Cyprus-Forum.com

[CRealist]

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?

[SKI-preo]

Ok as long as the Turkish Cypriots go back to Paphos o which ever kolo eparchia they came from and the Kyrenia District of which they only have 8%-12% legal title to restituted to "us". Ate Asektir pou 'dame!

[ZoC]

land for recognition? ... but the land on offer is not theirs in the first place to offer, so how does that work?

if turkey offered cypriots a bit of land in asia minor, to recognise their presence in the north would we accept?

[kurupetos]

The day after this proposed 'solution' is agreed the TC state will be annexed by Turkey.

[jahitty]

It will quite simply not happen, The GC;s would never except it and the hardline TC;s do not want to give up any land unless of course they were given equal power sharing, which also will never be accepted by the GC;s. Thats prbably why it has never been given much attention.

[B25]

Mate, all good intentions, but what you state is not new. Cyprus is one, uno, ena gamoto, you just don't get it.

The TCs can live in Cyprus as free people like everyone else. I'll tell you what, you go to Turkey speak this drivel to Me E about the Kurds and see if Turkeys give up 1/4 of land and recognition to the kurds. When he has done that, then come here and tell us again.

If this is just about getting compo for your land, forget it mate, we all have land we want back, but not at the expense of the country and its future, bollocks to that. The TCs need to grow up and stip being spoilt little ungrateful parasites, not my words but those of the father Mr E.

Cheers, hope that answered your question.

[Kikapu]

If land for peace was to be accepted by the GCs (never will that happen) to make the north a "Turkish State", you can bet your bottom dollar that the "Turkish state" will not become an EU member and neither will Turkey, not only this denied to them by the RoC, but by the EU also. There is no way the EU is going to allow the "Turkish state" to become an EU member which Turkey will pull the strings of her puppets to interfere with the EU, as well as the threat of the "Turkish state" in essence giving every Turk in Turkey a EU citizenship through a phony citizenship schemes, just like what goes on now in the "trnc". There has to be some price paid by Turkey for partitioning Cyprus, don't you think.? Besides, Turkey will not agree to it because she wants to control ALL of Cyprus and not just the northern part, especially with no EU membership to the “Turkish state” in the north.

[CRealist]

People, try to be realistic please. The option for an ideal solution is just not there. One option is for the status quo to continue. This means none of our refugees will return and none will be adequately compensated while at the same time the Turkish Cypriots will be replaced by Settlers and live as a minority in a pariah pseudo state. The other option is an Annan plan type of solution, which is again a form of partition, and which will create an unworkable complicated and very expensive system that would be harmful for all Cypriots and particularly harmful for the Greek Cypriots, which is why most of them rejected such a solution in a referendum. A BBF which will be vastly better than the Annan plan is not something we can realistically expect to happen, so it is not an option. The only other realistic alternative is Land for Recognition. So forget the idealistic Utopian solutions. Our real options are few and we have to choose wisely.

I also disagree with those that said that after such a solution the north will become part of Turkey or that the Turkish Cypriots will continue to be puppets of Turkey. This is the case today because the Turkish Cypriots have nothing but a pseudo state and that means that they are 100% dependant on Turkey. If the conflict with Greek Cypriots ends and they have a recognized state which is member of EU then I am certain the Turkish Cypriots will choose what is best for themselves and they will stop being the puppets of Turkey.

[B25]

BS, you must be taking lessons from Bananiotoglu. Or be one of his cronies. Seems I hear this crap all before.

Welcome to the CF btw. Hope to stay long enough to understand your fellow GC better.

[Jerry]

People, try to be realistic please. The option for an ideal solution is just not there. One option is for the status quo to continue. This means none of our refugees will return and none will be adequately compensated while at the same time the Turkish Cypriots will be replaced by Settlers and live as a minority in a pariah pseudo state. The other option is an Annan plan type of solution, which is again a form of partition, and which will create an unworkable complicated and very expensive system that would be harmful for all Cypriots and particularly harmful for the Greek Cypriots, which is why most of them rejected such a solution in a referendum. A BBF which will be vastly better than the Annan plan is not something we can realistically expect to happen, so it is not an option. The only other realistic alternative is Land for Recognition. So forget the idealistic Utopian solutions. Our real options are few and we have to choose wisely.

I also disagree with those that said that after such a solution the north will become part of Turkey or that the Turkish Cypriots will continue to be puppets of Turkey. This is the case today because the Turkish Cypriots have nothing but a pseudo state and that means that they are 100% dependant on Turkey. If the conflict with Greek Cypriots ends and they have a recognized state which is member of EU then I am certain the Turkish Cypriots will choose what is best for themselves and they will stop being the puppets of Turkey.

Every Turkish proposal since 1974 has been turned down by the GCs. They want Cyprus to go back to how it was pre-invasion. The Turks keep offering less and less each time in the belief that sooner or later the GCs will realise that they will never get a better deal and will submit to Turkish terms. Politically the ROC now believes it has the upper hand because of recent Court cases and, of course, EU membership. Is Turkey really bluffing when it says it is losing interest in the EU? Will the EU change its rules so that the ROC loses its veto? Who's human rights will international Courts uphold - the occupier or the owner of property? It's a game of brinkmanship. Who will blink first?

What you propose today would be grabbed with both hands by Greek Cypriots in, say, 20 years time but by then the offer will have lapsed, because of the demographic changes Turkey has forced on the island it would demand 50%.

Within the EU and with phased limitations on the right to work, settle and invest in the other State I'm sure your proposal could be made to work but Turkey (and Greece) would have to be explicitly excluded from having anything to do with Cyprus, immigration from the motherlands would need to be subject to permanent derogations. The existing settlers would have the option of returning to Turkey or moving into the northern State.