Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

Teachers from both sides of Cyprus first gathered at Elefteria Square in South Cyprus and the Sarayonu Square in North Cyprus.

From there, they marched towards the Lokmaci crossing point where tied black ribbons they were carrying together and joined hands as a symbol of unity.

The event organized by the Platform of island-wide teachers, `United Cyprus` aims at raising awareness on the issues of historical truth, missing persons and women’s role in the struggle for peace.

[halil]

Of course I know some forumers who will not be there, because this is a partitionist gathering. These are mainly EOKA B lovers who want the whole of Cyprus to join with Greece, not like some other forumers who are contended with 37% of Cyprus joining Greece, even indirectly, through the EU.

Damn it! I have just remembered. Sener Levent and his "Yiasemi" movement declared that the presence of Turkey after solution is a must.

Bananiot, I know that being the representative of Talat in this forum, you aspire for the day that Turkey will become the government of the Greek Cypriots, through a skewed form of solution, something which of course will never happen; however, can you at least explain to us why and how the election of president /deputy president on a common ticket, directly by the people but with separate proportional quotas from each community, "violates the principles of political equality and bi-zonality," as your boss, Mr. Talat, affirmed in an interview in he gave yesterday in Turkey?

TALAT: OUR GOAL IS TO REACH A SETTLEMENT BEFORE END OF 2009

President Mehmet Ali Talat has said that the Turkish Cypriot Side’s aims to reaching a solution before the end of 2009 which was they believed the pace of the process was too slow.

President Talat who met with representatives of various media organizations in Istanbul yesterday returned to the Republic today.
Speaking to reporters during yesterday’s meeting, the President said that serious convergence had been reached with the Greek Cypriot Side on the issue of “governance and power sharing”.

He however said that differences remained on the issue of executive, mainly because of proposals brought to the table by the Greek Cypriot Side.

“The proposals put forward by the Greek Cypriot Side are outside the UN parameters” he said.

Starting that agreement had also been reached on the principles of settling the property issue, Talat said that discussions carried out so far had focused on the general framework of the issue.

“We have differences over the criteria of settling property disputes and have moved on to the next issue without having reached full convergence on the issue” the President said.

Explaining that they will start discussing the next chapter “EU Matters” when they meet next Wednesday, President Talat said that next chapter to be taken up after that will be “Economy”.

Commenting on the course of the negotiations process Talat said that their aim was to settle the Cyprus Problem before the end of the year.
“Our real intention is to solve the Cyprus Problem within 2009. However the pace of the process is too slow. The Greek Cypriot Side’s refusal to accept timetable or arbitration on even the less important issues is making things difficult” added Talat.

Responding to a question as to how a right wing government could affect the current negotiations process, the President stressed that any government to be formed needed to support the polices carried out together with Turkey.

President Talat: “We Have an Agreement in Principle on the Establishment of a Property Commission Mechanism”

Talat expressed belief that the gap that exists between two side’s views on this mechanism can be bridged and added that they will begin discussions over “EU matters” next week.

In response to a question on constituent states, President Talat said:

“We never said that the constituent state will have the last word (on the fate of a dispossessed property). What we said is: specific criteria will be provided and the property commission mechanism will decide according to these criteria… These criteria will envisage a solution through three options: compensation, restitution and exchange. The criteria will specify how these options will apply. In other words, the criteria will specify who will get his/her property back, who will get compensated, and who will have the option of exchange. This is what we envisage. It is out of question for the constituent states to have a determining role. We accept the property right…”

Talat reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side is inclined to give the right to make the final decision to the dispossessed owner. He said however that the Turkish Cypriot side advocates that the final decision should be determined by criteria.

“We propose a mechanism,” said Talat. “A property commission or commissions. We need to evaluate this mechanism… My personal opinion is that our views on this are not very far apart. Our concern is that we want the property problem to be solved rapidly following a solution. I believe the Greek Cypriot side agrees… Our differences are not over principles but over how we can accelerate the process. In principle, we have agreed on the establishment of a property commission mechanism.”

[YFred]

Thanks for that Halil. Thats good news.

[Bananiot]

Obviously Kifeas prefers Eroglu instead of Talat just like all rejectionists who preferred Denktash to Talat some years ago. The rejectionists from both commuities are great friend and one must not forget that Papadopoulos once said that he and Serdar live in the same constellation , meaning that they see things from the same perspective.

P.S. YFred, do you know my friend Mehmet Mahmud from Lurudjina? He spent some time in London as a teacher.

[YFred]

Obviously Kifeas prefers Eroglu instead of Talat just like all rejectionists who preferred Denktash to Talat some years ago. The rejectionists from both commuities are great friend and one must not forget that Papadopoulos once said that he and Serdar live in the same constellation , meaning that they see things from the same perspective.

P.S. YFred, do you know my friend Mehmet Mahmud from Lurudjina? He spent some time in London as a teacher.

Good God. I know him very well. I used to be in the same classroom as his sister.
His younger brother Alkan is a very good friend of mine. The whole family are true Lurucadis.

[Bananiot]

Excellent, I am meeting him tomorrow, I will give him your regards. He now teaches in Limassol.

[Sotos]

Will anyone tell me what is the Truth that the march is about? Everybody here has his own truth. Which is the truth of this march?

[YFred]

Excellent, I am meeting him tomorrow, I will give him your regards. He now teaches in Limassol.

Tell him Yosdu Tozzi. I hope he remembers me. Unfortunately there is 5 of us, and as he is few years older than me he may not remember which one I am. We did meet at the Cypriot centre a few times when he was here, but it was such a long time ago.
Yes please give him my regards.

What a small world!

[Bananiot]

Sure, will do.

That is a good point sotos, for a change. Are you ready for the truth though? This is the point. Are we all ready for the truth? Perhaps this is a better question.

[YFred]

I suggested for a truth commision some time ago, but DT shot it down on account that he knows the truth allready.