Cyprus-Forum.com

[turkcyp]

Let’s clear many things about this topic,

(I am not responding specifically to anyone, but answering general concerns)

Bizonality: Bizonality is of course important to TCs. Where have said it is not important. All I have said was bizonality is not as important as bicommunality. Equlaity of communities is the most important (more important than bizonality) for TCs. So if TCs are forced to choose in between they would choose biccomunality. Not that they do not like the other one two, but simply if they are forced to choose in between.

The ideal case for TCs would be bizonality and bicommunality. But it seems that this is not acceptable to GC members of this forum so I have said that any solution proposal will not be accepted to majority of TCs, if it worse than 1960 constituion. Annan Plan was acceoted because it gives temporary bizonality to TCs, in return for them accepting diluted equality of communities. But no plan would get a “yes” vote if it dilutes equality of communities more than “Annan Plan” (2/5 is not equal to ½ (legislative power), and 50% is not equal to 100% (executive power))

However this roadmap makes it possible for TCs to concentrate on north of the island without being a refugee again and restores their community equality. Even in the case that all GCs decided to return back to their property (farm property, commercial property, or residential property in the same village, even then the population ratio in north would be more like 50% to 50%, which is highly unlikely that every GC will choose to return) The only problem is the long run where GCs keep on moving to north and change the population structure to their advantage. But this was a huge possibility in Annan Plan as well anyway.

Acceptability of Roadmap: I do not know if TCs would approve such a plan. I can only speak for myself. I rather live in 1960 RoC environment adapted to todays realities (unitary state where TCs are concentrated in one region) then Annan Plans temporary ethnic federation (temporary ethnic federation because GC settlement in the north can never be legally restricted in any form of solution unless the plan becomes EU primary law). So I do not believe giving up my community equality from 1960 constitution in return for a fake temporary ethnic bizonality.

Furthermore, about the acceptability of this roadmap, what worries more is that it’s acceptability to GCs. Because many GCs think and really believe that if we return to 1960 constitutional environment, we will be turning to today’s RoC. When they realize the truth that numerically minority TCs will be electing vice president (which has equal powers to GC president and is only different in name) and every decision that has to pass parliament will require consent of majority of TCs, and that there will be a Supreme court of only one GC but one TC and one foreign judge, I do not think they will approve such a solution.( and yes it is true that that constitution can be changed but you guys should have learned right now that we sell our skin very expensive.)

Settler issue: As long as settlers are not forced to move out of the island (and here I am talking about settlers that are TRNC citizen, which are around 60-70k, not the illegal/legal workers, not the students.) they will be voting yes for the roadmap. I would say out of this 60-70k of settlers close to 50% will be given citizenship rights(either because they are married to a TC or because they are born here and have been living on the island all their lives) and the rest 50% will be given permanent residency (without guaranteed citizenship, like what many Turks have in Germany), where they can legally work, stay, own property but are not citizens so they can not vote. OF course on top pf this with added possibility of being able to apply naturalization later on is an extra bonus.

The only downside to this is the fact that, almost all of the will be forced to pay for their property. They will either have to settler a price with pre74 GC owner (if she wants to) or move out any either buy or rent a new housing. But this can be made easy for them with the help of property fund which gives long term low interest rates to them.

1960 Constitution: Do not think that 1960 constituion was a bliss for TCs as well (meaning negotiations to change that constitution will be tough). TCs did not like many things about, army, police force structure (it should be 50-50 because it relates to security), did not like inequality on some levels of judiciary, etc.

30% civil service requirement can be easily given up by TCs I believe. Me for example I am all against setting any quotas for TCs as (30%, 18%, 5% etc) anyway. I believe there should be established a civic service commission (formed by equal number of GCs and TCs) which design central civic service entrance examination, and that set the other standards and rules other than exam to be hired to civil service so that best qualified person gets the job (one of requirement would be that anybody that holds a civic job should either be speaking the other ethnic language or English extra to his/her mother tongue.)

Furthermore, GCs should not expect TCs to accept every law they have passed in the last 41 years. There are a lot of laws that you guys have passed that affects common life of everyday GCs which are against TC interests, which most probably will be revoked. You guys should be ready for that. For instance, the whole armed forces of RoC will most probably will be abolished to levels of 1960 (if not abolished all together if we agree on it together) which will create an army of people losing many privileges they obtain from government today.

p.s. Unlike to what some had suggested in this forum, I am not goping to take this topic to any politician in north. I am not a politician myself, and I don't intent to be one at this stage of my life. This topic is purely for brain-storming like any other topic for me on this forum.

[MicAtCyp]

Turkcyp,

your post has a lot of intelligent points but with the exception of Insan no other Tc so far agreed with your roadmap. So for us the Gcs to start commenting is just a utopia. We must wait to see what the reaction of our TC friends will be on the matter of Bizonality as a reality that currently exists which however will erode to some (unknown) degree after 20-30 years. Is this acceptable to them or is it totally unacceptable? I explained this to Metecyp in my previous post (in a similar way that you did in your post) but I think he remains firm to his position.

On the matter of the GCs thinking that the return of Tcs to the 1960 constitution would mean return to todays ROC, for me personally such thought never passed through my mind. I am absolutely certain that such return will not be automatic, but will pass through negotiations.

The merit of this "solution" is that each side knows the 1960 constituition, knows it's faults, and knows which things need to change to have a workable system.The other merit is that it does not violate basic human rights of anyone.The TCs can be as tough as they like in their negotiations with us, it is not really a matter of how much they will get. It is a matter of having a workable system. And i don’t think the Tcs will be so "tough" that in the end we will have a system that will not work.
Both the TCs and the GCs are scared the hell of having a system that would collapse once again, I am absolutely sure of that, so I am absolutely certain whatever element of toughness in these negotiations will eventually be ruled out by logic.

[erolz]

Turkcyp,

your post has a lot of intelligent points but with the exception of Insan no other Tc so far agreed with your roadmap. So for us the Gcs to start commenting is just a utopia. We must wait to see what the reaction of our TC friends will be on the matter of Bizonality as a reality that currently exists which however will erode to some (unknown) degree after 20-30 years. Is this acceptable to them or is it totally unacceptable? I explained this to Metecyp in my previous post (in a similar way that you did in your post) but I think he remains firm to his position.

I personaly would accept / support such a solution. I also think it could be sold to TC here such that a majority would vote in favour. If Talat and Turkey supported it and similar pressure to that that was brought to bear re the Annan plan was again brought to bear I see no reason why at least as big a majority of TC would not support it. Just my personal opinion of course.