Cyprus-Forum.com

[observer]

the problem is that there is a threat hanging over us that if we do not agree this time, then there will be a gradual taiwanisation of the north.

Had we had a national council with some imagination in it then we should have turned the tables on this and turned Turkey into the threatened one. I'll explain.....

If the north gets recognised it would be the worst possible outcome for Turkey.

Greece and Cyprus join in a united front with no motive whatsoever to allow either of the turkish states to join the EU.

A Greek garrison gets posted permanently in the south 70 miles form Turkey, the south changes its name to The hellenic Republic of Cyprus and all Pan-Cyprian encompassing policies get dropped with a 9ft high wall positioned on the green line.

Meanwhile the north now permanently out of the EU and "independent" of Turkey will still have to be provided with handouts from Turkey, probably indefinitely.

- Turkey will lose any bargaining chips it has in the Eastern Med and all Cypriot continental shelf rights it so vigorously demands.
- Cyprus will be fortified like Israel, since it now has a direct border with an unfriendly nation. If the S300 scenario would be repeated this time there would be no leverage of the international community over the Cypriot govt to remove these missiles. meaning that we could basically station any military system we like 70 miles off the coast of Turkey.
- Turkey would now be "choked" in the Aegean by Greece and by Cyprus in the south. A strong Cypriot navy would take full advantage of its position.

Concluding, the threat should be to Turkey" If we don't agree something acceptable to both sides then you're gonna have a new neighbour off your south coast."

An interesting scenario, which could happen and could have happened 20 or so years ago. But today? My own guess is that self interest is making Greece (EU too) form stronger links with Turkey all the time and that Cyprus is becoming more and more irrelevant to Greece (and even more so the EU).

I'm not saying that things couldn't change, but the direction today seems to be paying lip service and emotional empty words to GCs, and real business with Turkey.

[Tim Drayton]

[...]and that Cyprus is becoming more and more irrelevant to Greece [...]

My dentist is a mainland Greek. I went to him for a check up last week, and he asked me to give him an update on developments in the Cyprus negotiations because he had been away in Greece for a couple of weeks. I was surprised because I would have expected there to be lot of coverage and discussion about Cyprus in Greece. Surprisingly, my dentist informed me that people in Greece no longer show a great deal of interest in Cyprus.

[observer]

[...]and that Cyprus is becoming more and more irrelevant to Greece [...]

My dentist is a mainland Greek. I went to him for a check up last week, and he asked me to give him an update on developments in the Cyprus negotiations because he had been away in Greece for a couple of weeks. I was surprised because I would have expected there to be lot of coverage and discussion about Cyprus in Greece. Surprisingly, my dentist informed me that people in Greece no longer show a great deal of interest in Cyprus.

I find much the same with mainland Turks. If it wasn't for the fact that it was related to Turkey's EU accession talks it would hardly figure at all.

[Oracle]

[...]and that Cyprus is becoming more and more irrelevant to Greece [...]

My dentist is a mainland Greek. I went to him for a check up last week, and he asked me to give him an update on developments in the Cyprus negotiations because he had been away in Greece for a couple of weeks. I was surprised because I would have expected there to be lot of coverage and discussion about Cyprus in Greece. Surprisingly, my dentist informed me that people in Greece no longer show a great deal of interest in Cyprus.

Idle chit chat. Greeks do not "show" much interest in many things, but that is their stoicism. Do not be duped

I visit Greece a lot and I can assure they view Cyprus as part of Greece in every way, except for respecting its right to be self-determined. Their frustration is when and how one of the last strangleholds by Turks can be released.

Or is that just in the Peloponnese

[Oracle]

I find much the same with mainland Turks. If it wasn't for the fact that it was related to Turkey's EU accession talks it would hardly figure at all.

There are many reasons why Turks have always been interested in Cyprus. They change depending on the current trends, but always there has been some temptation for the Turks, in having Cyprus.

[EPSILON]

[...]and that Cyprus is becoming more and more irrelevant to Greece [...]

My dentist is a mainland Greek. I went to him for a check up last week, and he asked me to give him an update on developments in the Cyprus negotiations because he had been away in Greece for a couple of weeks. I was surprised because I would have expected there to be lot of coverage and discussion about Cyprus in Greece. Surprisingly, my dentist informed me that people in Greece no longer show a great deal of interest in Cyprus.

Correct and the reason?Ask Mpakogianni and Christofias.!!!The possible solution may create reactions and is much better to keep mainland Greece population in darkness about develompents.!!!!

[Tim Drayton]

I can't remember the source now, but apparently the AKP conduct regular focus groups to gauge Turkish public opinion, and I heard that a few years ago these were revealing that the average Turk in the street was pretty indifferent about Cyprus. This was one of the reasons that the AKP government was adopting a more flexible approach towards Cyprus. The military establishment/deep state appears to have taken charge of Turkey's Cyprus policy once more, and the latter are much less prepared to be flexible.

[denizaksulu]

Do I really come across that bad?

Well lets put it this way I would not want you as a neighbour.

You're the second person who’s ever told me that…

Dont worry GR. You can still have me as a neighbor. We have had a coffee together (got crdible evidence to prove it), and that is a good start.

[AWE]

Tim.

Too right, for most Turks Cyprus is pretty low on the radar as it is to many Greeks, after all the Greek Government wanted Cyprus in the EU so as to kick the Cyprus problem upstairs to Brussels and then allow them to get on dealing with the most important economy in the region - Turkey.

So no more Cypriot tail wagging the Greek dog.

Good luck to the GCs getting a United Cyprus that does not include Turkey in the EU.

[EPSILON]

Tim.

Too right, for most Turks Cyprus is pretty low on the radar as it is to many Greeks, after all the Greek Government wanted Cyprus in the EU so as to kick the Cyprus problem upstairs to Brussels and then allow them to get on dealing with the most important economy in the region - Turkey.

So no more Cypriot tail wagging the Greek dog.

Good luck to the GCs getting a United Cyprus that does not include Turkey in the EU.

Your statement is correct however you present it as same was the clever policy from Greece side but it is not.Greece facing problem of leadership long time now and its policies in difficult subjects like Cyprus is just what the mainland Greece nanopolitics can do.