Cyprus-Forum.com

[Malapapa]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8599472.stm

Is time running out for a deal in Cyprus?

Later this month elections in the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus could see President Mehmet Ali Talat being ousted in favour of a hardliner, Dervis Eroglu.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by Greek Cypriot extremists, bent on union with Greece.

Mr Talat was elected in 2005, having promised to deliver a reunification deal with the Greek Cypriots but, despite being locked in talks with his opposite number, Demetris Christofias, for the past 18 months he has been unable to announce a deal.

Both Greece and Turkey say they want the issue resolved and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon visited Cyprus in February and urged both sides to show "courage".

In 2004 a previous deal, the so-called Annan Plan, was approved by Turkish Cypriots in a referendum but rejected by Greek Cypriots.

Do you live in Cyprus or were you born there? Do you think the two communities will ever be able to live together? What do you blame for the failure to reach a deal? What do you think the main sticking points are? You can tell us your experiences using the form below. If you are happy to be contacted by the BBC, please include your phone number.

[Jerry]

No doubt the Forum Fascists will lead the BBC to believe that Cypriots hate each other more than ever instead of pointing out that both communities are victims of external forces/powers beyond their control.

[Viewpoint]

I have applied Jerry to put accross the average TC viewpoint.

[Jerry]

I have applied Jerry to put accross the average TC viewpoint.

The first fascist (apparently an average one? ) has popped his head above the parapet!

[bill cobbett]

Where's the Comments?? Can't for the life of me find them.

[Malapapa]

I have applied Jerry to put accross the average TC viewpoint.

The first fascist (apparently an average one? ) has popped his head above the parapet!

[paliometoxo]

Where's the Comments?? Can't for the life of me find them.

probably none of them where accepted yet

[bill cobbett]

Where's the Comments?? Can't for the life of me find them.

probably none of them where accepted yet

(Is this the right place?)

Yes, you always know when the BBC sees a quiet news week-end coming up, it falls back to CY to fill the gap.

[Malapapa]

A family member from London has just emailed me the message he's sent to the BBC. He has given me permission to reproduce it here (as I did help with the drafting) Well done A.

Do you live in Cyprus or were you born there? Do you think the two communities will ever be able to live together? What do you blame for the failure to reach a deal? What do you think the main sticking points are?

Of course Cypriots can live together. Cypriot immigrants to the UK and their descendents do so already, in their tens of thousands, in the same neighbourhoods. North London boroughs such as Barnet, Enfield and Haringey have high concentrations UK Cypriots. They live, work, play, form friendships, do business and fall in love; with each other, and with other north Londoners. Why wouldn't they?

Cypriots, with differing religious backgrounds, have lived side-by-side for centuries on their island. Cyprus was never divided along ethnic lines. Many villagers were mixed Christian/Muslim. Muslim populated villagers were peppered throughout the island. It took the external interests of foreign powers, exploiting imported Greek/Turkish nationalism to drive Cypriots apart along ethnic lines.

Turkey intervened in Cyprus in 1974, exercising its rights as a guarantor to restore the island's territorial integrity. Unfortunately, Turkey has been intervening ever since, controlling and bank-rolling the north of the island and now making a solution by Cypriots for Cypriots impossible, with Turkey's interests having to be given undue prominence in negotiations. It's difficult to envisage how Turkey and its military will be prepared to relinquish control of the north of the island, having spilt blood to secure it.

For this reason security is the main stumbling block, with the Turkish Cypriot leadership - acting as proxy for Turkey - insisting on continued military intervention rights, ostensibly to guarantee the safety of Turkish Cypriots, but in reality as a way of ensuring Turkey's continued control over the island.

This is unlikely ever to be acceptable to Cypriots living in the free areas. Turkey's military committed many atrocities in 1974 as it ethnically cleansed the island's Christian population from the north. Such refugees and their descendants will not be convinced that Turkey's military, or any other foreign country's military for that matter, should "guarantee the safety" of a modern, EU country.

Another important stumbling block is property, and the human rights of displaced people, from north and south, wishing to return to their homes.

Turkey, through the Turkish Cypriot leadership, is insisting refugees cannot have the automatic right to return. This is to ensure that a part of the island has a majority Turkish Cypriot population. Money - and lots of it - may solve this problem, to compensate displaced people sufficiently. Nevertheless, there may be some individuals who will challenge legally any solution which rides rough-shod over their property rights. The recent ECJ ruling (the landmark Apostolides/Orams case) has established that Cypriot refugees still own their properties.

Related to the property issue is territory, and the size of the proposed northern (Turkish Cypriot) constituent state.

Turkish Cypriots make up approximately 18% of the overall Cypriot population. The part of Cyprus currently controlled by Turkey's army is around 37%. The Annan Plan - overwhelmingly rejected by Cypriots in the free areas in 2004 - allocated 29%. A territorial percentage nearer 18% would need to be negotiated if it is to be acceptable to free Cypriots.

Finally settlers. Turkey is insisting all settlers that have come to Cyprus from Anatolia since 1974 should automotically become Cypriot, and therefore EU citizens after a solution. This is unlikely to be acceptable to Cypriots in the free areas who see the importing of settlers from Turkey as a war crime in breach of the Geneva convention. Turkey is now also insisting that all Turkish citizens, like all EU citizens, should have a right to reside and buy property in Cyprus. This too is likely to be a deal breaker.

[bill cobbett]

A family member from London has just emailed me the message he's sent to the BBC. He has given me permission to reproduce it here (as I did help with the drafting) Well done A.

Do you live in Cyprus or were you born there? Do you think the two communities will ever be able to live together? What do you blame for the failure to reach a deal? What do you think the main sticking points are?

Of course Cypriots can live together. Cypriot immigrants to the UK and their descendents do so already, in their tens of thousands, in the same neighbourhoods. North London boroughs such as Barnet, Enfield and Haringey have high concentrations UK Cypriots. They live, work, play, form friendships, do business and fall in love; with each other, and with other north Londoners. Why wouldn't they?

Cypriots, with differing religious backgrounds, have lived side-by-side for centuries on their island. Cyprus was never divided along ethnic lines. Many villagers were mixed Christian/Muslim. Muslim populated villagers were peppered throughout the island. It took the external interests of foreign powers, exploiting imported Greek/Turkish nationalism to drive Cypriots apart along ethnic lines.

Turkey intervened in Cyprus in 1974, exercising its rights as a guarantor to restore the island's territorial integrity. Unfortunately, Turkey has been intervening ever since, controlling and bank-rolling the north of the island and now making a solution by Cypriots for Cypriots impossible, with Turkey's interests having to be given undue prominence in negotiations. It's difficult to envisage how Turkey and its military will be prepared to relinquish control of the north of the island, having spilt blood to secure it.

For this reason security is the main stumbling block, with the Turkish Cypriot leadership - acting as proxy for Turkey - insisting on continued military intervention rights, ostensibly to guarantee the safety of Turkish Cypriots, but in reality as a way of ensuring Turkey's continued control over the island.

This is unlikely ever to be acceptable to Cypriots living in the free areas. Turkey's military committed many atrocities in 1974 as it ethnically cleansed the island's Christian population from the north. Such refugees and their descendants will not be convinced that Turkey's military, or any other foreign country's military for that matter, should "guarantee the safety" of a modern, EU country.

Another important stumbling block is property, and the human rights of displaced people, from north and south, wishing to return to their homes.

Turkey, through the Turkish Cypriot leadership, is insisting refugees cannot have the automatic right to return. This is to ensure that a part of the island has a majority Turkish Cypriot population. Money - and lots of it - may solve this problem, to compensate displaced people sufficiently. Nevertheless, there may be some individuals who will challenge legally any solution which rides rough-shod over their property rights. The recent ECJ ruling (the landmark Apostolides/Orams case) has established that Cypriot refugees still own their properties.

Related to the property issue is territory, and the size of the proposed northern (Turkish Cypriot) constituent state.

Turkish Cypriots make up approximately 18% of the overall Cypriot population. The part of Cyprus currently controlled by Turkey's army is around 37%. The Annan Plan - overwhelmingly rejected by Cypriots in the free areas in 2004 - allocated 29%. A territorial percentage nearer 18% would need to be negotiated if it is to be acceptable to free Cypriots.

Finally settlers. Turkey is insisting all settlers that have come to Cyprus from Anatolia since 1974 should automotically become Cypriot, and therefore EU citizens after a solution. This is unlikely to be acceptable to Cypriots in the free areas who see the importing of settlers from Turkey as a war crime in breach of the Geneva convention. Turkey is now also insisting that all Turkish citizens, like all EU citizens, should have a right to reside and buy property in Cyprus. This too is likely to be a deal breaker.

Gosh! My one was about twenty words long.