Cyprus-Forum.com

[Andros]

Hi all,

Sorry for the long delay in engaging in this forum, I had to undergo a minor operation on my left leg; getting old!

Whether you are all aware of the mass migration issue affecting the Cyprus Republic, I though it wise to perhaps gather some reactions from my fellow Cyprus Forum friends, especially Nikita, Get Real, Phoenix and the many others - even the Cypriot Turks!

Seriously, my query to you all is this:

Due to a serious lack of foresight from our Republic of Cyprus government, again, how the hell are we going to stop mass migration of thousands of people seeking political asylum without recognising the "Green Line" as an EU border!

Have we shot ourselves in the foot here with our insistence in becoming an EU member state without solving the Cyprus issue first? And, how strange is it that even the EU Com is now looking at us to offer some kind of solution to this nightmare scenario?

QUERY
If we remain quiet, the Turks will continue to allow thousand of immigrants (12'00 immigrants in one year so far, and that was an "official" figure, god knows the "unofficial" figure even though I am not one for conspiracy theories) to cross over the "Green Line" as we can not legally man it due to reason that we (Cyprus government) do not regard the Green Line as a border as that would obviously imply some kind of recognition to the Northern part of the island - or, is that Papadopoulos' intention!

Also, the EU Commission has insisted that the "Green Line" can not remain unprotected, unmanned as it is in con' to EU security and immigration concerns. In other words, the EU is basically telling us to either sort out the issue of illegal migration from the north or it will label the "cease fire line" an official border of the EU. In my opinion, that to me reinforces to my previous concern of seeking an urgent resolution to the Cyprus problem before it's too late. I understand the many comments returned from my suggestion in my past postings, but ultimately, we are dealing with Factual, Practical issues and not Rhetoric, unrealistic, non-founding statements that blowing unnoticed in the wind.

Our immigration issue of 12'000 at least a year is a major setback, and our government must react immediately before it's too late; before the EU does!

All comments are welcome, but make it logical and realistic please.

Thank you.

[humanist]

Hi Andros

Hope that operation on the leg goes well for you and your health restored.


I was recently in Cyprus and I don't believe the EU has been a good thing for Cyprus. Least on the political issue. Upon my arrival I read in the newspapers that the EU ordered the slaughter of a large number of sheep and goats to meet EU standards. The farmers resisted this. However a day before I left, somehow it was confirmed that foot and mouth disease had hit the shores of Cyprus. Is it my paranoia or something smells a bit fishy?

Many small business have comented about the unfair expectations placed on them, many others have mentoned of small business closing. Is this, the EU's way of paving the way to globalisation? One has to wonder.

As far as the Green line is concerned and illegal migration, yes it is a problem, but then again isn't this a global issue? Illegal migration is happening everywhere. As far as the EU is concerned in relation to this problem, well same rules need to apply. It is now an EU issue. I beleive that the EU has let Cyprus down big time with relation to the Turkish occupation. To this end all Cypriots regardless of what they speak and where they live have been disadvantaged in different ways.

The EU have failed all Cypriots the minute it decided to proceed with Turkey's application to EU when Turkey refused to recognise and respect Cyprus as an EU member State. SHAME ON THE EU. Britain in particular has been instrumental in maintaining the division of Cyprus and covertly pushing for the recognition of the puppet state. SHAME ON BRITAIN AND ITS POLITICIANS & HER MAJESTY.

My stance on recognition of the Green Line as a border is that it cannot be recognised as such. I personally oppose any recognition of the puppet state and its administration. Whilst I believe that Turkish speaking Cypriots have equal rights and opportunities I disagree with minority groups engaging in war, splitting their nation in half and claiming it as theirs at the exclussion of others and at the violation of human rights of their fellow citizens. My belief is that Cyprus is the Homeland of all Cypriots and it stands as ONE nation for all it's people. Yes there are issues there but partition is not the answer. This is merely my opinion. Refugee rights must be restored and whilst there are refugees in Cyprus I do not support any form of recognition for the occupied areas of Cyprus.

Is this Papadopoulos' intention? It would appear so. On this issue I believe he has not done enough. In my opinion Papadopoulos as the President of a divided Island one which has its territory under Turkish occupation should have been at the UN headquarters on weekly basis fighting for the restoration of justice for Cyprus and all its people 1000 000 of them. He should have made a pest of himself so that the UN would get sick of him presenting his arguments to the point where they take action necessary to expell the Turkish occuying forces out of Cyprus.

He failed to do enough to show to UN and the international community that Talat along with his masters in Ankara have repeatedly failed to follow through with agreements on a settlement of the Cyprus issue.

[Andros]

Humanist,

Thank you very much for your posting, your assessment was both very enjoyable and intelligent.

According to the many MEPS I have constant contact with Humanist, they all have one outlook in particular – indifference! This in my view is very dangerous as they only see the EU’s development and innovation as:

1. All peoples of the EU must maintain a democratic and diplomatic outlook,
2. And, the EU is the Super-Union of all EU “States”.

This outlook, as you may know is causing us serious issues in contrast to our known Cyprus history and our outlook as a pure federal Cypriot formula. At first glance, the EU would far prefer a union of “Happy” states, and not one that is in dispute; thus, look at Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, and now Kosovo. Therefore, it is undisputable that the EU would rather see Cyprus split into two peaceful states under some kind of “Velvet Divorce” in order to get rid of the Cyprus issue off of its shoulders. This is evident with the serious lack of resolution searching of the Cyprus problem on behalf of the EU Commission – they do not give a penny about our history, conflict or our feelings, but rather only want this Cyprus mess (in their eyes) shut and closed permanently.

Unfortunately, this is where the Turkish Cypriots have found a safe heaven for the promotion of two states by essentially using the recent history of EU-resolution steps as a pretext.

Also, we must be careful how much we badger the EU with the Cyprus issue as the EU does have a tendency to prefer to swiftly resolve a problem as opposed to fighting what may be the correct solution (a divide instead of forcing a pure federation).

As for the Green Line, I believe that the Turkish Cypriots have found their most strongest mechanism to seal the “Divide” on the island. They know that we haven’t got much political space for maneuver, and, any formal action by the Cyprus Republic will essentially acknowledge their existence as a country or state as opposed to a “Community”. So, what do, or can we do?

Well, I would like to firstly say that I completely agree with you about the EU letting us down – but, are we also to blame for our present state of affairs? Have we surely shot ourselves in the foot?

There’s one thing I can say for certain, and that is that in no way can we – The Republic of Cyprus – sustain mass migration, certainly not the amount northern Cyprus is ready and willing to throw at us.

Regrettably, I have no doubt that, like how President Bush won his final Presidency, Tassos Papadopoulos will at the appointed time win his.

As for my suggestion as what to do with the Green Line, and the issue of mass migration from an entity that threatens our republic, I would apply a dual-strategy!

As they EU, Britain in particular, is strongly advocating direct trade with northern Cyprus in the near future, I would beat them to the mark before we suddenly wake up to an External Border and a recognised north Cyprus above our heads. This can be done by offering the following:

1. An agreement where we will allow direct trade and participation of northern Cyprus in international sporting events in return for the strengthening of the “Cease Fire” line, the return of Varosha and a commitment by the EU that allows us to reject all new cases of political asylum from the north. I know you all may say why not reject them now anyway? Well, this type of action would instantly attract more bad press against the idea of a federation with the Turkish Cypriots, strengthen their (TC nationalists) view of a two republic formula and force the EU to declare the Green Line as a permanent border due to a state of crisis, as we know how badly they respond to a crisis situation (Kosovo, FYR, Serbia/Montenegro and many others).

Call it a catch22 situation, but we are in a serious mess for a Republic with just 620’000 people. Where an increase of 12’000 immigrants a year is a staggering 1.9% (of foreign EU nationals only) compared to our natural population growth of under 0.54%. I don’t know about you all but these figures, which are common knowledge, are shocking if you times them by a 10-year period! And that is disregarding the new EU member states with who are still yet to qualify for the act of Freedom of Movement, and our own population increase figure.

The Green Line/border issue must now be addressed. In the Turkish Cypriot newspaper, "Volkan", Just recently, a Turkish Cypriot politician emphasized the importance of stepping up “border migration” as their number 1 priority.

Your comments are highly recommended regarding this sensitive issue.

Regards,
Andros

[humanist]

Andros

thank you for your reply. however I disagree with you on the permanent division of the Island. Call me an old fool or perhaps a hopeless romantic but I do not agree with the Turkish invasion of cyprus and therefore have resistance to hand it it over because they want ut so.

this will also have implcations world wide as powerful nations will get the so called green light to invade and conquer because they can.

thank you for your views and the opportunity to discuss the issue. I suspect the majority of Cypriots who speak Turkish and curently living in the occupied areas would like to see a unified Cyprus also. i gather there is a sense of helplessness though as turkey is a powerful nations. however I do believe that those cypriots also hold the key. should they decide to vote witht their feet and i suspect in a couple of years they will, things will change.

I was recently in Cyprus and one beautiful picture that remains in my mind is seeing a woman wearing a head scarfe walking along Makarios avenue with a todler whilst pushing a pram. she looked most comfortable and at home she was standing upright and tall without fear. that is the cyprus that i would like to see.

[humanist]

Andros I feel a bit chitted having realised that this was a topic for discussion in the Cyprus mail.

Could you please identify the source of your quieries next time.

thank you

[Andros]

Humanist,

Sorry Humanist, though the Cyprus Mail wasn't the only source of this title of discussion - it's all over Reuters and now being brought up at EU level meetings concerning Cyprus as a whole.

Following on your previous post, I would just like to clarify that my policy is not, and in no way geared to partition. In actual fact, I advocate a pure federal deal only. However, due to the serious lack of movement in this area, while at the same time only hearing about a bi-zonal, bi-communal structure, it is only then I believe that a clean split would serve the island better.

Nevertheless, according to the latest news reports, and I would like to only base my information on what is actually available in the press as opposed to conspiracy theories, we are far off any acceptance of a pure federation if our government continues the way it is. That is primarily why I feel that we need to make a stand on this border issue immediately.

Tell me this Humanist, do you not feel that whilst we (Greek Cypriots) are hoping for a "pure federal" formula to magically materialise, do not agree that all the other forces acting upon the Cyprus process will soon corner us again as how when were with the Annan Plan of 2004?

Although as a Greek Cypriot I am a strong advocate of a Cyprus formula in the form of a hybrid of the 1960 treaty and the inclusion of the amendments submitted by President Makarios in the early 1960s, I also realise that today's world sets a completely different stage for which the Turkish Cypriots appear to have more ammunition. Such as, in recent months, the Turkish Cypriots have compared the acceptance of the Montenegro/Serbia situation to the Cyprus issue, Kosovo, Macedonia and even Northern Ireland and the UK, and TAIWAN!

And.....now the border issue! All I am saying is that we can no longer close our eyes to what we regard as petty reason for partition, especially considering that the EU have already agreed to some of those petty reasons in the declaration for independence of the Montenegro Republic and now soon the Republic of Kosovo. Again, we chose to ignore the Border issue that has now cornered the EU in legal terms, and will most certainly cause us to either make a sharp political turn, or accept certain conditions in order to avoid either mass migration or the recognition of the border.

Many Greek Cypriots in this forum advise me not to worry, but unfortunately, many of my reasoning are now beginning to surface in the international media as fundamental conditions affecting the Cyprus Republic.

I look forward to reading your comments.

[humanist]

Andros it's a bit too early in the morning for me to reply to this issue you have raised and I have to go vote for the Australian Federal election also.