Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sahin Turk]

Question to the forum: Was the Original 1960 Republic of Cyprus a bi-communal republic?

[cypezokyli]

yes

[clive of payia]

Interesting question, were you both here in Cyprus in 1960? I was and I can tell you the answer is a big OXI.

[humanist]

I'd take a guess and say that a modified updated version of 1960 constitution is probably the best and most fair bi/try/multi communal society Cyprus could ever have.

[free_cyprus]

Sahin Turk
Question to the forum: Was the Original 1960 Republic of Cyprus a bi-communal republic?

the 1959 zurich agreement was desighned to devide cyprus up and bring it to the state its in now..............i dont see anything just or legal with that document and i have state it many times here on the forum.......................actualy it was something but the cypriot people never got what it was and it was this ..................it was a joke

[Piratis]

Question to the forum: Was the Original 1960 Republic of Cyprus a bi-communal republic?

I believe the term "bi-communal" is nowhere in the constitution. So officially it was not. However in practice it gave a lot of emphasis in separating the two major communities of Cyprus, since it was the aim of those that made the constitution to maintain their divisive policies in Cyprus for the reasons we soon found out.

Still, even if you can call it "bi-communal" it certainly didn't equate the 18% TC community with the 82% GC majority. E.g. GCs have the president, TCs the vice president.

[Murataga]

I believe the term "bi-communal" is nowhere in the constitution. So officially it was not. However in practice it gave a lot of emphasis in separating the two major communities of Cyprus, since it was the aim of those that made the constitution to maintain their divisive policies in Cyprus for the reasons we soon found out.

Still, even if you can call it "bi-communal" it certainly didn't equate the 18% TC community with the 82% GC majority. E.g. GCs have the president, TCs the vice president.

It was a bi-communal partnership state. And rightfully so since it reflected the sociological nature of the island. It is both useful and important to keep in mind that there has never been in Cyprus a "Cypriot nation" due to the distinct national, religious and cultural characteristics of each ethnic people who, in addition, speak different languages. It is also interesting to note that although the two peoples had lived together in the Island for centuries there were practically no inter-marriages and not even a single commercial partnership was set up. Although by then the GCs were more numerous, the TCs had lived in Cyprus as a distinct community for more than 400 years; and were willing to join in forming a new partnership Republic, embracing the whole of the island only if that basic fact of political life in Cyprus was formally recognised. The two communities were political equals and each existed as a political entity, just as both large and small states exist within the structure of the European Union. They did not however have the same constitutional rights because the agreements took into account the fact that there were more Greek Cypriots than Turkish Cypriots.

[Piratis]

It is both useful and important to keep in mind that there has never been in Cyprus a "Cypriot nation" due to the distinct national, religious and cultural characteristics of each ethnic people who, in addition, speak different languages.

During the 1000s of years of Cyprus history there was always one Cypriot people. If some foreign invaders preferred to remain foreigners and not to assimilate into Cypriots, this doesn't change this fact. If you prefer not to be part of the Cypriot nation but to be a foreigner that simply happens to be in Cyprus, thats your problem.

The two communities were political equals and each existed as a political entity, just as both large and small states exist within the structure of the European Union.

You are making things up. The TC minority was simply given some extra privileges and some veto powers. It was not given any separate sovereignty or anything else comparable to a separate state.

[free_cyprus]

Piratis
During the 1000s of years of Cyprus history there was always one Cypriot people. If some foreign invaders preferred to remain foreigners and not to assimilate into Cypriots, this doesn't change this fact. If you prefer not to be part of the Cypriot nation but to be a foreigner that simply happens to be in Cyprus, thats your problem.

soo you do agree, we are not greeks and turks, living on the island of cyprus. but we do speak their language

[axilleask]

The term "Cypriot" defines somebody who lives in Cyprus. Does not define an ethnic origin. It's the same as the term "Cretan" or "Pelloponesian".
In the US of a they are millions of people with different ethnic origins yet they call all call themselves "Americans" . The dissapointing fact is that TC's prefer to call themselves "Turks" than "Cypriots" . They prefer to stay in captivity under the rule of a foreign nation than to be a member of the community.
They prefer to violate human rights, expoit other people's properties and live as outlaws in their hideout.
They keep hiding in the past to find excuses for their present situation.
Cyprus, like the USA is a country with people from different ethnic origins. History tells us that when these people co operate they perform miracles. TC's on the other hand care only for themselves and NOT for the whole community.
All of the people of GREEK ethnic origin prefer to call ourselves "Cypriots" and NOT Greek-Cypriots. the fact that we have Greek origin does not make us puppets of the Greek goverment unlike what's happening in the North occupied part of the island.
Nobody can make a decision even for the tie he will wear unless he's got the approval of the Turkish goverment.
Imagine 200.000 people living together with 40.000 troops! that's a soldier for every 5 people!
What can somebody think about the situation in the North?
Can these people act by themselves? Can they express their own will? I doubt that!