Cyprus-Forum.com

[Jerry]

Confirms wha Ecevit stated clearly and with far fewer words in the 80s to Greek daily Eleftherotypia.

"Turkey wants a federal (confederal) state and has little or no interest in creation of an independent Turk Cypriot mini-state or move towards double enosis.

3. Either of latter two courses would run contrary to basic reason for intervention since, by implication, they would open the door to in- troduction of substantial Greek mainland forces onto island. This would place Turkey in position of having southern ports (and heart- land cities) again endangered or of going to war to take entire island, destroying island’s quasi-independence, and facing prospect of pro- tracted guerilla struggle."

And our Tc "compatriots" see nothing wrong with "quasi independence", and therein lies the substance of our problem.

Surely Greece and Turkey could come to an agreement (monitored by NATO?) as to the number of troops and military installations on the island in the event of a Turkish province being established in the north. Bankrupt Greece is not the threat to Turkey that it used to be. Of course the price would be high for the Turkish Cypriots since the "trnc" would have to shrink a lot to seal the deal. If we accept that, unfortunately, some sort of Turkish entity will remain in the north we should agree to legitimise it in exchange for significant return of territory. We have wasted 41 years "negotiating" with the puppets now the negotiations should be via Greece directly with Turkey.

[Lordo]

thanks but no thanks.

[Nikitas]

Remember the speech by PM Trikoupis, the famous "gentlemen, we are officially bankrupt" and ten years later Greece trounced Turkey in the Balkan wars. Eighteen years after the Asia Minor catastrophe, at the peak of the Global Depression, Greece trounced the Italian army. Remember how Hezbollah blocked the Israeli advance in Lebanon.

These events illustrate that war is a process that often goes against predictions. If it weren't there would be a lot less of it.

This unpredictability what Ecevit wanted to avoid when explaining Turkey's policy in the area. He was not making any election speech in a Greek newspaper (Lordo's typical comment on anything he does not understand). They do not want to deal with a million GCs as captives tying down at least five Turkish army divisions. The British could not deal with a revolt even though they had committed 44000 troops. And the British were a Christian and overall lenient power and the population was not militarily trained as it is today. Any guerrilla action against occupying Turks would be much more savage on all sides.

On the other hand they do not want an official Greek presence in Cyprus. Partition is a hollow threat because if pushed to its logical conclusion it would bring all kinds of undesirable, for Turkey, factors to Cyprus, not just one. Think how they would like a major French base in Paphos for instance, or even an American one. They want to keep things to their scale, because it is better to be "first in the village than second in the city". Question is if events will always be manageable and to their desired scale.

As for Greece, it managed to extricte itself from the Cyprus problem in 1974, hiding behind the motto "Cyprus decides, Greece simply stands in solidarity". Davut tried to entice them in again in December and they told him to F Off. They know better.

There is a way out of the impasse, to ensure that NO foreign power has a say on the island. But their imagination does not stretch that far.

[Lordo]

is terggy of today the same terggy as during the balkan wars. you live in the past. that is your problem. ecevit said what ever sounded legal to him at the time. he was hardly going to tell you that they intend to divide the island and annex it to terggy. how simple are you. it is almost complete. unlike you chaps terggy is patient.

[Jerry]

There is a way out of the impasse, to ensure that NO foreign power has a say on the island. But their imagination does not stretch that far.

Nice in theory but not in practice. it could openly be achieved if the US and the EU turn on Turkey and from the way Erdogan is talking he couldn't care if they do.

[Lordo]

us and eu are not one on cyprus. us like things the way they are. you greeks are filling your pants with fear and are giving your gas to the yanks. thats the way they like you.