Cyprus-Forum.com

[mehmet]

If the Annan Plan is not accepted what do Greek Cypriots plan to do to achieve their objectives? What is on offer to Turkish Cypriots? Why should they accept? Someone tell me because I am struggling to understand.

[Piratis]

What do you mean by "their objectives"?

I am afraid that if G/C and T/C have different objectives then there is nothing we can do.

What is on offer for Turkish Cypriots is their own federal state, living in a democratic country, free from the control of Turkey, and all the benefits from the EU.

[mehmet]

You must be aware that the representatives at the talks did have different objectives and were only in Switzerland as a result of the failure to reconcile those differences for longer than I care to remember.

If there is nothing that can be achieved through dialogue then what future is being offered apart from more of the same?

In what way does the Annan plan not offer for the Turkish Cypriots the opportunity to live in a federal state within the EU?

I wont comment on the suggestion that the people in the north are not represented by an elected government. I am surprised also by the notion that the Turkish republic controls things, are you not aware that Turkish Cypriots welcomed the presence of the Turkish army in 1974 and the support it has offered since?

[Piratis]

If there is nothing that can be achieved through dialogue then what future is being offered apart from more of the same?

If there is true will to solve the problem then it can be solved with dialog. Until then the problem will continue.

In what way does the Annan plan not offer for the Turkish Cypriots the opportunity to live in a federal state within the EU?

It does, but Turkish Cypriots are not the only ones on this island, and actually they are not the ones who had to work hard to meet all the criteria of the EU all these years. The solution should be good for both sides.

I wont comment on the suggestion that the people in the north are not represented by an elected government. I am surprised also by the notion that the Turkish republic controls things, are you not aware that Turkish Cypriots welcomed the presence of the Turkish army in 1974 and the support it has offered since?

Turkish settlers are more than TC in the north and they are the ones who control who gets elected.

I am aware that most TC offer the support to the invasion and occupation of Cyprus. Still we are willing to leave the past behind if an OK solution is found.

[metecyp]

The solution should be good for both sides.

Yes, but the defintion of a "good solution" can be quite different for both sides. That's why we'll never get a good solution for both sides, we can only hope for something that is ok for both sides, and that's what Annan plan is all about.

I am aware that most TC offer the support to the invasion and occupation of Cyprus. Still we are willing to leave the past behind if an OK solution is found.

Wrong. What most TCs support is some Turkish military presence on the island to ensure that what had been done to them by GCs won't happen again, that's all, no more no less. There are many TCs unhappy about the heavy military presence in the north.

[mehmet]

Perhaps the problem is that the representatives of both communities see the problem and therefore the possible solutions differently. The reality for cypriots after may 1st is that they will continue to have different proplems, different politics because they live in different states. We have to start from where we are now, how many cypriots under 40 are bilingual? We are further from the point of reaching a multi ethnic state today than we were 40 years ago due to the separation, you say turkish cypriots are in a minority in the north, well we are not returning to change that situation whilst the situation remains the same. In ten years time even the choices available today may not be acceptable to the population in the north. We are heading for final solution.

The choices we want to have are not necessarily the choices that are on offer, that is not just a Cypriot problem, that is a problem for us in the UK also and in other parts of the world. What do those against the plan think they will achieve? Is is not a good solution if you take what is available and through the process of time and through the internationalists struggle to win the arguement against the nationalists allow trust to develop. The separation only assists the nationalists and rejection will only enable nationalists to maintain their influence on the political agenda.

Let us see if the internationalists can take control of the arguements in the next few weeks. If you do what you always did you will always get what you always had. Let us see if there are people brave enough to lead others towards the future.

[Piratis]

Metecyp,
A good solution for me is a solution that will create a functional democratic country with respect to all human rights. A solution that will make our well-being better and make all Cypriots equal EU citizens.

If you do what you always did you will always get what you always had

The problem is that what we always had is more than what we will have if we accept the Annan plan. So the bad will become worst. Why should we want that?
All people are the same. They want a better life. You want Annan plan because it gives you something better that what you have. But do you think that 90% of GC are so stupid that reject something that is so good for them just because they are nationalists?

[mehmet]

I don't think 90% of Greek Cypriots are any more or less stupid than the other 10%. It's not about IQ, it's about emotions and passions fuelled by knowledge and whether or not people are prepared to gamble for something better.

Do you think the idea of belonging to a state where you are a member of an ethnic minority is what is behind support amongst turkish cypriots? It's not so great to belong to an ethnic minority, many people living in the UK will tell you the same? Did not Greek Cypriots leave Cyprus to become members of an ethnic minority for economic reasons? There are risks for both communities in agreeing to the Plan, whether you or I think the fears are reasonable is besides the point. They are there and we have to live with that and try to counteract that if we are to see a multi-ethnic future.

So what is going to be lost if the Plan is accepted? land, villages, the hope for a better future?

[metecyp]

The problem is that what we always had is more than what we will have if we accept the Annan plan. So the bad will become worst. Why should we want that?

I said this before but what you think is totally yours (i.e. RC with no TC participation) is NOT what you're supposed to have. Both sides have to compromise. Your side has to start sharing the power, and TCs will give back land and don't even tell me that TCs are not compromising. 1/3 of TCs will be refuges again. So Annan plan is not nice and all for all TCs as you think.

[Piratis]

It's not so great to belong to an ethnic minority, many people living in the UK will tell you the same? Did not Greek Cypriots leave Cyprus to become members of an ethnic minority for economic reasons?

I don't know about Turks, but the Greeks I know (many of them are my relatives) that live in US, UK, Australia etc do not suffer because they are a minority in those places. They are equal citizens of those countries. For example American Cypriots have US passports and have the exact same rights and responsibilities like every other American. No less no more. What matters is that the are US citizens, and not what their race is.
Is there anything wrong with this???

Unfortunately the Annan plan does not reunite Cyprus, but it permanently divides it in a racist way along ethnic lines.