cannedmoose wrote:Kifeas wrote:I have a hypothetical question to make.
Should Turkey had allowed 500,000 people from Anatolia to settle in Cyprus during all these 30 years, would you still have the same opinion, assuming that whatever incentive given to them would not convince them to live Cyprus?
It's a good question and one that I'm struggling with... but ultimately the same argument counts and the argument for their non-removal is even greater given the vast numbers involved...
Let me say this... I fundamentally disagree with the policy that both the Turkish governments and TRNC have pursued in importing citizens from the mainland, rather than trying to improve the situation of the TCs, who have been forced en masse to emigrate in order to improve their economic lot. Had resources instead been channelled into developing the infrastructure and economic opportunities available to TCs, the differential between north and south would not be so great AND I doubt GCs would be so perturbed about measures to assist them.
However, as of today, we aren't faced with hypothetical, we are faced with the real prospect of the forced repatriation of tens of thousands of people should a solution along current lines be found. I've already explained my problem with this, and I continue to stand by what I said.
Since we do not have any concrete and reliable data regarding the number of these people, it may well be the case that they are indeed much more, even close to the number I have given.
However, even in the hypothetical scenario that they could have been that many, you still hold that their removal should remain on a voluntary basis and if none or very few choose to live, the remaining should all stay. As I have understood, for you it is rather a matter of principle and adherence with moral issues and human rights.
The GCs shouldn’t be bothered with the fact that this will result to an enormous demographic change of the Cypriot population. Furthermore, GCs shouldn’t be concerned about their employment as cheap labour, against the interests of the rest of Cypriots. And in case employment for everybody is not feasible, GCs should not be concerned about the social implications that such a policy will create.
Even if they are (or were) in numbers of hundreds of thousands rather than in numbers of tens of thousands that we all tend to believe they are.
Should they also be granted citizenship?
