Cyprus-Forum.com

[Demonax]

Greek Cypriots, the majority population on the Island of Cyprus, overwhelmingly rejected a plan for reunification with the island’s small Turkish minority developed by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in a referendum on April 24, 2004. The majority Greeks regarded the solution offered by Annan as impractical and unfair, while the government of Turkey praised it as very doable and accommodating to both parties.

The size of the Turkish minority in Cyprus –some 18 percent of the island’s population, settlers brought illegally from Turkey excluded -- equals the percentage of the Kurdish minority in Turkey itself. Given long-standing Kurdish demands for greater political and other rights in Turkey, an interesting “what if” question arises--if the Annan Plan were implemented within Turkey for its Kurdish minority, would the Turks still find the plan fair and practical?

Here’s the “what if?”

Upon agreement of the two main communities living in Turkey (Kurdish and Turkish), the present state ceases to exist pending approval of the citizens of the Turkish Republic through a nation-wide referendum. Immediately after the approval of the new settlement, the new state is a reality. There is no going back to the old state even if later on majorities in both the Kurdish and Turkish areas overwhelmingly vote to do so. Under the provisions of the Plan, Turkey becomes a bi-zonal and bi-communal federal state in which 37% of its land passes to the new government of the Kurds. The new federal state is misnamed “United Turkey Republic” and under the new Constitution, the two major ethnic groups (Turkish and Kurdish) have equal representation in the proposed Senate regardless of unequal populations. Under the above provision, the state comes to a standstill.

The Supreme Court consists of an equal number of Kurdish (18% of the population) and Turkish judges (80% of population) plus three foreign judges; thus, foreign players would cast deciding votes. Since a hierarchy of laws does not exist, the federation is an actual confederation in which the component states are the source of laws for the central authority and not the other way around! One must have in mind that the reason the United States had abandoned its original confederation structure was because it was not workable. The Constitution of the United States established in 1789 gave clear federal supremacy over the laws of its constituent states. All state laws in the United States originate from federal laws.

Turkish and Kurdish populations are displaced, each moving to the other's pertinent ethnic territory. Time restrictions on the right of free and permanent installation of Turks back to their homes and properties in the Kurdish state are imposed; Kurds have no restrictions. Those Turks who choose to live in their old homes in regions under the Kurdish administration have no local civil rights because only Kurds may elect the political representatives of the Kurdish state. In addition, the Turks that stayed in the Kurdish lands will never be allowed to make up more than 6% of the population in any single village. In this manner, Turks are prevented from setting up their own schools and are even unable to give birth once this quota is reached!

The economy of the new federal Turkey is separate with no common monetary and fiscal policy. In addition, Turkish businesses are not allowed to invest in the Kurdish constituent state, and while all provisions above benefit the Kurds, the Turkish taxpayer ends up paying for all modifications, adjustments, and conversions in the new republic because the UN considers that in the previous decades the Kurds suffered enormously and must be compensated. In addition, Turkish citizens are not allowed to file any complaints with the European Court of Justice in relation to any losses suffered because of the implementation of the Plan.

The above “what if” analysis indicates what could happen to the Turks if the Plan had applied to Turkey and depicts what would have happened to the Greek Cypriots had they voted for the Annan Plan for Cyprus' reunification.

http://www.rieas.gr/research-areas/gree ... urkey.html

[repulsewarrior]

...indeed, the Annan Plan would not work in Turkey, as it would not in Cyprus. more to the point, what is the perfect solution to the Problem, should work in Turkey, as it would likely prove itself in Cyprus. if it is a BBF that will exist, it is because Turkey, unlike the "Greeks", rethinks the notions she has fought so hard to realise but that ended in failure, both it seems are equals at mastering the machinations of the Realpolitk as it is constructed today, but what is needed is the courage to look forward as Human Beings; frankly it is Turkey who has isolated herself, by dividing her own people as being "Turkish" or "not Turkish", and who continues to tarnish her own image, by defining "Turkishness" (at the expense of others) to favor "Turks", exclusively.

...what is needed, if it is a Federation wanted, one Flag defining Freedom (higher than all the others), is, in Turkey (apart from the Federal Government) a Turkic Constituency, as there exists a need for a Greek Constituency in Cyprus; both Republics already exist. (and Turkey, like Cyprus, have no business refining "Greekness", or "Turkishness", Citizens are equal, Individuals, without further distinction or discrimination; in these countries, as Persons, one would hope such Liberty exists for Greeks and Turks and others as choices, as "Greeks" and "Turks" and others, a means to sustain this Identity, as well.)

...pardon me if i say, "please read my manifesto", or (read) Kikapu's Plan because they are far superior to what was proposed in that referendum, and easier to understand. (and may i add, "enclaves is not a dirty word".)

[Oceanside50]

Tc and Gc go back to their respective villages ..local autonomy applied if Tc want it..all civil right violations to the EU which could be set up in Cyprus in order to have swift and blind justice...

[Kikapu]

And don't forget, that Turks coming to live in the Kurdish state must also give their allegiance to Abdullah Öcalan!

[Lordo]

oh dear oh dear oh dear me.

surely before you decide whats best for the kurds perhaps you should make an attempt to find out what they think about the matter. if anything one thing is very clear. the kurds are not happy living under one man one vote in terkey.

so why exactly do you think that the tcs would accept such stupidity. its very simple really even a 5 yar old would understand it. either it is bbf or two states. is it really that hard to fathom or are you just plain stoopid.

tcs living under gc rule, try another joke cause that one aint that funny. lets face it it will never happen.

[Nikitas]

Lordo, you would be more cerdible if you said that one community may not dominate the other. You show your true hand by saying TCs will not live under GC rule, cause you leave open the reverse situation which is what was included in the Annan plan.

[Lordo]

do you really believe that under the annan plan the tcs would rule the gcs. my word please explain how.

[Kikapu]

do you really believe that under the annan plan the tcs would rule the gcs. my word please explain how.

Turkey would have ruled over the TCs and the GCs as well as the whole island. The fact that Turkey already rule over the TCs now and almost half of the island, they were already halfway there. The AP would have given them the other half.

[Nikitas]

You would have to be a totally naive schmuck to not realise that there was a reason the Turkish military demanded, and GOT, a massive firepower advantage for the interim phase of the Annan plan. There was never any intention to return any land to anyone.

[Lordo]

well what do you know they are like buses. you wait for a schmuck to come along and then there is two at the same time. but no ordinary schmucks these two are schmucking malagas. get it into your thick heads that you will not be allowed power over tcs ever again. either you share power equally or sling your hook to another pond assholes.

all annan gave tcs was power not to be controlled. if you have any other way of stopping gcs doing what they did in 1963, i would like to hear it. i have not had a good laugh for some time.

where is that peasant simple charlui gone these days to control these peasants on the loose.