Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

cyprusforum



The Cyprus Forum is an Internet based organization, which was created so that Greek and Turkish Cypriot citizens could devise a new solution to end the division of Cyprus.

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Through the past efforts of the CyprusForum.Com members, the following solution has been formulated. The solution is not necessarily fully endorsed by every member. As a matter of fact, some members find it totally unacceptable. Overall though, most members like it. Tell us what you think by joining the forum and emailing your messages to all other members. We are especially looking for innovative and creative ideas to solving the Cyprus problem in a way that will please everybody concerned.


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A NEW SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

The Cyprus Forum is an Internet based organization, which was created so that Greek and Turkish Cypriot citizens could devise a new solution to end the division of Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when the Turkish Army invaded and since has been occupying thirty-eight percent of the country. However, the Internet recognizes no geographic boundaries. Thus, members of our forum can work together, free from the division and intransigence which has plagued Cypriot political leaders for almost twenty five years.

Since 1974, a solution acceptable to all parties, which would end the occupation of Cyprus, has eluded countless numbers of diplomats and politicians. The division of Cyprus has brought instability and tension to the region. Indeed, the issue of Cyprus remains a deadly flash-point between Greece and Turkey, both of whom are NATO allies of the United States.

Efforts to mediate this dispute have rested in the hands of politicians, with little result. Most discussions have been limited to one issue: the division of land according to the percentage of Greek and Turkish Cypriots in the total population. This approach has failed consistently.

The Cyprus Forum believes that a lasting solution can be found only through a commitment to union. The following ten point peace plan envisions the establishment of a united Cyprus with a government which encourages economic growth and protects the rights and culture of every citizen of the island.

Allow The Turkish Army to remain for five years. The Turkish military forces in Cyprus would be restricted to a military base in Cyprus. This military base will be leased to Turkey for the next five years. A small group of Turkish and Greek army officers will become consultants to the Cypriot Army. That will build trust among all groups involved. A multinational force, comprised of units from the armies of neutral nations would be responsible for peace-keeping functions and ensuring that all provisions of a permanent settlement are implemented.



Establish a Ministry of Turkish-Cypriot Affairs, which would be given a guaranteed budget. The budget would be established at a certain percentage of the gross national product. This guarantees that the majority is not ignoring the minority. The guaranteed availability of funds allows the minority to maintain its culture, educational and religious institutions. This ministry will be established through a constitutional amendment, which would allow the Minister to be directly elected.



Select a Turkish-Cypriot as The First Leader of a United Cyprus. A Turkish-Cypriot, acceptable to both sides, should be appointed as the interim President of Cyprus for a four year term. At the end of the term, open-elections would be held where the interim President could run for re-election against candidates from other political parties.



Respect The Property Rights of Greek and Turkish Cypriots. All refugees should be allowed to return to their homes and the land titles and deeds in force before the occupation should be honored. Many Turkish Cypriots own land throughout Cyprus. Respecting titles in place before the occupation does not present an economic disadvantage for either side.



Grant Co-Ownership to Land Developed Since 1974. Land that has been developed since 1974 should be co-owned by both the original land owner and the person that built on it after 1974. Existing laws of the Republic of Cyprus allow the co-owners to either buy each other's share or to force an auction of the property.



Privatize All Government Owned Industries. The privatization of all government-owned industries is a crucial step which will help Cyprus to compete with other industrialized nations. Allowing individuals-- not politicians -- to make economic decisions will spur economic growth and prevent officials from using the wealth of the country to favor one group while potentially discriminating against others.



Build A New City. A new city should be built in the northern area of Cyprus, adjacent to Nicosia. The new city would be home to a Turkish-Cypriot University, cultural centers, libraries and many other amenities. Turkish-Cypriots would be employed in the building of the new city. Workers would be paid the prevailing wages available in Greek-Cypriot areas, which are higher than wages in the Turkish-Cypriot zone. Constructing a city will increase economic growth and speed the economic integration of the two communities.



Offer Legal Status to Turkish Settlers. Settlers from Turkey should be given financial incentives to return back to Turkey and/or a permit to legally stay and work in Cyprus for up to 7 years. This addresses the humanitarian aspects of the issue without changing the demographics.



Allow Veto Powers for Major International Treaties. Both sides should have a veto over major international treaties, such as joining NATO and similar agreements.



Keep Extremists from High Ranking Government Positions. Both sides should have a veto over who is hired by the government for high level governments posts or over who is promoted to those high ranking posts. These veto powers should be limited to 10% of the people being hired or promoted for the year. This is done so extremists can be rejected by either side while a functional government remains in place. All paid positions in the army and the police should be considered high-ranking for the purposes of this veto. Elected officials cannot be excluded by this veto power.



Keep Extremists from Elected Positions. Each side will be able to vote for their political representatives and also cast a vote for the political representatives of the other side. The votes for the political representatives of the other side will only count for 10% of that candidate's votes. Essentially, this gives a maximum lead of 10% to candidates that are not extremists, without totally, and perhaps unfairly and arbitrarily, blocking any candidate.



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A note from the webmaster:

The village where I was born contains an eleventh century Byzantine church and a mosque--monuments which testify better than any words, to the ability of the Cypriot people to live together harmoniously. Greek and Turkish families in my village sent their children to study in the separate but equal schools, spoke each other languages and conducted business with one another without strife. Today, Cyprus is divided by the "green line" - a no man's zone that cuts across the island. But no such divisions exist in cyberspace. We encourage every individual desiring peace in Cyprus to join us in our efforts to ensure that the cooperation and peace which characterized the relationship between Greek and Turkish Cypriots for centuries, may again be restored and enjoyed by future generations.

Savas Savvides

Savas Savvides, a Greek-Cypriot residing in The United States, is a founding member of The Cyprus Forum and the President of a computer software company.


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HISTORICAL NOTE: The CyprusForum forum is no longer active and the posted messages are long gone. The forum was very active from 1995 to 2000. Although the forum-as-a-community is long gone, the outcome as posted here is still very relevant.

You can reach Savas Savvides via email at [email protected].



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http://www.cyprusforum.com/

[Get Real!]

That was all done in the days when Greek Cypriots thought that TCs were victims of the Turkish occupation who needed to be bailed out of the clutches of Donktosh and return to a modern democracy, but now all GCs realize that most TCs are nothing but Ottoman remnant thieves doing everything possible to steal GC land and destroy the republic’s sovereignty for the benefit of Turkey.

The game is up and now it’s survival of the fittest so forget it…

[halil]

That was all done in the days when Greek Cypriots thought that TCs were victims of the Turkish occupation who needed to be bailed out of the clutches of Donktosh and return to a modern democracy, but now all GCs realize that most TCs are nothing but Ottoman remnant thieves doing everything possible to steal GC land and destroy the republic’s sovereignty for the benefit of Turkey.

The game is up and now it’s survival of the fittest so forget it…

by the way ....how is your own forum getting on ..... bankrupt

[Get Real!]

That was all done in the days when Greek Cypriots thought that TCs were victims of the Turkish occupation who needed to be bailed out of the clutches of Donktosh and return to a modern democracy, but now all GCs realize that most TCs are nothing but Ottoman remnant thieves doing everything possible to steal GC land and destroy the republic’s sovereignty for the benefit of Turkey.

The game is up and now it’s survival of the fittest so forget it…

by the way ....how is your own forum getting on ..... bankrupt

I don't have a forum, but I'd worry about someone else's bankruptcy if I were you...