Cyprus-Forum.com

[Gasman]

I was reading recently (re the Annan Plan) in an article by someone who was there in some capacity (will try to find it later) that, shortly before it was produced to be voted on, there were NINE THOUSAND draft legal documents relating to it on a side table.

What a complete bloody waste of money, time and effort producing that lot was when it was rejected out of hand immediately afterwards.

I am surprised that GCs don't demonstrate en masse and lobby their govt bods to be MORE OPEN about it and give them some answers about whether what THEY want is being taken into consideration.

There are important decisions taken in some countries where govt refuses to allow 'referendum' on them - saying that they were voted in, they know best, and they will decide.

But that's not the case here - it is still down to referendum in the end. So there is a need for more openness (maybe a few head to head televised debates even?) to give people time to think about what is being proposed and taken under consideration, maybe even change their minds about stuff they thought they'd decided on - but so they can give feedback to their glorious leaders about how some of it will be received by them and stop those glorious leaders WASTING TOO MUCH MORE TIME on discussing stuff that they have had it made quite clear to them will NEVER be accepted.

[Gasman]

Here 'tis. From the UNFICYP website:

http://www.unficyp.org/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=2053&tt=graphic&lang=l1

Opening statement and unofficial transcript of remarks to the press by Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto Füringen Hotel, near Bürgenstock, Switzerland

... Now, in the course of the meeting, and in his statement, you will see that the Secretary-General at one point actually points to a table that was over to his right, and to the rear on which were nine thousand pages of draft laws. These laws are the work of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots working intensely, in unison, as the Secretary-General points out in his speech, for the cause of the reunification of Cyprus. They would be part of the package that would be submitted to referendum. But of course people will be concentrating on the plan itself, which contains many components which are enumerated in the Secretary-General’s speech, and you will see that soon. The structure remains essentially the same. It is the foundation agreement and a number of attachments and annexes. The list is contained in the Secretary-General’s speech. ...

The rest of it is quite interesting to read too. Esp. the Q & A at the end - which I think demonstrates nicely that they really do NOT want to give any info out!

In fact, I couldn't see ONE straight answer to any question.

[Nikitas]

Gasman,

There is no way anyone could have read 9000 pages of anything in two weeks. Now if you look at the ballot paper handed out to CGs to vote, it says that they have read and understood the Annan plan.

To this day I have not met anyone who has read the whole thing.

I have met army officers of various nationalities who read the military annexes and scratched their heads in confusion as to why Turkey insisted on such crushing firepower during the interim period. I talked to police officers who looked at the meandering demarcation line between the two constituent states and said it was impossible to police.

Above all it is still puzzling why the GC sector hd to be cut in two pieces by the Dekhelia sovereign base area.

It might take months to read 9000 pages but one quick glance at a map tells you a lot in a few seconds. That map was all people needed to say no.

[Gasman]

I am not disagreeing with you. What I am saying is WHY did it take them so long and WHY did they have to produce so many draft laws etc. only to have it turned down resoundingly by their ELECTORATE? The people they are supposed to REPRESENT?

Basically saying, WTF were they doing all that time. And WTF are they doing now?

Your Pres says he won't be hurried. The other side say they'd like a quick conclusion.

If all it takes is for them to PRODUCE A MAP and show it to their respective electorate - why don't they do that?

Or why aren't all you GCs telling them to do that - in demonstrations, etc.?

I posted some time ago to say why is Chris. insisting on leaving the question of PROPERTY until last when it is OBVIOUS that is the most important aspect of the whole thing for almost everyone concerned?

What use agreeing on EVERYTHING ELSE UNDER THE SUN if there is no agreement on property or land?