Cyprus-Forum.com

[Acikgoz]

From the Stockholm International Peace Research Institution (SIPRI) June 2010

The largest relative increases in real terms were in Cyprus (21%), Turkey (18%).

Nikitas, I believe you had asked before how can we reduce the military prescence in Cyprus from a TC perspective, I couldn't find the topic to respond, so here I am starting a new one. When I saw this article by SIPRI I guess my comments would certainly be against the trend.

I was going to comment that the issue for TCs is the threat of a military assault on the north from the south before a mutually satisfactory solution is agreed to. In that context, a steady de-militarisation of the island to minimal proportions would make the most sense. In the light of arms building in both Turkey and Cyprus (crazy in this economic troubling times) I guess not a likely outcome.

TCs have no compulsion/desire to attack the south. They just want to move on, the idea of an attack on the south is not even a topic of debate in the most conservative of circles in the North.

We find ourselves therefore in the situation of choosing between are more arms a deterant for war or a means to orchestrate one.

Personally I'd like to see weapons/military steadily removed.

To provide confidence to embark on such an undertaking we'd need some form of treaty that no war would be forthcoming while under discussion of a solution but I am sure GC objections to that further establishing the Green line border would ensure that would be a non-starter.

Alternatively, an understanding with UN mediation to demilitarise could suffice pragmatically and could be worked if parties were willing.

As a solution seems to be ever extending into the future, perhaps time is closer for considering making Cyprus less susceptible to the terrors of war.

[Get Real!]

TCs have no compulsion/desire to attack the south. They just want to move on,

When you own 12% and someone gifts you 37% you'd have to be very stupid to complain eh!

Personally I'd like to see weapons/military steadily removed.

You don't say... so the sovereign republic of Cyprus should not be armed but the Turkish invader should!

Does your mum have any more clever ones like you at home?

[Acikgoz]

? Dude, stay off the drugs, you are talking both out of context and not making sense.

[Get Real!]

? Dude, stay off the drugs, you are talking both out of context and not making sense.

Well it looks like your "debate" reached an embarrassing dead end due to your double standards...

[Paphitis]

So the RoC should disarm its 11,000 strong CNG whilst her territory is under occupation by a country that boasts Armed Forces totalling some 800,000!

Yeh right!

Next idiot please...

[DT.]

Takes a real special poster to make GR! and Paphitis sound as harmonious as the Vienna Boys Choir.

[Acikgoz]

I was giving a TC point of view to having minimal military on the north of the island which would require a position of minimal military concern from the south of the island.

So perhaps we should only have in the north 11,000 military then everyone will be happy?

[Gasman]

Nato chief tells EU to reach security pact with Turkey

http://euobserver.com/13/30134

... Berlin, for instance, has already been voicing its concern with Greek and Turkish authorities to stop treating each other as if they were still at war over the divided island of Cyprus and cut down their defence budgets.

Greece spends more than any other EU member on its military, about €13.4 billion or 5.6 percent of GDP and has recently pledged to bring the figure down to three percent, but only if Turkey does the same...

No sense in comparing CYPRUS with Turkey when it comes to arms.

[DT.]

I was giving a TC point of view to having minimal military on the north of the island which would require a position of minimal military concern from the south of the island.

So perhaps we should only have in the north 11,000 military then everyone will be happy?

Why? If you're discussing the millitary of the Republic of Cyprus then you should also be discussing the millitary of the Republic of Turkey, not just those occupying Cyprus.

If Cyprus disarms, so should Turkey.

[YFred]

I was giving a TC point of view to having minimal military on the north of the island which would require a position of minimal military concern from the south of the island.

So perhaps we should only have in the north 11,000 military then everyone will be happy?

Even if we had 5000, they'll still be shitting bricks at the sight of our cousins from the north.

What they don't understand is what a waste of time it is to spend all this money on arms when they can't defend themselves.

The only purpose it serves, is to fool the population into thinking that they can be defended, when rality says otherwise. But boys will be boys wheher there in the quire or not.