pg wrote:Let's look at it with the method of elimination...
Two independent republics: Does anyone really mean that it would be possible to have an independent country of 150,000 people today? What sort of economy would be able to support that administration? It could even not be based on making an income from selling land to tourstis, since the plan would anyway be to use that money to pay compensation to the real owners of the land.
FYI there are many tiny nation states in the Pacific e.g. Tuvala with I think about 7,000 people and thanks to Global Warming they are going to be covered by water soon.
Size doesn't matter when it comes to Statehood. International recognition, helps greatly, but as Taiwan has shown, not essential. Just need a fair few powerful states to acknowledge you and semi-deal with you...
pg wrote:A unitary state: I beleive everyone except the real idealists has dumped that idea. Why would GC like to get involved in all matters related to the TC community anyway.
Agreed. And many (but not all) TCs feel uneasy at sharing same space with former aggressors. I'm sure true also for some GCs?
pg wrote:With regards to federation or confederation I really do not think we need to put a name on it before we need one. Better discuss what goes where, and once we agree to that we should probably be able to also name "it".
I think the question for many is instead - can we really be bothered? Most people are not really... and for them the question is more "what is in it for me". Many others are also more confortable with an utopian future (on both sides) than to swallow their pride and live with something less than utopia.
I think that in order to "sell the solution" everyone needs instead to start projecting the positive images of it, for example, what can we do instead with the money and time we now spend on the military, hiw can we market a true bi-cultural tourist destination, how can the cypriot service industry work towards the Turkish market, how do we better develop the industries like education, energy, telecom, etc, once we are actually good friends with everyone in the region.
So let's find areas of common interest/concern to both sides. It does not have to be many. Even one will do! The turtles, the search for Atlantis, protecting the environment, whatever! We need to create some positive role-models that show that trust, respect and equality can work in Cyprus for the mutual good.
Power to the People!