Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

Away From The Greek and Turkish propaganda machines

Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been divided physically and politically ever since. A UN-monitored buffer zone separates the Greek and Turkish Cypriot areas and while the Government of the Republic of Cyprus administers the Greek Cypriot zone, the Turkish Cypriot authorities administer the Turkish Cypriot zone. In 1975, political leaders in the north proclaimed the area under its control the “Turkish Federated State of Cyprus,” which became the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (TRNC) in 1983. Only Turkey recognises this entity, while the Government of the Republic of Cyprus has international recognition. However, the Turkish Cypriot administration does not view the Government of the Republic of Cyprus as a legitimate authority due to the absence of Turkish Cypriot representation in state institutions in accordance with the 1960 constitution (CoE, 10 May 2001; ICG, 8 March 2006, p.2).

[halil]

Away from the Greek and Turkish Propaganda Machines ......truth ....andtruth

Negotiations between the government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot authorities under UN auspices have so far failed to produce an agreement. The two sides continue to disagree on the root of the problem as well as the solution. Whereas the Republic of Cyprus points to the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation as the beginning of the problem, and prefers a solution based on the respect for human rights including the right for all to repossess and return to their homes, the Turkish Cypriot leadership believes the dispute started in 1963 with the breakdown of the Republic of Cyprus government and prefers an arrangement based on the current partition with Turkish and Greek Cypriot zones within a single state (PRIO, 7 March 2006).
In terms of a solution, the preferences of the two sides are mirrored by the general population; a 2007 UN-commissioned survey in which 1,000 Turkish Cypriots and 1,000 Greek Cypriots were interviewed, along with 100 Turkish Cypriot and 250 Greek Cypriot residents of the buffer zone, concluded that 72 per cent of Greek Cypriots find a single-state solution “satisfactory”, while 67 per cent of Turkish Cypriots find it “unacceptable”. And while 59 per cent of Turkish Cypriots think
8

a two-state arrangement is “satisfactory”, 73 per cent of Greek Cypriots find this alternative “unacceptable”. Both groups come closer on their support for a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with 47 per cent of Greek Cypriots finding it “tolerable”, and 45 per cent of Turkish Cypriots finding it “satisfactory” (UN, 24 April 2007).
In 2004, the UN’s “Annan Plan” put forward the creation of a “United Cyprus Republic”, a loose confederation of two component states – the Greek Cypriot State and the Turkish Cypriot State. The plan was approved by 65 per cent of the Turkish Cypriot electorate, but rejected by 76 per cent of the Greek Cypriot electorate (UN, 26 May 2004; BBC, 8 August 2006).
The 2006 Gambari Agreement was the latest attempt to secure a political settlement. At a UN-sponsored meeting on 8 July 2006, Republic of Cyprus President Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Ali Talat agreed on a set of principles to lay the foundation for future negotiations and a comprehensive settlement (Republic of Cyprus, 26 September 2007). The leaders also agreed to establish technical committees to examine issues that affect the daily lives of people on both sides of the buffer zone, and working groups to examine substantive issues. As of late 2007, there had been no progress on the Agreement’s implementation, although the parties had come closer to agreeing on how to start the process (The Observer, 21 September 2007; UN, 26 September 2007; Financial Mirror, 20 April 2007; UN, 3 December 2007).
Despite little progress on reaching a political settlement, the two sides have shown political will on the issue of missing persons (Republic of Cyprus, 5 October 2007; UN, 1 December 2006; UN, 9 March 2007; CoE, 7 April 2007). Some 1,500 Greek Cypriots and 500 Turkish Cypriots have been officially registered as missing since the 1960s (Republic of Cyprus, 27 September 2007; BBC, 21 November 2006). Established by the UN in 1981, the Committee for Missing Persons reactivated its work in 2004 after reconciling differing views on the procedure for concluding cases. The Committee is a mixed team of Greek and Turkish Cypriots as well as international experts, and is tasked with exhuming, identifying and returning the remains of missing persons to their families (Financial Mirror, 28 September 2007). As of late 2007, the remains of over 350 individuals had been exhumed on both sides of the buffer zone, 250 had undergone examination, and 57 had been identified and returned to their respective families (UN, 3 December 2007; Republic of Cyprus, 5 October 2007). The Council of Europe has stated that although the work of the Committee is notable, an investigation into the fate of missing persons is still needed (CoE, 4 April 2007; ECHR, 10 May 2001)

[GreekIslandGirl]

...warning?

you will react in kind, idiot.

wtf happened to Repulse!!!

He was left all alone with VP.

[halil]

Away frm the Greek and Turkish propaganda machines .....TRUTH ......TRUTH :!:

Increased freedom of movement on the island

The security situation in Cyprus is stable. The buffer zone has largely been cleared of landmines, but 23 minefields remain in the south, mainly near the buffer zone (ICBL, 2006; UN, 4 June 2007; UNFICYP, 15 December 2006). Clearance should be complete by 2009 (ICBL, 2006). The UN has also expressed concern that annual military exercises are conducted on both sides and minor security incidents periodically occur along the ceasefire lines such as stone throwing, weapon aiming at UN forces and firing in the direction of Greek Cypriot farmers (UN, 3 December 2007; UN, 4 June 2007; UN, 1 December 2006).
Mobility between the north and the south has increased since April 2003, when restrictions on crossing the buffer zone were eased (CoE, 16 May 2006). The buffer zone has been crossed over 13 million times since 2003 for employment, trade or religious activities as well as events bringing together the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities (UN, 1 December 2006; US DoS, 6 March 2007). An estimated 5,500 Turkish Cypriots travel to the south on a daily basis for work and some 500 Maronites travel from the south to visit relatives in northern villages every weekend (UN, 4 June 2007; Cyprus Mail, 26 November 2006; Apostolides, 2005, from PRIO report of 22 November 2006; CoE, 16 May 2006; CoE, 27 October 2006). The Government of the Republic of Cyprus also offers free transportation for Greek Cypriots and Maronites in the north to visit their children or access medical care in the south (CoE, 27 October 2006). Turkish Cypriots cross to the south more regularly than Greek Cypriots cross to the north (UN, 24 April 2007).
The increased number of crossings has not led to improved relations between communities. In a 2007 UN survey, 40 per cent of Greek Cypriots and 30 per cent of Turkish Cypriots stated that they had never crossed the buffer zone since the opening of the first crossing point in 2003 (UN, 24 April 2007). The majority of respondents from both groups who had crossed stated that their impression of the other group had not changed as a result of visiting the other area (UN, 24 April 2007). Some groups faced difficulty when crossing, such as Turkish nationals trying to cross from the north to the south (US DoS, 6 March 2007). Those crossing the buffer zone are required to obtain separate insurance coverage in the community where they plan to drive their vehicles (US DoS, 6 March 2007).
In 2006 and 2007, there was progress towards opening additional crossings points. In late 2006, Turkish Cypriot authorities took down a contentious bridge and in early 2007 the Government of the Republic of Cyprus demolished a wall and military checkpoint across Ledra Street in the Cypriot capital Nicosia, (BBC, 9 March 2007; COE, 9 March 2007). Despite these positive steps and the prioritisation of the opening of the crossing point by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot administration, the crossing is not yet operational as the security situation in the area remains fragile (UN, 3 December 2007; Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation, 25 October 2007; BBC, 9 March 2007).

[B25]

Oh dear, someone has woken the Bay crap partitionist beast from his slumber. More shit form Halililili the shit stirrer.

[B25]

...warning?

you will react in kind, idiot.

wtf happened to Repulse!!!

Can you blame the guy, you can only take so much shit from these turks before you lose it.

And anyway, where you been young man????

[Viewpoint]

repulse has show us all his real face that his only aim is this land into a Greek island where were are forced into mninority status, get it into your thick heads this we will never accept nor will we allow to happen.

[repulsewarrior]

repulse has show us all his real face that his only aim is this land into a Greek island where were are forced into mninority status, get it into your thick heads this we will never accept nor will we allow to happen.

you are, vp, the worst kind of coward.

...a stooge.

when you have the guts to say, I am Cypriot, i will join you.

till then i'll stand alone if i have to, like me, very few it seems who understand, this is not a Greek/Turkish issue, only a matter of Ignorance.

[Viewpoint]

repulse has show us all his real face that his only aim is this land into a Greek island where were are forced into mninority status, get it into your thick heads this we will never accept nor will we allow to happen.

you are, vp, the worst kind of coward.

...a stooge.

when you have the guts to say, I am Cypriot, i will join you.

till then i'll stand alone if i have to, like me, very few it seems who understand, this is not a Greek/Turkish issue, only a matter of Ignorance.

AND YOU ARE A TWO FACED DIRTY FUCKING BASTARD....

[DT.]

...warning?

you will react in kind, idiot.

wtf happened to Repulse!!!

Can you blame the guy, you can only take so much shit from these turks before you lose it.

And anyway, where you been young man????

Working mate....tryin to make a living