Cyprus-Forum.com

by **pantelis** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 7:54 pm

Another possible solution to this “open wound”, called the Cyprus problem, is to agree to become a province of the EU, adopt the EU constitution to the fullest, become the capital of the EU (or the winter capital) and accept the appointment of an EU governor, to rule the island’s affairs in accordance to the EU laws for as long it is necessary to begin to think as Cypriots and Europeans first and then as ethnic Greeks or Turks.

If you agree with the general idea, but have specific details, conditions or demands, please state them.

by **insan** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 8:02 pm

Right wing psychology kills. :wink:

by **pantelis** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 10:16 pm

If nothing else, everyone would begin to obey the speed limits and the traffic rules! :lol:

by **pantelis** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 6:06 am

Hey, who dared to agree with me? :shock:

by **cannedmoose** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 3:29 pm

pantelis wrote:Hey, who dared to agree with me?

That wouldn't be me... I can see the benefits of this move for MEPs, Commissioners etc., in that Famagusta/Ammoxostos/Gazimagusa would be a heck of a lot more pleasant that Brussels and Strasbourg and Robert Kilroy-Silk (a notorious

British MEP) could maintain his year-round orange skin ... but there are just a few hurdles with this suggestion:

1. The French government has struggled rabidly against any prospect of the European Union institutions moving away from Strasbourg (something which consumes masses of time, money and energy and is a throwback to the Iron and Steel Community in the 1950s)... lobby your MEP about this one.

2. When you say 'province of the EU', it's a slightly confusing concept. Are you saying that Cyprus should become a colony of the European Commission, with the Commissioners responsible for running the island? I'm pro-European and pro-EU, but even I would baulk at being run by unelected bureaucrats whose first priority is often to themselves rather than the European project. Currently Cyprus features low on the list of countries in the international corruption index... if the Commish took over, I would foresee a rapid climb up the table. Somehow, I highly doubt reversion to colonial status would please Cypriots of either community.

3. As for obeying speed limits and traffic rules... have you been to Italy, Spain, Portugal or Greece lately?

I know that Cypriots may be some of the worst drivers in Europe (come on, admit it, you know you are

), but that's a southern-European phenomenon... on my visits to the above countries, I've yet to see improvement from EU membership.

I can, however see what you are getting at. I think that one possible scenario for a post-solution administration would be to have federal zones. I would see these as being present in five areas:

1. Lefkosia/Lefkosa
2. Ammoxostos/Gazimagusa
3. Akamas
4. Karpass (including Apostolos Andreas)
5. The grounds of Hala Sultan Tekke

In these areas, the federal institutions would be responsible for effective administration (much of which will be determined by EU rules anyway). In other words, joint running of utilities and local services, preservation of ancient monuments and the natural environment etc. The federal government would also be responsible for a limited number of common areas such as overall foreign policy (the CS would be free to pursue regional policies within the EU framework and along the model of the Swiss cantons see link below) and defence.

http://www.eda.admin.ch/sub_dipl/e/home ... parti.html

Anyway, enough discussion of future plans... finally, I do think your idea would make Cypriots feel Cypriot again, but not in the way you hope. The big problem with the genesis of Cyprus came through a unilateral, rather than joint struggle against colonial rule during the British period. One community struggled for independence (and enosis), whilst the other was reticent (and fearful of the future) to do so. Thus 'Cypriot-ness' never reached its fruition as a national struggle. An anti-EU collective struggle might therefore be the (rather warped) answer. Still, a crazy suggestion, but interesting nonetheless... I thought I'd seen just about everything on this forum, but your suggestion takes top prize for 'blue skies thinking' re.