CRealist wrote:Pyrpolizer wrote:CRealist wrote:Hello to all!
I am a Cypriot (Greek) who is tired of the Cyprus Problem. Every year we hear more of the same and no solution in sight! And with the kind of solution negotiated today, even if we finally came to some agreement, it would probably result in something too complicated and practically unworkable. Time to look to an alternative form of solution.
The solution I propose is not new but I believe it was never given the appropriate attention. This solution is "Land for Recognition". In short, the Turks give back a significant part of the territory they occupy and in return we recognize a separate state in north Cyprus.
Such solution can work, and could be the best possible solution for all Cypriots, Greek and Turkish, if the following condition is met:
1. The land returned should be enough, in terms of both amount and potential value, so that a proper exchange of properties can be made. The Turkish community owns about 18% of property while the Greek community about 82%. Today property ownership of both communities is distributed all over the island. With this solution the Turkish Cypriots will own almost the 100% of the land in the north, while the Greek Cypriots almost the 100% of the south, in a fair exchange where nobody gets more and nobody gets less than what they actually own. This means the size of the two states should be about 82% - 18% of the territory of the island.
We can also take this solution a step further. The Turkish Cypriots could agree that most Turkish Settlers will return to Turkey and that the Turkish troops will leave from Cyprus and this will enable the Greek Cypriots to agree that the newly formed Turkish Cypriot state will become an equal EU member. This would result in a unification of sorts through EU, with free movement, free trade and everything else that unites the EU countries.
Some of the benefits of this solution:
1. All refugees are compensated with an equivalent amount of land.
2. Cyprus will be free from Turkey and Cypriots (Greek and Turkish) will be free to run their own states.
3. Each state will have a normal democratic system instead of a complicated and unworkable system that would result from a BBF based solution.
4. There will be no problems that could result from differences in language and religion.
5. Cyprus will be reunited in the same degree as it would with a BBF like an Annan plan. No, it will not be a true and full unification but this wouldn't be the case with a BBF solution either.
6. The Turkish Cypriots will learn to take responsibilities and do what is best for themselves rather than doing what is best for Turkey. Once the conflict with Greek Cypriots is over they will realize that neither the oppressive authority of the Turkish army nor the vast amounts of Anatolian Settlers is something which is for their own interests. Having secured independence and an entry in EU they will have the means to free themselves from Turkey.
For this solution to materialize brave decisions need to be taken. The Greek Cypriots will have to accept that a significant part of Cyprus will be a separate Turkish state. Yes, we have a history in Kyrenia that goes back many 1000s of years but unfortunately we need to make some sacrifices if a solution is going to be found. The Turkish Cypriots will have to accept that they can not keep for themselves anywhere near the amount of land presently occupied by the Turkish army. If they want a real, free and truly independent state then they have to give a lot of that land back to Greek Cypriots.
What do the members of this forum think about this solution? Are you willing to move on and do what is needed for a workable solution?
This is partition my friend and you have to know that partition COSTS. In fact it COSTS so much that ANY side that would dare propose it will lose so much, that they can't even propose it.
In fact if the GC side were so stupid to propose such a thing it would be lucky to eventually get back some 1%. You see by proposing it, it STAYS as a FACT, and what is left is just what percentage is going to be returned.There will be endless negotiations for the percentage, and since ...... hooray we have already agreed that the basis of the solution will be partition the occupied will be recognized the VERY NEXT DAY.
We are discussing BBF for more than 2 decades. Just proposing it and discussing it alone didn't make BBF a reality.
Land for Recognition will be the same. Such proposal will include as a package both aspects with the exact parts of land that Republic of Cyprus wants back in order to offer recognition. Our proposal package can also include the significant reduction of Settlers, the withdrawal of Turkish troops and the accession of the Turkish Cypriot state in EU, all of which will be beneficial for both Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
You are absolutely wrong. It will not be the same.Recognition will become reality the very next day, and you will be waiting for ages through endless negotiations to agree on the percentage of land to be returned and to agree on the other conditions of your package. In the end you will get nothing.
In situations like the Cyprus problem my friend you cannot afford to make package proposals, unless you have the power to enforce them. If you make a package proposal and you expect a deal through negotiations, then the other side can chose whatever it likes from that package and leave the rest for the negotiations table.
Haven't you seen what happened to Christofias when he tried a simple package proposal for the number of settlers and rotating presidency? The other side took them for granted, and his preconditions were put aside.
In general you cannot think of it as a business deal between 2 parties, where you can always propose a package deal on the basis of either "take it or leave it" or on the basis of it be "negotiable". The Cyprus problem is not something that concerns 2 sides only, in fact the matter of recognition actually concerns all the nations of this planet. By the minute YOU the AFFECTED PARTY, set the matter of recognition on the table, I don't see any reason why any other nation should not do the same. And while your table will have the matter of recognition with several other conditions, the other nations will not have any conditions...
Just like today they have agreed only on a number of issues on the BBF, your proposal for land for recognition will only have only one agreed issue: The RECOGNITION. It doesn't matter what terms and conditions you attach to that. The other side will take that agreed issue as granted/as a FACT, find a million excuses to drag the negotiations for eternity, then claim it is impossible for her to return more than say 1%, then claim international support for humanitarian reasons, and then get her recognition from all those who matter....
