Now nicos south are ready to talk, again?

[jamboree]

Reading the Cyprus Mail last night I saw headline article which was pres nicos is ready to negotiate solution within the un parameters. What was he doing before and last week in crans Montana,
I say all these talks are just a dam waste of time and that it. I am sick of hearing the same thing again and again the end and try again it is plain to see. I feel the eu really need turkey so they are trying to force a solution. But the eu I believe will all crumble way in the next ten years to dust and dirt many of the small members will fry under the collapse of the eu. Turkey will continue to thrive and become even a stronger nation. mr erdogan knows what he is doing and will not sacrifice the north for the sake of few dollars more and a pissy membership to a club that is just hanging on a string waiting to break. he has every thing he needs and the good strong allies to continue in with his journey. If he was a week old boy the with no balls then we in the north would have been sold out long ago and pissed on by the south. This is my view and my feelings, what do you think?

[jamboree]

Also one more thing that bothers me is that there are around 75000-85000 gc national guard reserves which have there automatic rifle and ammo, pistols, grenadeds at the ready in there homes. This is there for a reason and never talked about and never mentioned at the talks, yes get rid of the guarantees and Turkish army and you see what happens next,, this is why no army because then the south can continue from where they left off carry on the slaughter but there dream died a long time ago.

[waddo]

Please, do tell us where you got this information from: "Also one more thing that bothers me is that there are around 75000-85000 gc national guard reserves which have there automatic rifle and ammo, pistols, grenadeds at the ready in there homes."????? What research did you do to find this or is it just more coffee shop talk and rumour.

[frontalman]

Nic is panicking, he realises he has made a big mistake. He lost his cool (lack of a fag, I suspect) as the talks were getting to crunch time, made an unrealistic demand for zero troops from day one, so the UNSG called it a day. Problem is that imminent UN reports are unlikely to blame the Turkish/TC side for the breakdown, which leaves Nic with a huge problem. That's why he is saying that he is willing to re-engage. Netanyahu would have liked a more positive outcome and has probably told Nic that he has blown it big time. Turkey has made it clear that the gas must be shared, so the next few months will be very interesting.

[paul90]

Yes, he is saying he is willing to re-engage but he is still saying "the Greek Cypriot side would agree to negotiate if the Treaty of Guarantee and the Treaty of Alliance were terminated from the first day, along with the right of intervention, and if a timetable for full withdrawal of Turkish troops is agreed."

He still wants zero guarantees and zero troops - so nothing has changed.

[paul90]

Quote:
"Cyprus’ strategic position in the Eastern Mediterranean, its importance in the field of transport and its wealth and Russian’s position in Syria mean that Turkey would never leave the island to others, Professor Ilber Ortayli wrote in Turkish daily ‘Hurriyet’.

Referring to the collapse of the Cyprus negotiations in Crans Montana Ortayli asserted that “it is obvious that in such an environment it would have absolutely no meaning” for Turkey to “evacuate Cyprus and completely leave the island to others” as this will create dangers not only militarily.
According to Ortayli, the second important factor, which necessitates Turkey’s presence in the region, is Israel’s interest in the hydrocarbon wealth around Cyprus. He notes that Israel has “a significant military force” and technologically is the most advanced country in the region. The third reason is that they cannot leave “unattended” an area of conflict such as Syria.

Noting that the Greek Cypriots wanted to demilitarise the whole island, the columnist writes:

“However, even if we change this area, the number and the composition of the refugees, it is not possible to keep it out of military control. No one accepts this. Even the former colonial power which evacuated that place did not accept this and kept bases. We must also have bases there. Now we do not know what will happen. Say that the two communities of the island were unified, we withdrew and left the local Turks side by side with the inhabitants of the south. Do you have any proof as regards the picture which will emerge? Therefore, these are things which will be established only with time and with observation. […] It is very important for Cyprus to live as a cosmopolitan island and a transport hub. […] The Eastern Mediterranean culture is a colourful culture and Cyprus’ Hellenic element is not the only ingredient of this culture […]. Why should we accept that the island will only become Hellenic and European?

Full article on LGC News: http://www.lgcnews.com/turkish-military ... essential/

[kerry 6138]

Of course he wants to talk thats how they keep the status quo, time the UN, EU stopped playing along.

[jamboree]

Wad do this is common knowledge after national service the soldiers are given there rifle ammunition grenades to keep in there house ready always since the 70s so if you calculate how many people have done military service on the south you will get a correct figure. If you know any gcs then just ask and see for your self, they are obliged to keep these weapons at the ready. I have seen this with my own eyes and know for fact do not ask me for any more information, as that's all I know. Do some investigations and you will find this to be true. Thank you

[tomsteel]

I can confirm my GC friend living in Nicosia and his two sons who have completed their National Service commitment DO have their rifles secured in the house. I do not know about ammunition, grenades etc but the actual weapons, yes.

[jamboree]

Thank you tomsteel. For confirming this the actual number could be much greater than what I say but we will never know the true figure. If you look at the cyprusmail past incidents involving attacks on homes/cars bars clubs in the south they has been many grenades involved where do they get them from, extras which they swiped away when they exchange when the use by date has expired on munitions and grenades which are meant to be destroyed by the military.

[turtle]

So What do the TC,s think about all this,..I was reading yesterday that there is growing unrest about pushing for independence.

[waddo]

Jamboree, I was not suggesting that your information was false, I only wish to know where you got it from? I would not be surprised if the National Guard maintained their own personal weapons at home - small arms that is - in the same way that the Swiss do exactly the same. However, I doubt very much that either ammunition or any form of explosive device is also allowed to be kept by them. I do note your reference to Cyprus Mail and the use of grenades in recent times, I also note a lack of murders/attacks occasioned by the use of military grade ammunition! I have searched the Internet on this subject about the RoC National Guard and like many other things about the RoC there is precious little information available. But, given the estimate of numbers of weapons held by the numbers of people and given the natural volatility of the Mediterranean peoples, I would have expected a minimum of a 3% armed crime rate involving the use of firearms - yet I fail to find any, which leads me to the belief that weapons "May" be held but ammunition is not. My search continues.

[erol]

http://cyprus-mail.com/2014/06/21/our-v ... -in-homes/

[waddo]

Thanks erol, good bit of post that is. Now for sure we know that the guns and ammunition were kept in the people's homes in the South at least 3 years ago. Maybe it has changed now, maybe not! What is interesting is the comments part of this report - it seems that the majority of people do not worry about the next Turkish invasion as they do not think it would ever happen - pity they never took that information to the last talks, it may have opened a few "Government" eyes on both sides. As an ex-military guy I have no fear of the well armed Cyprus National Guard ever racing across the Green line to attack the North, as shown by the comments in the Cyprus Mail report most of the RoC would never even try in the knowledge that it would simply be suicide to attempt to take on the Turkish Army. Don't worry too much jamboree, I can't see it ever happening again, there is too much Internet availability for the RoC to be able to tell any lies or hide behind their common phrase of "We did nothing wrong", their Government would never take the chance of being found out with proof! Personally, I believe in the right to bear arms for any citizen, they are much safer than cars and everybody can have one of those and happily misuse them to kill themselves or any innocent bystander!

[wanderer]

GES Greece.gif from wikipeadia
Founded June 1964
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Georgios Mpasiakoulis[1]
Chief-of-Staff Brig. Gen. Georgios Karagiannis
Manpower
Active personnel 12,000 + 750 paramilitary
Reserve personnel 75,000

[sophie]

As someone who has now lived here for going on 12 years, the realization has dawned on me, after to talking to loads of different nationalities , that the TRNC/KKTC is just a pimple on the backside of the world and is of no consequence to anyone, although maybe to those who live here. Frankly I just want a happy life and don't care one way or another. My feelings have become more convincing to myself when having talked to all ages and walks of life in Antalya, that many Turks (and you have to hear this to believe it) haven't a clue, some in fact are not aware of the division and will tell you that they think everyone speaks Greek. When you say that you live in the Turkish side, they are actually a bit confused. These are students. One remarked that his Grandfather "said something or other like that" My point being that the world doesn't care one way or another, and the younger generation on the mainland, care, neither one way or another. It has decided me, that if for one reason or another we left here, then we would move to Turkey, NOT UK. i.e. there is no taxation whatsoever on OAP pensions emanating from the UK. (providing of course that you sign up with the UK pensions department to transfer to the Turkish pensions system) i.e. the Turks do not tax OAP's. Food for thought.

[PoshinDevon]

As someone who has now lived here for going on 12 years, the realization has dawned on me, after to talking to loads of different nationalities , that the TRNC/KKTC is just a pimple on the backside of the world and is of no consequence to anyone, although maybe to those who live here. Frankly I just want a happy life and don't care one way or another. My feelings have become more convincing to myself when having talked to all ages and walks of life in Antalya, that many Turks (and you have to hear this to believe it) haven't a clue, some in fact are not aware of the division and will tell you that they think everyone speaks Greek. When you say that you live in the Turkish side, they are actually a bit confused. These are students. One remarked that his Grandfather "said something or other like that" My point being that the world doesn't care one way or another, and the younger generation on the mainland, care, neither one way or another. It has decided me, that if for one reason or another we left here, then we would move to Turkey, NOT UK. i.e. there is no taxation whatsoever on OAP pensions emanating from the UK. (providing of course that you sign up with the UK pensions department to transfer to the Turkish pensions system) i.e. the Turks do not tax OAP's. Food for thought.

An interesting post for sure and I happen to agree with most of it. Unfortunately whilst the TRNC and the Cyprus "problem" may be of great interest to some of us, in actual fact in the grand scheme of things the world powers are really not that interested.

I am a bit of a Cyprus history nerd ever since coming out here in 1970 and sadly have more books, articles etc than I ought to concerning Cyprus, the Cyprus problem and much more. I am passionate about the island, its people and history....I am sure there are others, but I will admit Cyprus is to many a small island which people come to for holidays. Met a large family group flying home with Pegasus after a weeks holiday - to sit and listen to them talking, I am surprised they even knew they were in North Cyprus - they really hadn't a clue about where they were in the world.

Still love the place tho.

[frontalman]

I notice that Turkey has begun naval drills and exercises around the Cyprus coast. The French-leased drillship is making its way to the site which is well South of Limmasol, via Egyptian waters (from North Africa) so is not taking any chances. Be prepared for fun and games.

There's a good old saying "Oil and water do not mix" - we've got the water, they've got the oil, I rest my case.

[paul90]

If you click on the link below you should be able to see the West Capella drill ship.
http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/hom ... 49/zoom:14
You will see a blue/green circle in a black dotted box.
Hover your mouse over it.
Then click the - (minus) sign on the top right of the map about six times to zoom out and Cyprus will come into the picture.
Hover the mouse over any arrow to see details of that ship.

[SussexBoy]

Interesting view published in The Daily Telegraph letters yesterday:

New uncertainties for divided island of Cyprus
SIR – Yet another international attempt to settle the Cyprus problem has collapsed in acrimony.
In 1974, the short-sighted stupidity of the Athens junta in mounting a coup to unseat Archbishop Makarios presented Turkey with the ideal grounds for military intervention.
The Turks claimed then (and ever since) that their action was justified by the Treaty of Guarantee of 1960 (the provisions of which were afterwards ignored) and by the need to protect the Turkish Cypriot minority.
In the many negotiations of the past 47 years, the Turks have insisted on their right of intervention under the guarantee and especially the need to retain their troops on the island to ensure protection of Turkish Cypriots.
While there is validity in these arguments, there is a general failure to appreciate (or at least acknowledge) the strategic importance of Cyprus to Turkey itself – not for nothing has the island been described as a dagger pointing at the mainland’s under-belly.
The fundamental, if harsh, reality that needs to be faced both by Greek Cypriots and the international community is that the Turks will not readily surrender in the foreseeable future the major strategic prize that had been presented to them.
Future negotiations that ignore this fundamental reality are likely to hit the buffers yet again. In the meantime UN peacekeepers (including British) patiently continue patrols of the Green Line. But for how much longer ?
Francis Henn
Chief of Staff, UN Force in Cyprus, 1972-74
Banbury, Oxfordshire