Cyprus-Forum.com

[LANDJO]

The use of misleading rhetoric dominates the Cyprus problem and lies at the core of the mutual misunderstanding (and refusal to understand) which makes the issue almost impossible to solve.

One of these is the constant use of 'human rights' - one used ad nauseum in close to every GC contribution. As a human rights lawyer and activist, I have seen families tortured, evicted, murdered, raped, and deprived of their freedom of speech. They have lived in extreme poverty, deprived of even basic sanitation.

And I have seen the government controlled areas of Cyprus, by far the wealthiest country in the Eastern Meditteranean region. I have seen big houses, SUVs, Sri Lankan house maids, overpriced restaurants, and a ubiquitous consumerist culture.

Surely, even the most partisan GC must agree that there is a slight incongruity in these people clamoring for recognition of human rights abuses and dominating the agenda at the ECHR. Like Marie Antoinette claiming that she is starving because there is no vanilla pastry...

This kind of rhetoric may gain support domestically, but how do you expect the reaction in the rest of the world to be?

[magikthrill]

As a human rights lawyer and activist, I have seen families tortured, evicted, murdered, raped, and deprived of their freedom of speech.

Replaced "their freedom of speech" with "their right to return" and you have another HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION and its effect on Cyprus.

Surely, even the most partisan GC must agree that there is a slight incongruity in these people clamoring for recognition of human rights abuses and dominating the agenda at the ECHR. Like Marie Antoinette claiming that she is starving because there is no vanilla pastry...

Um, I'm sure you must be a great human rights laywer and "activist". So if refugess manage to prosper while their land is under foreign occupation this means their HUMAN RIGHT to return is null and void? What law school did you go to exactly?

This kind of rhetoric may gain support domestically, but how do you expect the reaction in the rest of the world to be?

You mean aside from the ECHR (as you stated yourself) and the UN SC Resolutions.
Hmm.. not sure.

[LANDJO]

How do I quote someone btw?

Replaced "their freedom of speech" with "their right to return" and you have another HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION and its effect on Cyprus.

Yes, certainly. My point was not 'there are no human rights violations'. My point was simply

- that these human rights violations are pointed to over and over again, to an extent which massively overstate their importance in an international perspective; and

- that branding them as human rights violations completely ignores the fact that the Cyprus problem is vastly more complex - thus contributing nothing towards a solution.

Um, I'm sure you must be a great human rights laywer and "activist". So if refugess manage to prosper while their land is under foreign occupation this means their HUMAN RIGHT to return is null and void? What law school did you go to exactly?

Surely this call to defend my credentials is not to be taken seriously.... As I stated above, my point is not that the GC human rights are null and void. Please reread my post and the above comment.

You mean aside from the ECHR (as you stated yourself) and the UN SC Resolutions.
Hmm.. not sure.

It is true that international opinion, as reflected, among others, in the UN resolutions, has supported the GC position for a long time. But as you know, that is slowly changing - not only on the part of the UN, but also on the part of the EU (see Mr. Van der Meer latest comments - they are the tip of the iceberg, and many countries are even considering ostracizing Mr. Papandopolous). You can still use international opinion to your advantage, but in using populist and obstructionist rhetoric, your support is gradually going to whittle away. Surely that does not serve your interests?

[magikthrill]

How do I quote someone btw?

Looks like you managed fine

- that these human rights violations are pointed to over and over again, to an extent which massively overstate their importance in an international perspective; and

- that branding them as human rights violations completely ignores the fact that the Cyprus problem is vastly more complex - thus contributing nothing towards a solution.

If there were no human rights violations (on both parts) then there would be no Cyprus problem. To solve a problem you have to attack fromt he source. And the refusal of the right to return is a source of the problem.

It is true that international opinion, as reflected, among others, in the UN resolutions, has supported the GC position for a long time. But as you know, that is slowly changing - not only on the part of the UN, but also on the part of the EU (see Mr. Van der Meer latest comments - they are the tip of the iceberg, and many countries are even considering ostracizing Mr. Papandopolous). You can still use international opinion to your advantage, but in using populist and obstructionist rhetoric, your support is gradually going to whittle away. Surely that does not serve your interests?

I will not comment on how you contradict yourself but I wannt point out how your arguments are somewhat one sided.

The int'l community has reacted to the forced removal of GCs from their homes by enforcing boycotts on the breakaway state. However, other than that there has been no intervention whatsoever to bring back constituional order to the RoC because TCs also have a right in this "de facto" situation.

If anything int'l opinion has not been to the advantage of GCs lately especially after they exercised their democratic right last year.

[brother]

Many GC are blindly supporting tassos and are in denial of their whittling support with the international community and yet again i put this down to the tassos administration who is playing the home political game with fake promises and introducing stupid laws that attack the foreigners/tc who are buying property in the north, even though tassos understands that the gc community are very sensitive of the property issue he knows this will keep his support at home but abroad it is seen as a way of alienating the tc and not returning to the negotiating table imo.

[gabaston]

hey landjo....dont you know the old saying

"The Greeks have a word for everything"

[gabaston]

magic

your shooting your feet again.
he never claimed to be a "great" human rights lawyer.

you added that word.

Why dont you do our guest a favour, and garnish him, with that old gc respect, and famed hospitality and apologise and withdraw your obnoxiuos adjective.

Unlike us, he may be a gentleman, and accept your derisory comment.

Now, what was that bit.........oh yes The invasion.

ooooops sorry that should of course be the "illegal" invasion, shouldn't it?

[Kifeas]

- that these human rights violations are pointed to over and over again, to an extent which massively overstate their importance in an international perspective; and

- that branding them as human rights violations completely ignores the fact that the Cyprus problem is vastly more complex - thus contributing nothing towards a solution.

Ok, …we heard you!

Just to remove your shield a bit and show your true colours.

What do you suggest us then?

[gabaston]

truth isnt a colour, silly..................

[magikthrill]

magic

your shooting your feet again.
he never claimed to be a "great" human rights lawyer.

REALLY? You are SOOOO smart gabaston. You must have an IQ of 200 to have realized that!

you added that word.

Again - so clever! (PS its called sarcasm)

Why dont you do our guest a favour, and garnish him, with that old gc respect, and famed hospitality and apologise and withdraw your obnoxiuos adjective.

Unlike us, he may be a gentleman, and accept your derisory comment.

why dont you do me a favor and stick to the arguments or the insults directed at you.

Now, what was that bit.........oh yes The invasion.

ooooops sorry that should of course be the "illegal" invasion, shouldn't it?

if you cant tell the difference between whats legal and illegal im no one to teach you now.