Cyprus-Forum.com

[Viewpoint]

JustAnAmerican

In our view the reunification process is currently at its lowest.

I will agree with you but not many Gcs can see this or apply pressure on their administration to re-evaluate their stance, why dont 25% of their population have a demonstration to voice this opinion they are obviously content with the current status quo and playing the game towards recognized partition.

[Filitsa]

In our view the reunification process is currently at its lowest.

Who is "our"?

[gabaston]

filitsa

justanamerican is just that , an american.

Hi JAA

long time no posts - been on vacation? anyway have you got any latest news for us?

[Kifeas]

Call Talats bluff for a meeting reach out and grab hold.

I agree totally. I believe such a meeting will happen anyway over the next few months. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if we get a Papadopoulos-Talat meeting in London next week, when Tassos visits Blair. If not, look out for a meeting at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, this coming September.

Although in principle I am not against a meeting between the leaders of the two communities, I am wondering what kind of meeting and in which climate will occur, between Talat and Papadopoullos, when the former often reverts to accusations and insults on a personal level against the later, with the last one taking place only yesterday when Talat said that “there will be solution in Cyprus only when the GCs remove Papadopoullos from power.” Obviously Mr. Talat thinks that everybody else in the rest of the world are plain stupid, and by just repeating his calls for a meeting with Papadopoullos but at the same time does everything possible to sabotage the climate for its commencing, they will all believe that he is the dove, and Papadopoullos the hawk for not responding.

Allow direct trade and aid, for opening of Maras.

I agree, and I think the GC leadership would accept this, but I am not sure Talat would - he would insist on direct flights as well, a red line for GCs.

The GC leadership should allow the opening of the Famagusta port under the authority and control of the "TRNC?" Is this what you agree with Alexandros? Because this is what the TC leadership wants and this is what Viewpoint has in mind, as far as I understood!

[Alexandros Lordos]

Allow direct trade and aid, for opening of Maras.

I agree, and I think the GC leadership would accept this, but I am not sure Talat would - he would insist on direct flights as well, a red line for GCs.

The GC leadership should allow the opening of the Famagusta port under the authority and control of the "TRNC?" Is this what you agree with Alexandros? Because this is what the TC leadership wants and this is what Viewpoint has in mind, as far as I understood!

No need to involve the "TRNC" ... the ports could be under the direct control of the European Commission, with certificates issued by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, exactly as they are issued today via the Green Line regulation. The whole process would be authorised by the Republic of Cyprus, so at no point will the sovereignty of the Republic be violated.

[Kifeas]

Allow direct trade and aid, for opening of Maras.

I agree, and I think the GC leadership would accept this, but I am not sure Talat would - he would insist on direct flights as well, a red line for GCs.

The GC leadership should allow the opening of the Famagusta port under the authority and control of the "TRNC?" Is this what you agree with Alexandros? Because this is what the TC leadership wants and this is what Viewpoint has in mind, as far as I understood!

No need to involve the "TRNC" ... the ports could be under the direct control of the European Commission, with certificates issued by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, exactly as they are issued today via the Green Line regulation. The whole process would be authorised by the Republic of Cyprus, so at no point will the sovereignty of the Republic be violated.

I agree with it but this is not what the TC leadership is having in mind when they are pushing for this direct trade arrangement. It goes without saying that this in not what Viewpoint has in mind, either!

[Filitsa]

filitsa

justanamerican is just that , an american.

Now it's my turn to be confused. He used the plural pronoun "our." He is just an American - singular. No comprende. Do his sentiments represent the American public?

[Saint Jimmy]

Now it's my turn to be confused. He used the plural pronoun "our." He is just an American - singular. No comprende. Do his sentiments represent the American public?

Hello Filitsa,

if my memory serves me right, JustAnAmerican works at the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia. Therefore (I think), when s/he uses singular, s/he is expressing a personal opinion or understanding of an issue; when using plural, s/he is expressing the official line from within the embassy.

At times, JustAnAmerican has provided us with some quite interesting 'behind the curtains (or should I say 'drapes'?)' info on a number of issues - hence gabaston's 'any latest news?' remark.

[RAFAELLA]

Alex

But how is the ball in the GC court, if the TC/T side already signals that the key concerns of GCs cannot be negotiated

Call Talats bluff for a meeting reach out and grab hold.

Allow direct trade and aid, for opening of Maras.

Talat says that Turkey knew but did not approve the proposal for returning Varosha to the Greek Cypriots in return for the lifting of the so-called embargo on the Turkish Cypriots
Turkish Cypriot daily YENI DUZEN newspaper (12.07.05) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, said yesterday that Turkey knew but did not approve the proposal made by the Turkish Cypriots in Brussels for returning the fenced area of Varosha to the Greek Cypriots in exchange for the lifting of the so-called embargoes.

In exclusive statements to the paper, Mr Talat noted that it was not the first time that the issue had been discussed, that it came onto the agenda during meetings the Greek ambassador in Luxembourg had and that the minutes of these meetings have been shared with Turkey. Mr Talat said that some openings by the Turkish Cypriot side came onto the agenda during these meetings, aiming at forcing the Greek Cypriot side to get into action.

Mr Talat added: “We have proposed to give Varosha to the Greek Cypriot administration and in return we asked for ‘everything except recognition’. We asked for the decision regarding the Famagusta port and the Tymbou airport being closed to be withdrawn for ever. We asked for the lifting of the isolations and the cultural and sport embargoes. Turkey was informed about these proposals, but it is true that we did not have its approval. It was not said ‘it can be done’, but at the same time it was not said ‘it cannot be done’. In any case, if our proposal had been accepted, there would be a negotiations process before putting it into practice. The details would be discussed.

It is not right to accept as ‘lie’ or ‘wrong’ everything that former President Denktas said. It is true that the great majority of the land of Varosha belongs to the Evkaf (religious foundation). We have investigated this and saw it. The registries of the title deeds of Varosha, which had been stolen from the Famagusta Department of Land and Surveys, were found in 1974 in the store of a hotel in Varosha. Furthermore, during the Ottoman period three separate papers were kept for all the properties, one of which is in Turkey. As it is understood from this, more than 95 % of Varosha is Evkaf property. Now, you could say ‘how can you propose to give to the Greek Cypriot administration a property that belongs to Evkaf? We have not proposed to give the proprietorship of Varosha. We only proposed to give its control to the Greek Cypriot administration. And in return we asked for the end of the isolations. …”. http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/All/F6D19FC8A1954FA0C225703C0038256E? *************************************************************

VP, as you can see the demands of Talat were objectionable, unacceptable and unrealistic.
As he said "we asked for everything except recognition" and what the Gcs were suppose to take in return?....peanuts!
And on top of that he provocatevely claims that Varosha belongs to Efkaf!

It is so obvious that Talat cannot go to toilet without TR's permission, therefore what's the point of a meeting with Papadopoulos? TR is holding the fate of Tcs in her hands, unfortunately the Tc administration cannot take any initiatives without mama's permission.

[Viewpoint]

RAFAELLA would it not have been the golden opportunity to grab hold of offer however half baked you may feel it was. The chance to show the world that what you say is correct and TCs do not control their own destiny without Turkey. If the GC administration have had accepted then as they always argue that they are not responsible for the embargos placed on TRNC then they would not have to do much dont you agree?? secondly the issue of ownership surely GC have never accepted that Evkaf currently owns 95% of Maras/Varosha and even on this forum it has been argued that it can be proven that it was sold to them having documents to prove this would be easy to prove via an independent expert body so whats the problem? if you are confident it belongs to GCs then this arguement of TCs will not stand up.
As for any dispute about whether Maras can be returned, and if Turkey would agree I feel Talat has agreement from Turkey but wants to show I can do this on my own, so if you guys would have accepted negotiations would have started about how it would be returned time frame etc and what you guys need to do in return...surely 50.000 refugess going back and the potential of GCs and TCs working together to rebuild this beautiful place would have been worth this bold and visionary move, but I forgot you have to have leaders that really want to build trust between our communites.