Cyprus-Forum.com

[Turker]

Do you think Cyprus should use its right to not start negotiations with Turkey at the end of the year in view of the past events, or just contributing the peace by helping them start?

[Piratis]

in view of the past events

We can forget past events, and help Turkey. What we can not forget is current events. 1/3rd of the Republic of Cyprus is under occupation, and unfortunately this is not past event.

So maybe Cyprus will not veto the start of negotiations with Turkey, but you can't expect us to be helpful when at the same time you continue the occupation of our country.

[michalis5354]

No . I do not think Cyprus will use the veto right and I do not support such thing to happen!

[X-ite]

I don't think we should use our veto. I think the Cyprus problem will only be solved if Turkey gets a date and if the cyprus issue is set as one of the things that must be solved before accession.
If the Cyprus problem is not solved during the negotiations between Turkey and the EU then we should stop them from acceding - you can't be an EU country if you are occupying a third of another EU country...

[Turker]

You mean, Turkey can't be a EU member along with Cyprus and Greece unless she finds a solution to the problem.

I think, the Annan Plan won't change or change slightly. And if a 2nd referanda takes place Greeks will veto it again.

So you mean that, If Turkey does anything acceptable for peace making process, she won't be able to be a EU member.

It's so pity. Then You'll miss a chance to live in old Greek land western Anatolia freely. And we'll miss a chance to live in Salonique either.

[X-ite]

I think, the Annan Plan won't change or change slightly. And if a 2nd referanda takes place Greeks will veto it again.

Then it should change more. Anyone who has read it knows that some aspects of it are unfair to both communities, like not having the right to settle wherever you want.

Plus if Turkey joins the EU then Greece, Turkey and Cyprus will be on the same side, we will not have any excuses for wanting to secure our interests over the other country's interests, we will be helping each other.

It's so pity. Then You'll miss a chance to live in old Greek land western Anatolia freely. And we'll miss a chance to live in Salonique either.

I would rather be allowed to live in Kyrenia first

[gabaston]

in view of the past events

We can forget past events, and help Turkey. What we can not forget is current events. 1/3rd of the Republic of Cyprus is under occupation, and unfortunately this is not past event.

So maybe Cyprus will not veto the start of negotiations with Turkey, but you can't expect us to be helpful when at the same time you continue the occupation of our country.

our country?.........OUR COUNTRY?????

Since when was it your YOUR country?
Please remember how many of YOUR countrymen YOU killed before 74.
Were these people not of YOUR country then?
Why did your countrymen kill these people?
Do you expect children of the killed to consider themselves part of your country to consider themselves part of YOUR country?

If so rethink...................

[cannedmoose]

I'm copying this post from another thread because:

1. It addresses this question
2. I can't be arsed to write it again...

Blocking Turkey's EU entry would be an unmitigated disaster - for Turkey, for Europe AND for Cyprus. I find it highly unlikely that Turkey would be in any mood to continue further negotiations on a Cyprus solution and would instead turn increasingly towards the OIC and other bilateral means to achieve recognition for the TRNC. Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Jordan have long stood on the threshold of recognition, but have been unwilling to jump, without the prospect of positive change, and with the likelihood of a disgruntled US (having seen a key ally rebuffed) not making a stand against it, I think you'd see a creeping recognition by a number of states, with TRNC indeed becoming the 'Taiwan' of the Mediterranean.

I also dread to think what the prospects would be for governmental change in a rejectionist scenario. I can see Erdoğan being pitched straight out on his ear, a sweeping wave of nationalist rhetoric pouring forth (witness the recent nationalist protests against flag-burning incidents) and a hardline-nationalist administration romping back to power. I don't see an Islamic revival, the military would stand against it. With hardliners in power once again, Cyprus would again become a point of tension rather than contention, something none of us want to see.

As for the EUs response to a GC veto, I'm sure some would be happy to see the 'sore' that is Turkey ejected from the process - people like Jorg Haider and the anti-Islamist camp would be delighted I'm sure. But most realise that Turkey is a young country with enormous economic prospects, which would be advantageous to future economic growth throughout Europe. There may be other issues, but on the whole, the prospect of 80 million Turks undergoing an economic boom on Europe's periphery can only be a job-creator (yes it might draw certain industries away from other countries, but this is the development trend today anyway). How would the EU and its member states respond? I'm not sure, but for certain, the GCs would be persona non grata in some capitals for some time, with the concurrent impact on trading and investment relationships. Their claim to be a nexus between Europe and the Middle East would be severely damaged by a perceived rejection by those states of a fellow Muslim nation.

Cyprus could play a canny game and gently persuade the EU to prod Turkey in the right direction, never underestimate the conditionality that applies to the accession process. The stick of veto is available, but far better to use carrots to get a donkey to go where you want it to, than batter it with a lump of wood. Better for you, and the donkey.

[garbitsch]

gabaston, please do not look at the issue from one side. Whatever the EOKA men did to Turkish Cypriots, many Greek Cypriots had suffered because of the partition. Many lost their lives and also their houses. What we need to do is to forget about the past and look for the future. We cannot continue this situation anymore. What you should be against of, is the humiliation of the values of the Turks and the Turkish Republic.

[Piratis]

Since when was it your YOUR country?

Since the day I was born in the land that my ancestors have been living for 3500 years. Any problem with that?

Please remember how many of YOUR countrymen YOU killed before 74.

Not even a fraction of the ones you killed before 74, and thats without adding the thousands you killed in 74. (remember "before 74" is not only the tiny parts of history you selectively choose to remember)

Were these people not of YOUR country then?

Did I say this?

Why did your countrymen kill these people?

Maybe you want to answer the same question for the 100x killings of GCs by the Turks?

Do you expect children of the killed to consider themselves part of your country to consider themselves part of YOUR country?

If they don't they are free to leave from MY country.