Peace Talks Failed!

[waddo]

So what is Plan B now? For sure the UK will not do anything to assist the North, they can not even be bothered to report what has been happening for the past 10 days and they proclaim to be a guarantor power! Greece will sit and happily blame Turkey for failing to give back to the RoC what they demand. Turkey will sit and keep its troops here and retain the right of "Intervention" as agreed by all in 1960.

Impasse!

The blame will be put squarely on the shoulders of Turkey and the TRNC and because no world wide coverage of the whole problem and current events will ever come from Turkey or the TRNC then both Greece and the RoC will make even more hay whilst the sun shines. A sad situation for all Cypriots, both Greek and Turkish. Will that be the final attempt or has the UN something up its devious sleeve?

The EU has told Turkey that unless it withdraws its troops from the TRNC it will not be allowed to join the EU. It has refused so I guess that is that for the EU membership of Turkey. But what choice did it have in reality? Would you expect Turkey to remove all protection from its Turkish brothers just so it could join the EU?

So, nothing has changed and things still remain the same - for now. The only real coverage came from Cyprus Mail and as that is a RoC paper then it would be biased anyway. Maybe now would be the time to hold a TRNC referendum and ask the Turkish Cypriots if they would vote for or against the proposals tabled by the RoC? Make the whole thing public so that the political teams from both sides could see that the whole world could make its own decision on the current state of affairs.

[Soner]

Unless embargoes are lifted soon, then it will not be long before we become a state of Turkey. Will be a big mistake to carry on with talks for a solution as it seems it will never happen. They have left it way too long, time to end this nonsense. UN should withdraw its troops as they are wasting their time and money, each side can man the Green Line themselves.

As for Erdogan, he couldn't careless about joining the EU.

Interesting times ahead.

[Traveller0392]

Here's the response from the Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/ ... gry-scenes

[ardstrawray]

Here's the response from the Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/ ... gry-scenes

Typical inaccurate Guardian journalism, "GC president" "TC leader", and still refer to Turkish invasion rather than intervention.

[Art]

Desperately disappointing outcome which will continue to shackle the children and therefore the development of Northern Cyprus.There are do many talented children on the Island who are just waiting to be given the same opportunity as those living in a developed country.

Dam politicians!

[Gozoa]

It's time to join Turkey.

Really, absolutely nothing would be different except everything would be cheaper and infrastructure/development and amenities would be world class. Ohh no.

[Laura B]

I really hope you are being ironic Gozoa.

[PoshinDevon]

I would say it's not the Peace Talks that have failed but the Cyprus Talks that have failed.

Since 1974 and the Turkish intervention this island has been for the most part a very peaceful place. So Turkeys intervention as a guarantor power was right and just in my opinion.

During the late 50s and early 60s ethnic violence and killings were rife, mostly driven by fanatics on the Greek Cypriot side wishing to accomplish the dream of Enosis - unity with Greece. It started with the EOKA campaign and whilst it went underground for a period of time, resurrected itself again soon after independence in 1960 and the dismantling of the agreements put in place by Makarios and his government. Turkish Cypriots continued to be hassled and at times persecuted. The coup in 1974 and the removal of Makarios by Greece and the installation of Nicos Sampson (A known EOKA terrorist) as de facto leader gave a clear indication of what the real end game was. Turkey had no option and every right to intervene to prevent the situation escalating even further.

As to the future who really knows, but it is clear that both sides are still a long long way apart. Time for the TRNC to be accepted and removed from isolation. It won't happen mainly because the Greek side in my opinion have been since 1974 very good at promoting the "we tried everything and we are hard done by" line, plus there is very little coverage of the Turkish Cypriot perspective by any news organisations outside of Turkey. There appears to be only one opinion that matters and that is the Greek version.

Interesting times ahead.

[Gozoa]

I really hope you are being ironic Gozoa.

Can you explain where you see irony in my post? Which part was incorrect, in your opinion? Turkish investment runs KKTC, they pay the government, they work with only each other, Turkey has world leading standards for infrastructure and amenities, the culture here is Turkish, the language is Turkish and everything is cheaper in Turkey......which part is incorrect and implies irony? Or are you being ironic? It seems unlikely that you're somehow not aware of any of these facts considering they are common knowledge here.

[Laura B]

I'm sorry if you feel I was being rude to you Gozoa. I was just surprised that anyone living in North Cyprus would be happy to become part of Turkey. I do understand that Turkey has to foot the bill here but otherwise I would take issue with your assumptions about infrastructure and amenities. Maybe on the coast and in tourist resorts they are not too bad but for the vast number of Turks life is not that great. Also the cultures are very different and what exactly is cheaper in Turkey nowadays? I have lived in Turkey for many years so do have some knowledge and personally would not be happy to become a part of the 82nd province.

[Gozoa]

I'm sorry if you feel I was being rude to you Gozoa.

I don't think you were being rude at all, I'm sorry if you felt that.

Turkey has many of Europe's biggest shopping malls, a couple of Europe biggest water parks, one of the worlds largest bridges, some of Europe's top Hotels, one of the World's best performing economies on average for the last 10 years, was one of the only economies that grew through the global recession, will soon be home to the world's largest Air Port, Europe's tallest Hydro-electric damn, just signed a deal for the world's longest suspension bridge, is home to many of of the worlds longest tunnels including one through an entire mountain and Turkey was just crowned the world's most active country in promoting investments in 2017 according to the World investment report. This is literally from the top of my head, so to say that North Cyprus's infrastructure rivals Turkey, when Turkey's infrastructure represents much of the best in Europe and in many cases the whole World, is absolutely ridiculous.

With respect to the prices, again similarly disconnected with the facts - why? Because almost everything that gets sold here comes from Turkey and there is a tax to pay when it enters the country. Scooters have 110% tax, electronics 40%, jewelry - all from turkey and taxed, almost everything except fruit and veg comes from Turkey and is taxed. Yet somehow Fruit and vegetables in Turkey are less than half the price according to the newspaper a couple of weeks ago. Maybe because the water here comes from Turkey through a tunnel that Turkey paid for and built that is the one of the longest of its type at over 40 miles (another point for infrastructure, hey?) and so the water cost is significantly higher?

The electricity cost is also higher here last time I checked which is why they want to bring Electricity from Turkey, and also because it will be more stable.

The amenities and infrastructure between KKTC and Turkey is not comparable, as you can see Turkey has the best in the World or at least one of the best in Europe for almost every category that exists. KKTC only has anything because Turkey funded it, so why would this come as a surprise?

If you want to make a statement "Well, Turkey has all these things in the Cities but other places aren't as nice", firstly it isn't entirely the case but have you actually seen the poor places in parts of the UK? With entire streets of houses boarded up and every other house gratified and rubbish everywhere? Have you seen the ghettos on the outskirts of Paris, where gangs road block the streets and police don't enter? How about the whole state of New Orleans for about 10 years after the hurricane hit and almost the whole place was completely trashed and abandoned?

If you truly want the best for Northern Cyprus's economy and standard of living right now, there is only one real option, to reject that is plainly illuminating with respect to how much certain people want this place to succeed.

EDIT:- What exactly is different about the Turkish culture between Turks living and speaking Turkish in Turkey vs Turks living and speaking Turkish 40 miles away in the Turkish republic of Northern Cyprus. I'm just asking a question, so please don't think that I think that you've been rude again...and please don't just say "Casinos and less people cover their head".

[turtle]

You are absolutely correct PID….I have yet to speak to anyone who is not associated with Cyprus who even know where the TRNC is or know anything about the last 60yrs on the Island.
They don’t have an opinion as they simply know nothing about the situation… I would guess that a large number of Brits wouldn’t even know that Cyprus was under our rule until 1960.
The subject is not even mentioned in British History in schools and colleges.

[Rosehillgirl]

Having also lived in Turkey for quite some time I can assure you that the TRNC and mainland Turkey are light years apart in terms of culture, religion and the mindset of the people.

Turkey is one of the most repressive countries on the planet-there are more journalists locked up in Turkey than another other country in the world outside of China. Education has regressed over the last ten years to the point that children will only be taught the creationist view of evolution, the plan is for every school to have it's own Mosque.

Erdogan is a despot who has milked his country dry to line his own pockets-anyone who challenges him is locked up indefinitely without trial.
He tried to ban alcohol-even in the tourist areas-when that didn't work he stared applying taxes that made it totally unaffordable. When I left Turkey four years ago a bottle of standard whisky (Grants, Bells etc) was £40 a bottle.

Turkey has a primarily rural agrarian population with little or no education-these are Erdogan's supporters. I saw the AKP buying votes with coal, washing machines, vacuum cleaners etc. His supporters are very religious and that is strongly encouraged-they now believe any vote against him is a vote against Islam-he has fostered distrust of the west and an isolationist foreign policy. Erdogan has no intention of ever being part of the EU-he used that to gain vast sums of money pumped in to the country under the guise of 'development' -he would never toe the EU or any other line.

Forget the shopping malls in Istanbul or Ankara-that is only a very small part of Turkish society. I would rather pay the extra amount on imports than live again on the mainland-it's not like being in another country-it's a different universe-but with quite sinister undertones at times.

As far as shipping electricity-that gave me such a laugh-we had more power outages on the mainland than we had in the TRNC. They can't even get it right on the mainland but the're going to supply the TRNC? Really?

If the TRNC loses it's independence completely then I-and lot's of TC's etc will be off.

Rosie

[David]

What i want to know is when will the Turkish economy pick up ?

[Laura B]

Totally agree Rosehillgirl. North Cyprus is indeed a different planet from the Turkey of today. Sad but true. My question re the economy is why if it is so thriving has the lira lost such huge amounts of value against every other currency?

[turtle]

The Turkish economy has been losing ground for the last 4/5 years now and is set to continue.

[Gozoa]

I would rather pay the extra amount on imports than live again on the mainland-it's not like being in another country-it's a different universe-but with quite sinister undertones at times.


So you'd rather Turkish Cypriots continue to struggle as long as you don't have to have anything to do with Turkey or people from Turkey, even though you're in a Turkish republic and surrounded by Turkish people? ....wow.


As far as shipping electricity-that gave me such a laugh-we had more power outages on the mainland than we had in the TRNC. They can't even get it right on the mainland but the're going to supply the TRNC? Really?

Yes, really: Turkey-Cyprus to sign undersea electricity deal - https://www.dailysabah.com/energy/2016/ ... icity-deal



If the TRNC loses it's independence completely then I-and lot's of TC's etc will be off.

Lol, are you even Turkish Cypriot?

In 2016 Turkey with an attempted coup, Terrorst attacks every month had its economy grow by 2.9% - you all think this is so terrible? Britain's was 2%.....where do you guys get your facts from? Do you make it up as you go along?

The Turkish economy has been losing ground for the last 4/5 years now and is set to continue.

WRONG.

"Growth in Turkey to Recover in 2017 Thanks to Improving Exports, Says World Bank"

-http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press- ... world-bank


How are people living in a Turkish republic so anti Turkish? Do you actually not realize where you are?

Regarding the Currency prices this is driven almost entirely by speculation in the currency markets, it is extremely easy to manipulate the value of a currency through meaningless ratings and predictions.

Can I get some context, am I just talking with Xenophobic Brits right now or are there TC's that also hate the same Country that kept their own Grand parents alive?

[waddo]

Soner, I am in agreement with you, for what that is worth. For those who do not understand what the UN and EU Embargos' mean to the TRNC, this is interesting reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embargo_a ... ern_Cyprus.

In my own opinion all that needs to happen is for the UN to lift its embargos' and for the EU to honor its promises after it admitted that the RoC gained EU access by mistake. Then the TRNC could press forward again.

PID, I won't edit the title and change it to "Cyprus Talks" because the talks were essentially about "Peace" for all on the Island. There has been peace in the North since the Turkish army arrived but if the RoC were to have its way I feel that peace would soon be shattered!

[jofra]

How are people living in a Turkish republic so anti Turkish? Do you actually not realize where you are?...
...Can I get some context, am I just talking with Xenophobic Brits right now or are there TC's that also hate the same Country that kept their own Grand parents alive?

To clarify; a part of the island of CYPRUS whose politicians chose to take the name "Turkish Republic of North Cyprus", probably to emphasize the ethnic origin of the majority now living there - not as a proclamation of being part of Turkey. Compare Nova Scotia (New Scotland) with Scotland, and New Zealand with Zealand for examples of nomenclature......
And I personally know Turkish Cypriots that may not "hate" Turkey, but dislike (and fear) the way it has gone - they nevertheless greatly appreciate and respect Mustafa Kemal Atatürk...
Unfortunately, your comments above suggest a bias that is prepared to blind you to other opinions and/or evidence.

[Reyntj]

Very well said rosehill

Gozos you seem to be regurgitating similar points in the turkish media which is now 90 % akp controlled and a propaganda machine for the akp party . I watch different news and none of them are impartial but the stuff that is coming out of the goverment controlled turkish media is cringeworthy its hard to believe people believe it .

Your talking about gdp but forgetting to mention turkey is till an emerging economy and anything below 5 % gdp is not enough to balance the books even the powers in turkey will agree to this . You cant fairly compare gdp in turkey to say the uk for example where that have similar populations but gdp per capita is more than three times greater in the uk! Uk is a mature economy . Then you forget to mention the inflation rate and unemployment rate in turkey .... both around 11 % .
My wifes from turkey so i dont hate people from turkey . But your remarks are generating hate against anyone who criticies turkey . Very few of the tcs i know are very religious its the imported mainoand turks who are more pious. Which is fine but i am kimlik holder and i want my daughter brought up in a moden secular soceity .

If people keep disagreeing with you and criticising the economics of turkey or its human rights abuse etc will you start to call them terrorists.......

[Reyntj]

I think you will find the reason kyrenia has got so busy now is there are lots of mainland turks leaving if they can. Clearly 50 % of turkey back the goverent but the other 50 dont . If your not with the 50 % your being branded a terrorist . I can confirm my recent trip to mersin restaurants the same price as here petrol more expensive alcohol and cigarretes a fortune . Meat is about 20 % cheaper . Clothing in the shops in the malls similar to here . Inthink the minimum salary here is about 20 % more and theres c 40 % of the population in turkey on the minimum salary .

I came on here today looking for thebthread on the talks . My intention was to say well its turned out as expected and lets get behing the tcs and get trnc recognised . Im alarmed and concerned that one possibilty is that we could become like turkey . People imprisoned under emergency state rule and the slow imposition of sharia law .

[Ragged Robin]

I think there was dislike or concern about mainland Turks among many Turkish Cypriots long before the present regime in Turkey....it is partly human nature to resent someone to whom one owes a debt of gratitude - in many ways the situation is reminiscent of. the UK after America came into the War . Of course Britain might well have lost the war and been invaded were it not for the Americans but there was a lot of feeling that the the help was rather belated and after an intervening incident (Pearl Harbour in the case of America, the Greek Coup in the case of Turkey ) Also there was resentment in both cases of the presence of "foreign troops" - even though of a friendly power speaking more or less the same language - in both casesI

Additionally older Turkish Cypriots have been seriously influenced by both Greek Cypriot and British culture, and admit, even are proud of it and many owe a good education to the British They are far more tolerant and relaxed about religion than most of their mainland cousins and , again even before recent events in Turkey, afraid of being forced to conform to a stricter regime.

I remember listening to a talk by a senior Turkish Cypriot back in the 90s about Cyprus History when he described the Ottoman invasion and colonization of Cyprus. He explained that the best craftsmen were selected from villages in Turkey and given enducements to emigrate to Cyprus. He added that he just wished Turkey had chosen on the same basis in 1974. It is generally believed that the average Turkish immigrant in and immediately post 74 was a peasant only fit for unskilled manual work. That is of course a generalisation and there were also some highly intelligent and educated mainlanders, but they were in a minority. Again there is a parallel with Uk in the 50s and 60s when immigrants were taken on to do all the"dirty" unskilled work, but were generally "looked down on".

[Gozoa]

To clarify; a part of the island of CYPRUS whose politicians chose to take the name "Turkish Republic of North Cyprus", probably to emphasize the ethnic origin of the majority now living there - not as a proclamation of being part of Turkey. Compare Nova Scotia (New Scotland) with Scotland, and New Zealand with Zealand for examples of nomenclature......
And I personally know Turkish Cypriots that may not "hate" Turkey, but dislike (and fear) the way it has gone - they nevertheless greatly appreciate and respect Mustafa Kemal Atatürk...
Unfortunately, your comments above suggest a bias that is prepared to blind you to other opinions and/or evidence.

There's too much in too many posts to address everything, but the irony of the bolded part above really stands out. I get told "Turkey's infrastructure and amenities isn't better than North Cyprus'" so I prove this wrong with facts showing Turkey is not only significantly better but world class for both.

Then I get told that the outlook for Turkey's economy is bad for the next few years, so I prove this wrong with a recent quote from the World bank.

Then I get told that my comments, that have literally just been posting facts to prove other people's biases wrong, are biased?


"And I personally know Turkish Cypriots that may not "hate" Turkey, but dislike (and fear) the way it has gone"

Ok, so you "personally know" some but I am Turkish Cypriot. Do you speak for me like you apparently, and others in this thread, speak for Turkish Cypriots just because you know some of them?

My opinion as I have stated, is that North Cyprus should be recognized as an independent state of Turkey. Tax free between the two, free movement but still requiring some form of permit to live here from Turkey but maintaining its own Government in a similar way that it does now and internationally recognized.

North Cyprus as an isolated economy and totally independent state is not going to be as successful without the assistance of Turkey. Not only that we only even exist here right now because our Turkish brothers came and saved us, this might not mean much to you, but you don't just turn your back on the same people who saved your life and gave you an economy for 50 years just so that you can have a quality of life and not only that but did it at the expense of their own international reputation.

No, North Cyprus Turks and Turks are one, their cultures have some minor differences and Turkey has some struggles right now - but we are one people. If you think because you've heard us "bitching" about mainland Turks it means we don't realize this point, you are mistaken. If you think its bad what TC's say about mainlanders to foreigners, well, you guys didn't save TCs or prop up the economy for 50 years....


EDIT:-

Reyntg:-


"My wifes from turkey so i dont hate people from turkey"

LOL, you hadn't even commented in this thread. How could I possibly be addressing you?

"But your remarks are generating hate against anyone who criticies turkey"

If you want to spread misinformation about Turkey, then I will correct you too. If you want to live in your own little bubble believing everything you say in spite of the truth then obviously you will have a problem with people who post facts.

Turkey has world class level infrastructure and amenities, its economy has been doing exceptionally over the past 10 years, it still expanded faster than the UK in its worst year since I can remember and the outlook from the World bank is that it will improve. People coming out of the wood work to imply this is incorrect, well it appears while some would love this to be wrong, it isn't.

[jofra]

...There's too much in too many posts to address everything, but the irony of the bolded part above really stands out. I get told "Turkey's infrastructure and amenities isn't better than North Cyprus'" so I prove this wrong with facts showing Turkey is not only significantly better but world class for both....
....Then I get told that my comments, that have literally just been posting facts to prove other people's biases wrong, are biased?

To correct your mis-statement - "..your comments above suggest a bias.."

"And I personally know Turkish Cypriots that may not "hate" Turkey, but dislike (and fear) the way it has gone"
Ok, so you "personally know" some but I am Turkish Cypriot. Do you speak for me like you apparently, and others in this thread, speak for Turkish Cypriots just because you know some of them?

You are "a Turkish Cypriot" - so are my friends, and you bring shame on yourself and you gravely insult my friends when you appear to ignore or denigrate their opinions, and you insult me because I do NOT "speak for them"; I merely repeat their opinions - and I most definitely choose not to "speak for" you, even though I would repeat your opinions. Similarly, other posters have repeated the comments and opinions of (NOT "spoken for") your fellow countrymen and women - your arrogance in refusing to accept these contrary opinions is breathtaking.

......Turkey has world class level infrastructure and amenities, its economy has been doing exceptionally over the past 10 years, it still expanded faster than the UK in its worst year since I can remember and the outlook from the World bank is that it will improve. People coming out of the wood work to imply this is incorrect, well, it isn't so you might as well get over it .

..."People coming out of the wood work"? At least one poster on here HAS lived in Turkey, and appears to speak from experience - or do you choose to disbelieve yet again?
Once again, your diatribe SUGGESTS a bias.... (please note and quote correctly if responding...)

[Keithcaley]

... and they wonder why the Peace Talks between TC's and GC's failed...

...when even supporters of TRNC cannot agree

[Reyntj]

You keep saying tutkey has world class infrastucture . According to who ? Your own observations ? Why dont you report back on what the world bank say about the turkey infrastructure .....its lowef than all the countries like uk france canada usa etv ...so your wrong

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IQ.WEF.PORT.XQ

Again i refer back to my point about gdp above and turkey gdp per capita being less than 1 / 3 rd of the uk . Uk is a more mature market turkey is still an emerging market . If turkey is doing so well how come unemployment and inflation are so high ?

Just mention ing gdp alone shows a basic lack of knowledhe in economics . China gdp is 7 % does that meani its doing 3 times better than the uk ? No it does nt work like that .

[Reyntj]

http://www.prosperity.com/globe/turkey

Read this and lets talk about facts . I dont live in a bubble . I dont also rely solely on the turkish news formy information .......which also keeps reporting how well turkey is doing doesnt mention much the high employment high inflation depreciating currency current account deficit etc

[Reyntj]

http://lpi.worldbank.org/international/ ... astructure

Turkey ranks 34 rd in the world according to world bank regarding infrasructure check out the facts . Its inbetween humgary and israel...

Is the world bank wrong ? Are these facts not correct .........hardly world class

[Reyntj]

Gozoa

I agee with a lot of what you are saying . After all nibody else is helping trnc and turkey cetainly funds the trnc . Its a pity we cant have our cake and eat it . Trnc cant take the money from trnc and expect not to have the current islamic influence not dhamge things . Im expecting the outcome will be a state of turkey its what ive always thought was the plan A . How it will work is anybodies guess . As i memtioned before i want my daughter to grow up in a secular modern free soceity . I want her to be taught basic evolution at school and not live in a soceity that is going backwards .

[SussexBoy]

Returning to the Guardian article - see 3rd post from the beginning of this topic - like so many reports during the reunification talks, it repeats the often used statement that there are an estimated 40,000 troops in the TRNC. The TRNC and Turkey have never sought to deny this but I feel that this is a myth that suits them both. Now 20 years' ago that may have been true as you could see a considerable number of troops training as you drove through the camps. Camp entrances were heavily guarded, watch towers manned everywhere, you could see conscripts every day in and around Girne, and there were many troop transport vehicles on the road. But how many do you see today? I would be surprised if the actual number in the TRNC was more than 5,000-10,000.

[turtle]

Well I think this confirms to all who are the ones who don't want it to happen ?

http://cyprus-mail.com/2017/07/09/tales ... b-swindle/

[paul90]

Ref message 30:
A TC businessman/shopkeeper in Girne told me the same.
Far fewer Turkish troops around when off-duty compared to about five years ago, not as many seen in uniform.
He also estimate less then 10000.

[Ragged Robin]

Well I think this confirms to all who are the ones who don't want it to happen ?

http://cyprus-mail.com/2017/07/09/tales ... b-swindle/

Thank you for posting that Turtle. And that was in a GreekCypriot paper!

Rather odd that my reading of the article kept being interrupted by ad for the much discussed "sale" of "Cypriot " citizenship. Someone is optimistic - if I did not already know the facts and was not a supported of the TRNC . after reading that I would not come within a thousand miles of the Island nor touch citizenship of "Cyprus" with a barge pole!

[Ragged Robin]

Returning to the Guardian article - see 3rd post from the beginning of this topic - like so many reports during the reunification talks, it repeats the often used statement that there are an estimated 40,000 troops in the TRNC. The TRNC and Turkey have never sought to deny this but I feel that this is a myth that suits them both. Now 20 years' ago that may have been true as you could see a considerable number of troops training as you drove through the camps. Camp entrances were heavily guarded, watch towers manned everywhere, you could see conscripts every day in and around Girne, and there were many troop transport vehicles on the road. But how many do you see today? I would be surprised if the actual number in the TRNC was more than 5,000-10,000.

What you see is not necessarily what you get! When I first came to the TRNC in the l990s soldiers in uniform were everywhere, there was a chicane of traffic cones on the roads from the airport manned by soldiers, and soldier in uniform (including military police) prolliferated in Girne , in fact off duty soldiers were obliged to wear uniform; and as stated above, the roads were full of military vehicles (I wish they still were, it slowed the civilian traffic down!)

Either it wasrealised that this was putting off tourists and potential housepurchasers and/or it was a gesture in the then "Peace" process because suddenly the military presence was substantially less obvious and soldiers were permitted (indeed perhaps ordered) to wear "civvies" of duty, although they could often be recognised because of their short hair cuts! Increasingly I have been less aware of the presence of the Turkish Army on theIsland. I do wonder , however, whether this is because as alleged above, the numbers are exaggerated or it is just that they are keeping a low profile? Does anyone know for sure?

[MoonageDaydream]

I think the numbers of Turkish soldiers on the island have reduced since the Syria crisis erupted. Not surprising really that Turkey needs its army in harms way, not square bashing in Cyprus!