Cyprus-Forum.com

[insan]

Party consensus unlikely on settlement talks

BY ANDREAS HADJIPAPAS

GREEK Cypriot political parties this week set out their positions on the kind of solution to be sought in future talks, but the chances of reaching a consensus appear slim, and it is now up to President Papadopoulos to produce a final stand.

Left-wing Akel presented a 28-page paper with concrete suggestions and an analysis of the situation at home and overseas, and so did opposition Disy, calling for new initiatives to break the stalemate.

Reports suggest during the marathon National Council session, there were angry exchanges among the politicians, with Disy leader Nicos Anastassiades getting most of the verbal attacks.

Ex-President George Vassiliou demanded immediate action: “We must prepare the ground now for new talks, without setting any preconditions,” he said, indirectly rejecting Papadopoulos’s demands that there should be no tight deadlines and no arbitration.

Vassiliou said the President had promised to produce a synopsis or codify the various positions, since there were “serious differences ” among the various parties and a consensus was sought. Reports suggest the President will state his own views at another NC meeting towards the end of the month.

Vassiliou said: “There is now complete stagnation. Time does not work in our favour. We must move promptly, otherwise the de facto partition will stay with us for good.”

He said contacts could pick up with Turkish Cypriots after the elections in the north in April.

While most of the other parties suggested specific changes to the Annan Plan to make a solution functional and viable, the small New Horizons party came up with the demand for a truly European solution, based on a unitary state.

New Horizons produced a seven-page paper which is to circulate as a booklet.

New Horizons leader Nicos Koutsou said seeking to bring about changes to the Annan Plan was unrealistic and pointless.

Cyprus should be a free and democratic country, not a protectorate with the right of intervention by other countries.

After joining the European Union as a full member, Cyprus should be a unitary state. Any division into zones or regions was an anachronism, the party said.

A solution should be based on the European Constitution, with full respect for the values of the European Union, adherence to democratic institutions, equality of its citizens, respect for human rights and with freedom of movement and settlement safeguarded. The basis for a solution would have to be approved through a unified referendum.

The 1960 Constitution should be amended and streamlined to the principles of the European Constitution and approved at a referendum

The island should be demilitarised within 12 months, after which every citizen had a right to take full control of his property from which he has been displaced.

A reconciliation committee to be set up to promote understanding, tolerance and mutual respect between various communities. Also in 12 months Turkish settlers must leave.

The two areas set out in Annex A to the Treaty of Establishment (Akrotiri and Dhekelia sovereign base areas) shall come under the sovereignty of the Cyprus Republic within five years after the referendum.

Akel did not release its paper, but reports said Christofias called for new talks on the basis of the Annan Plan, with certain changes to make the proposed solution functional and acceptable to Greek Cypriots.

He demanded the withdrawal of all Turkish troops within a fixed timetable or with Turkey’s accession to the EU. The right of unilateral military intervention must be abolished. The number of Turkish settlers to stay should be defined, while the timetables for the return of Greek Cypriot refugees should be speeded up. He also set out Akel’s stand on the question of political equality and demanded special arrangements for the Karpass peninsula.

Akel wants guarantees about the implementation of any agreement and also additional security arrangements.



http://www.cyprusweekly.com.cy/default. ... geID=304_2

[brother]

I like this part a lot:


New Horizons leader Nicos Koutsou said seeking to bring about changes to the Annan Plan was unrealistic and pointless.

Cyprus should be a free and democratic country, not a protectorate with the right of intervention by other countries.

After joining the European Union as a full member, Cyprus should be a unitary state. Any division into zones or regions was an anachronism, the party said.

A solution should be based on the European Constitution, with full respect for the values of the European Union, adherence to democratic institutions, equality of its citizens, respect for human rights and with freedom of movement and settlement safeguarded. The basis for a solution would have to be approved through a unified referendum.

The 1960 Constitution should be amended and streamlined to the principles of the European Constitution and approved at a referendum

[metecyp]

The 1960 Constitution should be amended and streamlined to the principles of the European Constitution and approved at a referendum

These people still find it hard to digest the rights given to TCs in the RoC and they're trying to change them in the name of "streamling to the principles of the EU constitution" and we expect them to agree on the Annan plan.

[michalis5354]

Why is the Turkish administration so scared to discuss something based on democracy , freedom and human rights? Does anyone here want the 1960 period to be repeated I am just curious to know!!!

[brother]

Let me take a stab at this, the tc are scared as when the 1960 constitution was created this was not enough for the gc to share with their tc brothers so they choose to take it all.

[magikthrill]

ok brother,

you know what i actually agree with you. of course the problem lied with the fact that the majority of GC had no say in it.

Regardless though what I want to say is that this comment you made is very similar to some of the comments that Piratis makes and everyone starts calling him a radical nationalist.

We all have to see both sides of the coin when discussing this topic.

[brother]

Magikthrill i have no beef with any gc, only those like piratis who have made it their full time job to antaginise the tc people to the extent that they will respond back to him.

[metecyp]

Why is the Turkish administration so scared to discuss something based on democracy , freedom and human rights? Does anyone here want the 1960 period to be repeated I am just curious to know!!!

Because the issue is not just about democracy, freedom and human rights. You use these words for your community because they suit your wishes. To answer your question, TCs do not want 1960s to repeat again, that's why they want a concrete solution that won't be just on the paper like in 1960. TCs do not want to be excluded from the decision-making for another 40 years and TCs do not want to be left to the goodwill of GCs once again.

[michalis5354]

The TC rights can be arranged in such a way as the principles of democracy , freedom and human rights not to be violated , otherwise we all run the risk of going through a new disaster!

How will a free economy function with restrictions ?

If the solution is not built on strong values then it will not last in the long run!

Obviously no one wants Cyprus to have the fate of Iraq!

[brother]

We already had the fate of Irak.