Cyprus-Forum.com

[zan]

State steps up efforts to ban GPS with Turkish place-names
By Elias Hazou
THE GOVERNMENT aims to ban the sale of any GPS receivers that use maps featuring Turkish place-names for the occupied areas.

The bizarre story, broken by Politis, first came to light more than two years ago. The ministries of Foreign Affairs, the Interior and of Education are all involved, as is the Attorney-general.

It’s been two years since authorities have been trying to crack down on the wayward gadgets.

Apparently, it was the secret service KYP which first brought the matter to the government’s attention.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the US Defence Department. GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s the government made the system available for civilian use. GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day.

But the bid to ban the GPS receivers is turning out to be a legal minefield. It goes without saying that preventing the sale of consumer goods would violate a raft of EU free market laws, as well as regulations governing the free flow of goods and services.

The receivers in question are manufactured by Garmin, a leading US electronics company, and are imported from Britain.

The devices come loaded with a basemap which employs Turkish names for towns, villages and streets in the north – anathema to authorities’ sensibilities.

For example, Kyrenia appears as “Girne” and Morphou as “Güzelyurt.”

But computer software can be used to make a simple modification to the names.

According to Politis, when the matter first surfaced, the government complained to both the manufacturer and to the Cypriot importer. The latter was contacted and asked to stop importing the devices, but the company replied it could not as no formal complaint had been filed.

Undeterred, the government asked the Attorney-general’s office for a legal reasoning. In his response, the AG explained that, specific legislation needs to be passed before a product may be banned.

And in a subsequent legal reasoning, the AG cited a further legal obstacle: it is illegal to stop or in any way restrict the availability of a consumer product if it has been imported from an EU country. Such restrictions do not apply to products coming from outside the EU.

However, legal wizards think they have found a loophole: authorities may prohibit the importation of a product if it is deemed to be contrary to “public order.”

The Ministry of Education meanwhile has dug up further ammunition for the campaign to ban the GPS receivers. In its feedback, the ministry pointed out indignantly that the Greek place names of Cyprus “have been shaped throughout the centuries.”

It went on to accuse Turkish authorities of undertaking a systematic campaign to alter the nomenclature of northern Cyprus.

Further, the ministry pointed out that, according to both the UN and UNESCO, placenames are part of a nation’s cultural heritage.

It seems the government is dead serious about the crackdown, and as we speak experts are drafting a law banning the offending receiver. In its crosshairs is one particular importer – the one spotted a couple of years back.

In a further twist, the owner of the company claims that he has since updated his receivers; the Turkish placenames have been purged and replaced by the official Greek ones, he says.

He did this by obtaining the proper designations from the records of the Land Registry Department, which keeps maps of the entire island.

The man was unable to comprehend why the government was still making such a big fuss over this.

He also complained that he read of the government’s plans in the press, and that no one had contacted him recently to see what was happening.

“Ninety-nine per cent of the receivers of this brand now have Greek names,” he told the Mail.

“By default, the receivers have been converted to Greek – unless a customer specifically asks that the placenames be left in Turkish,” he said.


Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008

[zan]

GREECE: "CHANGE YOUR NAME AND WE WILL GIVE YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT"


National.

Macedonia's new name should be based on a geographic determinant, said Tuesday in Belgrade Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Petros Dukas.


He stated that Athens would support Macedonia "in every possible way as soon as the name row is resolved".

"Greek Macedonia is larger by territory and population from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and we cannot overlook this. We believe that a geographic name is a good basis for a solution", said Dukas.

He added that "as a result of the friendly settlement of the dispute", Greece is ready to support Macedonia "financially and in every way possible". This is from a country that owes 112% of their GDP.



[Mina]
Posted by Macedonia Daily on Wednesday, November 05, 2008 at 12:16 AM | Permalink

From first post:The Ministry of Education meanwhile has dug up further ammunition for the campaign to ban the GPS receivers. In its feedback, the ministry pointed out indignantly that the Greek place names of Cyprus “have been shaped throughout the centuries.”

[zan]

http://modern-macedonian-history.blogsp ... greek.html

[doesntmatter]

State steps up efforts to ban GPS with Turkish place-names
By Elias Hazou
THE GOVERNMENT aims to ban the sale of any GPS receivers that use maps featuring Turkish place-names for the occupied areas.

The bizarre story, broken by Politis, first came to light more than two years ago. The ministries of Foreign Affairs, the Interior and of Education are all involved, as is the Attorney-general.

It’s been two years since authorities have been trying to crack down on the wayward gadgets.

Apparently, it was the secret service KYP which first brought the matter to the government’s attention.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the US Defence Department. GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s the government made the system available for civilian use. GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day.

But the bid to ban the GPS receivers is turning out to be a legal minefield. It goes without saying that preventing the sale of consumer goods would violate a raft of EU free market laws, as well as regulations governing the free flow of goods and services.

The receivers in question are manufactured by Garmin, a leading US electronics company, and are imported from Britain.

The devices come loaded with a basemap which employs Turkish names for towns, villages and streets in the north – anathema to authorities’ sensibilities.

For example, Kyrenia appears as “Girne” and Morphou as “Güzelyurt.”

But computer software can be used to make a simple modification to the names.

According to Politis, when the matter first surfaced, the government complained to both the manufacturer and to the Cypriot importer. The latter was contacted and asked to stop importing the devices, but the company replied it could not as no formal complaint had been filed.

Undeterred, the government asked the Attorney-general’s office for a legal reasoning. In his response, the AG explained that, specific legislation needs to be passed before a product may be banned.

And in a subsequent legal reasoning, the AG cited a further legal obstacle: it is illegal to stop or in any way restrict the availability of a consumer product if it has been imported from an EU country. Such restrictions do not apply to products coming from outside the EU.

However, legal wizards think they have found a loophole: authorities may prohibit the importation of a product if it is deemed to be contrary to “public order.”

The Ministry of Education meanwhile has dug up further ammunition for the campaign to ban the GPS receivers. In its feedback, the ministry pointed out indignantly that the Greek place names of Cyprus “have been shaped throughout the centuries.”

It went on to accuse Turkish authorities of undertaking a systematic campaign to alter the nomenclature of northern Cyprus.

Further, the ministry pointed out that, according to both the UN and UNESCO, placenames are part of a nation’s cultural heritage.

It seems the government is dead serious about the crackdown, and as we speak experts are drafting a law banning the offending receiver. In its crosshairs is one particular importer – the one spotted a couple of years back.

In a further twist, the owner of the company claims that he has since updated his receivers; the Turkish placenames have been purged and replaced by the official Greek ones, he says.

He did this by obtaining the proper designations from the records of the Land Registry Department, which keeps maps of the entire island.

The man was unable to comprehend why the government was still making such a big fuss over this.

He also complained that he read of the government’s plans in the press, and that no one had contacted him recently to see what was happening.

“Ninety-nine per cent of the receivers of this brand now have Greek names,” he told the Mail.

“By default, the receivers have been converted to Greek – unless a customer specifically asks that the placenames be left in Turkish,” he said.


Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008

Does changing the sellers original software not infringe the copy right laws?

Iy'll be interesting to see what Garmin will have to say about this.

[zan]

http://modern-macedonian-history.blogsp ... greek.html

[doesntmatter]

GREECE: "CHANGE YOUR NAME AND WE WILL GIVE YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT"


National.

Macedonia's new name should be based on a geographic determinant, said Tuesday in Belgrade Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Petros Dukas.


He stated that Athens would support Macedonia "in every possible way as soon as the name row is resolved".

"Greek Macedonia is larger by territory and population from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and we cannot overlook this. We believe that a geographic name is a good basis for a solution", said Dukas.

He added that "as a result of the friendly settlement of the dispute", Greece is ready to support Macedonia "financially and in every way possible". This is from a country that owes 112% of their GDP.



[Mina]
Posted by Macedonia Daily on Wednesday, November 05, 2008 at 12:16 AM | Permalink

From first post:The Ministry of Education meanwhile has dug up further ammunition for the campaign to ban the GPS receivers. In its feedback, the ministry pointed out indignantly that the Greek place names of Cyprus “have been shaped throughout the centuries.”

If as the GCs cxlaim we are Cypriots, why insist on "Greek names", why not change all to "Cypriot names"?

[Piratis]

What was banned is not the GPS, or GPS devides.

What is illegal and criminal is the change of the names of our towns and villages by the Turkish invaders, and this is what will not be tolerated.

Does changing the sellers original software not infringe the copy right laws?

Iy'll be interesting to see what Garmin will have to say about this.

If Garmin wants to sell their products in Cyprus they have to comply with the laws of our country.

If as the GCs cxlaim we are Cypriots, why insist on "Greek names", why not change all to "Cypriot names"?

Cypriots are as much Greek as Cretans or Athenians. Greek is the language of Cypriots, apart from some small minorities (like they exist in every other country).

We don't want to change the names of our villages or towns. The Turks are the ones who want to do this, because they are trying to falsify the history of our island and forcefully Turkify the north part of our country. What we want is to keep the original names of all towns and villages, regardless if those original names are Greek, Turkish, Latin or anything else.

Regarding Macedonia: The original Macedonians were Greek. Slavs did not appear in the region until many centuries later. Those Slavs claiming that they are Macedonians, would be the equivalent of the Turks claiming that they are Byzantines.

[Nikitas]

"If as the GCs cxlaim we are Cypriots, why insist on "Greek names", why not change all to "Cypriot names"?"

Were you thinking when you wrote the above sentence?

The names used before 1974 were CYPRIOT names you burk! Names like Komi Kepir, Asha, Kontea, Fterihou are CYPRIOT names that mean nothing to mainland Greek speakers and it is a common joke among GCs to hear a mainland Greek pronounse Asha as Asia, the continent!

All these aline to Cyprus names followed by Koy are the result of a deliberate policy, clearly described by Denktash in his writings and posted on this forum on numerous occasions. A vain attempt to establish a "historical footprint" by changing centuries old place names, even those that are not Greek, with idiotic imported names tha mean nothing even to the TCs that live there now.

[doesntmatter]

"If as the GCs cxlaim we are Cypriots, why insist on "Greek names", why not change all to "Cypriot names"?"

Were you thinking when you wrote the above sentence?

The names used before 1974 were CYPRIOT names you burk! Names like Komi Kepir, Asha, Kontea, Fterihou are CYPRIOT names that mean nothing to mainland Greek speakers and it is a common joke among GCs to hear a mainland Greek pronounse Asha as Asia, the continent!

All these aline to Cyprus names followed by Koy are the result of a deliberate policy, clearly described by Denktash in his writings and posted on this forum on numerous occasions. A vain attempt to establish a "historical footprint" by changing centuries old place names, even those that are not Greek, with idiotic imported names tha mean nothing even to the TCs that live there now.

So why is it that now the GC government insisst on Greek names, you "burk"?

[Nikitas]

Zan,

You insist on getting the Macedonia-FYROM issue scrambled in your head. The Greek demand is very simple- use a geographic adjective in the name, ie Northern Macedonia. For obvious reasons, since Macedonia is a geographic, not a national, region that spans three countries, Greece, Bulgaria and FYROM. The demand is not "change your name" it is more "define your name".

An analogy ot make it simple to you, the Alps span several countries- Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France. If one nation renames itself Republic of the Alps it sends a message that it has claims to all the region.

You seem to care about the so called Macedonians but say nothing about what Bulgaria is doing to them. Firstly it rejects the idea of Macedonian ethnicity and secondly it offers passports to any so called Macedonian who applies for one, eroding the Macedonian population. The Macedonian language has fewer differences from Bulgarian than GC dialect has from mainland Greek. It is a matter of time before the self styled Macedonians are classified as Bulgarian.