Cyprus-Forum.com

[bg_turk]

Do you think that our army would be able to withstand an invasion from Turkey or Israel? Or that they ones that will be invading us will be the Maltese?

I think Greece is as liely to invade Cyprus as Turkey or Israel. Would the Cypriot army defend Cyprus against a Greek invasion?

[Piratis]

I think Greece is as liely to invade Cyprus as Turkey or Israel. Would the Cypriot army defend Cyprus against a Greek invasion?

Well, Turks invaded Cyprus twice, so the history is there. Israel was just used as an example of a powerful neighboring country, I didn't say that it is likely to be invaded by Israel.

Greece as it is now will not invade Cyprus. If we suppose that another junta happens and the military takes the power and this time instead of coup they invade then of course Cyprus army will defend Cyprus. However the event of military taking the power in Greece is unlikely, as opposed to Turkey that army always has the power.

[cypezokyli]

if we could manage without an army it would be great.

even though the swiss do have one.

i guess no army no guarantees would not be accepted by tc
no army and guarantees would not be accepted by gc


i find the idea of a common army a great one

i dont think that either greece turkey or israel are planning to attack cyprus

i do feel that i wasted two years of my life

[erolz]

Who might invade Cyprus and how likely that is, is not the point as I see it. As I see thing the argument goes.

A united Cyprus must have an army to be able to repell external attack (where ever that comes from).

The other side of the argument goes

Even with a Cypriot army we would not be able to resist an invasion - we are just too small relative to anyone who might try and invade us - hence there is no point in paying the vast human and finacial cost of a standing army that could not stop an invasion anyway.

An addition to this second argumment - for me anyway - is that there are also better and cheaper ways to make Cyprus of no use to an invader, unless they are prepared to slaughter each and every Cypriot.

[cypezokyli]

erolz in principle i agree with u

the question is:
would you agree no armies and no gurantees?

[erolz]

erolz in principle i agree with u

the question is:
would you agree no armies and no gurantees?

I personaly do not require the continuation of the treay of guarantee as it currently stands or any specfic right for Turkish intervention. Firstly I did not personaly expereince the era of intercommunal violence and secondly I do not believe that the kind of intercommunal violence that occured before , in the scale it occured and with the support or ignoring of the state, is a real fear today. My concerns are much more about political domination than physical. Having said that I am very aware that this is not the case for most other TC. That they consider the 'guarantees' as the only thing that ended their suffering when all else failed. I can understand why they are considered so important to so many TC.

[-mikkie2-]

The concept of a future Cypriot army is that it will be there as a deterrent. That is in the sense that any potential 'invader' will expect to suffer casualties. I would say that for a nation with a population of 1 million people an army of around 10000 men would be a reasonable force to have.

Any future Cypriot army, must be professional, not conscript. It must also have fair representation from both communities and it must have strict rules regarding its operations and its structure.

It must also be integrated into NATO and any future European defense force.

Cyprus is a strategic island. There is no getting away from it. The great powers will always want to be involved in Cyprus. Why should we let them have carte blanche over our island when it comes to military matters? The best way is for us to be involved in these things and the best way is to have our own army which will participate in these military organisations rather than us being sidelined and have our island be used to further military and political aims of other countries.

[2fan]

I have a major problem with arming the general population thereby creating a militia.

I do not believe that a single army comprised of Greek and Turkish Cyproits would be able to withstand any sort of invasion.

How about pursuing a pact between mainland Greece and Turkey which provides for military cooperation and protection of Cyprus against any threat. Would this not kill two birds with one stone? Guess who would not invade?
Greece nor Turkey.

[brother]

How about pursuing a pact between mainland Greece and Turkey which provides for military cooperation and protection of Cyprus against any threat. Would this not kill two birds with one stone? Guess who would not invade?
Greece nor Turkey.

Lets keep them two at arms length and agree to a joint cypriot army (if we must have one) and maybe the E.U can guarrantee our protection but certainly NO to Greece, Turkey and U.K imo.

[Agios Amvrosios]

Turkish and Greek Cypriots would both enjoy greater security with Cypriot NATO Membership. Nato Membership would go some way at least to prevent both Greece and Turkey invading Cyprus. I don't think that the commies of either side would favour NATO membership though .