Cyprus-Forum.com

Khan wrote:My suggestion would be:

Direct flights and direct trade for TRNC in return for opening Turkeys ports to South (worth some $2bn in trade) and a reduction in Turkish troops.

Not to undermine you Kahn but i can't see how opening ports in Turkey is going to create a sense of unification among the GC's. Furthermore, from what i've heard on the news there ports will be open to the ROC come post Oct 3rd.

I think from reading the following the two points maybe achievalbe in the short term:

T/C's get:

1) Limited direct trade (using the port in famagusta as theirs)
2) Limited direct flights (Using Ercan)

Define: Limited at an agreed moderate level rather than something misicule.

For:

1) Return of Varosha

All in all, if something like this can be achieved in the short term i'm sure the dynamic on the island will start to change.

Remeber, these are not set in stone their designed to better the climate and help an overall solution.

you've all just mentioned physical aspects of building relations.

However i think that you also need to 'change' the way people think about each other.
Maybe starting to harmonise the education systems of the north and the south, as well as hospitals and infrastructure(roads etc).

At least harmonising education into a curriculum for both sides would help in the future generations, if there is a solution, at least they would have an equal(ish) start in that sense.

Also, maybe there should be 'business fairs' in the no-mans-land areas, to help businesses interact on both sides. It probably wont be popular, but at least it would be trying.
Also maybe, there could be pop concerts in the no-mans-land areas for both sides or something, just as like a way for people to interact, especially with something they would all enjoy

Dhavlos wrote:you've all just mentioned physical aspects of building relations.

However i think that you also need to 'change' the way people think about each other.
Maybe starting to harmonise the education systems of the north and the south, as well as hospitals and infrastructure(roads etc).

At least harmonising education into a curriculum for both sides would help in the future generations, if there is a solution, at least they would have an equal(ish) start in that sense.

Also, maybe there should be 'business fairs' in the no-mans-land areas, to help businesses interact on both sides. It probably wont be popular, but at least it would be trying.
Also maybe, there could be pop concerts in the no-mans-land areas for both sides or something, just as like a way for people to interact, especially with something they would all enjoy

I think what your suggesting even though has merit is too sophisticated to do in the short term and would be better focused in an overall solution or in the medium term if it can be agreed.

In regards to your later proposals about making the people interact, I think the opening of Varosha would help with this and it will be easier to hold business events or community events as you mentioned. I'm sure the the Turkish community in Famagusta would also welcome the influx of business from the GC's as i'm sure they will need all sorts of things once reconstruction gets going.

yeh, the education thing i meant was for the medium-long term...it would be too hasty for the short term...but before 'official' reunification....that kind of thing would go a long way....i think

To be honest NickP TC's should not be having to bargain anything. The EU, UN, USA, OIC, UK all say that following the referendum last year embargoes should be lifted, direct flights should resume and aid should be given to north.

So far the south has blocked all of these. The south has to do away with this siege mentality if it wants to build trust.

What i propose is for TC's to put forward suggestions of what they would give in for exchange for:

1) Direct Flights
2) Direct Trade

TCs have the right for flights and trade etc. We also have the right to our properties, for free movement and settlement in our own island, for a country free of occupation etc.

So they can get everything they have the right to, as long as they allow to us to have everything we have the right to.

They are the ones who choose the restriction of rights, not us. Since this is their choice, why do they complain?

The EU, UN, USA, OIC, UK all say that following the referendum last year embargoes should be lifted, direct flights should resume and aid should be given to north.

And they all say for 30 years that the "TRNC" does not exist, that the occupation is illegal etc.

Piratis wrote:

And they all say for 30 years that the "TRNC" does not exist, that the occupation is illegal etc.

The illegal thing doesnt hold anymore, when TC's accepted the referendum they showed their willingness to unify and disolve the TRNC. Therefore the existence of the TRNC at the moment is GC's fault entirely. TC's deserve flights, aid and trade asap.

When you say the illegal thing doesnt hold anymore...does that mean international law has changed?

As for the referendum, we've been through how one sided the Anan plan was...when are you going to stop using that stupid referendum as any kind of desparate example.

"that stupid referendum"...

That just sums up the whole GC view on reunification for me.

The illegal thing doesnt hold anymore, when TC's accepted the referendum they showed their willingness to unify and dissolve the TRNC.

Of course it holds. Have you seen any UN resolution taking back what the other resolutions said? Have you seen the "TRNC" added in the UN list of countries?

TC's deserve flights, aid and trade asap

The GCs deserve their land, the freedom to move and settle anywhere in their own island, and all the other human rights you stop them from having with the 40.000 troops that are ready to shoot and kill anybody that tries to take what he deserves.