Cyprus-Forum.com

[Paphitis]

Why should they get the backing of everyone to return to their homes when our people have been waiting so long and have not been given the same level of backing against Turkey?

Cyprus was correct to abstain ... on principle!

If anyone has the right to return to their homes it should be the GCs FIRST and foremost!

Just because we have been waiting for so long does not mean others should be punished by being ethnically cleansed from their ancestral homes just like we were in 74...

By not being allowed to return, Russia is doing a great injustice, and I don't think the injustice in Georgia is any more or any less an injustice that we have faced for 35 years. I think it is important that we recognise this fact.

Cyprus just can't be correct, because if that is so, then other countries would also be correct to abstain and even vote against Cypriots and our right to return to our homes.

I would love for Cypriots to return to their homes first, but you simply can't deny the rights of others to also return to their rightful homes just because we were wronged first...

I think you'll find, with deeper analysis, that the vote (en masse) went exactly as planned.

The take-home message is that:

(a) the Georgians have the support of everyone to return to their homes (including Cyprus' support, who merely abstained, i.e. did not vote against!) .... BUT,

(b) let us not FORGET Cyprus ... who by abstaining has sent that message as deep as it could!

The more I think about it, the more I like it!

By abstaining we are sending a most unfortunate message, and I don't think you should be too happy about that given our current situation.

The opposition criticised the government’s decision to abstain, saying it went against EU policy and effectively making Cyprus the black sheep of the bloc.

The message we are sending is that we are afraid to support the right of return of refugees to South Ossetia, not because we don't agree with their right to return, but because we are afraid of offending Russia.

So where does this leave our refugees should other countries also abstain from UN resolutions against Turkey?

[-mikkie2-]

Cyprus is caught in a difficult position. Russia has been the only country that is a permanent member of the UN-SC to back up Cypriot positions. Therefore, it is hugely difficult for Cyprus to go against Russia. In the coming months, this issue may be crucial, especially if the talks reach an impasse and if the UN decides to follow through its threat of diminishing the UN mandate in Cyprus.

[DT.]

Every country in the world acts on national interests and to a lesser extent the principles it believes serves its interests. I don't see why Cyprus should not be any different.

As a matter of national interest we could not go head on against a vital ally, as a matter of principle we could not possibly vote against an issue as sensitive as this. We did the right thing by abstaining. Why can every country in the world commit the biggest atrocities in the name of national interest and Cyprus should not even be allowed to abstain from a vote which provides it with political profit from Russia.

Considering however how we have voted against Russia in the past and the sensitivity of this issue one wonders what we received in return for this. I wouldn't imagine it'd be a small return since we stopped a unanimous decision from being reached by the EU.

[Paphitis]

Cyprus is caught in a difficult position. Russia has been the only country that is a permanent member of the UN-SC to back up Cypriot positions. Therefore, it is hugely difficult for Cyprus to go against Russia. In the coming months, this issue may be crucial, especially if the talks reach an impasse and if the UN decides to follow through its threat of diminishing the UN mandate in Cyprus.

I think we as Cypriots sometimes really overplay our importance. If Cyprus did in fact vote against Russia, due to the predicament we face, then Russia would surely understand the tight rope we walk. Besides, I think Russia would be more preoccupied with much larger and more important nations to its national interest who would have voted against them. The larger nations of Europe would be probably where there would start, and they would probably attempt to use Russian Gas as leverage just like they have done in the past.

I'm sure Russia would appreciate our stance and it would only cause her to raise an eye brow for a fleeting second.

[Paphitis]

Every country in the world acts on national interests and to a lesser extent the principles it believes serves its interests. I don't see why Cyprus should not be any different.

But I fail to see how we have acted in accordance with our national interest, since we have 200,000 refugees of our own who can't return to their homes.

As a matter of national interest we could not go head on against a vital ally, as a matter of principle we could not possibly vote against an issue as sensitive as this. We did the right thing by abstaining. Why can every country in the world commit the biggest atrocities in the name of national interest and Cyprus should not even be allowed to abstain from a vote which provides it with political profit from Russia.

Of course Cyprus can act in accordance with its national interests.

The issue here is that Cyprus has abstained on voting on UN resolutions calling for the return of refugees to South Ossetia.

How can that possibly be in our interests?

Considering however how we have voted against Russia in the past and the sensitivity of this issue one wonders what we received in return for this. I wouldn't imagine it'd be a small return since we stopped a unanimous decision from being reached by the EU.

If Cyprus voted against Russia in the past, then what stopped us from doing so again? I am all for good relations with Russia, but what we did is indeed hypocritical given that we suffer the same injustice as some 192,000 Georgian refugees...

And what have we received in exchange for this? Will they offer liberate our island, or will they just stand up and say they support a "United Cyprus" just like everyone else but without doing a damn thing?

Have the Russians really been that good to us, or are they just like the US, striving for their next big trade deal with the very nation that occupies Cyprus?

Did you know that Russians are one of the biggest investors in Turkey? Talk about sleeping with the enemy.

[AWE]

At least the RoC and Turkey agree on something - both abstained.

But Paphitis is right this may come to haunt the RoC in time.

also see this:
http://www.cyprus-forum.com/viewtopic.p ... highlight=

[Oracle]

I don't know if this is related, but ...

The Ukrainians are coming!

-------------------------------------------------------------

Ukrainian peacekeepers will support peace on Cyprus

KYIV, September 14. /UKRINFORM/.

President Viktor Yushchenko has signed the decree sending Ukrainian peacekeepers to maintain peace on Cyprus. The relevant decree signed Friday was put on the presidential website.

The delegation of the peacekeepers will include up to 10 servicemen of the interior troops, representing Ukraine as a UN Force participant, the decree says.

The Cabinet of Ministers was ordered to guarantee training and delivery of the peacekeeping personnel.

http://bsanna-news.ukrinform.ua/newsite ... 27&lang=en

[Oracle]

... Did you know that Russians are one of the biggest investors in Turkey? Talk about sleeping with the enemy.

Paphitis ... this only serves to make Turkey dependent on Russia ... and then Turkey is more likely to do as it is told for fear of that crutch being removed.

Blackmail may be the only thing the Turks understand ...

[-mikkie2-]

Paphitis,

I do think that your reasoning is flawed. There are all manner of sensitive issues under the realm of the UN which -directly affect Cyprus. Cyprus needs a voice within the UN-SC and the conduit for this has been Russia.

Although Russia does have trade deals with Turkey, you'd be surpised as to how much Cypriot companies have invested in Russia - it amounts to billions!

[Paphitis]

I don't know if this is related, but ...

The Ukrainians are coming!

-------------------------------------------------------------

Ukrainian peacekeepers will support peace on Cyprus

KYIV, September 14. /UKRINFORM/.

President Viktor Yushchenko has signed the decree sending Ukrainian peacekeepers to maintain peace on Cyprus. The relevant decree signed Friday was put on the presidential website.

The delegation of the peacekeepers will include up to 10 servicemen of the interior troops, representing Ukraine as a UN Force participant, the decree says.

The Cabinet of Ministers was ordered to guarantee training and delivery of the peacekeeping personnel.

http://bsanna-news.ukrinform.ua/newsite ... 27&lang=en

So what do Ukrainian peacekeepers have to do with Russia?

We also have Australian, Slovenian, Austrian, Canadian peacekeepers, and let's not forget the fact that we also have British peacekeepers, a nation that is a "Guarantor Power".

But what have they offered Cyprus by way of support? As far as I'm concerned, talk is cheap and we have had a lot of that from most countries, including Russia.