Cyprus-Forum.com

[repulsewarrior]

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/intera ... 76694.html

As part of Al Jazeera’s special focus on the divided island of Cyprus we have commissioned a special poll of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities on how they view the future of their island. The poll was conducted among a representative sample of over 500 people in each community.

[Lordo]

interesting statistics but 500 sample is too small. surely they could have asked a few thousand each.

[repulsewarrior]

...still, whatever the issue we are split 50-50; pro-Cyprus, or not. that is far better than the doom and gloom presented as fact by some posters here; the division "Turkish/not Turkish", is not accurate, neither is the contention that "Greeks" are Cypriots but "Turks" are not.

[boulio]

interesting statistics but 500 sample is too small. surely they could have asked a few thousand each.

They couldn't find a few thousand tc with all the settlers in the north.

[insan]

interesting statistics but 500 sample is too small. surely they could have asked a few thousand each.

They couldn't find a few thousand tc with all the settlers in the north.

What if such a survey was conducted in 50s,60s or 70s... what would have been the results in a settlers free Cyprus? You reckon the TCs would accept the minority status in order to make you happy? I don't think the majority of GCs would ever accept the political equality of TCs... You have many rational resons for this but don't forget that we too have many rational resons for asking the political equality of two communities...

[Nikitas]

The TCs are not seeking political equality, they want a unique status of racially based communal SUPERIORITY, hence the insistence of deviations from the European acquis, which is revealing of their approach.

[Viewpoint]

The TCs are not seeking political equality, they want a unique status of racially based communal SUPERIORITY, hence the insistence of deviations from the European acquis, which is revealing of their approach.

Please provide examples.

[Nikitas]

Negotiator Ozersai a couple of weeks back told journalists that it is impossible to implement the basic principles of the EU, freedom of movement, establishment and residence because it would make the TC "state" non viable. He elaborated saying that viability meant that some mechanism would need to be in place to maintain TC majority in the north.

It might sound strange but I understand his concern and add one of my own. What happens if TC majority in the north is lost not because GCs move in but TCs move out? If I were a TC businessman I would want access to Limassol and Nicosia more than Kyrenia or Paphos (sorry Kyrenians and Paphites, but facts is facts!). Access might lead to establishment and residence at some point. Is it possible to keep people tied to an area they do not want to reside in?

Politicians and negotiators like to think of the situation statically, overlooking the possibility of dynamic processes arising from the real new realities and not the dogmatic ones that exist in their heads and policy documents drawn up in the 1950s.

[Viewpoint]

Negotiator Ozersai a couple of weeks back told journalists that it is impossible to implement the basic principles of the EU, freedom of movement, establishment and residence because it would make the TC "state" non viable. He elaborated saying that viability meant that some mechanism would need to be in place to maintain TC majority in the north.

It might sound strange but I understand his concern and add one of my own. What happens if TC majority in the north is lost not because GCs move in but TCs move out? If I were a TC businessman I would want access to Limassol and Nicosia more than Kyrenia or Paphos (sorry Kyrenians and Paphites, but facts is facts!). Access might lead to establishment and residence at some point. Is it possible to keep people tied to an area they do not want to reside in?

Politicians and negotiators like to think of the situation statically, overlooking the possibility of dynamic processes arising from the real new realities and not the dogmatic ones that exist in their heads and policy documents drawn up in the 1950s.

Freedom of movement and the right to vote and effect a state are two very diffferent issues. The freedom to move and live where ever one wants is unquestionable but the right to vote and change the dynamics in either state is more important, at least in the first few years this will be monitored and restricted, I dont feel that that many people will move north or south especially south as we have that right today and the result is very minimal. After this dust as settled these restrictions can be relaxed and brought more into line with EU norms but you cannot expect this flexiblity on day 1 as people need to build confidence understand and trust it cannot be forced.