Cyprus-Forum.com

[Jerry]

Thanks Tim, the article from the Financial Mirror is, in my view, optimistic to say the least. You can't compare the growth in trade between Greece and Turkey with what may happen in Cyprus following a settlement. Resentment and mistrust towards Turkey will linger in Cyprus for many years. The key sentence is; we make one simple assumption: “that the solution that would gain the majority support of both communities would be politically and economically sustainable”. It's a very big assumption.

The interview with Ayhan Aktar highlights the Hellenic nature of Greek Cypriots but plays down Turkish nationalism. He says that the political elite failed to criticize nationalism, something that he fails to do himself. I believe he weakens his whole case by referring to the ROC as "South Cyprus". He did make some interesting points however; I wonder how widespread his views are in Turkey. Are the mainland Turks getting fed up with subsidising a "state" where he says, "The political structure, in order to legitimise its own existence, over thirty years from 1974 to 2004 distributed Greek Cypriot property and operated a plunder economy."

Thank you for giving us an insight into what a Turkish academic thinks about the Cyprus Problem - it makes a change from the usual mudslinging that goes on here

[Tim Drayton]

Thanks Tim, the article from the Financial Mirror is, in my view, optimistic to say the least. You can't compare the growth in trade between Greece and Turkey with what may happen in Cyprus following a settlement. Resentment and mistrust towards Turkey will linger in Cyprus for many years. The key sentence is; we make one simple assumption: “that the solution that would gain the majority support of both communities would be politically and economically sustainable”. It's a very big assumption.

The interview with Ayhan Aktar highlights the Hellenic nature of Greek Cypriots but plays down Turkish nationalism. He says that the political elite failed to criticize nationalism, something that he fails to do himself. I believe he weakens his whole case by referring to the ROC as "South Cyprus". He did make some interesting points however; I wonder how widespread his views are in Turkey. Are the mainland Turks getting fed up with subsidising a "state" where he says, "The political structure, in order to legitimise its own existence, over thirty years from 1974 to 2004 distributed Greek Cypriot property and operated a plunder economy."

Thank you for giving us an insight into what a Turkish academic thinks about the Cyprus Problem - it makes a change from the usual mudslinging that goes on here

Ayhan Aktar - I have actually met him - is an iconoclast who has investigated dark anti-minority events in the Turkish past such as the wealth tax during World War two or the ethnic cleansing of Greeks from the Aegean Region in the 1920's and his views are far from typical.

My main reason for quoting his description of the TRNC economy was that it supports a view that if you replace the current system based on patronage and cronyism that essentially traded support for a corrupt political system with a share in the illicit booty with a genuine economy that rewards hard work and entrepreneurial effort, you could well see a mini economic miracle in the north of Cyprus that would rapidly eliminate the need for subsidies.

I also think that PRIO's forecasts are a bit on the rosy side. Even so, I believe the gains from reunification, at least in the medium term, will outweigh any subsidies that will have to be given to the northern economy as it makes the transition from "false" to "true" economy.

[Magnus]

Isn't anyone going to go and join Halil on strike? What happened to 'Workers of the world unite'?

[soyer]

Isn't anyone going to go and join Halil on strike? What happened to 'Workers of the world unite'?

I AM ON MY WAY.

[paliometoxo]

u mean the only solution is for the turks to bugger off back to turkey soyer

[halil]

There will be general strike on monday at TRNC.
33 Trade unions which are against the draft law on the sliding scale system – will hold a general strike on Monday.
In a joint statement today, the unions said they will continue their struggle until the draft law is withdrawn.
Unions accused the government of trying to reduce the income of people receiving salaries from the state.

Monday morning i will be at strike tent .

Birlik mücadele dayanışma .

Striker unions increased to 35.

35 Trade unions which are against the draft law on the sliding scale system – are preparing to stage a general strike tomorrow.

The strike is expected to disrupt all public services.

The unions in a statement issued on Friday said they had no intention of backing out and would continue to pursue the matter until the draft law is withdrawn.

Earlier, Kamu-Sen President Mehmet Ozkardas accused the government of trying to reduce the income of people receiving salaries from the state.

He said the Unions will continue their actions until the draft law is withdrawn by the government.

Meanwhile, three major airlines operating in North Cyprus, Cyprus Turkish Airlines, Atlas Jet and Pegasus have announced changes in their flight schedules due to tomorrow’s general strike.

Cyprus Turkish Airlines and Atlas Jet flights have rescheduled their flights to before or after the strike, expected to last between 8 am-6pm tomorrow in order to minimize any annoyances or problems passengers may face.

Pegasus Airlines on the other hand has cancelled most of its flights for tomorrow, redirecting passengers to other flights.

[kurupetos]

There will be general strike on monday at TRNC.
33 Trade unions which are against the draft law on the sliding scale system – will hold a general strike on Monday.
In a joint statement today, the unions said they will continue their struggle until the draft law is withdrawn.
Unions accused the government of trying to reduce the income of people receiving salaries from the state.

Monday morning i will be at strike tent .

Birlik mücadele dayanışma .

Striker unions increased to 35.

35 Trade unions which are against the draft law on the sliding scale system – are preparing to stage a general strike tomorrow.

The strike is expected to disrupt all public services.

The unions in a statement issued on Friday said they had no intention of backing out and would continue to pursue the matter until the draft law is withdrawn.

Earlier, Kamu-Sen President Mehmet Ozkardas accused the government of trying to reduce the income of people receiving salaries from the state.

He said the Unions will continue their actions until the draft law is withdrawn by the government.

Meanwhile, three major airlines operating in North Cyprus, Cyprus Turkish Airlines, Atlas Jet and Pegasus have announced changes in their flight schedules due to tomorrow’s general strike.

Cyprus Turkish Airlines and Atlas Jet flights have rescheduled their flights to before or after the strike, expected to last between 8 am-6pm tomorrow in order to minimize any annoyances or problems passengers may face.

Pegasus Airlines on the other hand has cancelled most of its flights for tomorrow, redirecting passengers to other flights.

All two flights were cancelled???