Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

I found this on the internet? What do people think?

A Solution the Cyprus Problem, via the Internet. Revision 3.50

I am creating this page in order to find a common solution to the Cyprus Problem via correspondence over the Internet between the people affected.

I will start by presenting a preliminary plan for a solution which will be amended as time passes. Everyone reading this page is invited to contribute to this solution by E-Mailing me with suggestions and comments. It you think an item concerning the solution should be changed or modified or you would like to put forward your amendments I will consider your views and act accordingly.

I will also include a Guest Book linked to this page which will contain your own personal views for a solution.

Sign my Guest Book , View Guest Book Contents, Past Entries

The Minimum Prerequisites for a Solution.

A Solution Must respect the following universal principles which cannot be derogated.
Freedom of Movement and Settlement as demanded by the Masstricht Treaty (Article 8a, Paragraph 1) including the safe return of all refugees as demanded unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
Respect for Ownership of Property as demanded by the European Court of Humans Rights
Political Representation as demanded by the Masstricht Treaty (Article 8b) which implies that there can only be one Cypriot Identity.
There must be NO reward for Aggression, Illegal Occupation, Illegal Colonization and Ethnic Cleansing.
The Facts. The Claims.

Cyprus
Turkey

On July 20, 1974, Cyprus was invaded by Turkey in violation of the UN Charter and Existing UN Resolutions, whereby it captured 5% of Cyprus Territory in the Kyrenia District which was overwhelmingly populated by Greek Cypriots. (See Maps).
Turkey claimed that Cyprus was invaded in-order to protect the Turkish Cypriots yet none had claimed that they were ever at risk and there were few to protect in any of the areas Turkey captured. Instead Turkey proceeded to Ethnically Cleanse the area of its Greek Cypriot inhabitants.
On August 15 1974 Turkey Violated a UN Cease-fire and proceeded to Annex 38% of Cyprus Territory and occupy it with 40,000 Troops, 400 Tanks, a Division of the Turkish Navy, Attack Helicopters, War-Planes based in Turkey, and other Military hardware.
This was a long standing Turkish aim which had been planned since the 1950's and first attempted in 1964, eventhough Turkey had signed away all claims to Cyprus in the 1923 Lausanne Treaty. The green line splitting Cyprus in two matches exactly that of the Atila Line found on Turkish invasion maps of the 50's.
200,000 Greek Cypriots over 1/3 of the total Cyprus population were Brutally Ethnically Cleansed by Turkey and made Refugees in their own country.
There was no Reciprocal Action by the Greek Cypriots. Cyprus did not attack Turkey nor were any Muslim Inhabitants ever hurt.
Turkey held over 70,000 Cypriot Civilian Prisoners in Concentration Camps in occupied Cyprus and in Turkey as hostages. Over 1600 of these prisoners which included the old, women and children, who’s names were known to the Red Cross but to which access was denied, have never returned. A further 8000 Greek Cypriots were killed by Turkey in the invasion.
Under instructions from Turkey which threatened to use force against civilians and refugees held prisoner, and which was already napalming civilian populated villages, the United Nations organized the transfer of 70,000 Muslims (2/3 of the Muslim population) from the free areas into the occupied areas, none of whom had been harmed or threatened in any way or at any time by the Greek Cypriots.
In 1975 20,000 Greek Cypriots and Maronites remained enclaved in the Karpas Peninsula and Kyrenia. Since then all but 600 have be forced to leave through denial of basic rights including health care and education.
Since 1974 over 90,000 Illegal Turkish Colonists have been transplanted into the occupied areas and now outnumber the Muslim Cypriots who now number less than 60,000 and are being forced to emigrate by the illegal occupation regime and the colonists.
Over 90% of the Land, Property and Businesses in the occupied areas is Legally owned by Greek Cypriot Refugees as adjudged by the European Court of Human Rights.
The Muslim Cypriots own less than 10% of the land in the occpied areas which amounts to less than 4% of Cyprus territory. Yet the illegal occupation regime, a puppet of Turkey in the opinion of the ECHR, denies the Greek Cypriots access to their property, while the Muslim Cypriots are able to return to the free areas.
The composition of the population of the occupied areas in 1974 is shown on these maps.
In 1992 UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali, without consulting any of the affected parties and following directions from the USA, which has never condemned Turkeys Crimes in Cyprus, proposed a "Set of Ideas" for a solution for the Cyprus Problem. The plan went back to the original Unworkable Cyprus Constitution of 1960, and endeavored to unfairly Reward Turkish Aggression and Ethnic Cleansing and Punish the Refugees and their Descendants. It was not accepted by either side.
My Proposal for an fair and acceptable Solution to the Cyprus Problem

1 CITIZENSHIP, OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS
There Will be Only One Citizenship.

The Terms Greek and Turkish Cypriot will no longer be used to refer to Cyprus Citizens.

Existing Citizenship

Those already Citizens of the Republic of Cyprus will keep their Cyprus citizenship.

Those who were Citizens before the invasion will have the right to Cyprus citizenship.

New Citizenship

For a period of 20 years hence only those whose Mother and Father, or both sets of Grandparents were born in Cyprus before the invasion, or who's forebears were all Cyprus Citizens or were eligible for Cyprus citizenship before the invasion and can be deemed as qualifying, or that have a Legitimate reason for asylum, will be considered for Cyprus citizenship.

Illegally Implanted Turkish Colonists and their descendants that do not meet the above requirements will not have the right to Cyprus Citizenship and will be immediately repatriated to Turkey.

Obligations

All people wishing to be considered for Citizenship of Cyprus, must Swear and/or Sign a Statement of Loyalty and Allegiance to the Cyprus Republic which specifies their obligations as Citizens.

Those who do not swear or sign the Statement will be denied Cypriot Citizenship.

Existing citizens will be adjudged to have already agreed to these obligations.

Rights

These rights will apply only to Cyprus Citizens and cannot be derogated

All Cyprus Citizens will be have the right to vote in all Parliamentary Elections and Referenda irrespective of their place of residence wheather in Cyprus or elsewhere.

All Cyprus Citizens and EU Citizens, if Cyprus becomes an EU member, residing in Cyprus will be allowed the right to vote in Municipal elections

All Cyprus Citizens and EU Citizens, if Cyprus becomes an EU member, residing in Cyprus will be allowed the right to welfare benefits.

All Cyprus Citizens will be guaranteed the right to Freedom of Movement and Settlement, and the right to Own, Buy or Sell Land or Property anywhere on the island without prejudice irrespective of their place of residence wheather in Cyprus or elsewhere.

2 DEMILITARIZATION AND DEFENSE

All foreign forces on the Island of Cyprus must be removed from the Island. Foreign forces will include all British, Turkish and Greek forces.

Peace Making Force

The foreign forces will be replaced by an International Peace Making Force which must not consist in any part of British, Turkish or Greek forces, these countries having failed to meet their original guarantees. The Peace Making Forces will be under United Nations appointed command but will function independently of the UN under the Authority of the Cyprus Government. Britain, Turkey and Greece will not be permitted to affect the control or command of these Forces. Neither will America because of its role in supporting the Fascist Junta in Greece and bringing about the coup against President Makarios of Cyprus.

Security Guarantees

The government of Cyprus will be allowed to maintian an army which will consist of all Cypriots to supplement the Peace Making Force.

The Peace Making Force and the Cyprus Army will jointly Guarantee the Sovereignty, Independence, Unity and Territorial Integrity of The Entire Island of Cyprus.

Accountability

The Peace Making Force and the Cyprus Army will be accountable to the recognized Government of Cyprus and the United Nations and will have a Renewable Mandate.

3 CONSTITUTION

The United Nations Charter, The Charter of the European Union, and European Convention on Humans Rights of the CoE, will become part of the New Constitution of Cyprus as is a Prerequisite for membership of these organizations.

The 1960 Constitution including the treaty of Guarantee will be negated and declared legally invalid as both violate the right to Self Determination and Chapter I Article 2 Paragraph 4 of the UN Charter, "All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations".

Territory and Sovereignty

Cyprus will exist as a single indivisible social, political and territorial entity with one sovereignty deriving directly from its Citizens on the basis of universal equality.

Administration

Cyprus will be administered by a single Unitary Government.

Once all reparations have been paid and the refugees have returned to their original homes to the full satisfaction of all parties, any future Government which is ellected will be alowed the power, if it so wishes, to devolve agreed elements of its authority to other elected bodies, such as municipalities and districts, for the duration of a single term of office after which the authority will revert back to the new parliament unless the mandate is renewed by the new parliament within a fixed period.

4 DISPLACED PERSONS

Refugees

All the Refugees and their Heirs and Descendants, who have been displaced from or denied access to their legitimate homes, land or properties in Cyprus, must be allowed and facilitated to return to and reclaim the afore mentioned homes, land and properties, in freedom, in peace and security.

The return of occupied homes, land, properties and business premises will be phased in village by village over a fixed period.

All illegal settlers and illegal immigrants and their descendants will be repatriated.

Ownership of Occupied Property

The Property rights of all displaced Persons will be respected

In the case where the homes, land and properties of a displaced person, or that persons descendants or heirs, is being inhabited by another who was not the legal owner before the 20th July 1974, the inhabitant must vacate and return the homes, land and properties to the legal owner and will be temporarily housed in a transition centre.

All alterations and new structures built since the Occupation will be the property of the original pre-invasion landowner or their heirs and descendants.

Compensation

The present occupants of the homes, land or properties of a Displaced Person will be compensated for the value of any alterations or structures which they built, and the cost in relocating by the Government of Turkey in the case of a property located the north and by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus in the case of a property located in the south.

If any structures built or alterations are detrimental to the properties value or are deemed unsafe or cause the property to be uninhabitable, or the property has been destroyed, the original pre-invasion landowner will be compensated for the restoration and/or re-building costs plus any other losses incurred if anything of value has suffered.

The original legal owners of the property will be compensated for the cost of any restoration required by the Government of Turkey in the case of a property located the north and by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus in the case of a property located in the south.

Both Governments working together with an independent Commission will decide what level of compensation is appropriate. In case of disagreement the Commissions view will be decisive.

The will be no time limit for which claims can be lodged.

Reparations

Turkey will pay full non-prejudicial reparations for all damage it has caused to the Republic of Cyprus and to Individuals as a result of its occupation and will pay the full cost involved in its withdrawal, repatriation of illegal settlers and the return of refugees.

All parties will afterwards have the right to appeal to the Europeans Courts for further reparations.

5 ELECTIONS

Voting

Provisional Elections will take place among all persons of Cypriot Citizenship as soon as everyone's citizenship has been decided.

The electors will elect a provisional Parliament which will Govern the Entire Territory of the Island. The political composition of the Provisional Parliament will be in proportion with the ratio of votes per political party standing. The electoral System to be used will be outlined below and will be a variant of the List System.

Each Political Party will put forward the same number of candidates, equal to the total number of seats in the parliament. The Members of each party will choose the candidates themselves. The Candidates for each party will stand as a block, that is one legal mark on the ballot paper for the party will be a vote for all of the candidates and their party. When the votes are counted, each party will be given a number of seats in proportion to their share of the vote. The parties may then choose which of their list of candidates takes up each allocated seat.

Parliamentery Government

A Speaker will be elected by the members of parliament, using Simple Majority Voting.

The Provisional Government will be formed in one of the following ways:

(A) The party or coalition of parties which can muster a simple majority or a simple working majority will form the Provisional Government. The Provisional Government will be able to choose any of the MP's sitting in the parliament to act as ministers. All further Government, Cabinet and Parliamentary decisions will be taken by Simple Majority Voting.

or

(B) A Provisional Unified Government will be formed consisting of all the parties elected which obtain a qualifying percentage of the vote equivalent to 1 MP. The party with the largest share of the vote will appoint the Prime-minister and that with the second largest vote will appoint the deputy Prime-minister who will replace the PM during absence or illness. Each qualifying party will be allocated a number of ministerial positions in accordance with its ratio of the vote, each qualifying party being entitled to a minimum of 1 Ministerial post. All further Government, Cabinet and Parliamentary decisions will be taken by Simple Majority Voting.

The Provisional Government will begin a process of consultation in view to creating a new constitution. Once decided by parliament, the New Constitution will be put to a democratic referendum. If passed by a qualified majority of 2/3 (two thirds) of the registered voters the Constitution will immediately come into effect. If not passed new consultations will take place and the process will be repeated.

Period of Office

New Elections on the basis referred to above will take place every Four Years unless An Agreed and Implemented Constitution says otherwise.

In the case of the Death, Retirement or Resignation of an MP, they will be replaced by another candidate of the same party allegiance form the parties original list, unless either there are no more names left on the list or the MP had transferred allegiance to another party different form the one who's list he was on or had been expelled from the original party but remained sitting, in which case he will not be replaced.

If the number of sitting MP's falls bellow 1/2 of the number of seats, there will be new elections.

6 LOCAL GOVERNMENT - DISTRICTS AND MUNICIPALITIES

Bounderies

Until a new constitution is approved all land and district boundaries will be as they were before 20th July 1974.

Any new constitution will preserve the existing recognised bounderies and changes will not be allowed to be made to the pre 1974 districts and boundaries within Cyprus unless Turkey as the Aggressor has first made Reparations to the Republic of Cyprus and to all affected parties to the full satisfaction of all parties without prejudice, and payment of these reparations has been completed.

Administration

All Municipalities (Councils), will be elected by additional member proportional representation. Municipalities will be governed by Simple Majority Vote.

There will be two tires of Municipality. District being the upper tire to contol afairs of major importence and Town/Village the lower tire to contol simple local afairs.

7 JUDICIARY

The Legal System will comply with European Court of Justice and Humans Rights legislation.

Until a final Constitution is agreed Trials will take place before Judges appointed to each case by the Government, or Magistrates appointed to each case by the Municipalities as appropriate.

Selection

Judges and Magistrates will be apointed to the bar by each individual District Municipality either directly by public referendum or by the vote of elected local authority. Each Municipality will elect two Judges and twelve Magistrates by simple majority.

All of the islands elected Judges will be placed on a list and Judges will be selected from the list for a particular case by the Government in accordance with their capabilities, based on the recomendation of a Judicial panel selected from among the elected Judges by secret ballot.

Appeals and Fairness

All parties being litigated against will have the right to have their case herd in any Municipality of their own choosing without prejudice.

Appeals where leave is given will be heard in-front of a panel of 5 judges selected by the Government in accordance with their capabilities, based on the recommendation of the Judicial Panel.

All parties will have the further Right of Appeal to the European Courts of Justice and Humans Rights.

8 EDUCATION

All Schools

Until a final Constitution is agreed upon Education will be the responsibility of each District Municipality who will be obliged to oversee and maintian primary standards set by the Goverment for all schools as well as being able to set its own secondery standears for all public schools.

Public Schools

The Official Languages in public Schools will be the Official Languages of the European Union.

All School Children throughout Cyprus attending public schools will be taught in one single common language, that of the majority Cyprus population in all subjects except languages. Each Student may elect to be taught one other European Union Language by right.

Private Schools

Private schools will be alowed the power to set their own independent secondery standards.

Private schools may elect to teach most lessons in any language of their choice on condition that all students attend adequate classes in the language of the majority.

Universities

New Univerities will be granted the right to set Degrees by the Government but will maintain their own afairs.

Funding

Primary Funding for public Education will be given by the Government to be administerd by the Districts.

Additional top-up funding may also be given by the Districts.

9 HEALTH CARE

Public

Until a final Constitution is agreed upon each District Municipality will apoint an independent Local Health Authority composed of 50% local Doctors and 50% of lay-people to oversee public Health Care which will be obliged to maintain primary health standards set by the Government.

Private

Private Health Care will be overseen by an independent body apointed by the Government.

Funding

Funding for the independent health bodies will come from the Goverment.

Previous Drafts:

Draft 1.10

Draft 2.12
Your Comments

Now its time for you to make your suggestions for amendments to the above plan.
All Comments are Welcome.Mail Me
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What do people think?

Well, I'll tell you what I think...

I think that there is a load of crap floating around out there on the Internet, and this particular piece of crap has all the hallmarks of Greek / Greek Cypriot propaganda and misinformation.

Consider one single passage: - "There was no Reciprocal Action by the Greek Cypriots. Cyprus did not attack Turkey nor were any Muslim Inhabitants ever hurt."

Then ask your Turkish Cypriot Muslim neighbours how many friends, neighbours and relatives were slaughtered by the Greek Cypriots.

That should tell you how reliable this piece of crap is.

You would do well to actually read the rubbish that you find, and consider it's worth, before posting it.

Just my opinion of course - but you DID ask...

After the first three or four paragraphs, I decided not to bother further apart from random spots ... I did note that apparently a spell check was not run; that might have corrected some items - but sadly I think a sanity/reality check is required for more significant corrections....
Over the many years before I met my TC friends, I gained some awareness of who had done what to who - news items, books and other media from the 60s onwards provided this - but my friends, although they treat it as past and done with, made me much more aware of the real-life effects... but they also have commented and have concerns regarding the influx of mainland immigrants...
I don't think it would be wrong to say there was some degree of bias in the "Solution the Cyprus Problem".....

I was in Cyprus in 1963 so I dont need to friends or neighbours to tell me it is sheer propaganda, utter rubbish and dangerous rubbish at that Th e lack of literacy suggests it is a translation - no prizes for guessing what from. I could spend all night countering each statement with real facts, I dont think it actually does decent Greek Cypriots any favours it is so transparently and demonstrably biased! Anyway it is so transparently unworkable and contadictary it is probably intended to stir up bad feeling, and is best treated with the contempt it deserves.

This is a bit of a sick joke, and not to be taken seriously, mind you some of the spelling errors are amusing!
In the meantime, I really hope the 'two As' can agree something in 2016.

What Turkish Cypriot (maybe Mehmet Ali Talet) would vote yes to this in a referendum? , it's a Greek Cypriot pipe dream.

After reading the first 7 words i realised it must be April 1st already, there was not an INVASION but an INTERVENTION by the Turkish troops to secure the future of Turkish Cypriots, all we here from the Greeks is "occupied area", yes occupied by free turkish Cypriots

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... 13we45.htm

DenizIsmail, I suggest you re-start by reading this evidence submitted to the UK foreign Affairs Committee and published on the UK government's own website. It is an article by the renowned UK academic Michael Stephen QC who is without doubt one of the most learned scholars on the subject of the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

It gives a very clear potted history of the events leading up to and beyond the intervention in Cyprus and will leave you in no doubt as to the hopeless inaccuracy of the diatribe that constitutes your opening post on this thread. I would say that it had to be this brief for the sake of readability and lest the committee's minds start to wander off-topic.

It is based on evidence from both sides and if fully quoted and referenced with the relevant bibliography.

It makes uncomfortable reading for the south because it very clearly sets out why most of what has transpired is not the fault of TC's or Turkey and how the status-quo is a very unfair burden on the Turkish Cypriot community.

To date, no successful rebuttal of a single point of this evidence has been put forward by the ROC. They simply ignore it because it shows them to be liars preaching a warped version of the relevant history and, because they will not admit their part in this sorry situation, they dare not engage in a discussion about the evidence. They are the authors of their own misfortune but by sleight of hand, have managed to convince the rest of the world that they are the victims, when nothing could be further from the truth.

As others have said, it seems clear that this discussion is prompted by the GC's for their consumption, putting forward their desires for property rights.

When you go to war to try and gain what is not rightfully yours - you risk your property - it has happened all over Europe and elsewhere... They don't like the idea that their attempt to disinherit TC's led to them losing ground and they want it all back... Well I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen.

To put it in Cockney parlance, 'It's a load of old pony!'

To say that no Turkish Cypriots were harmed is the most fantastic piece of fiction.

I also laughed at the passage that stipulates that there will be no time limit to displaced Greek Cypriots making a claim with regards to land/property.

Mr. Golden Mouth only knows one word: 'OXI = NO'!

Apart from this, why, anyway, would the Turkish Cypriots want to join up with a totally bankrupt state?

On entering TRNC, having driven to Larnaca Airport on Monday night, we were amazed how beautiful the Yuletide decorations were, compared to the miserable show on the Greek side!

Well, I tried hard to wade through it but gave up after 2 or 3 paragraphs. About as incomprehensible as War and Peace (no pun intended) As to INVASION and INTERVENTION I think that entered the worlds attention during the live? broadcasts by the ITV reporter who referred to INVASION on at least two occasions. It has just stuck without any thought or correction being made at the time. Perhaps someone using scare tactics? Parts were intensely cruel and harsh to Turkish descendants living here.

Who on earh put this load of rubbish together - the ghost of Nicos Sampson?

It's pure fiction and belongs alongside the tripe Barbara Cartland and Joan Collins used to 'write, I managed the first paragraph, just, and gave up.

Maybe Negative Nick has returned .....

Where on earth is this 'information' coming from DenizIsmail??? Obviously not directly from you, I just checked your previous posts to make sure. there are a lot of 'unreal' websites.
This one is also 'interesting'

http://eurasianfederation.com/index.php ... age&id=546

It's in Greek and I asked google to translate and it's not too bad.

How about this excerpt:

To wake up the people led like sheep to the slaughter accepting a solution to the Cyprus problem that will gradually lead to the complete de-Hellenization and full Turkification of Cyprus.

Thank you Groucho very interesting reading. I am now even more convinced and agree with my late father that I do not want anything to do with GC

Of course there was an invasion.
The details of it are given by none other than the then President of Cyprus in his address to the UN asking for help.
The President Makarios denounced Greece as the invader. His speech is worth reading in full at this link
http://www.scribd.com/doc/234237563/S-P ... nta#scribd

Unless the GCs acknowledge their duplicity, murderous campaigns of ethnic cleansing and make amends any settlement agreement made now will not last very long.

Groucho Got it in one, load GC propaganda, for Hellenic consumption.

http://www.argyrosargyrou.fsnet.co.uk/Solution.htm

Above appears to be the actual webpage -it is a tad easier to read the crap then c and pin original post. Also site has lots of handy information on The Greek Orthadox Church and where to get a kebab in Northampton!

Yes, mainly exaggerated claims and propaganda but no side is completely without blame. Turkey wanted Cyprus returned if and when the British left - against the will of 80% of the population and Greece and the GCs wanted union - against the will of 18% of the population. The complex and unworkable 1960 constitution was supposed to be a compromise but elements on both sides only regarded it as an interim measure to achieving their long term goal.
Cyprus was the only British colony not granted majority rule.

My only comment would be: As Cyprus has been a member of the EU since 2004 and this set of "Ideas" was originally produced in 1992, it is not worth the paper it is written on, maybe it is time for the GC's to stop living in the past and attempt to live in today's world, with today's values.

I found this definition on a legal site: Abandonment
The surrender, relinquishment, disclaimer, or cession of property or of rights. Voluntary relinquishment of all right, title, claim, and possession, with the intention of not reclaiming it.

So my only amendment to the above pack of outdated rubbish is simple: You ran away and left everything behind, without any intention to return, you left it unsecured and freely left! You have abandoned it - you can not "in legal terms" have it back again.

Stop crying over what you have done, suck it up and get on with life whilst you continue to claim your refugee funding.

This happened to lots of people at the end of WWII. My family included. I don't even think about it and my father's property was sizable!!!The only little fantasy we have in our family - apparently my grandmothers jewellery was buried at the bottom of the orchard - shall we go and look??Start digging???

no no no no no -

dippersgirl, when we see you wandering around and glittering like the Queen of Bling, we'll know you changed your mind! Happy New Year.

Lots of families have their fantasies - legend has it that one of my ancestors emigrated and bought land in what is now San Francisco! Bye, bye folks I'm off to America

Huh, that's nothing - I get at least one email a week telling my that my long lost brother has left me £6M in his will and all I have to do is send them my bank details!!! Too skint to have a bank so can't do it but happy to give half of it to anyone who wants to be me and claim it - lol. True Christmas spirit that is!!!!

Posted on Embargoed

Akinci says property compensation for Greek Cypriots could total $25-$30bn
December 30th, 2015 / Cyprus Mail By Angelos Anastasiou
Progress has been made on all issues discussed thus far at the negotiations for a settlement of the Cyprus problem, including territory, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has said, but noted that the issue of properties is extremely sensitive to Turkish Cypriots, as is political equality and power sharing.
He was speaking in his first live televised interview since being elected leader of the Turkish Cypriot community last April, which lasted two and a half hours, and was televised on Tuesday night.
The Turkish Cypriot leader estimated that total compensation for properties in the north could comes to $25-$30 billion
According to Akinci, it has been agreed that properties will belong to one of 22 categories, but work on the categories’ criteria is still ongoing. He said that his principle is for as few people as possible to be forced to leave their homes, because the pre-1974 status quo is unattainable.
“In these 41 years life has changed significantly, both here and in the south,” Akinci said.
“If there is a belief that the people who lived here 41 years ago will be brought back en masse, that will not happen. It’s not just about these people’s lives; it’s also about their children, who have started new lives.”
Akinci said that reports of agreement that legal owners of properties will have first say post-solution are false. “The owner will be the first to claim the property from the Property Commission within one year, saying: I want to live there, or be compensated, or exchange it with land elsewhere,” Akinci explained.
“Then, the person living in said property will examine the situation. The owner will have the right to stake his claim first, but the person living there will also have rights. These matters have not yet been agreed – they are still under discussion.”
The property criteria should be clear, the Turkish Cypriot leader said, so that property commissions are able to close the issue quickly, adding that no one can be asked to leave without being offered alternative accommodation.
“Properties may be returned, but not on a large scale,” Akinci said.
“Surveys done in the south show that a limited number of Greek Cypriots will return to the north. Of course, fewer people returning means more compensation.”
With regard to funding for compensation, Akinci said the issue is in the international arena, but noted that there are “positive messages” over this matter.
Total compensation for properties in the north could total $25-30 billion, he said, and expressed hope that the international community will help.
Following agreement on properties, discussion can commence on territory, the Turkish Cypriot leader added.
However, Akinci said no agreement has been reached on rotating presidency, which, he noted, is important to the concept of political equality.
“There is reaction in the south over the principle of rotating presidency, but it was part of the Annan plan, and it should be part of this solution, too,” the Turkish Cypriot leader said.
This argument came at odds with Akinci’s stance on President Nicos Anastasiades’ assertion last week that territorial adjustments should include the return of Morphou, as was agreed in the 2004 Annan plan.
“Choosing to accept parts of the Annan Plan when it suits one’s interests is not a right approach in dealing with such issues,” Akinci had replied then.
On the thorny issue of guarantees, the Turkish Cypriot leader said the issue will be discussed at the end of the process and that, if agreement has been reached on the rest of the issues, guarantees will not be an obstacle to the solution.
However, he added that Turkey’s guarantees are of vital importance to Turkish Cypriots, and that, according to surveys, the Turkish Cypriot community will likely reject a proposed solution that does not include Turkish guarantees.
Referring to bizonality, Akinci said that, according to the parameters set by the United Nations, it is “not a situation in which Greek Cypriot majorities in population and property-ownership both in the south and the north can be allowed”
.
But, he ceded, territorial concessions will need to be made.
On nationality, Akinci said the so-called citizens of the unrecognised north will become citizens of the unified federal state, noting that there is no issue of 4-to-1 proportionality.
“During the talks, we were asked to give the number of TRNC nationals, and the numbers showed approximately 4 to 1 proportionality,” he explained.
“The Greek Cypriot side wants this ratio to not be disturbed by approving nationality to immigrants from Turkey or Greece. Besides, we have no such intention.”
But it has been agreed, he added, that those who are ‘nationals’ right now will be nationals of unified Cyprus.
On recognition of the illegal breakaway regime in the north, Akinci said Turkey is the only country recognising it, but it is unable to support such recognition, citing sporting events as an example.
“Even as it does not recognise the south, Turkey is unable to meet the obligations of non-recognition,” he said.
Akinci said that, with negotiations continuing at the same pace, a solution by springtime could be possible.
“The March milestone [for holding referenda] had been brought up due to the May elections in the south,” he said.
“I have never spoken of a March milestone – I have merely said that a solution is possible within months.”
Responding to a question, Akinci said direct taxation will be collected by each constituent state, while value-added tax will be collected by the federal government, and that the constituent states will have the right to sign agreements on economic and tourist issues.
In terms of issues relating to the European Union, the Turkish Cypriot leader said preparatory work is being done for the transition to the Euro.
“We must adopt EU standards on technical matters, too, and if we go for a solution in the next year, this may not be possible and a transition period may be required. Harmonisation with EU laws is moving slowly and must be expedited,” he said.
My response to the following article by Angelos Anastasiou:
1) Is this all about compensation to the GC's, what about the figure for the TC's?
2) Has the TC president agreed political equality and power sharing on an equal footing or not?
3) Where is the money coming from? It is assumed that the international community will help, how and when?
4) Rotating presidency will never happen, the all powerful Greek Orthodox Church is adamant on this!
5) None of the items in the Annan Plan should be included since the GC's outrightly rejected them.
6) Turkey's guarantee is paramount for the TC's and is not up for discussion
7) "Approximately 4-1 proportionality" is unacceptable, not enough work or thought, has gone in to it.
8) What f the 103 villages destroyed by GC's in 1963 and compensation for them? (see the UN's Ortega report).
9) What about compensation for TC's loss of earnings having been forced out of their jobs under the force of arms, since 1963?
10) What about claims for monies donated by the international community for infrastructure development for the whole island which the GC' have 'withheld' from 1963 to date which is estimated to be 5 billion euros?
11) What of all the agreements signed unilaterally by the GC's on energy, defence and economy, Will they be cancelled and revisited under a unified Cyprus?
If each and everyone of the foregoing are not properly addressed, then a 'solution', as such, which will take years, then a spring agreement is absolutely out of the question. As for EU accession, I won't even go there!
Altan Houssein,
Kucuk Erenkoy.

"the pre 1974 status quo is unnatainable": most sensible thing anyone has said on the subjects so far, even though it is blindingly obvious.

The world has moved on since then - albeit rather faster than old fogies like me would like - and people have rebuilt their lives in new ways and new places, as sensible people eventually do after a disaster. Ok - some redistribution of common land, and compensation from a common fund by a totally independent tribunal for those of BOTH sides who have suffered irredeemably , Then put the past behind and,, with respect for traditions of all Cypriots, start rebuilding from a level playing field for the benefit of all residents of the Island. Trouble is even if both sides accepted this - and this post is ominous that the GCs wont - they would not be allowed to because the international community has too many vested interests.

waddo wrote:Huh, that's nothing - I get at least one email a week telling my that my long lost brother has left me £6M in his will and all I have to do is send them my bank details!!! Too skint to have a bank so can't do it but happy to give half of it to anyone who wants to be me and claim it - lol. True Christmas spirit that is!!!!

OK Waddo,, I will sell you half of my claim to part of SAn Francisco for 3m - how is that for generosity??

As soon as I get the cash I will do the deal!!!!

Would 3million purchase half of Alcatraz, if so you have a bargain there Waddo!