Cyprus-Forum.com

[Kikapu]

Cyprus must seize this chance to reunite itself

By Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter and Lakhdar Brahimi
Commentary by
Friday, May 08, 2009

It is tempting to see the results of the recent parliamentary elections in northern Cyprus as a blow for the peace process. Voters in the Turkish Cypriot north rejected the party of their leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, who has been meeting almost weekly for eight months with his Greek Cypriot counterpart, Demetris Christofias, to work out the terms of a settlement to reunify the island.

But the election result has more to do with the dire state of the economy than it does with the peace process. Voters are feeling the pain of economic isolation, made worse by the global downturn. While he has lost his parliamentary majority, Talat is still head of the Turkish Cypriot administration and will continue to lead negotiations on behalf of the north. Both he and Christofias remain committed to finding a solution, despite the difficulties they face.

The election result nonetheless underscores the fact that time is running out to finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. Talat has set the presidential election in early 2010 as a deadline for agreement, while Christofias is not without political challenges within his own coalition.

Cyprus presents visitors with a deceptive image. The sunny climate of the eastern Mediterranean draws a steady stream of tourists, and European Union membership in the south has pushed income levels for Greek Cypriots higher than the EU average. The island might be divided, but life for many is comfortable. However, Cyprus remains a conflict zone: there are still fortified streets in Nicosia, a United Nations peacekeeping operation patrols the buffer zone, and there is a substantial Turkish military force in the north.

This is all the more reason to make sure that the energy and courage of Talat and Christofias are not squandered. These two leaders have limited political capital, and they need more than their own goodwill to succeed.

First, they need their own people to join them in the peace process. An overwhelming majority of Cypriots are unhappy with the status quo, believe a settlement is possible, and reject any return to violence, but are deeply distrustful of each other and of the peace process. They have seen too many previous efforts fail. A culture of cynicism and complacency seems to be the default position, especially among politicians and the media.

Opening up the debate about what peace could look like would help. When we visited Cyprus late last year, we noticed how few women and young people were engaged in politics. Old men (like us) dominate public debate, and we strongly urge Cyprus's leaders to make more space for those whose voices are not so readily heard.

Second, strengthening links between the two communities is essential. The island has been split for so long that generations have grown up with no idea of life on the other side. It is very difficult for schools, law enforcement agencies, soccer clubs, and telephone, electricity, and water companies to cooperate across the Green Line. Teenagers can't even send text messages across the divide. Trade between the communities is limited.

Lowering these barriers with respect and sensitivity would help to heal the wounds of the past and, importantly, to build trust. Researchers already estimate that reunification could raise annual incomes by about $2.4 billion - more than $7,300 per household. Everyone needs to see that there are benefits to reunification that will simplify life, strengthen the economy, and outweigh the compromises that any settlement will require.

Third, the major regional powers, whose presence hangs heavily over the island, need to play their part. Greece is urgently called upon to play a more constructive role in the peace process by explaining the benefits of its own normalization of relations with Turkey and its support for that country's EU membership. And Turkey could give a tremendous boost to confidence in the peace process by announcing a symbolic withdrawal of some troops from northern Cyprus as a goodwill gesture - a move that would also greatly assist Turkey's convergence with Europe.

Finally, explicit international expressions of support for a settlement would help to persuade the leaders of both communities that success would bring proper recognition and reward. It would certainly help if the EU promised substantial development funds, including for resolution of property issues, once an agreement is in place.

This is the best chance in 30 years for a federal settlement in Cyprus, and it may be the last. If these talks fail, partition will probably be permanent, and, no matter how benign the environment today, geopolitics will catch up with the island over time.

Failure to resolve the Cyprus problem is a potentially serious threat to good relations between NATO, Turkey, and the EU. Cypriots must seize this chance to build a healthy, reunited country that can make the most of its economic potential in the region, and play its part in world affairs with confidence and security.

Desmond Tutu is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate; Jimmy Carter is a former president of the United States; Lakhdar Brahimi is a former foreign minister of Algeria and United Nations special envoy. All three are members of the Elders www.theElders.org. THE DAILY STAR publishes this commentary in collaboration with Project Syndicate (c) (www.project-syndicate.org).

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp ... id=101703#

Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter and Lakhdar Brahimi ........really.????

Commentary by.................errr..........no name...???????

[paliometoxo]

turkey has to allow re unification before anything can happen instead of insistin on two states and running to the eu and america for two states..

before truekey is convinced to allow this then nothing can happen, or it will be very difficult. with turkeys help i am sure the land would of been re united in a day if they wanted. its not like gcs can lift the green line and re unite the land where as turkey can easily do so no problems no one is stopping them.

[bill cobbett]

Carter, 22, and the other plonker = amateurs.

They'd sell their mothers for 50c a time before they say clearly that Turkey and the Occupation are the Problem.

[The Cypriot]

Cyprus must seize this chance to reunite

What a great idea! What are we waiting for, do you wonder?

[Viewpoint]

Cyprus must seize this chance to reunite

What a great idea! What are we waiting for, do you wonder?

With the right balance but not just any solution we need one that protects our rights.

[Kikapu]

Cyprus must seize this chance to reunite

What a great idea! What are we waiting for, do you wonder?

With the right balance but not just any solution we need one that protects our rights.

Protecting just your rights, VP, or did you mean to say, protecting everyone's rights.???

[The Cypriot]

Protecting just your rights, VP, or did you mean to say, protecting everyone's rights.???

VP did say the royal 'our' kiks - so perhaps we can give her the benefit of the doubt.

[Viewpoint]

Cyprus must seize this chance to reunite

What a great idea! What are we waiting for, do you wonder?

With the right balance but not just any solution we need one that protects our rights.

Protecting just your rights, VP, or did you mean to say, protecting everyone's rights.???

Everyones rights.

[Kikapu]

Protecting just your rights, VP, or did you mean to say, protecting everyone's rights.???

VP did say the royal 'our' kiks - so perhaps we can give her the benefit of the doubt.

That's exactly what worried me, when VP used the term "our rights", and given the fact that VP does not sees himself as a Cypriot, it can only mean, just his rights over others. If he was a Cypriot, then "our rights" would have meant, protecting everyone's rights.!

So, yes TC, you are on the right track.!

[paliometoxo]

i ntoice every so few years someone says cyprus must use this chance to re unite and nothing ever happens because the turkish simply are here to cause problems and not allow re unification not if they can help it anyway