Cyprus-Forum.com

[Alexandros Lordos]

Following Erol's suggestion, I thought to start a poll based on the "six groups" which my study turned up. Please don't vote if you are not GC. We can start other similar polls for TCs and non-Cypriots.

Please choose the one response that expresses you most.

[Piratis]

I have a question:

Any plan created by Annan and his team can be called "Annan plan".

Now say we have Annan plan 6. How many changes does this plan need to have in order to be defined as a totally new plan and not a different version of the same plan?

What is the "base" of Annan plan? Bi-zonal Bi-communal federation? Or the "base" also includes all those terms that would make Cyprus an undemocratic banana republic, a protectorate of Turkey and the Americans?

I voted the "more European" option, but by more European I mean all those changes that will make Cyprus a truly united and democratic state, with respect to human rights.

Can the Annan plan change to this level? If not, then further negotiations based on this plan are useless.

[Othellos]

Is it reasonable to assume that improved guarantees and enhanced refugee rights would be a part of a more "european" solution?

O.

[Alexandros Lordos]

It is interesting that many of the Greek Cypriots in this forum strive for what they would call "improvements to make the Plan more European".

I would be really curious to know (and it would help my further research) if the people here could precisely list the package of improvements to the UN Plan which they require, in order to accept it as a European Solution.

[MicAtCyp]

I acually voted for the one before last option i.e the more European. In my opinion this option is the same as the last one i.e the Plan is dead and burried. Because for the plan to abide to the EU Aquis needs so many changes that it will not be the Anan Plan anymore, it will not even be a Bizonal Federation, and it could hardly be a Federation...

[Piratis]

list the package of improvements to the UN Plan which they require, in order to accept it as a European Solution.

Here is my plan:

Independent:
Cypriots should be the only ones that can take decisions for Cyprus. Everything of course should be within the rules and spirit of EU. The UN and EU can guarantee our new state, but not Greece, Turkey, UK or other separate countries. Ideally, no foreign country should maintain troops in Cyprus, but an agreement can be reached for small armies to continue to be based here, but without the right to intervene.

Federal:
We will have a federal system. Each community will have its own state with its own police, educational system etc. Within this state the majority of residents should always come from the equivalent community, and special restrictions should be in place to maintain this. Each state will have its own parliament and laws as long as they do not contradict with the central government laws and the laws of EU.

The central state will be above the federal states and will take care of things that involve the island as a whole (economy, federal police, tourism etc). Both communities should be represented with ministers and personnel according to a specified ratio. Critical matters will require not only a simple majority, but also separate majorities from each state.

Democratic:
The governments of each state will be elected by its own residents. The majority of residents will come from the equivalent community.
The central government will come from all Cypriots. If the system will be presidential this means one Cypriot, one vote. We can adopt a system like in the US where president and vice president are elected at the same time and require that they are from different communities.

United:
One and only citizenship, a united economy, freedom of movement, goods and services. We are all Cypriots first and above all.

[Alexandros Lordos]

Piratis, thanks for your thoughts - but could you translate your principles and ideals into specific improvements starting from "Annan 5" as a base?

In other words, based on the vision you have spelt out, which provisions of the Annan Plan do you want to see removed and what would you like to see replacing them?