The EU and minority rights Sir,
I read with some considerable surprise Mr Marios Polycarpou's letter (Turks must accept minority status’ March 24), stating that, "It is ludicrous for a minority outnumbered 7 to 1 to expect power sharing... the Turkish Cypriot community is entitled to a representation equivalent to the number of legitimate people it contains..."
A few facts would not go amiss here. On May 1, 2004, Cyprus joined the EU. It has six Members of the European Parliament, or one for every 117,000 Greek Cypriots. Cyprus thus has 6.5 times more representation per head of the population in the European Parliament than the UK, or 9.1 times more than Germany. Cyprus also has the right of veto on EU issues. This means that 703,000 people (30 per cent less population than Birmingham) can, in theory, veto the plans of the other 320 million if they so wish. There are 26 European commissioners - Cyprus has one, Germany has one!
Europe works because small countries such as Cyprus are given a protected, and demographically unjustified position. If Mr Polycarpou wishes to apply different principles to Turkish Cypriots than those he is happy to accept for himself, that is his right. However, he should not be surprised if they show a reluctance to accept.
GENERAL INFORMATION Cyprus
National name Kipriak Dimokrata/Greek Republic of Cyprus (south); Kibris Cumhuriyeti/Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (north) Area 9,251 sq km/3,571 sq mi (3,335 sq km/1,287 sq mi is Turkish-occupied) Capital Nicosia (divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriots) Major towns/cities Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, Lefkosia, Gazimausa Major ports Limassol, Larnaca, and Paphos (Greek); Kyrenia and Famagusta (Turkish) Physical features central plain between two eastwest mountain ranges
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Andrik wrote:
What if i tell u that there is a respectable percentage of Greeks leaving in Cyprus that actually prefer partitioning the island and would never in their wildest dreams imagine being next door neighbors with Turks??
Why does anyone respect those people's views and feelings??
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