Cyprus-Forum.com

[rec12]

I'm a Masters student and doing some research on how the New EU Constitution is likely to impact on Cyprus' security and defence.

In particular, I am looking at the Security and Defence Provisions of the Title V (Exercise of Union Competence) and especially the so-called 'solidarity' clause. I want to know what this means exactly (i.e. I need a legal interpretation) and what it will actually means for Greek and Turkish Cypriots in real terms (i.e. should they feel any safer?)

If there was anyone out there who could help me ASAP, it would be very much appreciated because I'm due to hand in this piece next week and need urgent advice.

[Aris]

Hello,

The New EU Constitution has been discussed briefly here:
http://www.cyprus-forum.com/cyprus361.html

I don't know if we have any lawyers here that have studied the new EU Constitution to give you a legal interpretation. Most probably you will just get opinion of "non experts"

[Piratis]

ok, I am not a lawyer, but I think that this particular clause is very good for Cyprus. (at least the Greek Cypriots). This is because we have a country of 60 million people right on top of us, acting in a very hostile way, and already occupying 1/3rd of our country.
Now with this clause we feel a bit safer. Not much safer though, because we don't know if other EU countries will ever be willing to go in a war for Cyprus.

This is one of the reasons why Turkey should stay out of the EU. In 1974 NATO said that they couldn't take sides because both Greece and Turkey were NATO members. So now we want Turkey to stay out of the EU so in case they decide to invade us again there will be more chances that the EU will come to help us.

[metecyp]

Not much safer though, because we don't know if other EU countries will ever be willing to go in a war for Cyprus.

Even a 5 year old kid knows that there is no single European country that would even consider going to war with Turkey for Cyprus. I'm just amazed how naive some forum members can get sometimes.

So now we want Turkey to stay out of the EU so in case they decide to invade us again there will be more chances that the EU will come to help us.

Can't you see that just the economic potential of Turkey and its economic relations with Europe are enough to keep any European country going to war with Turkey? You're on the wrong path. The more European Turkey gets, the better it is for its neigbors, including Cyprus.

[Piratis]

Can't you see that just the economic potential of Turkey and its economic relations with Europe are enough to keep any European country going to war with Turkey?

Well, Iraq had economic potential, and lots of oil. Saddam used to be one of the best friend of Americans once. So don't be so sure about what you say.

Also you forget about Greece. Greece (reluctantly) would go to war against Turkey if Turkey invaded Cyprus. And if you believe that other Europeans would sit back and look the Turkish army entering Athens you are mistaken. Most Europeans indeed want good relations with Turkey, but they will never allow the Turkish army to enter Europe.

[Bananiot]

"Greece (reluctantly) would go to war against Turkey if Turkey invaded Cyprus".

What a lough. Turkey has already invaded Cyprus!

[Piratis]

What a lough. Turkey has already invaded Cyprus!

In 1974 Greece was ruled by the generals of junta who were CIA employees and they were taking directions for what to do directly from CIA. If those Generals were not in power the excuse would have never been given to Turkey to invade.

Today Greece is democratic, and I am sure that they would come to our support if Turkey invaded again.

I never said that Greece or EU will militarily force Turkey out of Cyprus. What I said is that Greece (and maybe other EU countries) will help us in case Turkey tries to move further.

[metecyp]

I never said that Greece or EU will militarily force Turkey out of Cyprus. What I said is that Greece (and maybe other EU countries) will help us in case Turkey tries to move further.

I agree that Greece and EU will try to stop Turkey politically or economically (by economic sanctions etc.) if Turkey tried to move further to the south. But I don't think that anybody will force Turkey militarily out of the north and furthermore I don't believe that Turkey has any intentions of moving further south anyway.

[brother]

If there is ever another war involving cyprus and turkey i would imagine that would be the reason the E.U would collapse as it has no balls and that would be apparent to the whole world in a crystal clear way, otherwise they would have done something in Bosnia etc.

[turkcyp]

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