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[The Cypriot]

IS CYPRUS HEADING TOWARDS A FEDERATION OF GREEK CYPRIOTS AND TURKISH SETTLERS?

An article by Ilker Kilich

In Toplum Postasi’s Editorial on 16.07.2009, the question was asked; “Who will vote in a referenda in Cyprus?” The question was finally answered this week by Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami in an interview with Politis;
“All TRNC citizens will vote in the referendum.”

In a recent interview with Politis, Nami announced that the “Turkish Side’s policy” claiming that not only will settlers vote in the north’s referendum but that the great majority of them will vote “yes” because of their vested interest in becoming EU citizens. Nami argued that as the settlers will vote Yes, it would therefore be unfair to send them back. “They will become citizens of the United Federal Cyprus”, enthused Nami. The negotiator for the Turkish Cypriot side or the “Turkish Side” as it is now called even emphasized that the Greek Cypriot side was receptive to the proposal, although Greek Cypriot media reports suggest otherwise.

We stand to be corrected but the released ‘TRNC official’ figures indicate that the total number of “registered citizens” number around 320,000 (out of which about 195,000 are eligible voters). In addition, nearly 55,000 live abroad so the actual number of “resident citizens” is around the 265,000 mark, out of which about 160,000 are on electoral list. In this figure no distinction is made as to who is Turkish Cypriot. According to official figures quoted by the Republic of Cyprus the total number of Turkish Cypriots who are natural citizens of the Republic of Cyprus and who reside in the “TRNC” is estimated at 90,000. If we do the math, this means that around 54,000 must be on the electoral list... In a nut shell, the north’s electoral picture shows that there are 106,000 settler and 54,000 Turkish Cypriots voters, which amounts to a ratio of nearly 2 to 1 (66%) in favour of the settlers. By contrast, the Greek Cypriot side claimed that the Republic granted citizenship to 25,000 people since 1974, this represents about 3.5% of its population.

In a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality the demographic composition and the domain of power in the “self-contained” north may become a non-issue to the Greek Cypriot side as it will not affect the Greek Cypriot constituent state. At the federal level too, the proportion divided up between the northern Turkish Cypriot state and southern Greek Cypriot state will not be anything more than 70/30, as it was in the 1960 constitution. However, the issue here is not whether the “Turkish Side’s” proposals are or are not acceptable to the Greek Cypriots but whether it is also acceptable to the Turkish Cypriots. It is the indigenous Turkish Cypriots who will be the very victims of the proposal being presently put forward by what is meant to be their own leadership. It the Turkish Cypriot community who will lose their 1960 statehood/sovereignty rights to the Turkish Settlers, not the Greek Cypriots.

The ruling National Unity Party (UBP) in the north and those who support the recognition of the “TRNC” refuses any discussion on the subject of settlers and even goes so far as to refuse to deny any differences between settlers and Turkish Cypriots. Recently, the new administration has gone further encouraging the world to call settlers and Turkish Cypriots, the “Turks of Cyprus”. The north’s ‘state’ TV channel BRT recently banned the use of the term “Turkish Cypriot” from its programmes. On the surface this may sound like a unifying approach until one scratches the surface and sees that it is a cover up for a process of settler’s colonialism by Turkey.

How does this affect the peace process and a future settlement? A second referendum held on both sides of the buffer zone in Cyprus will undoubtedly be held on EU territory however, “TRNC citizens” are not all EU citizens. This will render votes illegal, while the referenda itself will be undermined and may be rejected under EU law unless, the the “TRNC electorate” is officially recognised by the UN, the EU and the RoC before the referenda takes place. So it appears that the old Denktashian policy of seeking TRNC recognition is not dead…

It is this unrealistic expectation of the “Turkish Side” for such international recognition that increases the likelihood of a future solution based on a [Con]Federation not between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots as expected but between the Greek Cypriots and Turkey’s Settlers. In the event of this occurring, the Turkish Cypriots who were one of the two establishing communities of the Republic of Cyprus will not only be subjected to a grave injustice but will lose political power.

The transfer of political power from Turkish Cypriots to Turkish Settlers in the north by a “Solution” may not be easily accepted by those who still identify themselves as Turkish Cypriots, despite the fact that a significant section of Turkish Cypriots including those who apparently want “Solution” have already resigned to the idea of being Turks of Cyprus under the domination of the settlers.

Heavily relying on support from this section of the Turkish Cypriot community (or rather ex-Turkish Cypriots), Turkey’s demands continue as media in the north report that Ankara is now calling for an additional 50,000 settlers to be granted citizenship before a “Solution”. Following orders, the north’s administration announced that 15,000 settlers will be granted citizenship before the end of 2009 and another 15,000 before the “presidential election” in April 2010.

Eating away Turkish Cypriot electoral power, such a demographic modification will provide another 18,000 (11%) of fresh votes for the UBP leader whose “presidential” candidacy is not only widely expected but has already been announced by his general secretary.

Representing less than 1/3 of the “TRNC citizens,” the indigenous Turkish Cypriots cannot claim to exercise effective control in the north. The “government” posts until now may have been occupied mainly by Turkish Cypriots and not by the settlers but that does not give comfort to the Turkish Cypriots, as their position in power is not a reflection of free democracy but a game whose constantly changing rules are written in Ankara. Making up 66% of the population, one could certainly argue that the north is now belongs to the settlers and not the native Turkish Cypriots. But then again, nobody has ever pretended that the “TRNC” belongs to Turkish Cypriots.

If the settlers vote in a referendum to determine the future of Cyprus and if after a solution they all become citizens of the United Federal Cyprus, then in effect the “Solution” will become nothing more than a Federation of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Settlers; a realisation of Settler’s Colonialism.

While we ought to ask ourselves as Cypriots whether such a solution for Cypriots is better than the status quo, we must remind ourselves that the issue here is not one to oppose or conspire against the Turkish Settlers, or to send them back or refuse them resident and work permit within the constraints of law of the land. They must continue to enjoy human rights like every other European and must be protected against any form of racial discrimination. Under the EU law and new Cyprus constitution some will be entitled to citizenship of a United Federal Cyprus. There is nothing wrong if Turkish Settlers are treated in the same way as Turkey treats Cypriots in Turkey. The Cypriots of Turkey are not accepted as “Turks of Turkey” and under Turkish law they are not entitled to citizenship, nor are they allowed to participate in parliamentary elections or be eligible for the highest posts. If there I mutual respect and reciprocation the same must apply to Turkish citizens (settlers) in Cyprus.

However, human rights does not give an alien population the right of sovereignty over the territory they occupy. Constituting settler colonialism, this violates the human rights of native Cypriots by depriving them of the basic right to determine their own future and is a crime against humanity. Lastly, Cypriots should be the last people on earth to help the committing of such crimes….

***Ilker Kilich is on the editorial of London Toplum Postasi

[insan]

Nonesense. Sorry.

[Nikitas]

"It the Turkish Cypriot community who will lose their 1960 statehood/sovereignty rights to the Turkish Settlers, not the Greek Cypriots."

Now you realise!!! It took you 35 years to get it!!!!

How long will it take the TCs to wake up? Once the settlers are legalised by a referendum the TCs will not be able to compete for jobs and wil lgravitate to the south, where they will no doubt be grumbling about their minority status.

[Simon]

Good article. It hits on some very salient points.

[Kikapu]

Good article, The Cypriot.

Turkey can send as many settlers as she wants to become "citizens of the trnc" to outvote the TCs, and they may even become EU citizens, but it will not allow them to become Cypriot citizens. In the meantime, the TCs will have to accept what ever the settlers and the RoC decides for the future of Cyprus and Turkey. My feeling is, once Turkey silences the TCs at the ballot boxes, they will be able to cut what ever deal they see fit for themselves through the settlers for her to get into the EU.!

[insan]

In a nut shell, the north’s electoral picture shows that there are 106,000 settler and 54,000 Turkish Cypriots voters, which amounts to a ratio of nearly 2 to 1 (66%) in favour of the settlers.

Be sure 80% of the 106.000 settler voter r Cyprus born or came Cyprus when they were 1 to 12 y.o. So, they r TCs actually. No?

[Kikapu]

In a nut shell, the north’s electoral picture shows that there are 106,000 settler and 54,000 Turkish Cypriots voters, which amounts to a ratio of nearly 2 to 1 (66%) in favour of the settlers.

Be sure 80% of the 106.000 settler voter r Cyprus born or came Cyprus when they were 1 to 12 y.o. So, they r TCs actually. No?

NO.!!

Being born in Cyprus does not make them a TC or a GC automatically, unless atleast one of their parents is a TC or a GC. Coming to Cyprus at any age illegally will remain as such, an Illegal Alien. Show me a country that does what you have suggested other than the USA.

Perhaps Turkey.......................not.!

[YFred]

In a nut shell, the north’s electoral picture shows that there are 106,000 settler and 54,000 Turkish Cypriots voters, which amounts to a ratio of nearly 2 to 1 (66%) in favour of the settlers.

Be sure 80% of the 106.000 settler voter r Cyprus born or came Cyprus when they were 1 to 12 y.o. So, they r TCs actually. No?

The new RoC rule is, unless you can trace your ancestors to pre 1570, you are a settler.

[YFred]

In a nut shell, the north’s electoral picture shows that there are 106,000 settler and 54,000 Turkish Cypriots voters, which amounts to a ratio of nearly 2 to 1 (66%) in favour of the settlers.

Be sure 80% of the 106.000 settler voter r Cyprus born or came Cyprus when they were 1 to 12 y.o. So, they r TCs actually. No?

NO.!!

Being born in Cyprus does not make them a TC or a GC automatically, unless atleast one of their parents is a TC or a GC. Coming to Cyprus at any age illegally will remain as such, an Illegal Alien. Show me a country that does what you have suggested.

Perhaps Turkey.......................not.!

Listen here old thick shit. Show me a country that does not give automatic citizenship to anybody who is born there other than Germany.

[Kikapu]

In a nut shell, the north’s electoral picture shows that there are 106,000 settler and 54,000 Turkish Cypriots voters, which amounts to a ratio of nearly 2 to 1 (66%) in favour of the settlers.

Be sure 80% of the 106.000 settler voter r Cyprus born or came Cyprus when they were 1 to 12 y.o. So, they r TCs actually. No?

The new RoC rule is, unless you can trace your ancestors to pre 1570, you are a settler.

You wouldn't be a settler idiot, you would be a Mongolian.!