Cyprus-Forum.com

[Othellos]

What does "equality" mean to you and how do you understand this term in the context of a future solution?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

O.

[detailer]

What does "equality" mean to you and how do you understand this term in the context of a future solution?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

O.

To make sure that TC can comfortably survive without having to speak greek 30 years after an agreement.

[Othellos]

What does "equality" mean to you and how do you understand this term in the context of a future solution?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

O.

To make sure that TC can comfortably survive without having to speak greek 30 years after an agreement.

Thanks for trying to come up with a reply, detailer. Unfortunately your above answer remains vague and can be interpreted in many different ways. In my experience and until now, no TC has been able (or interested in) providing an adequate and reasonable explanation to what the term "equality" really means either in theory or in practice.

O.

[gabaston]

O

I think what detailer means is that gc does not look for a way of dominating tc ever again, not physically, politically, economically, or any other *lly, which may present itself.

[Othellos]

O

I think what detailer means is that gc does not look for a way of dominating tc ever again, not physically, politically, economically, or any other *lly, which may present itself.

Hello Gabaston

You may be right in your above interpretation. Don't u think however that this is still extremely open ended and therefore vague?

I suppose that what I am trying to get at is a clear definition of that "equality" means to TCs in the context of a "united Republic of Cy" (or something like that....).


O.

[turkcyp]

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[Othellos]

Okay turkcyp .....thanks for your reply which is sensible and which does explain to a degree where u and most of the TCs stand on the "equality" issue.

In all honesty, I am not quite sure how all this can be implemented in practice and function smoothly, even though Cyprus is an EU state nowdays and it will continue being one even after a solution. The only reason I am saying this is that others are already making the decisions for us on a number of issues.

In your opinion, what would be an example of an issue where a majority on both communities would be absolutely required? In other words, what are the issues that are considered "vital" for the existence of a community?

O.

[magikthrill]

Whenever I (and I think most of the TCs) talk about equality in Cyprus we realize that they are two dimensions to equality.
(a) equality at personal level.
(b) equality at community level

GCs purely want (a) and refuse to give (b), TCs are not willing to settle on only on (a) without getting (b). Although these two concepts can co-exist, many in GC seems to think that if you have (b) you can not have (a) and many in TC side seems to think that if you have (a) you can not have (b).

The above balance was set in 1960 agreements, but is destroyed after 1963.

If you need more explanation of what (b) entails in my mind. In entails that no decision can be taken in Cyprus on the expense of one community to benefit the other community. Every decision reached in parliament should have at least 50% majorities in both communities so that both communities are guaranteed to benefit from it and there will not be any room for exploitation.

And this does not mean that we can not have a system where every vote had the same weight and satisfy (a). Meaning there does not need to be 50-50 equality at the parliament or senate or whatever it is. You can still have a parliament of 4-1 (or whatever the population ratio is) and still achieve (b) where majority of each community accepts the decision.

turkcyp i agree and respect your views.

however you understand that TCs are also demanding much more than JUST political equality (which i think is fine) as you describe it above. i believe that if that was the only major demand of TCs then we both know that a solution would be much more achievable.

in other words, while i believe your opinion if it would come from another TC i would say its horse shit.

[turkcyp]

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[Bananiot]

Political equality of the two communities is a red line for TC's and it is quite obvious that they will accept nothing else. I believe it is a small price to pay for the GC's in order to arrive at a lasting solution. However, there are powerful elements in the GC community who will never agree for political equality of the two communities, which in essence means the sharing of power. There are many reasons for this and many do not have to do with the permanent fixation of some that this is unacceptable for a community which is in the minority, even if the original state was built on the principle of two equal parnters.

At this point I would like to ask the GC members. What do we stand to lose if we were to agree to political equality of the two communities and not merely on a personal level, as turkcyp quite rightly differentiated?