Cyprus-Forum.com

[sadik]

Turkish Cypriots demand voting rights in return to original Republic
By Simon Bahceli

DUBBED the ‘Jasmine Group’, a six-man delegation representing 78 Turkish Cypriot politicians, businessmen and individuals yesterday met with Interior Minister Andreas Christou in a bid to reinstate the rights of Turkish Cypriots to vote and be voted for in elections in the Republic of Cyprus.

“We want the right to stand in elections and vote as stated in the 1960 Constitution,” Jasmine’s main spokesman and former head of the north’s Chamber of Commerce Ali Erel told reporters after yesterday’s 45-minute meeting with Christou.

Turkish Cypriots have not voted in elections in the Republic of Cyprus since a constitutional crisis in 1963, when a power-sharing administration collapsed in ethnic bloodshed just three years after the island won independence from Britain.

The recognised Republic, along with its voting mechanisms, continued to function with participation only from Greek Cypriots.

Erel gave Interior Minister Andreas Christou a petition yesterday, saying Turkish Cypriots should be allowed to vote and stand for election in the May 21 parliamentary ballot in the south.

"Our aim is to return Cyprus to its bicommunal nature," said Erel.

Under the original Constitution, 35 members of the unicameral House of Representatives were to be Greek Cypriots and 15 Turkish Cypriots. By law, there are separate electoral registers for members of each community.

A Turkish Cypriot living in the south recently won a ruling in the European Court of Human Rights that the Cypriot electoral system was discriminatory.

The Cypriot government hase since modified the law to allow Turkish
Cypriots living in the government-controlled areas to vote.

The House of Representatives is currently comprised of 56 Greek Cypriot deputies. Turkish Cypriots have not set foot in the building since 1963, and their specially allocated entrance has been bolted shut since then.

After yesterday’s meeting with Christou, Erel said he and his group had “very good relations with the minister, but we did not get a hint of what the outcome of our application will be. He has promised to reply.”

“We want to start a new process of rapprochement,” he added.

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika, however, warned the group could seek legal action against the Cypriot government if their request did not meet with a positive response.

“If the demands are not met, legal attempts could be made to have the election cancelled,” the paper wrote.

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2005

[Strahd]

Yes partial application of certain points in the constitution of 1960 is always a good way to attract attention.

[sadik]

What is wrong with demanding our LEGAL rights that stems from the constitution of the country?

[cypezokyli]

the funny thing is that this time, a well preplanned ankara plan or american plot or british conspiracy will not work. these tcs who demand their rights, are exactly those who want reunification , and those who stood up against denktash all these years. i dont know if we can refuse that legally - bc the case seems to be going straight to the EHCR.
but even in that case it will be important on how we dont completely loose the tcs .

i believe its a challangaing situation.
and i like it that finally people have started taking initiatives...
dont ask me for predictions, they are kind of difficult to make.

[Strahd]

What is wrong with demanding our LEGAL rights that stems from the constitution of the country?

Well how is that called... oxymoron?

[Strahd]

the funny thing is that this time, a well preplanned ankara plan or american plot or british conspiracy will not work. these tcs who demand their rights, are exactly those who want reunification , and those who stood up against denktash all these years. i dont know if we can refuse that legally - bc the case seems to be going straight to the EHCR.
but even in that case it will be important on how we dont completely loose the tcs .

If i remember correctly those TCs where talking about two states... one in the north and one in the south... well if that is not partition then what is it? in addition i believe refusing this is completely legal since those TCs live in the occupied areas and they do not recognise the rest of the constitution of the republic of Cyprus... so if you they do not officially declare that they fully recognise the Republic of Cyprus how can they be elected in the parliament.

[cypezokyli]

most probably you dont have a clue what you are talking about..

[sadik]

What is wrong with demanding our LEGAL rights that stems from the constitution of the country?

Well how is that called... oxymoron?

Oxymoron is saying that the problem in Cyprus is that of an occupation by a FOREIGN country and then excusing the denial of constitutional rights of some of your own citizens because of the foreign occupation.

[bakala]

Is freedom a dream?


Like all disputes someday the Cyprus issue will be resolved. Like most disputes the solution will be apparent the very second the parties involved decide to bury the past,

The history of this troubled Island is getting in the way of its present and its future; the people must use its history for the greater good and not allow its most recent history to divide its hospitable and generous people.

Old insults must be forgotten and forgiven, old conflicts must be buried where they belong in the yesterdays of history if this divided Island is ever to become whole again.

We the recent arrived outsiders, immigrants who move here Love this island and its people, we came attracted to its unspoilt way of life. We bring our wealth to help enrich the island, and hopefully some wisdom to help heal old wounds. Every time a new immigrant arrives or a new tourist holidays on this island Cyprus gains a new voice in Europe, one more new voice to shout in support of Cyprus and protest at a divided nation

Any future this beautiful island has, should someday lie in the hands of all the Cypriot Population north and south, The south free from the fear of any outside dominance and the north old and wise enough not to need the protection of the guardianship of Turkey

The whole of Cyprus north and south will someday realise the debt that is owed to Turkey, for the Turkish intervention ensured that the whole island didn’t become dominated by an outside government. I believe it is the wish of the common Cypriot that this island should be just what it has always been, the Island of Cyprus not a satellite of Greece or Turkey,

It is time to draw a line in the sand and state that from now on, the Cypriot nation will only look forward, with the optimism of a new generation who has learned the lessons from the past. The debt for today’s freedom has already been paid with the lives lost in the troubles of the history,

but never forget that the freedom we all value so much has a hidden cost, it is that you must guarantee the freedom of others as a condition of having it yourself otherwise your own freedom is only a dream, to be passed on to another generation for them to only dream of .

Jim Barnes

[Strahd]

My dear friend Jim,

The root cause of this problem is that there is no such thing as a Cypriot nation. It is a bi cultural, bi ethnical country and the solution and freedom will come when both communities respect each other for what they are, Greeks and Turks. Then and only then balance, legallity and peace will be established in the roots of this troubled land. Dreams of a Cypriot nation will only lead to what happend in the past. This actually foreign brought idea did not work in the past and will not work in the future it is proven...