Cyprus-Forum.com

[Kibrisli Turk]

Please read the following statement made by the YKP party (Yeni Kibris Party, New Cyprus Party) Yesterday in a closed meeting:

As you all know, we, the YKP party, personally believe in One Cypriot Republic, One Nation and One identity for this small island. However, over the past few months, in understanding how corrupt and controlled the "North" is recently, we now understand that talks via the United Nations framework on the Cyprus issue will eventually end up in Partition, and in a very bad way with hundreds of thousands of Turkish settlers in the north remaining. As what President Christofias has said recently, Turkey cannot join the EU without withdrawing its troops in Cyprus, but the real question is do they want to anymore? My concern as a TRUE Cypriot is the Unification of the entire Island at the shortest possible time and every part of it; its citizens and territory, enjoying all the benefits of being an EU country. As a Turkish speaking Cypriot living in the north of the island and supporting the YK-Party there (New Cyprus Party under Alpay Durduran), we feel that the EU and our Greek Cypriot brothers need to realise that unless the EU or the Republic of Cyprus makes a political move, the island could well now lead into partition and the so called "Turkishification" of the north. Which would be a nightmare for a party like ours which believes in one cyprus identity.

There are many no-go areas for my people's (Liberal) way of thinking, but the Carpet must now be forcefully, politically pulled under Turkey's comforting feeti in Cyprus. the following was suggested sometime ago by a colleague of mine which I had dismissed as impossible, but we are now thinking that it may be the only way to Call Turkey's bluff and Europeanise the North.

Many Turkish speaking Cypriots want the so called Recognition of the "TRNC" for different reasons than those of the Hard-line camp, whom wrongly believe that the recognition of the "TRNC" will give them a more "Turkishification". After spending many hours with some leading EU officials, it has come to our attention that the so called Recognition of a "TRNC" could actually Force Turkey's hand in many ways than one, and we also believe Christofias knows this too. Firstly, in Cyprus' current way of politics (since 19763) the Republic of Cyprus is and has been locked down in pointless "UN" based talks which suits Turkey perfectly. The ROC is therefore unable to force the hand of the EU's political system in taking over this process, which is a disaster for us Turkish Cypriots in the north wanting unification fast. By the ROC shockingly Recognising the "TRNC" or even a "Northern Cyprus" let's say, that part would be an immediate part of the European Union - whether Like it or NOT. All Turkish Cypriots would have an EU passport (Regardless of it being a "North Cyprus" one), and ALL of its territory would be PART OF THE EU. Although there would effectively be two states on the island, in reality both of those states would be under immediate EU law/Aquis and its exercise of all of its law would apply immediately. In other words, the North's idea of a seperate state would be watered down immediately, where we also believe that the UN Security council would base a new agreement alongside this new EU state in condemning Turkey if it should apply any force in an EU territory/state. It currently cannot do this because the north is still bogged down with UN Based (1963) unification talks under internationally agreements. Naturally, this would end if the EU took over.

Turkey, in that scenario, would be cornered immediately. Their ARMY would have to leave Immediately otherwise face the ECHR, the Settlers would have to leave the island almost immediately if they could not prove their original 1960 citizenship connection to the island, and the Guarantee system would end almost over night. we are saying this all because of one reason, and that is because Turkey doesn't care about its EU entry or any timelines for the Cyprus talks, it doesn't care about our Turkish Cypriot rights as original citizens of the island of Cyprus (under the 1960 agreement) and, as President Christofias said, Turkey is flooding the island with settlers in an alarming rate.

The North of the island must be a part of the EU, practically and not only by its written form, as soon as possible. just think about how we live now. We Turkish Cypriots currently hold ROC Passports, travel to the UK via Larnaca airport and claim medical services in the ROC, where the only thing stopping our unification is Turkey's Occupation in the north, which is now really an issue for the EU and not longer the UN. If the EU and the ROC were to acknowledge a "Turkish Cypriot" administration in the north regardless of how much of a anti-policy it is at the moment, it would also allow the EU to Legally exercise its laws with Turkey cornered. The EU must embrace the north, otherwise us Turkish Cypriots and the Northern territory of the ROC and island of Cyprus could one day be a part of Turkey, if not already.

[Get Real!]

By the ROC shockingly Recognising the "TRNC" or even a "Northern Cyprus" let's say, that part would be an immediate part of the European Union - whether Like it or NOT. All Turkish Cypriots would have an EU passport (Regardless of it being a "North Cyprus" one), and ALL of its territory would be PART OF THE EU. Although there would effectively be two states on the island, in reality both of those states would be under immediate EU law/Aquis and its exercise of all of its law would apply immediately. In other words, the North's idea of a seperate state would be watered down immediately, where we also believe that the UN Security council would base a new agreement alongside this new EU state in condemning Turkey if it should apply any force in an EU territory/state. It currently cannot do this because the north is still bogged down with UN Based (1963) unification talks under internationally agreements. Naturally, this would end if the EU took over.

In a nutshell the above is saying…

“Help us get rid of Turkey’s control of the occupied territory so that we (the TCs) can have control of it instead!”

But the RoC’s goal is twofold…

1. Get rid of Turkey from Cyprus altogether.
2. Attain 100% control of her rightful territory.

In the RoC’s eyes there is no advantage in the occupied territory simply changing “master”!

And not to mention that the idea above is a non-starter because UN member countries cannot recognize entities that the UN has condemned without falling out with the UN and risking repercussions themselves!

What can I say… it’s a pretty naïve theory!

[Get Real!]

Do you know what the problem is with some of you Turkish Cypriots?

You’re sitting on the fence convinced that as a people you are clever enough to manipulate two neighboring countries with a territorial dispute (Cyprus and Turkey) and the international authority on territorial recognitions (the UN), into creating a 3rd country for yourselves!

Your objective accuracy sucks and proving your own undoing…

[humanist]

That is certainly an interesting proposition. I think that can be the basis of an agreement based on right of return.

The Party has taken the occupied areas politics to another level, as they probably face criticism from Turkey and Eroglus ranks.

[Kibrisli Turk]

Thanks Get Real, your views are always appreciated. The only reason I found this interesting is that the Turkish Cypriots in the north are losing the battle and Turkey is playing all sides like a fool under the banner of seeking a "UN Resolution to the Cyprus problem". At some stage, either there'll be no Turkish Cypriots in the north and Turkey will also relinquish its EU candidacy and annex the "north Cyprus", or a very bad deal will be signed. By doing what you mentioned in short, I am sure Turkey will be placed in a very tight corner. As for I, personally, I would far prefer the ROC as an EU member and be done with Turkey in the north. Unfortunately though, I see no other way of getting them out! Do you after being played by Turkey in the "UN" game since 1963?

[Pyrpolizer]

This is one of the MOST THOUGHT PROVOKING IDEAS I have ever heard.

Get Real first of all you should not have hurried so much in dismissing the contents of what Mr Alpay Durduran has said. Mr Durduran is one of the most respectable Kibrislis, and he holds the same political stance from ages ago.
His son Turgut Durduran had the same positions too.
The Durduran family are one of the most genuine CYPRIOT families...
Turgut who is an academic also maintains a discussion forum that I used to participate some 10 years ago.I don't know if it is still active but you can read the archives here:
https://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/cyprus

I agree with the general idea of Mr Durduran. It has to be studied very carefully by RoC officials/politicians/lawyers before taking any further action.

[Pyrpolizer]

Now I am wondering how the whole idea could possibly be implemented.
Certainly it is not as simple as just recognizing an administration in the Northern part of the island and that administration and territory be part of the EU from one day to another.
There are implications here, that not even the EU can undertake without an agreement.Otherwise the very Aquis will collapse.

Suppose for example that things develop as Mr Durduran said. There is absolutely no commitment on Eroglus part to abide with the Aquis. In fact he will say you accepted us you recognized us, these are OUR laws, we never agreed to change them, so by accepting us AS ARE, makes your own Aquis different, it makes it accommodating our laws too, hence we can have as many settlers as we want, live on stolen properties etc.

So the ONLY possible way for the EU to proceed is for them to call the Kibrisli representatives, be them their MPs and their president Eroglu and sign an agreement with them that they will be recognized
a)as an local administration in the Northern part of the RoC, not as a separate state, and certainly not as "trnc"
b)With responsibility to implement to existing Aquis immediately.

Will they accept? I DON'T THINK SO...

The idea seems nice, and seems to be the only way out, but yet I can't personally figure out how it's going to be implemented.

Perhaps Mr Durduran could join the forum and explain us...

[Get Real!]

If its such a great plan perhaps the esteemed guest can tell us HOW and WHEN the RoC gets her rightful territory back!

[humanist]

Perhaps the New Cyprus Party can encourage those TC's with property in the free area to move back to their homes. This will leave very few TC's north. The GC's may feel a little more comfortable knowing that they may stand a chance of getting their homes back. It will also illustrate to the UN that it is a matter of Turkish occupation.

However, I do agree with the point that there could possibly be recognistion of a Cypriot State not trnc and most certainly not a separate State.

[Hermes]

The EU already recognises the north of Cyprus as EU territory. What it doesn't recognise is the "trnc". If the T/Cs want to get rid of the Turkish army and re-unite the island then they need to mobilise against the Turkish occupation authorities and make their voices heard. Up till now, T/Cs have been complicit in their own annihilation. If the T/Cs don't give a damn about their own survival why should anyone else care?