Cyprus-Forum.com

[zan]

not bringing feasible proposals to negotiation table’


Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) President Derviş Eroğlu says expectations have arisen of an agreement over the status of the divided island by year’s end and that his government is working on the negotiations track with that goal in mind despite complaints about Greek demands.
In an exclusive interview with Today’s Zaman, President Eroğlu explained: “We are making our recommendations with sensitivity to a livable agreement. What a shame it is that the Greek administration is coming with recommendations that will be rejected by the Turkish side. If you address the immigrant argument dismissing the 35 years that have passed, if you uproot people from where they live, then you’re extending an invitation for a social explosion.”
Eroğlu said that because they want negotiations to pick up where they left off, they agreed to start off with property issues so as to avoid rejecting Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias’ offer. But one day after negotiations began on the controversial property issue, the reflection of these talks in the Greek media led to mutual accusations and prevented the talks from proceeding in a healthy manner, he noted.
Eroğlu stressed the gravity of the issue, noting that while not a single word was to be found on the details of the negotiations in the Turkish press and despite the fact that a general framework had not been agreed upon, the topics and documents on the negotiating table were published in the Greek media. The Turkish side views this situation as a sign of insincerity on the Greeks’ part, Eroğlu said, adding that the KKTC has good intentions and is exerting all of its efforts toward finding a peaceful solution.
Eroğlu said the Turkish side’s sincerity and care when it comes to these issues has been commended by special UN representative to Cyprus Alexander Downer and other international organizations. Emphasizing that in September the two sides are going to share their broad proposals for dealing with property issues on the island with each other, Eroğlu stressed that October and November would mark arrival at an important level in the negotiations. He added that around that time Downer would be preparing a report on the two sides’ progress, to be presented to the UN secretary-general.
A reverse approach to the Annan plan
Eroğlu said the Greek side insisted upon an irrational proposal when it came to the subject of property sharing. Their approach, which favors former property owners despite the passage of 35 years, contradicts both the Annan plan and rulings by the European Court of Human Rights, he said.
Along with the return of property, exchange and compensation mechanisms can also be deployed, Eroğlu noted, saying: “According to the Greek proposal, which emphasizes the former property owners, there are no rights for the new residents of, say, 30-40 unit apartment complexes that have been built on land that was only a field 35 years ago. If the field’s former owner wants to pay for the development of the property and become its owner, then those 30-40 families become renters in their homes. This is not an acceptable, rational proposal. It goes against the Annan plan and European court decisions. What we’re saying is that we should put a percentage on the property development figure; let’s give some rights of choice to the new owners who have developed that immovable property above a certain percentage. If you keep giving these rights to the original owners without looking at the development percentage -- knowing that society will not look kindly upon this, will not accept this -- then you’re not going to reach any agreement here.”
Recalling that Europe has significant experience when it comes to dealing with such issues, Eroğlu said: “You can’t ignore rights that have been created as time goes by. The ground we’re standing upon [in our perspective] is confirmed by the European Court.”
‘Discoveries of remains brings closure, rekindles our grief’
Through the efforts of a commission established to research missing persons cases, the remains of 300 of the 800 Turks who went missing between 1963 and 1974 have been located in individual and mass graves. Asked by Today’s Zaman’s about the discovery of the remains of his brother-in-law earlier this year, Eroğlu said: “The weight of conscience drives individuals to tip off the commission, and the graves of missing persons are thereby found. But because the number of those who were alive in those days is decreasing as we go, confessions and tips are becoming less frequent by the day. My brother-in-law, Hasan Yılmaz Ahmet, was lost in 1963 when he was 25 years old; his remains were found in a grave along with those of ... his friends. On one side families are relieved when the missing persons are found, but then we experience a fresh round of pain. I was shocked to receive the bones of Hasan -- who was 1.85 meters tall -- in a coffin the size of a child’s coffin. Along with three of his friends, he was shot in the back of the neck. This upset us so much! To receive the remains of an adult person in a tiny coffin -- it is unbearable. As his parents have passed on they didn’t see it, but his sibling and relatives were relieved that the body was found,” he explained.

09.08.2010
News
ALİ ASLAN KILIÇ
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/

[Get Real!]

not bringing feasible proposals to negotiation table’

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) President Derviş Eroğlu says...

Zanny, let’s face it…

If I bring the Cyprus National Guard and her reservists to the “negotiating” table, what’s the probability that this uneducated Ottoman clown you call “Eroglu” will still be sitting at a table and in a position to “bargain” and not have flown to Timbuktu for a permanent vacation?

[zan]

not bringing feasible proposals to negotiation table’

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) President Derviş Eroğlu says...

Zanny, let’s face it…

If I bring the Cyprus National Guard and her reservists to the “negotiating” table, what’s the probability that this uneducated Ottoman clown you call “Eroglu” will still be sitting at a table and in a position to “bargain” and not have flown to Timbuktu for a permanent vacation?

You did it 1963 and paid the price GR.......OH! I forgot...That period has been erased from your memory.

[Get Real!]

Nothing happened in 63, nothing happened in 67, and nothing happened in 74 even, compared to what CAN happen in 2010+ because times have changed…

[zan]

Nothing happened in 63, nothing happened in 67, and nothing happened in 74 even, compared to what CAN happen in 2010+ because times have changed…

It's worse than I thought...But wait a minute!!!! You crafty sod you....If you can't remember then how can you tell me things have changed.......

[Simon]

Nothing happened in 63, nothing happened in 67, and nothing happened in 74 even, compared to what CAN happen in 2010+ because times have changed…

GR, how about Cyprus properly investing in its military first. I mean we spend 1.8% of our GDP on defence, when 37% of our country is under military occupation! Ridiculous really. That figure should be doubled instantly for starters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... penditures

Some may say there is no point spending more because we can't defend ourselves against Turkey in any event, but if that is the case, why bother having an armed forces at all and wasting even one penny?

Either way, it reflects a pervasive problem which saturates the GC side, lack of clear direction and strategy.

[zan]

Nothing happened in 63, nothing happened in 67, and nothing happened in 74 even, compared to what CAN happen in 2010+ because times have changed…

GR, how about Cyprus properly investing in its military first. I mean we spend 1.8% of our GDP on defence, when 37% of our country is under military occupation! Ridiculous really. That figure should be doubled instantly for starters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... penditures

Some may say there is no point spending more because we can't defend ourselves against Turkey in any event, but if that is the case, why bother having an armed forces at all and wasting even one penny?

Either way, it reflects a pervasive problem which saturates the GC side, lack of clear direction and strategy.

what sort of cap does the EU put on defence spending???

[Simon]

Nothing happened in 63, nothing happened in 67, and nothing happened in 74 even, compared to what CAN happen in 2010+ because times have changed…

GR, how about Cyprus properly investing in its military first. I mean we spend 1.8% of our GDP on defence, when 37% of our country is under military occupation! Ridiculous really. That figure should be doubled instantly for starters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... penditures

Some may say there is no point spending more because we can't defend ourselves against Turkey in any event, but if that is the case, why bother having an armed forces at all and wasting even one penny?

Either way, it reflects a pervasive problem which saturates the GC side, lack of clear direction and strategy.

what sort of cap does the EU put on defence spending???

Put it this way, Greece spends over 3%. I am not aware of any such cap, especially when your country is under military occupation. I know there are some limits on equipment, i.e. tanks etc, but not aware of any on spending. Even if there are, 1.8% would be well below any threshold.

[zan]

Nothing happened in 63, nothing happened in 67, and nothing happened in 74 even, compared to what CAN happen in 2010+ because times have changed…

GR, how about Cyprus properly investing in its military first. I mean we spend 1.8% of our GDP on defence, when 37% of our country is under military occupation! Ridiculous really. That figure should be doubled instantly for starters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... penditures

Some may say there is no point spending more because we can't defend ourselves against Turkey in any event, but if that is the case, why bother having an armed forces at all and wasting even one penny?

Either way, it reflects a pervasive problem which saturates the GC side, lack of clear direction and strategy.

what sort of cap does the EU put on defence spending???

Put it this way, Greece spends over 3%. I am not aware of any such cap, especially when your country is under military occupation. I know there are some limits on equipment, i.e. tanks etc, but not aware of any on spending. Even if there are, 1.8% would be well below any threshold.

A quick look at this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... penditures (I Think) shows that apart from Greece, all EU countries are in the ball park with "Cyprus".

[Bananiot]

Simon, the National Guard's only victory so far was the coup against Makarios in july 1974. Spending more money on the NG will send Cyprus economy packing and in any case, besides GR's rhetoric, running after Turkey in an arms race constitutes a death warrant for Cyprus. Is this so difficult to understand?