Cyprus-Forum.com

[zan]

Reuniting a divided Cyprus
Monday, September 15, 2008


A 50-year-old conflict between the Greek and Turkish populations of Cyprus may be headed for resolution. The two sides appear to have come to the welcome realization that their mutual prosperity depends on settling long-standing territorial and political differences. It would be nearly as impressive as the accord in Northern Ireland.

When Demetris Christophias was elected Greek Cypriot president in February, he immediately sent a figurative olive branch to his Turkish counterpart, Mehmet Ali Talat. The two presidents entered into formal talks this summer on reviving a 2006 U.N. plan for ending the island's division.

These zones reflect the barriers thrown up when Greek Cypriots attempted to unify their part of the island with Greece in 1974, and the Turkish army invaded to protect the Turkish community.

Turkish troops remain on Cyprus, but the current Turkish government has promised to remove them if a satisfactory settlement is reached, according to a recent report by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group.

If the two presidents are successful, it would be a major triumph for the island's residents and would improve Greek and Turkish security cooperation through NATO at a time of heightened concern for the region.

A peaceful accord would demonstrate that long-standing national and ethnic differences can be set aside for a common good.


http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/sep ... ed_cyprus/

[utu]

Zan,

It sounds very nice, but Turkey is insisting that their role as a 'guarantor power' be retained. Doesn't that sound like the 'big stick' philosophy of American President Theodore Roosevelt?

[BirKibrisli]

Zan,

It sounds very nice, but Turkey is insisting that their role as a 'guarantor power' be retained. Doesn't that sound like the 'big stick' philosophy of American President Theodore Roosevelt?

I think where there is a will a way will be found...One possible solution is for the United Cyprus to join the NATO...Then instead of Turkey's guarantee we can have NATO's guarantee..We can kill two birds with one stone,the need for the Turkish soldiers to be present would disappear as well...Come on people,lets get behind the pollies and solve this problem,before we are all dead and buried...

[Nikitas]

If Turkey remains as guarantor then Greece must also be a guarantor. If those two are in, then Britain must also be one to even things out and we are back to square one.

This is the 21st century, not the 1950s, guarantor powers belong to another age.

What do you all think the officers of the military contingents of Greece and Turkey will be doing to pass their time while stationed in Cyprus as part of this guarantee thing? They will be spying on each other and making contingency plans with silly code names like Apollo, Aphrodite by one side and Taurus, etc on the other.

EU membership is enough of a political guarantee. A military guarantee can be found in a mixed international contingent of observers who monitor the security arrangements for a fixed time period, like ten years. This contingent must not have Greeks, Turks, Britons, Americans or Russians.

[miltiades]

Zan,

It sounds very nice, but Turkey is insisting that their role as a 'guarantor power' be retained. Doesn't that sound like the 'big stick' philosophy of American President Theodore Roosevelt?

I think where there is a will a way will be found...One possible solution is for the United Cyprus to join the NATO...Then instead of Turkey's guarantee we can have NATO's guarantee..We can kill two birds with one stone,the need for the Turkish soldiers to be present would disappear as well...Come on people,lets get behind the pollies and solve this problem,before we are all dead and buried...

Why is it I never thought of that Bir ? Cyprus as a NATO member , I doubt it though , most G/Cs would react against such an eventuality based on their inherent and unhealthy mistrust , or should I say hatred , of the West . From where I'm standing the G/Cs are more likely to accept membership of the League of Arab Nations or even the Organization of African Nations than NATO .
Cant help having a dig at the West haters !!

[BirKibrisli]

Zan,

It sounds very nice, but Turkey is insisting that their role as a 'guarantor power' be retained. Doesn't that sound like the 'big stick' philosophy of American President Theodore Roosevelt?

I think where there is a will a way will be found...One possible solution is for the United Cyprus to join the NATO...Then instead of Turkey's guarantee we can have NATO's guarantee..We can kill two birds with one stone,the need for the Turkish soldiers to be present would disappear as well...Come on people,lets get behind the pollies and solve this problem,before we are all dead and buried...

Why is it I never thought of that Bir ? Cyprus as a NATO member , I doubt it though , most G/Cs would react against such an eventuality based on their inherent and unhealthy mistrust , or should I say hatred , of the West . From where I'm standing the G/Cs are more likely to accept membership of the League of Arab Nations or even the Organization of African Nations than NATO .
Cant help having a dig at the West haters !!

Seriously,it makes perfect sense to me,miltiades...Then if we must have a peace keeping force for a while,it could be a NATO force excluding Turkish and Greek soldiers...I am sure some TCs will find it objectionable as well. Which reminds me of the anectode of the Bride who didn't want to dance..."The space is too tight," she complained....When they made more room,she said "my wedding dress is too tight!!!"

[zan]

If Turkey remains as guarantor then Greece must also be a guarantor. If those two are in, then Britain must also be one to even things out and we are back to square one.

This is the 21st century, not the 1950s, guarantor powers belong to another age.

What do you all think the officers of the military contingents of Greece and Turkey will be doing to pass their time while stationed in Cyprus as part of this guarantee thing? They will be spying on each other and making contingency plans with silly code names like Apollo, Aphrodite by one side and Taurus, etc on the other.

EU membership is enough of a political guarantee. A military guarantee can be found in a mixed international contingent of observers who monitor the security arrangements for a fixed time period, like ten years. This contingent must not have Greeks, Turks, Britons, Americans or Russians.

Then Turkey in the EU will solve everything

[Jerry]

If Turkey remains as guarantor then Greece must also be a guarantor. If those two are in, then Britain must also be one to even things out and we are back to square one.

This is the 21st century, not the 1950s, guarantor powers belong to another age.

What do you all think the officers of the military contingents of Greece and Turkey will be doing to pass their time while stationed in Cyprus as part of this guarantee thing? They will be spying on each other and making contingency plans with silly code names like Apollo, Aphrodite by one side and Taurus, etc on the other.

EU membership is enough of a political guarantee. A military guarantee can be found in a mixed international contingent of observers who monitor the security arrangements for a fixed time period, like ten years. This contingent must not have Greeks, Turks, Britons, Americans or Russians.

Then Turkey in the EU will solve everything

The answer to the guarantee issue is as clear as the mud on your face, existing guarantees remain until Turkey joins EU after which time all foreign troops leave the island. If there is a need for peacekeepers/monitors/ observers after Turkish accession then the EU should supply them. An incentive like this would be difficult, if not impossible, for both sides to resist.

[Kikapu]

Reuniting a divided Cyprus
Monday, September 15, 2008


A 50-year-old conflict between the Greek and Turkish populations of Cyprus may be headed for resolution. The two sides appear to have come to the welcome realization that their mutual prosperity depends on settling long-standing territorial and political differences. It would be nearly as impressive as the accord in Northern Ireland.

When Demetris Christophias was elected Greek Cypriot president in February, he immediately sent a figurative olive branch to his Turkish counterpart, Mehmet Ali Talat. The two presidents entered into formal talks this summer on reviving a 2006 U.N. plan for ending the island's division.

These zones reflect the barriers thrown up when Greek Cypriots attempted to unify their part of the island with Greece in 1974, and the Turkish army invaded to protect the Turkish community.

Turkish troops remain on Cyprus, but the current Turkish government has promised to remove them if a satisfactory settlement is reached, according to a recent report by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group.

If the two presidents are successful, it would be a major triumph for the island's residents and would improve Greek and Turkish security cooperation through NATO at a time of heightened concern for the region.

A peaceful accord would demonstrate that long-standing national and ethnic differences can be set aside for a common good.


http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/sep ... ed_cyprus/

I can't believe Zan goes and finds articles from remote places, such as the one above that has inaccurate statements. It only invalidates the whole article, for what it's worth, if any, with the following statement by the writer.

"These zones reflect the barriers thrown up when Greek Cypriots attempted to unify their part of the island with Greece in 1974, and the Turkish army invaded to protect the Turkish community".

So the GC's tried to unify their part of the island with Greece, did they.??