Cyprus-Forum.com

[Alasya]

Below is a letter that was published in the Cyprus mail a few days ago. I found it interesting. I wonder if a second referenda were called how many G/C would change their vote. What is everyones view on the contents of this letter?


"Let’s revive the Annan plan

Sir,
I feel betrayed and angry that our tough-talking president said he would veto Turkey if our conditions were not met, but changed his mind at the last minute. In fact he actually supported the beginning of Turkey-EU accession talks. I could not believe I saw him clapping and smiling when Turkey got its date. Bravo sou!

While Turkey will start talks next year, Cyprus will still be divided, its refugees unable to return to their homes, and our country will remain heavily militarised and under Turkish mainland occupation.

I voted against the Annan plan like most Greek Cypriots on the advice of our tearful president. He painted the impression that once we are firmly in the EU, we could practically force the Turks to accept our demands, securing us a solution we wanted. Why was I so misguided?

More importantly I have learnt one important lesson from the post-referenda events, that it is morally wrong for us Greek Cypriots to try to broker a deal with Ankara, while bypassing our Turkish Cypriot friends. It is an insult to our Turkish Cypriot friends, the people who voted for the reunification of our common country, to reject them.

We co-exist and our destiny is with the Turkish-Cypriots not with Turkey.
Let’s revive the Annan plan and begin talks. Next time we will vote a resounding YES.

Peter Antoniou, Bexley, Kent"

[Piratis]

I wonder if a second referenda were called how many G/C would change their vote.

Very few. A poll some time ago showed this.
The Annan plan is simply unacceptable without any major changes for the great majority of GCs. This was true in April, this is true today, this will be always true.

The position of Cyprus Mail is well known, and they try to promote it, but this doesn't change the facts.

[magikthrill]

While Turkey will start talks next year, Cyprus will still be divided, its refugees unable to return to their homes, and our country will remain heavily militarised and under Turkish mainland occupation.

Hmm.. seems to me like this guy is listing what would have happened if the Annan plan had passed, non?

[Othellos]

Very few. A poll some time ago showed this.
The Annan plan is simply unacceptable without any major changes for the great majority of GCs. This was true in April, this is true today, this will be always true.

Fair enough. So when will President Papadopoulos inform us all about these changes that are required?

O.

[Piratis]

Fair enough. So when will President Papadopoulos inform us all about these changes that are required?

The question is: if Papadopoulos indeed declares publicly what our maximum compromises are, would they be accepted? Or would they be "balanced" with the maximum demands of the Turkish side to end up in something unacceptable again?

All these years our side in its effort to find a solution was making more and more compromises, while the other side (Turkey, Denctash) were always upgrading their outrageous demands to something even more outrageous.

As it was proven, making compromises is wrong when the other side is not ready to make compromises of an equal magnitude.

Our side has made enough compromises over the last 30 years. We reached bottom. IF (and thats a big IF) Turkey truly wants a fair solution in Cyprus, then all they have to do is to respond with compromises of their own. If they don't want a fair solution, then it would be simply a wrong move from Papadopoulos to make yet more compromises from our side.

If what you want to hear from Papadopoulos is what he wants and not his maximum compromises, then I believe it is well known:

all Turkish troops out of Cyprus, all refugees back to their homes, all settlers to leave etc.

Have you ever seen the Turks declare publicly any compromises? Even if they do make some minor compromises, the next day the will continue to declare that in Cyprus there are two countries, that "TRNC" should be recognized etc.

As I said many times, Turkey will make compromises in Cyprus when she will be forced to. This might take one year, 10 years or another 50 years. The only thing we can do is wait and try with whatever means we can to shift the balance of power a bit on our side. If we "solve" the Cyprus problem with the current balance of power then inevitably the solution will be the one that the Turks want = partition (e.g. Annan partition plan)

[insan]

If what you want to hear from Papadopoulos is what he wants and not his maximum compromises, then I believe it is well known:

Yes we all know what he wants, but he should have made it official to the UN secretary General. The procedure of international politics does not work in a way how T-Pap thinks: "Our demands have already been known."

all Turkish troops out of Cyprus, all refugees back to their homes, all settlers to leave etc.

OK. T-Pap should make thses demands official as the red-lines of GC side. He should underline these demands that if any solution does not provide them would definitely be unacceptable for themselves. No time should be wasted anymore. It's been 30 years we haven't advanced just a step further regarding Cyprus issue. Turkish side has made their red-lines clear. Now time for Greek side to make their red-lines clear. Then we can reconsider the situation and determine if reunification is possible or not. If reunification is not possible with the red-lines of both parties, why should we waste our valuable times just for damaging ourselves more and more. Henceforth both parties should focus on a just partition plan.

But T-Pap and his team dreaming that time works in favour of themselves. Turkey has been cornered and sooner or later will accept a Hellen controlled Cyprus with an inneffective minority of Turkish Cypriots. Now in EU with support of Christian Democrats, Hellen team feel themselves more stronger than ever... But what they have planned is just a dream that most probably will drag the concerned parties(Whole world) into a new catastrophe. This upcoming catastrophe will cause a bigger damage to all Cypriots, one more time...

Have you ever seen the Turks declare publicly any compromises?

Turkish side both made some compromises and emphasized what their red-lines are and officially amde it clear with Annan Plan. Although there are some provisions of Annan Plan which should be improved and changed in favour of GCs side; nevertheless it was foxy T-Pap's and his team plan not to seriously negotiate the Annan Plan until RoC becomes a full member of EU and we now the reasons of his sneaky political stance.

Even if they do make some minor compromises, the next day the will continue to declare that in Cyprus there are two countries, that "TRNC" should be recognized etc.

Whole world other than Piratis knows that the ones who claim those nonesense are only the Denktashes and their teams...

As I said many times, Turkey will make compromises in Cyprus when she will be forced to. This might take one year, 10 years or another 50 years. The only thing we can do is wait and try with whatever means we can to shift the balance of power a bit on our side. If we "solve" the Cyprus problem with the current balance of power then inevitably the solution will be the one that the Turks want = partition (e.g. Annan partition plan)

This exactly what T-Pap's and his team dreaming and acting accordingly. This is their revised Akritas Plan... They will use every trick to make Turkish side(not only Turkey) accept Hellen side as the sole ruler of Cyprus...

[Saint Jimmy]

Insan,

BULL'S EYE!!!

Totally agree with you.

[Othellos]

As I said many times, Turkey will make compromises in Cyprus when she will be forced to. This might take one year, 10 years or another 50 years.

In 50 years Piratis, there may be nothing left to solve.

The only thing we can do is wait and try with whatever means we can to shift the balance of power a bit on our side. If we "solve" the Cyprus problem with the current balance of power then inevitably the solution will be the one that the Turks want = partition (e.g. Annan partition plan)

And how will permanent partition be avoided if we wait for 50 more years?

No one has ever claimed that the Annan plan was a 100% fair plan to all. It was however a proposal that was put together by the UN 30 years after the invasion, after many months of hard work and in it there were several positive aspects that should have been carefully considered. Papadopoulos had at least one whole year to work hard and change or at least improve what he did not like in the plan. Instead of doing that, or instead of making an honest assessment of the plan (i.e. what was good and what was bad about it), he and his closest colleagues engaged in a systematic "NO" camplain that aimed in levelling everything about the plan and this led to its total rejection by the majority of the GC's. At present no one knows what Papadopoulos' intentions are as well as how he intends to re-initiate the solution process. Personally I do not trust his ability to handle the Cypus problem alone.

O.

[Piratis]

OK. T-Pap should make thses demands official as the red-lines of GC side. He should underline these demands that if any solution does not provide them would definitely be unacceptable for themselves. No time should be wasted anymore. It's been 30 years we haven't advanced just a step further regarding Cyprus issue. Turkish side has made their red-lines clear. Now time for Greek side to make their red-lines clear. Then we can reconsider the situation and determine if reunification is possible or not. If reunification is not possible with the red-lines of both parties, why should we waste our valuable times just for damaging ourselves more and more. Henceforth both parties should focus on a just partition plan.

Oh, so if we agree on what you want (= partition) then fine. If we don't agree then the solution again is what you want (=partition). Sorry, but it will not happen your way.

In 50 years Piratis, there may be nothing left to solve.

Why? northern Cyprus will submerge under the sea?
When the balance of power will shift, everything can shift.

If we can agree on something acceptable now then good. If not we will take what belongs to us later on. Meanwhile, we will make sure that we are not the only ones who pay the price for this delay.

[MicAtCyp]

Turkish side has made their red-lines clear.

Frankly speaking I don't know these red lines. Which are they?