Cyprus-Forum.com

[repulsewarrior]

can you imagine? two leaders, maybe even Tpap and Talat, quietly on their own, because they are Cypriots, coming to an agreement that unites us? It is in the end the only way. We must do it as a fait accompli, not unlike the ones of the past, but bloodless, and this time, for ourselves.

[Nikitas]

Repulsewarrior,

I too have been thinking along the lines you describe- two Cypriot leaders coming out of a meeting announcing to all that they have in fact reached an agreement, a total agreement, on all points and the Cyprus problem is solved.

Would it be solved? Will Turkey, Britain and Greece and a bunch of others agree with the two leaders that they have in fact solved the problem? I wonder! I get the feeling that at that point we will find out the real nature of our problem- too many foreigners in the mix. Perhaps with a dynamic show of popular support, like mass rallies taking over all military installations, asserting popular sovereignty for the first time in Cypriot history, it might be possible, just might...... A dream but not a bad one.

[denizaksulu]

Repulsewarrior,

I too have been thinking along the lines you describe- two Cypriot leaders coming out of a meeting announcing to all that they have in fact reached an agreement, a total agreement, on all points and the Cyprus problem is solved.

Would it be solved? Will Turkey, Britain and Greece and a bunch of others agree with the two leaders that they have in fact solved the problem? I wonder! I get the feeling that at that point we will find out the real nature of our problem- too many foreigners in the mix. Perhaps with a dynamic show of popular support, like mass rallies taking over all military installations, asserting popular sovereignty for the first time in Cypriot history, it might be possible, just might...... A dream but not a bad one.

Well you know whay they say, "you can please some people whole of the time but not all people all of the time". There will be a few who will try to rock the boat. These will have to be neutralised. Perhaps a one way ticket to Greece or Mikri Asiatiki, perhaps?

[Nikitas]

We can dream hey! Maybe we can have a couple of separationist mahallas where people stuck on those ideas can go play at weekends to let off steam!

[denizaksulu]

We can dream hey! Maybe we can have a couple of separationist mahallas where people stuck on those ideas can go play at weekends to let off steam!

[bigOz]

@bigOz

Personally I am glad that Gul was elected. I like Erdogan very much, I think he is a man of dignity.

i have a question for you bigOz:
a)Do you think there has been a compromise agreement between the Turkish military and the Government in the form of give and take?
b)If yes, what could possibly be those give and takes?

Sorry for a very late reply P but I've been away for few days and also been very busy to read through everything!

As to the answers for your questions - as far as I can follow from media and current politics in Turkey, there has been no such agreements between the military and the government in Turkey. There are couple of reasons for this:

Firstly, There can be no compromise by the army where the secular state is concerned. The problem and the equation is simple. The army have made it clear they will not stand idle, if there are any attempts to create a Sharia ruled republic or statuary changes leading to an Islamic government.

Secondly, as long as the above threat does not show itself in practice, the military will always bow to the democratic wishes of the Turkish public at large. This is why the coups of the past were welcome and supported by the great majority of the public in Turkey (I was there in 1980).

Erdogan is not stupid! Instead of having a stand off with the army, knowing they will accept the democratic wishes of public at large, he cleverly called for a general election in the heat of this argument as if to say to Turkish people "show us whose side you are on, and if we or the army is right?". Had there been a noticeable reduction in the votes for AK party, that would have been the red light for them. But as it turned out, people showed their support to AKP in increasing numbers and the army is left with no choice but to accept that choice.

However, the army's position stated in the first paragraph still remains the same and both sides are well aware of this. No compromises, but a "telepathic deal" between the two if you like to call it!

[DT.]

@bigOz

Personally I am glad that Gul was elected. I like Erdogan very much, I think he is a man of dignity.

i have a question for you bigOz:
a)Do you think there has been a compromise agreement between the Turkish military and the Government in the form of give and take?
b)If yes, what could possibly be those give and takes?

Sorry for a very late reply P but I've been away for few days and also been very busy to read through everything!

As to the answers for your questions - as far as I can follow from media and current politics in Turkey, there has been no such agreements between the military and the government in Turkey. There are couple of reasons for this:

Firstly, There can be no compromise by the army where the secular state is concerned. The problem and the equation is simple. The army have made it clear they will not stand idle, if there are any attempts to create a Sharia ruled republic or statuary changes leading to an Islamic government.

Secondly, as long as the above threat does not show itself in practice, the military will always bow to the democratic wishes of the Turkish public at large. This is why the coups of the past were welcome and supported by the great majority of the public in Turkey (I was there in 1980).

Erdogan is not stupid! Instead of having a stand off with the army, knowing they will accept the democratic wishes of public at large, he cleverly called for a general election in the heat of this argument as if to say to Turkish people "show us whose side you are on, and if we or the army is right?". Had there been a noticeable reduction in the votes for AK party, that would have been the red light for them. But as it turned out, people showed their support to AKP in increasing numbers and the army is left with no choice but to accept that choice.

However, the army's position stated in the first paragraph still remains the same and both sides are well aware of this. No compromises, but a "telepathic deal" between the two if you like to call it!

Hey BigOz, what would happen if 90% of the people voted for sharia law in Turkey and to proclaim it an islamic republic?

[bigOz]

@bigOz

Personally I am glad that Gul was elected. I like Erdogan very much, I think he is a man of dignity.

i have a question for you bigOz:
a)Do you think there has been a compromise agreement between the Turkish military and the Government in the form of give and take?
b)If yes, what could possibly be those give and takes?

Sorry for a very late reply P but I've been away for few days and also been very busy to read through everything!

As to the answers for your questions - as far as I can follow from media and current politics in Turkey, there has been no such agreements between the military and the government in Turkey. There are couple of reasons for this:

Firstly, There can be no compromise by the army where the secular state is concerned. The problem and the equation is simple. The army have made it clear they will not stand idle, if there are any attempts to create a Sharia ruled republic or statuary changes leading to an Islamic government.

Secondly, as long as the above threat does not show itself in practice, the military will always bow to the democratic wishes of the Turkish public at large. This is why the coups of the past were welcome and supported by the great majority of the public in Turkey (I was there in 1980).

Erdogan is not stupid! Instead of having a stand off with the army, knowing they will accept the democratic wishes of public at large, he cleverly called for a general election in the heat of this argument as if to say to Turkish people "show us whose side you are on, and if we or the army is right?". Had there been a noticeable reduction in the votes for AK party, that would have been the red light for them. But as it turned out, people showed their support to AKP in increasing numbers and the army is left with no choice but to accept that choice.

However, the army's position stated in the first paragraph still remains the same and both sides are well aware of this. No compromises, but a "telepathic deal" between the two if you like to call it!

Hey BigOz, what would happen if 90% of the people voted for sharia law in Turkey and to proclaim it an islamic republic?

Then the army will have a field-day and use them for target practice! In other words - knowing that, people will never vote for government that will install an Islamic Republic. Good deterrent are they not?