CyprusForum on "Cyprus in the world: beyond conflict"

CyprusForum — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:58:20 +0000

I'm delighted to see that others have re-discovered what the early Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot users of the web (back in 1995) have put together as a "win-win" solution. It is worth remembering that the web was the first and only way that allowed Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot "every-day" people to communicate. Before that any political contact between the two groups was limited to the leaders of the two communities.

The solution put forward at http://www.CyprusForum.com back in the 90s was simple and elegant, and perhaps to my surprise, still relevant. I list the main points at the end of this message (yes, it is that short!).

The CyprusForum.com solution, in my opinion, offers a "face-saver" to the Turkish Army by allowing them to stay in a military base for a pre-defined number number of years. This legalizes their presence and in a sense both sides get what they want. [Just imagine if CNNTurk shows the Turkish troops leaving Cyprus. The Turkish establishment that has glorified the Cyprus invasion for their own internal consumption (Such a "patriotic" invasion took attention away from poverty, absence of democracy, brain-drain, out-of-control inflation, etc.) and it will need to extract a huge benefit in order to allow that.]

The CyprusForum.com solution also offers an elegant solution to the construction that took place on Greek-Cypriot land in the occupied area. (see idea below)

The idea of "cross-voting" was introduced to me by the research of Alexandros Lordos and I added it sometime in 2005. Before the solution just listed "keeping extremists from appointed positions".

Regards

Savas Savvides
savas.savvides@gmail.com

The main part of the CyprusForum.com solution (see the complete one - with the introduction at http://www.CyprusForum.com)

The Cyprus Forum believes that a lasting solution can be found only through a commitment to union. The following eleven point peace plan envisions the establishment of a united Cyprus with a government which encourages economic growth and protects the rights and culture of every citizen of the island.

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Allow The Turkish Army to remain for five years. The Turkish military forces in Cyprus would be restricted to a military base in Cyprus. This military base will be leased to Turkey for the next five years. A small group of Turkish and Greek army officers will become consultants to the Cypriot Army. That will build trust among all groups involved. A multinational force, comprised of units from the armies of neutral nations would be responsible for peace-keeping functions and ensuring that all provisions of a permanent settlement are implemented.

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Establish a Ministry of Turkish-Cypriot Affairs, which would be given a guaranteed budget. The budget would be established at a certain percentage of the gross national product. This guarantees that the majority is not ignoring the minority. The guaranteed availability of funds allows the minority to maintain its culture, educational and religious institutions. This ministry will be established through a constitutional amendment, which would allow the Minister to be directly elected.

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Select a Turkish-Cypriot as The First Leader of a United Cyprus. A Turkish-Cypriot, acceptable to both sides, should be appointed as the interim President of Cyprus for a four year term. At the end of the term, open-elections would be held where the interim President could run for re-election against candidates from other political parties.

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Respect The Property Rights of Greek and Turkish Cypriots. All refugees should be allowed to return to their homes and the land titles and deeds in force before the occupation should be honored. Many Turkish Cypriots own land throughout Cyprus. Respecting titles in place before the occupation does not present an economic disadvantage for either side.

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Grant Co-Ownership to Land Developed Since 1974. Land that has been developed since 1974 should be co-owned by both the original land owner and the person that built on it after 1974. Existing laws of the Republic of Cyprus allow the co-owners to either buy each other's share or to force an auction of the property.

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Privatize All Government Owned Industries. The privatization of all government-owned industries is a crucial step which will help Cyprus to compete with other industrialized nations. Allowing individuals-- not politicians -- to make economic decisions will spur economic growth and prevent officials from using the wealth of the country to favor one group while potentially discriminating against others.

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Build A New City. A new city should be built in the northern area of Cyprus, adjacent to Nicosia. The new city would be home to a Turkish-Cypriot University, cultural centers, libraries and many other amenities. Turkish-Cypriots would be employed in the building of the new city. Workers would be paid the prevailing wages available in Greek-Cypriot areas, which are higher than wages in the Turkish-Cypriot zone. Constructing a city will increase economic growth and speed the economic integration of the two communities.

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Offer Legal Status to Turkish Settlers. Settlers from Turkey should be given financial incentives to return back to Turkey and/or a permit to legally stay and work in Cyprus for up to 7 years. This addresses the humanitarian aspects of the issue without changing the demographics.

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Allow Veto Powers for Major International Treaties. Both sides should have a veto over major international treaties, such as joining NATO and similar agreements.

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Keep Extremists from High Ranking Government Positions. Both sides should have a veto over who is hired by the government for high level governments posts or over who is promoted to those high ranking posts. These veto powers should be limited to 10% of the people being hired or promoted for the year. This is done so extremists can be rejected by either side while a functional government remains in place. All paid positions in the army and the police should be considered high-ranking for the purposes of this veto. Elected officials cannot be excluded by this veto power.

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Keep Extremists from Elected Positions. Each side will be able to vote for their political representatives and also cast a vote for the political representatives of the other side. The votes for the political representatives of the other side will only count for 10% of that candidate's votes. Essentially, this gives a maximum lead of 10% to candidates that are not extremists, without totally, and perhaps unfairly and arbitrarily, blocking any candidate.

Cyprus in the world: beyond conflict, Costa Carras

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:49:12 +0000

"Who's to blame?" is a stupid game. In Cyprus, after six decades of conflict, it has lost the audience's patience. At each stage, there has never been a shortage of candidates to blame for political instability in the Mediterranean island: the British colonial government that took over Cyprus in 1878 and denied central representative institutions from 1931 until independence in 1960; the inter-communal leaders during the troubles of 1958 and 1963-64; the Greek junta's coup and Turkey's partition of the island in 1974; the rejection by the Greek Cypriots of the disputed "Annan plan" in 2004, just before the Republic of Cyprus joined the European Union.

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open Democracy News Analysis - Cyprus in the world: beyond conflict, Costa Carras - Comments

CyprusForum on "Cyprus in the world: beyond conflict"

Cyprus in the world: beyond conflict, Costa Carras