Cyprus-Forum.com

[boulio]

http://www.hurriyetim.com.tr/haber/0,,s ... 840,00.asp

so now talat wants control of all ports of cyprus,old american proverb:you have to crawl before you can run.take famamgusta and be happy for now.

[brother]

I have to agree with bulio on this, talat seems to be missing the point that something is better than nothing as his 'all ports' request at the moment is unreasonable until a solution is achieved.

[boulio]

if famagusta pans out and confidence is truly built between communities then why not all ports,why not ercan airport im all for it.

[Alexandros Lordos]

http://www.hurriyetim.com.tr/haber/0,,sid~381@nvid~544840,00.asp

so now talat wants control of all ports of cyprus,old american proverb:you have to crawl before you can run.take famamgusta and be happy for now.

Well, I guess I understand where Talat is coming from ... we are still in a state of "cold war" between the two communities. If Talat appears to be giving in to "Greek Cypriot demands" it will be political suicide for him.

Also he is trying to make a point about political equality, and I respect that. I think it was excessive for Tassos to suggest "co-administration" of Famagusta harbor (coupled with unilateral GC administration of all other legal harbors). Instead, Tassos should have offered the autonomous administration of Famagusta harbor, by Turkish Cypriots directly under the supervision of the European Commission, in return for Varosha. That would have been a more balanced proposal.

[boulio]

yes that to alexandros,your right i think that also works.

[metecyp]

Instead, Tassos should have offered the autonomous administration of Famagusta harbor, by Turkish Cypriots directly under the supervision of the European Commission, in return for Varosha. That would have been a more balanced proposal.

I agree that this is a plausible solution but then Tassos won't do this either because it might appear to be giving in to "Turkish Cypriot demands". Imagine how much this could change though. TCs can finally start trading while GCs start getting back what they lost in 1974 and it will make everyone's lives better but I guess political gains come before people's gains in Cyprus.

[Saint Jimmy]

TCs can finally start trading while GCs start getting back what they lost in 1974 and it will make everyone's lives better but I guess political gains come before people's gains in Cyprus.

Well, mete, I hate to be the devil's advocate, but you seem to be oversimplifying things, and making Tassos's strategy seem simple and stubborn (which it may or may not be)...
If we use this approach, then we have to use it on everything... So, you get trade, which is pretty much all you lack, right now. And we get a negligible part of the land we lost.
Then, after that, you guys have almost everything (apart from international recognition, which isn't ours to give you, anyway - meaning, it's not really in our hands), and we're stuck in a dead-end street. We want more, but we have nothing to offer in return...

[metecyp]

If we use this approach, then we have to use it on everything... So, you get trade, which is pretty much all you lack, right now.

What do you mean trading is pretty much all we lack? Are you kidding me? We lack many things my friend, obviously you haven't lived in an "unrecognized and illegal" state (as our GC friends would like to call). Direct trade doesn't mean recognition. TRNC will still be unrecognized, Ercan airport will still be illegal, TCs will still not be to participate in international events (such as UEFA), the RoC will still represent the whole Cyprus, the heavy military structure in the north will still be there, settlers will probably come even more...with or without the direct trade. So I think you're the one oversimplifying.

[magikthrill]

metecyp,

i think that what st. jimmy is saying is that aside from international recognition the other thing you are at a disadvnatge is embargos. by allowing trade from famagusta, then the embargo is somewhat lifted. sure its not the entire embargo but it is a start that can continue to expand.

on the other hand, all GCs get is a small piece of land, wheras of thousands refugees remain without their property and turkey continues to occupy.

so heres a suggested negotiation

we'll (GCs) throw in famagusta under your sole control, if you (TCs) give us Varosha and throw in a little turkish withdrawal.

of course thats just wishful thinking on both sides

[Saint Jimmy]

Yeah, you're right, but most, if not all, of the things you mentioned, are not in the RoC's control to bargain with. Do you see what I'm saying? If the RoC gives you trade, what are we going to use for leverage afterwards? UEFA?

So I think you're the one oversimplifying.

Of course I am! I told you that at the very beginning!