Cyprus-Forum.com

[serkan]

Hi i recently responded to a similar topic concerning Turkish Cypriots and am hoping that members of this forum may be able to help me answer some of the questions i have regarding Greek Cypriot politics.

1- How is the president selected? (is this done via election or nomination)
2- What other positions are there of merit in the GC political system?
3- What are the major parties?
4- Who are there leaders and what is their backgrounds?
5- What does each of the predominant parties represent?
6- What is the position of the Church in politics? (official and unofficial)

I would like to thank all serious responses in advance and can only hope that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can utilise technologies like the internet to promote dialogue between both communities.[/b]

[Piratis]

1- How is the president selected? (is this done via election or nomination)

Directly form the people. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in the first round the first 2 candidates go to a second round. The one who receives more votes is the president.

2- What other positions are there of merit in the GC political system?

What kind of positions in the "GC" political system you mean?

3- What are the major parties?
5- What does each of the predominant parties represent?

AKEL - Communists party (but not really)
DISY - Right , nationalists and capitalists
EDEK - Socialists
DIKO - Center right (or left whichever suits them)
Greens - Just one person really. But he is good
European party - Broke out of DISY after referendum. they seek a "European solution".
ADIK - its leader made lots of rousfeti and he still receives votes
EDI - Pull our pants down and bent kind of policy in the cyprus problem.
some smaller ones

6- What is the position of the Church in politics? (official and unofficial)

They support DIKO and DISY mostly. They have effect on some people and since elections are always very close nobody dares to tax them. There is no one position. Each "great priest" has his own opinion.

[serkan]

What kind of positions in the "GC" political system you mean?

i mean is there also a prime minister or a leader of ther house. and that leads me to another question what are the political institutions of South Cyprus eg. parliment, senate, congress etc

[serkan]

woah, thats alot of parties which are the most powerful/popular?

[Piratis]

what are the political institutions of South Cyprus eg. parliment, senate, congress etc

There are no instidutions of "South Cyprus". The only instidutions in Cyprus are those of Republic of Cyprus.

RoC has a parliament. There is no senate cogress etc.

woah, thats alot of parties which are the most powerful/popular?

AKEL and DISY both have about 30% each.
DIKO comes 3rd with about 18%
Then EDEK with around 9%

The rest are smaller 1-4%.

A party needs 1.8% to get a seat in the parliament.

[serkan]

Piratis I would like to start by thanking you for your input thus far, but in my opinion the Cyprus Republic ended in 1963 when a number of changes were made to the constitution which politically isolated the Turkish Cypriots until 1974 when they were once again allowed enter into the political process as the TC federal state - which now is represented by the TRNC.

For the Cyprus Republic to function it is neccessary for both Turkish and Greek Cypriots to be represented and either the presidant or vice-presidant must be a TC.

As there is no concensus on names of the Turkish and Greek zones of administration I have labelled both areas as North Cyprus and South Cyprus to avoid confrontation on this matter. Hope this dosn't offend anyone but until there is a final solution I think these are the fairest definitions of each zone.

I would also like to let you know why most Turkish Cypriots find the notion of the RoC offensive. Turkish Cypriots associate the inter-communal Violance 1963-74 with the RoC as Archbishop Makarios openly supported the marginalisation of the TC minority, thus the RoC has entered the TC conseiance as a repressive instrument of aggression and anti-Turkism.

[Main_Source]

Dont TC know that Makarios was strongly opposed to EOKA B, who even wanted to take his life.

Why do Turkish Cypriots consistantly persist on seeing themselves as innocent and looking at one side of the story?

[Piratis]

but in my opinion the Cyprus Republic ended in 1963 when a number of changes were made to the constitution which politically isolated the Turkish Cypriots

Here is the RoC constitution. Can you please point out the changes that were done in 1963?
http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/cyphome/govhom ... nguageNo=1

until 1974 when they were once again allowed enter into the political process as the TC federal state - which now is represented by the TRNC.

"TRNC" What is this? Are you talking about the illegal entity that was created in north Cyprus by ethnically cleansing the Greek Cypriot majority from this area?

http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION ... penElement

The Security Council,

Having heard the statement of the Foreign Minister of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus,

Concerned at the declaration by the Turkish Cypriot authorities issued on 15 November 1983 which purports to create in independent state in northern Cyprus,

Considering that this declaration is incompatible with the 1960 Treaty concerning the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus and the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee,

Considering therefore that the attempt to create a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" is invalid, and will contribute to a worsening of the situation in Cyprus,

Reaffirming its resolutions 365(1974) and 367(1975),

Aware of the need of a solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the mission of good offices undertaken by the Secretary-General,

Affirming its continued support for the United Nations Peace- keeping Force in Cyprus,

Taking note of the Secretary-Generals statement of 17 November 1983,

1. Deplores the declaration of the Turkish Cypriot authorities of the purported secession of part of the Republic of Cyprus;

2. Considers the declaration refereed to above as legally invalid and calls for its withdrawal;

3. Calls for the urgent and effective implementation of its resolutions 365(1974) and 367(1975);

4. Requests the Secretary-General to peruse his mission of good offices in order to achieve the earliest possible progress toward a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus;

5. Calls upon the parties to co-operate with the Secretary- General in his mission of good offices;

6. Calls upon all states to respect the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non-alignment of the Republic of Cyprus;

7. Calls upon all states not to recognize any Cypriot state other than the Republic of Cyprus;

8. Calls upon all states and the two communities in Cyprus to refrain from any action which might exacerbate the situation;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Security Council fully informed.

Well, as you see Republic of Cyprus not only didn't end, but it the only legal entity in Cyprus, unlike the illegal "TRNC". Republic of Cyprus has also joined the EU recently.

For the Cyprus Republic to function it is neccessary for both Turkish and Greek Cypriots to be represented and either the presidant or vice-presidant must be a TC.

Sure, and not only you are more than welcome but you are obligated to do this. Unfortunately the TC leadership and Turkey insist on illegality and the violations of the human rights of 1000s of people. This is not the fault of GCs or RoC.

As there is no consensus on names of the Turkish and Greek zones of administration I have labeled both areas as North Cyprus and South Cyprus to avoid confrontation on this matter. Hope this dosn't offend anyone but until there is a final solution I think these are the fairest definitions of each zone.

there are no "Greek" and "Turkish" zones. There is one Republic of Cyprus which is currently partly occupied illegally by Turkey.

I would also like to let you know why most Turkish Cypriots find the notion of the RoC offensive. Turkish Cypriots associate the inter-communal Violance 1963-74 with the RoC as Archbishop Makarios openly supported the marginalisation of the TC minority, thus the RoC has entered the TC conseiance as a repressive instrument of aggression and anti-Turkism.

He simply made proposals as he was allowed to do it. You call it "marginalization" so I guess for you the TC minority of 18% would be marginalized if they didn't have the 30% of governmental positions and all their veto powers? In this case every minority in the world should be considered marginalized by you.
Do you know of what exactly Makarios proposed, or you are just saying this because this is what you were taught?

[Viewpoint]

Piratis call it what you will the north the TRNC, occupied land, pseudo, limbo, land of anatolian parasites etc. If we have any rights on this island we primarily have the right to protect ourselves if we feel threatened. In the past due to actions of both sides we took actions to protect ourselves and so we have arrived at the current situation. Think of it this way until we can agree a formula whereby we can all live together in harmony and peace then it is just as much your duty to find the middle ground as it is mine, in the meantime the TC community will continue to live in the north and look after this part of the island you will continue to live in the south and look after that aprt of the island. Your hardline approach only serves to fuel anti GC feeling and thus a more negative approach from TCs, this type of attitude does not serve your interests as you can see we will not agree anything and the current status quo will continue for may years to come. Why dont you exert a fraction of your hardline towards getting your leaders around the negotiating table to make the progress you so desire.
Unless this happens we will still be arguing the same old you did this we did that and going around in circles. Your duty as a GC is to question what your leadership is doing towards finding a solution. ıf you are happy with this then you do not have a problem.

You come accross as being a very angry and bitter person, with an axe to grind, you obviously want to make TCs pay for the past and push us into a minority status in a GC state. Well Piratis unless you have the power you so long for there is noway you will reach this goal, but if by any remote chance in the next zillion years you should by chance have the power dont expect us to take it lying down we will do everything to firstly protect ourselves and have our voice heard on this island, either as we are today or united.

You really have to come to terms with the 2 communites equal say issue, clearly you are having problems accepting this fact but until you do then you will never move forward. Is it the fear of losing power, sharing or us obstructing the functioning of the United Cyprus? In a united Cyprus for the good of the country surely we would all act accordingly but with the majority rule the minority would always be at the mercy of the larger community, cant you see this? Please dont quote other countires they dont have our past and therefore we need a tailor made structure to address all our concerns.

[Alexios]

AKEL - Communists party (but not really)
DISY - Right , nationalists and capitalists
EDEK - Socialists
DIKO - Center right (or left whichever suits them)
Greens - Just one person really. But he is good
European party - Broke out of DISY after referendum. they seek a "European solution".
ADIK - its leader made lots of rousfeti and he still receives votes
EDI - Pull our pants down and bent kind of policy in the cyprus problem.
some smaller ones

The above are ofcourse how Piratis Views Political Parties in Cyprus
Below is my view on them:

AKEL - So called Communist Party with Capitalist connections.Recently a confused Party appearing to be in 2 or 3 !!minds regarding the Cyprus problem
DISY - Right wing party that strives hard to get rid of its nationalist image and succeeding to some extend at the expense of losing old nationalist support
EDEK - So called socialist party.More like nationalist painted red.
DIKO - The real playmakers in Cyprus politics since their vote is decisive.They pick and choose whatever suits them as Piratis rightly said and they are the real rousfeti teachers.
European party -DISY breakaways who joined a fool called Koutsou and think we can have a "European" solution to the Cyprus problem
ADIK - As Piratis said
EDI - The only real patriots in Cyprus.