The Best Cyprus Community

Skip to content


Cyprus’ long division and barriers to unity

How can we solve it? (keep it civilized)

Cyprus’ long division and barriers to unity

Postby The Cypriot » Wed May 13, 2009 12:01 am

This just brought to my attention.... this by a left wing publication in Britain...

http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2009/0 ... -to-unity/

THE Turkish federal state of North Cyprus is a fairly new country, but it looks like one from an earlier time. Whereas the rest of Cyprus has been buoyed by prosperity based on tourism and a huge investment in real estate from Russian sources, North Cyprus has areas of dereliction and decay around properties left by their Greek occupants when they fled from the Turkish troops who invaded the island in 1974.

If you look closely in the south, you can see Turkish houses that are suffering the same fate, yet around them are villas selling for millions of euros.

This prosperity could make it more difficult to reconcile the innate hostility between the two communities, which is much more apparent on the Greek side than on the Turkish. In the south, division has resulted in corruption and control by vested interests, which would have little to gain from unification.

The first move of the Ankara government in 1974 was to bring in immigrants from Anatolia to replace those who left the country abruptly at the time of the Turkish invasion. What happens to these people is one of the stumbling blocks to discussion about reunification. The Greeks want the immigrants repatriated to Turkey. After 35 years, this is hardly reasonable. But this unrealistic demand was one of the reasons why Greek Cypriots overwhelmingly rejected then United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan’s proposals for unification in 2004.

Greek refugees from the north of the island continue to agitate about the way in which those running North Cyprus allow the wealth of archaeological sites into be ravaged while some of the most fertile areas remain uncultivated.

The fact that Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been talking seriously to each other under the auspices of the UN is not necessarily a reason for unbridled optimism. Their dialogue may achieve some limited goals, such as the opening of the Limnitis Gate between the north and south of the island, but any agreement still seems some way off.

Having joined the European Union in 2004, Greek Cypriots have an ultimate veto over Turkish membership. And Turkey joining the EU is something that many believe would promote the unification of Cyprus.

Any way forward must involve the departure of the Turkish army from the island. Demands for Turkish troops to leave have been backed by a number of UN resolutions. However, if there is a withdrawal, the Turks will feel vulnerable to extremist elements among the Greek population. If there is demilitarisation on both sides, the Greeks are likely to feel at the mercy of the Turks who are their very near neighbours.

There are other factors adding to the problematic nature of the situation. If Turkey became a EU member, it would be difficult to call on other members to come to the aid of one element of the population of a fellow EU country. And strengthening the central government on Cyprus would involve the Greeks giving up some of the power they enjoy as the majority population.

Belatedly, the government of Turkey, led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is making serious conciliatory overtures in search of an end to the impasse. The ball is now in the Greeks’ court.
User avatar
The Cypriot
Regular Contributor
Regular Contributor
 
Posts: 2326
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 8:27 pm

Postby Viewpoint » Wed May 13, 2009 12:07 am

"The ball is now in the Greeks’ court. "
User avatar
Viewpoint
Leading Contributor
Leading Contributor
 
Posts: 25214
Joined: Sun Feb 20, 2005 2:48 pm
Location: Nicosia/Lefkosa

Postby YFred » Wed May 13, 2009 12:17 am

For once there is a balanced report of the situation the Cypriots find themselves in. Not only is the ball in their court in South Nicosia but they deflated it so it can't be used.
Anyone got a pump? Kiks, fancy a kick around?
User avatar
YFred
Leading Contributor
Leading Contributor
 
Posts: 12100
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:22 am
Location: Lurucina-Upon-Thames

Postby Oracle » Wed May 13, 2009 12:27 am

This is a factually in-concise article and as such is just another propaganda attempt by the occupied lands to force an acceptance of an unnecessary demand ...

All Turks out of Cyprus ... no more/no less!
User avatar
Oracle
Leading Contributor
Leading Contributor
 
Posts: 23507
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:13 am
Location: Anywhere but...

Postby YFred » Wed May 13, 2009 12:32 am

Oracle wrote:This is a factually in-concise article and as such is just another propaganda attempt by the occupied lands to force an acceptance of an unnecessary demand ...

All Turks out of Cyprus ... no more/no less!

Well, I've packed my bags, ready to go. :lol: :lol:
User avatar
YFred
Leading Contributor
Leading Contributor
 
Posts: 12100
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:22 am
Location: Lurucina-Upon-Thames

Postby Oracle » Wed May 13, 2009 12:37 am

YFred wrote:
Oracle wrote:This is a factually in-concise article and as such is just another propaganda attempt by the occupied lands to force an acceptance of an unnecessary demand ...

All Turks out of Cyprus ... no more/no less!

Well, I've packed my bags, ready to go. :lol: :lol:


Where ... from Turnpike Lane to Wood Green ... get lost fake .... :roll:
User avatar
Oracle
Leading Contributor
Leading Contributor
 
Posts: 23507
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:13 am
Location: Anywhere but...

Postby YFred » Wed May 13, 2009 12:42 am

Oracle wrote:
YFred wrote:
Oracle wrote:This is a factually in-concise article and as such is just another propaganda attempt by the occupied lands to force an acceptance of an unnecessary demand ...

All Turks out of Cyprus ... no more/no less!

Well, I've packed my bags, ready to go. :lol: :lol:


Where ... from Turnpike Lane to Wood Green ... get lost fake .... :roll:

No, first Ercan and then sunny Lurucina by Sea. I pack very early. About 4 months in advance.
Fake? there is nothing fake about me, I have all my original parts, even my teeth are my own.
User avatar
YFred
Leading Contributor
Leading Contributor
 
Posts: 12100
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:22 am
Location: Lurucina-Upon-Thames

Postby bill cobbett » Wed May 13, 2009 12:49 am

YFred wrote:
Oracle wrote:
YFred wrote:
Oracle wrote:This is a factually in-concise article and as such is just another propaganda attempt by the occupied lands to force an acceptance of an unnecessary demand ...

All Turks out of Cyprus ... no more/no less!

Well, I've packed my bags, ready to go. :lol: :lol:


Where ... from Turnpike Lane to Wood Green ... get lost fake .... :roll:

No, first Ercan and then sunny Lurucina by Sea. I pack very early. About 4 months in advance.
Fake? there is nothing fake about me, I have all my original parts, even my teeth are my own.


Ra Fredericou, when I see you, you're going to need dentures. :D
User avatar
bill cobbett
Leading Contributor
Leading Contributor
 
Posts: 15759
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:20 pm
Location: Embargoed from Kyrenia by Jurkish Army and Genocided (many times) by Thieving, Brain-Washed Lordo

Postby YFred » Wed May 13, 2009 12:53 am

bill cobbett wrote:
YFred wrote:
Oracle wrote:
YFred wrote:
Oracle wrote:This is a factually in-concise article and as such is just another propaganda attempt by the occupied lands to force an acceptance of an unnecessary demand ...

All Turks out of Cyprus ... no more/no less!

Well, I've packed my bags, ready to go. :lol: :lol:


Where ... from Turnpike Lane to Wood Green ... get lost fake .... :roll:

No, first Ercan and then sunny Lurucina by Sea. I pack very early. About 4 months in advance.
Fake? there is nothing fake about me, I have all my original parts, even my teeth are my own.


Ra Fredericou, when I see you, you're going to need dentures. :D

At least I can get some new ones from the hospital in the south for free. Where are you going to find a new billui ra cobella.
User avatar
YFred
Leading Contributor
Leading Contributor
 
Posts: 12100
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:22 am
Location: Lurucina-Upon-Thames

Re: Cyprus’ long division and barriers to unity

Postby Get Real! » Wed May 13, 2009 1:34 am

Belatedly, the government of Turkey, led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is making serious conciliatory overtures in search of an end to the impasse. The ball is now in the Greeks’ court.

Not surprisingly, he stopped dead in his tracks from telling us what these Turkish “conciliatory overtures” are… :lol:

Junk article...
User avatar
Get Real!
Forum Addict
Forum Addict
 
Posts: 48333
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:25 am
Location: Nicosia

Next

Return to Cyprus Problem

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest