Cyprus.

...having seperate assemblies for the reform of the Turkish Cypriot Constitution and the creation of a Greek Cypriot Constitution for the realisation of a Bi-Communal strategy toward our governance.

That is to say...

We shallseek a State to unify us, where we represent ourselves as a People, [the Republic of Cyprus, (which has English as its first language and three official languages)] inclusive and hegemonous, a member of the EU, and the Family of Man, equal as two, (or three, if you include the Maronites) founding peoples, unlike today, the electorate having two (or three) national identities representing them, each citizen equal as individuals, and equal in their vote.

As well as two (or three) National identities, having territory over which these people have sovereignty, with their form of government for the sustenance of each, respectful to the minorities amongst them, with their recognition, and the acceptance that, to serve includes peoples of other languages, with special needs, who are always fewer, so that all dwellers are equal in either homogenous mass.

:

Three Governments; Bi-Communal...


Being Bi-Zonal, having many parts;
in support of enclaves, cantons, like spots which cover the whole island, so that settlers can have homes(what they were promised), and many displaced may return to their homes, as communities (without destroying the fabric of the community which surrounds them).



... two ideas which I hope you will want to discuss.

[stavrizatz]

Hey missed this thread, but I was aware of the "United Cyprus Platform" as a friend of mine was one of the coordinators. Tumer Mimi, he is the craziest 50 year old I ever met!!!

I hope similar sort of movements occur elsewhere as well.

ps. To all those in the forum who are in Aust, there is a bi-communal commitee where we held bi-communal events (occasionally) etc.

Cheers