Cyprus-Forum.com

[shahmaran]

Just take it like a man and shut up ZoC....

[shahmaran]

two wrongs, don't make a right, neither does three...

why are you guys stuck on "Greeks" vs "Turks" when they are the same and against anyone else who they deem different. because you are Greek or Turkish means they blight your betterment, yet you join them in their Intolerance; you're all paid propagandist wanna be(s) it seems.

I just hate the fact that every time they want to blame us for something they show the wrong doings of Turkey...

[ZoC]

Just take it like a man and shut up ZoC....

what's this? a coalition of the retarded?

[shahmaran]

Just take it like a man and shut up ZoC....

what's this? a coalition of the retarded?

More like an execution of THE retard...

[Lit]

It is not Cyprus standing in the way of Turkey's accession to the EU

The real stumbling block is its illegal occupation of our republic since 1974

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... pean-union

Alexandros N Zenon
The Guardian, Friday 5 November 2010

Martin Kettle's claim that the EU's relationship with Turkey is "held hostage by the atavistic parochialism of a Greek Cypriot statelet", in his article on Turkish membership of the EU (Disgracefully, Turkey's EU accession bid is going nowhere soon, 29 October), portrays a lack of understanding of the fundamental principles of the union. Population and GDP have never been prerequisites either for EU membership or for statehood. Aggression and the threat of use of force, however, have always been incompatible with the founding principles and goals of the EU. Let us not forget that historically it emerged out of the ruins of the second world war, aiming at the reunification and pacification of the continent.

Since 1974 Turkey has continued its illegal military occupation of 37% of the Republic of Cyprus with a more than 40,000-strong army, actively encouraging the illegal colonisation of the occupied part with settlers from Turkey and the systematic destruction of its cultural identity. Also, one cannot ignore the fact that, following the 1974 invasion by Turkey, more than one-third of the Greek Cypriot population (more than 200,000 people) were violently rendered refugees in their own country. Additionally, a great number of people, military and civilians, went missing during the invasion, either captured or killed by the invading Turkish troops. Sadly, Turkey, 36 years after the invasion, still refuses to co-operate in giving information as to these missing persons' whereabouts.

All of the above, and many more unmentioned yet tragic results of the 1974 invasion – what Kettle euphemistically calls the "Cyprus situation" – have been repeatedly condemned by numerous UN resolutions and decisions of the European court of justice, the European court of human rights (ECHR), and courts in the UK. Only this week the ECHR found Turkey guilty of violating the right of property protection and the right to respect for private and family life in the case of Lordos and Others v Turkey. The case concerned the applicants' complaints that the 1974 Turkish military intervention in the northern part of Cyprus deprived them of their homes and properties. The court decided that eight out of the 13 Greek Cypriots who brought the action were deprived of their right to property protection and four of them of their right to respect for private and family life.

Kettle says: "Disgracefully, Cyprus remains as big a stumbling block as ever. Only one of the 35 chapters of the admission negotiations has been completed." Yet Cyprus, a full member of the EU, has not vetoed Turkey's membership. Having said that, Turkey was never given a blank cheque either, as it should comply with and fulfil all accession criteria and prerequisites which apply to all candidate countries.

The 2006 decision to "freeze" a number of chapters of the negotiations was taken unanimously by all member states, including the UK, due to Turkey's insistence on not recognising the Republic of Cyprus and its refusal to fulfil and comply with its obligations vis-a-vis the EU and its member states. Turkey, although obliged by the EU-Turkey customs union agreement and the additional protocol to the association agreement to lift its embargo against Cypriot-flagged ships, continues to refuse, thus hindering its own path to EU membership.

[All4114All]

Turkey has only itself to blame if it is shunned by the EU The vandalism and looting of Cyprus's cultural heritage that has occurred since 1974 is unworthy of any civilised nation

Just like everyone else the problem began in 1974

Kettle mentions that Europe and Turkey have common interests, agreements worth making and promises to keep. However, it is precisely because Turkey has reneged on its commitment in July 2005 to extend the customs union to the Republic of Cyprus that the European Council in December 2006 decided to block the opening of eight negotiating chapters.

If anyone should be commited to anything I think the EU should commit to keep it's promise in regards to direct trade as promised after the Annan Plan vote.

In 1965 Turkey ratified the Hague convention of 1954 for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict, but nevertheless after its intervention and subsequent occupation of Cyprus in 1974 it has been responsible for the devastation, vandalism and looting of the island's cultural heritage on a scale unworthy of any civilised nation, let alone a prospective member of the EU.

If Turkey stood still there would be no T/C cultural heritage left on Cyprus it would be forgotten and Robert Ellis views would be different. It would read something like this "The cultural heritage in Cyprus a thriving G/C community with museums full of waxed T/C people who lived on the island"
If the EU had a problem it should not of stuck it's nose in without knowing the consequences or history of Cyprus problem.

"Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", but also the Turkish Cypriots, who have suffered under Turkish rule.

And today we will be singing the Greek National Anthem.

For example, the Turkish Cypriot primary school and secondary school teachers' unions (KTOS and KTOES) have protested against the imposition of Sunni Islam and Qur'an classes, which reflect the ideology of the current Turkish government. There is also the fact that over the past years more mosques than schools have been constructed in northern Cyprus (there are 162 schools and 181 mosques).

If the above is true in regards to classes and protests which I have not seen then I agree this is not good.

[shahmaran]

Another sell out EU official, nothing new here, wonder how much the GC's pay him....

[Get Real!]

Just like everyone else the problem began in 1974

Of course not! It began in 1570.

If anyone should be commited to anything I think the EU should commit to keep it's promise in regards to direct trade as promised after the Annan Plan vote.

See Green Line Regulation. Surely you didn't think that the "promise" involved recognition via violations of international law!

[Hermes]

It is not Cyprus standing in the way of Turkey's accession to the EU

The real stumbling block is its illegal occupation of our republic since 1974

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... pean-union

Alexandros N Zenon
The Guardian, Friday 5 November 2010

Another excellent piece in The Guardian. That's two in two days about how Turkey is shutting itself out of the EU because of its occupation of Cyprus.

Looking forward to Turkey's EU accession report. I could do with a laugh.

[All4114All]

Just like everyone else the problem began in 1974

Of course not! It began in 1570.

If anyone should be commited to anything I think the EU should commit to keep it's promise in regards to direct trade as promised after the Annan Plan vote.

See Green Line Regulation. Surely you didn't think that the "promise" involved recognition via violations of international law!

Sure lets start at 1570 GR you may have been under Ottoman Rule but you were able to practice your religion beliefs despite the oppression of foreign subjugation, the period of Ottoman rule (1570-1878) had a limited impact on Greek Cypriot culture so thats 300 years of no ethnic cleansing but to live under an 'empire'. Now from 1955 (EOKA) - 1974 = 19 years well I dont need to tell you what happen. So 300 years vs 19 years you do the maths. Why don't you be thankful the idea of ethnic cleansing was not done in 1570 and your ancestors have continued to live on this island and G/C call Cyprus home today. You just wanted another version of Crete unfortunately it backfired. Please remember it was an Empire whereas the ethnic cleansing and ENOSIS was declared under independence of Cyprus. Trying to ethnic cleanse under an independent state people must face war crimes i.e Slobodan Milosevic. Now I may have miss the news but has there been any war crime charges on the actions of Greece or G/C parliment i.e Georgios Grivas. Dont get living under an Empire Vs living under Independence mixed up together. So dont give me stupid nonsense what can be clearly seen in front of your nose.

Recognition maybe not but economically yes.