Cyprus-Forum.com

[Andrik]

The path beyond the first Anan plan and the April referendum.

After the failed referendum of last April there has been a lot of political and civil unrest amongst us and unfortunately we will soon have to decide once more for our future as a Greek Cypriot race. A new “plan” is most likely to be delivered soon and it is up to us to prepare adequately so that we may once again make the right choices. To begin with, we must not allow certain political leaders to continue their propaganda on our fellow citizens. Such political leaders like Christofias, who has no scope for change, and who has been educated by the party (AKEL) for the sole purpose of continuing in the exact footpath laid down to him over a decade ago must be sidelined. Having said that, he is not the only one that should be blamed, but it should be noted that he is a man who wrongly advocates socialist ideals about equality and equal distribution to almost half of our nations citizens for the sole purpose of hiding the fact that he has made a binding partnership with the centrist right (DHKO) party, that in turn represents the 12% of the richest people in Cyprus.


As citizens we must gather those who still feel this country as their own and urge them to rise up and face this menace in a democratic, yet forceful, manner that will render him, and those like him, politically paralyzed. This time we will not resort to violence and bloodshed because now we posses far better tools and we will instead use knowledge and expertise. Our purpose should be to unite with our misguided countrymen, and for the first time in our long and glorious history we should make all necessary steps towards ‘bringing down the walls’ created by cleavage and prejudice that have separated us for far too long. We must realize that the two opposing sides (Greek Left/Greek Right) are of the same coin and we must strive to realize that we are equals in our hardships, equals in our struggles, equals in our needs and interests, and that we are only divided by unsubstantiated ideals that should belong to the past and in history books.


Unfortunately, the path towards national unity lies hidden in a less, yet equally important, one. We us right wing conservatives need to be as united as ever because I fear the worst is yet to come. After a close evaluation of the April’s voting patterns we can see that there is a possibility that only half of the 70% DHSY registered voters will follow their rational thought and vote twice against a mockery of a fair and viable solution to our problem. Crucially, this percentage translates into a minority of approximately 13% of the whole population, and there is a strong chance that, at first, we will be alone in our struggle. As a beckon showing the way through darkness we must help the rest to understand that this is a struggle for our survival and a fight against those who have envisioned our demise as a nation since the dawn of civilization. Additionally, and although the figures might be disheartening to many, we must never lose faith and we must remain focused because history has proved that a united minority is far more powerful than an unorganized majority with weak leadership. It is up to us then to uphold the Greek Cypriot state and protect our way of life and when the day comes the burden to guide those who are blinded and misled by this caricature of a socialist leader will fall upon our shoulders.


Instead, I have great faith that we can forget the past and see our fellow Cypriots for what they really are and I am certain that as we would lay down our lives for them so shall they. For a better future and for our well being we must all come together as a people united under a common flag, with no allegiance to false ideals and past experiences. Let the leaders we, so wrongly, chose to govern our great country argue on our behalf in the great forums of the international arena while we “fight” from within our homes and from our streets. We have done great things in the past and we shall do so again in the near future, for that I am confident. Even so, because of the expected criticisms from those that will argue that I myself suffer from prejudice against all who oppose our political alignment, I tell you this: if I was heartened from any fears about imaginary communists I would not have been talking about reuniting our people as a whole and I would not be proposing to do it in a peaceful and socially accepted way. Getting rid of those who oppose as is not the ideal way to do things in this day and age, and although the removal of a lot of them would have been ideal for many people I know that this is not my choice. Instead, I would like to point out to those who will dare call us utopian and idealists that ‘would-be saviors’ and deceitful politicians promise great things and talk of better days to come whereas I only see harsher times ahead. This is why I ask for greater unity so that we may have the opportunity to maximize our chances for overcoming the obstacles that lay ahead. Most importantly, I have stressed that we right wing citizens must lead this effort for unity because we, the DHSY party followers, have proven ourselves as rational beings that are capable of letting go of party loyalties when our nation’s future is at stake.


To the contrary, when have those amongst us who call themselves left wing ever demonstrated a similar political behavior in the forty odd years of our independence so that I may target anyone else other than the worst “puppet-master” of them all? WHEN?


Even so I do not wish to show disrespect to the 35% of the people that voted for his party , but I have one thing to say: It is better to guide our misled brothers back to rational thought rather than abandoning them all together, and I hope they would have done the same for as if the situation was reversed. Nonetheless, both sides must face those I will you propose to sit back and let all of our struggles go to waste simply because they lack the capacity of contemplating action against the forces that be. For those of you that think so I must say that I have seen and met people within our society that have the will in them to challenge those who would like to see the partition of the island. Unfortunately, in order for them to stop our enemies we need to make ourselves heard beside them, and believe me, the international community has no choice but to hear our outcry for socio-political justice because such is the way the European system, we so heavy heartily entered works. You see my fellow citizens, high prices, taxation, and all the burdens of a European membership do not come without retributions or rewards and when we say “NO” to an unfair plan those in power will have to listen.


This is the message that we need to pass on to everyone in Greek Cyprus, but at the same time we must not allow those politicians like the DHSY leadership who strive to bully the citizens into thinking that there is no other way but to accept such a plan influence the people. Don’t believe the international community and the claims that we must allow the Turkish Cypriots within our midst because we should never obey those (USA, UK) whose lives will not be touched by our decision. To the contrary, it is common logic that all those socio-political problems we are suffering from, such as high migration flows, and a substantial rise in crime, will be exacerbated when two hundred thousand illiterate Turkish Cypriots will enter our society. Even so, if any talk of unity in search of better days seems too idealistic for some of you and weakness and despair is all you can show at a time like this, then I ask you to sit back and let all those who have wasted many years of their lives away from their families and loved ones trying to gain the knowledge to bring about change provide all the answers. Maybe when our struggle is over and it will be safe for you to come back and join us we will call upon you. On the other hand, I ask the rest to form a unified citizenship of Greek Cypriots that will stand a far better chance of overturning any plans that the international community has for our country because this is not a matter that should be taken lightly and action in times like these is what transforms small communities into great nations.


Instead, keep in mind that lack of will, any show of indifference, and polarized communities are the ingredients required by our enemies for successfully forcing upon as a bi-zonal, bi-communal plan that will put as in a situation where Turkish settlers, who are posing as T/Cypriots, will be allowed to roam reely within our neighborhoods. As I have said, I ask you to disregard political leaders who have only their own interests in mind and at the same time consider that because such is man’s own selfish nature we the citizens must realize that these politicians will act according to self-interest first and collective-interest second. To counter this we must agree upon our own collective interests and search deeply in our hearts and minds before we make the most difficult of choices because if Turkey receives an accession date and we refuse any plan that would reunite the island we will be able to enjoy the much needed “breathing space”, of about 10 years, during which Turkey, and subsequently Europe, will still have to find some way to withdraw its troops from a European country. Since the Turkish Cypriots are legal European citizens and yet they are unable to sustain their own economy and develop the northern part of our island to such extent that it would reach European standards the economic burden will shift from our shoulders to those of Europe and the International community, if we refuse to agree to any proposed settlement since clearly, the T/Cypriots will not be abandoned due to their now newly acquired European identity. Simultaneously, the European democratic system will be unable to force us to accept any settlement that we so openly oppose in a referendum.


Instead, we must trap those, who are trying to deceive us, into solving the T/Cypriot economic issues themselves, and let us unite against any plan that we as a whole see as unfair. Even those amongst us who fear that the international community might decide to divide the island officially must relax because, as I have said, they (Europe, Turkey and USA) would have to manage developing the northern part by committing themselves to huge provisions of aid in the form of sustainable development funding, funding for governance reform, restructuring and institutional development. Time will tell that if we let them try and create a sovereign T/Cypriot state that can exist in this era of Globalisation under a common European flag they will fail. Instead, I assure you that such a commitment will not even be be adopted by any International institution or even the EU (where the budget that Brussels possesses is far from inadequate to accommodate such a huge task of development and its funding needs) and without our commitment they will never be able to raise enough funding and popular support from the rest of the European citizenry so that they would be able to undermine our decision to reunite the island in a way that we will be economically and politically committed to carry the huge burdens of such a project.


Turkey is closer to the EU.


Even so, the pressures are already beginning to weaken our position and recent developments show that Turkey seems to be getting closer to the doorstep of the European Union whilst a viable solution for our country is far from sight. Meanwhile, unlike us, the T/Cypriots have shown strong unity with their vote to Talat whereas our President and his coalition (Akel especially) seem to be divided on many issues relating to foreign policy, and there has been little or none progress on our behalf. Perhaps it is time to consider that, because this presidency has reached its middle point, the coalition has started considering what the next presidential campaign will be about, and who is to gain what and how instead of focusing on the real issues. This entails negative results for our national problem and especially at a time when the international scene has ‘shown its teeth’ to us by threatening to schedule flights from and to the North, and has also threatened to form economic partnerships. Even so, these threats are not something that we should be really worried about, and the future will prove that those political leaders who were bullying us with the "YES OR ELSE" argument were either seriously miscalculating the situation or had hidden agendas. Having said that, the effects pf these pressures depend on our will to show that we stand as a unified front.


On an internal level the Greek Cypriot public is hampered by the ongoing struggle for European integration and a brief look at the news reveals that mass strikes, unrest amongst the population, economic hardships, and a sense of negativity towards our European future is all that concern us. It is not my place to judge, and in all honesty I sympathise with all that is happening, but I am also concerned that perhaps we have taken our "eyes of the ball", as the Americans say. In other words, the countless debates on the previous Anan plan and all that went on during those 1-2 months have rendered us too tired and unable to remain focused on the decision we will soon be asked to make all over again. Accordingly, and although everyday life events are vital, we do not have the luxury of forgetting about the prospect of unifying the island the way we want, and it is time that, as a nation, we must make sure that we are up to date and well informed about what is happening all around us, the younger generations especially. Accordingly, if there is a small section in the Economist on Cyprus we must make sure to read it, if there is an article on the CNN website we must go through it, if we come across any recent published academic articles during our studies we must save and read them in our spare time because, believe me when I say so, there is a lot going on at the moment and there are numerous actors involved in this 'play' that will eventually affect ours and our children’s lives.


Additionally, my advice could not be more important than now where we are at a time when, recently, the EU did not force the Turks to recognize us as a sovereign entity or to establish diplomatic relations with us and instead we received the customs union clause and, although for many this was a diplomatic ‘victory’ for our country, for those who understand the meaning of such enterprises it meant nothing. To the contrary, I believe that we were told, in a diplomatic way, that we should start considering the notion that we are seen as equals with the T/Cypriots, but as equals meaning “two sides with two functioning governments". Adding to this, I feel that there will be renewed pressures from all sides on our President to meet with Talat as an equal and that will be catastrophic. If such is the case, and they wish to choose a partition of the island then we must be prepared, although it seems highly unlikely. Nevertheless, I am unable to predict the future with certainty. The point is that a second plan will come, and it will be different. The security concerns voiced by our side will de addressed, the troops will leave much sooner than what was proposed in the last plan, but the economic conditionalities will remain the same. It is here that we should all focus.


As you should all know, economically we are unable to sustain the T/Cypriots or sponsor the development of the Northern part and, just like when Germany was unified in 1990, the economic shock that we will suffer from the T/C who will "invade" our economy might be catastrophic to various sectors of our economy. Imagine the impact of a surplus of approximately 120 thousand unskilled, uneducated, and inadequate labor forces that will be injected into our society and our economy. Imagine the rise in taxes that will be the direct outcome of the government's efforts to develop the northern side in conjunction with the ongoing European integration process. Security issues set aside, and even social issues set aside, a similar solution to the first Anan plan is not economically viable and it could mean the degradation of our economy or could entail that our status from developed will be changed to that of a Third world country. I know all of this may sound too much for you to comprehend, but one does not require too much knowledge to see through this. Imagine preparing for the EURO, suffering the changes in our everyday lives so that we may be successfully integrated with the EU, and having to support an underdeveloped part of the island with more than 180 000 people. This is impossible by any standards. Ask yourselves why South Korea, which is one of the most successful Newly Developed Nations, has not been unified with the North Koreas The answer to this is simple and it is because on e of the principle reasons is that the northern part is the most secluded nation from international relations (like Northern Cyprus), is heavily reliant on foreign AID (something we will not receive), and it is underdeveloped. Clearly, these are simple questions that can be easily adapted to our situation. Economists claim that the millions of North Koreans that will immediately become a burden on South Korea will bring the economy to its knees. Imagine what this will do to our small country?


Yet, imagine another bad summer and a further drop in Tourism combined with all of the above. All of our efforts these thirty years that have made us into what we are will be destroyed in less than 5 years, maybe even less. Literacy levels will drop, unemployment will rise, criminal activity will rise, poverty levels will rise, and as a result we will be either helpless to do anything or we will end up relying on foreign aid like African nations! Is that what we want for our future?? I hope not. Unfortunately, I have no solutions, I have no proposals, but instead I feel that if we focus on those decisions that will have negative effects we can slowly, but surely, find the right ones. Like a check list of bad things that we should avoid I think we can start ticking the boxes one by one and eliminating the elements of the plan that will come, starting with its economic downside. We might be the second smallest nation within the Union, but such is the ideal of democracy that size is insignificant and a strong united minority (Cyprus and Greece in relation to the rest of Europe) can make itself heard as equally loud as the largest member state. I urge you once more to reconsider your political allegiances and past ideals for this is a matter where our collective decision making is the only element that will ensure that our Greek Cypriot race will continue to exist. A country united with a strong political voice can achieve greatness.


Unfortunately, I know that the bullying will soon start again and I know that the president might cry once more, this time in favor of the plan. It is my wish that you remain adamant to such pressures and that we all try and make the necessary choices. For those uprooted from their homes in 1974, and to those who risk to loose their jeopardized assets I only have to say that if such a situation emerges it is better to loose what has been taken away from you 30 years ago and keep all that you have gained since rather than to risk loosing everything. My prediction is that, according to human rights charters, such a possibility is remote since at least some compensation will be approved by the UN and Europe. Even so, make no mistake that there will be harder times ahead and make no mistake that we will be asked to decide upon our future once or even twice in the next 10-15 years. Be sure that our political leaders will try and persuade us to accept different aspects of different plans, but we instead must make those choices with the utmost seriousness and with the most critical of thinking; for this is our future and our children’s future that we are deciding upon. I urge you to demand for the settlers to go, demand for the land and the homes you have lost, either in their physical form or as compensation, demand for the removal of all Turkish troops as soon as possible, and finally demand for retributions by the Turkish government for the pain, the suffering and the destruction they caused in 1974. Don’t act as blinded men and women that were told that their blindness was caused so that they will be spared from seeing the horrible things around them and instead open your eyes and see for yourselves. This is your time and mine. This is the time of Greek Cyprus and we must unite!

[magikthrill]

eyyyyyyyyy although thats a beautiful avatar you go there please reduce the size of your icon.

[Piratis]

I am going to sleep and I didn't have the time to read your whole document.

However here are some comments on the first paragraphs:

This time we will not resort to violence and bloodshed because now we posses far better tools and we will instead use knowledge and expertise.

If you accept that the "other" time you resorted to violence and went against democracy to enforce what you thought was right, then the first thing you have to do is to apologize and ask for forgiveness.

Additionally, and although the figures might be disheartening to many, we must never lose faith and we must remain focused because history has proved that a united minority is far more powerful than an unorganized majority with weak leadership. It is up to us then to uphold the Greek Cypriot state and protect our way of life and when the day comes the burden to guide those who are blinded and misled by this caricature of a socialist leader will fall upon our shoulders.

You people will never learn. What is right is subjective. In democracies what we do is what the majority wants (always with respect to minorities the human rights, and the laws), and the rest should accept these decisions either they like it or not. The last time you people thought you were the smart ones and the rest of us the idiots that needed your "shoulders", you screwed all of us up.

Anyways, you can do as much talking as you want. However note that we learned from the mistakes of the past, and will not allow a small minority to fuck up everything for all of us again.

[Andrik]

If you accept that the "other" time you resorted to violence and went against democracy to enforce what you thought was right, then the first thing you have to do is to apologize and ask for forgiveness.

You people will never learn. What is right is subjective. In democracies what we do is what the majority wants (always with respect to minorities the human rights, and the laws), and the rest should accept these decisions either they like it or not. The last time you people thought you were the smart ones and the rest of us the idiots that needed your "shoulders", you screwed all of us up.

Anyways, you can do as much talking as you want. However note that we learned from the mistakes of the past, and will not allow a small minority to fuck up everything for all of us again.

Why should anyone apologise and ask for forgiveness??
Does a bird ask for forgiveness when it flies?? Does a lion ask for forgiveness when it hunts and kills for its own survival??

It was only natural! To the contrary it is those who had the courage and the will to turn on their fellow citizens and kill their own neighbours in the name of patriotism that should be praised and treeted as heroes! For I should have you know that the decision to take arms on your own flesh and blood is the hardest one a person can make under any circumstance.

The fact that even brother turned against brother was such a show of determination and patriotism that the hair is rising on the back of my neck. There is nothing more honorable than that. But how could you know?? You see it has proven impossible to open the gates that hold you(my beloved sheep/brethren) prisoners.

[cannedmoose]

I will read your post later, but I had to comment on your avatar... one it's too big, second it is extremely inflammatory and has no place on a forum devoted to a solution. I accept what it shows, but you're only inviting reprisal avatars such as the one below...



Such things will get us nowhere...

Your comments about the economic implications of reunification are also wholly misguided and based on a distinct lack of evidence. I suggest before you post again that you go away and think, rather than just write a small propagandic essay...

[Andrik]

I believe I have provided some form of an analysis in my text!
When you do the same in your posts then we might get somewhere.

As far as my avatar is concerned it is everyone's right in a public forum to express him or herself in any way they feel suits them.

More importantly, that photograph has everything to do with a "solution" to YOUR problem because the murderers that are highlighted in my avatar still roam freely in the occupied areas and not even the implementation of the Anan plan would have guaranteed that they would be brought to justice.

Furthermore, I dare you to find one person who is still alive and is an active citizen in our society today that took part in the killings illustrated in the picture you have provided!

[metecyp]

Furthermore, I dare you to find one person who is still alive and is an active citizen in our society today that took part in the killings illustrated in the picture you have provided!

We live with murderers my friend, both your society and mine. The murderers of Atlilar-Murataga-Sandallar massacre, the murderers of Dohni massacre, they are roamly freely in your society. Did you ever hear any GCs getting punished because they killed innocent TCs? They are/were actually seen as heroes.

[Kifeas]

We live with murderers my friend, both your society and mine. The murderers of Atlilar-Murataga-Sandallar massacre, the murderers of Dohni massacre, they are roamly freely in your society.

I strongly agree with your statement above.

Did you ever hear any GCs getting punished because they killed innocent TCs?

No, no one was punished. Unfortunatelly!
Also not in the TC community or in Turkey anyone was punished.
Let's agree on something! The most civilised one, is the one who will strart first.
However, I am afraid that we will wait for a long time to see who is more civilised.

They are/were actually seen as heroes.

No, this is not correct. We may try to hide it, but no one was/is treated or seen as heroes!

[brother]

Quote Andkik

"It was only natural! To the contrary it is those who had the courage and the will to turn on their fellow citizens and kill their own neighbours in the name of patriotism that should be praised and treeted as heroes! For I should have you know that the decision to take arms on your own flesh and blood is the hardest one a person can make under any circumstance.

The fact that even brother turned against brother was such a show of determination and patriotism that the hair is rising on the back of my neck. There is nothing more honorable than that. But how could you know?? You see it has proven impossible to open the gates that hold you(my beloved sheep/brethren) prisoners."



i can not find anything honourable about a person that would kill for his ideas and then be proud of it like you, you are either a very brain washed individual, super nationalistic or just some plain nazi, as they too thought it a good idea to kill everyone for their beliefs but guess what like you failed so did they, the more i think about your previous statement it makes me wonder wether you have a life.

Also throw your posion around but most forum members wether it be tc or gc will be sickened by your posts and thank god are not demonised like you who thinks patriotism is about killing your own brother.

[metecyp]

Let's agree on something! The most civilised one, is the one who will strart first.
However, I am afraid that we will wait for a long time to see who is more civilised.

I agree but not only start first but also finish punishing the murderers first I also have a feeling that we'll never get to the bottom of these massacres.