Islamic vs. Turkish hypocrisy

Questions that beg for meaningful answers:

• Why should EQUALITY be different for a 10% (18%?) Turkish-Cypriot (tCypriot) community in the Republic of Cyprus than for a 22% (30%?) Kurdish community in the Republic of Turkey?

A Kurdish voice is not all that different from a T-Cypriot voice!

"Therefore, the end of violence between the Turkish state and the Kurds in this country depends on the rise of a new political mentality at the level of the state elites to embrace the fact that only through transforming the state from the state of Turks into one of real partnership between Turks, Kurds and others can real peace be achieved. When this occurs no group will see violence as a resort especially after long bloodshed and human loss. When there is democracy and civic space there is no ground for violence. Look at the case of Northern Ireland."

We should all be looking at Cyrpus and Turkey together. If we agree to apply the same principles for a unitary solution, federative or not, both problems could disappear overnight! Cypriots and Kurds are ready. Are the Turks?

Triskaidekaphobia!

And the questions that seem to be on everyone's mind are: A federation? If so, which kind? A confederation perhaps? Wouldn't that be like having two states but not quite? Two separate states then would make sense? But what about legal ownerships? A unitary state therefore for sure presents itself as ideal! Yes, it sounds good, but isn't that what we had in 1960 and never worked? Partition maybe the answer, desired since the 1950s by some circles. Absolutely not! The idea of dividing our homeland is grotesque. Annexation? What on earth are you on? Isn't that partition 10-fold in desirability? We keep going like this? But we found gas off our shores. I am confused.

Hypocrisy continues unabated

Antifon , 31 January 2011 , 05:28 Apply your Cyprus logic. First, make Kurdish an official language without any delay. Then discuss power sharing with Kurds on an equality basis, as you understand equality in Cyprus. Rest assured we will simply not let you forget your Cyprus logic, until it becomes logical. At the end of the day, Turks of Turkey and Greek Cypriots, as the majorities in their respective nations, think alike!

We await your move, Ergenekon scum!

A state or even a statelet needs land. Legal land. Usurpers have not an inch of it. How hard a concept is that to grasp?

The truth is we have the British to thank for the land registry [re: individual property] and the bases [re: statehood], the latter having served as insurance, albeit expensive, for the Republic of Cyprus.

Three options for Ergenekon's next moves:

Robins (ampelopoulia) and Barbarians!

A typical Turkish argument goes like this "it [Cyprus situation] will stay like this for another 2-3 generations until the Church and ultra nationalists stop preaching hatred ..."

The single argument left for nationalist Turkish Cypriots and "Turkey"'s fascists is sadly the hatred and tension argument. No, strike that! The HATRED and TENSION argument! God forbid if Cypriots did not hate each other with a vengeance! What excuse would they be left with? What justification?

How can you argue with James & Val?

Only the genuine reunification of Cyprus that provides for the reintegration of its people and economy can improve the situation of the Turkish Cypriots, allow them to realize their full potential and share the benefits of EU membership.

A leap of faith for Cyprus

TC: "We need to realise 'what is it' that really matters, we cant have it both ways! The 'TRNC' is not a normal place, this requires equally abnormal measures to be taken from as many TC's as possible." ... GC: "a leap of faith is required, before too late. G-Cypriots will not dissapoint you this time. They are ready since long ago."

Turkey - Lust, religion and politics!

"Turkey is a conservative country, it is not as relaxed and liberal about outward expressions of lust. That's uniquely European and congratulations to Europe for that, but you don't have to snicker at Turkey for not feeling the same way."

"When people begin to question Turkey, to fear her intentions and to wish that more lust would come out of her then Turkey has a very big problem. Turkey's problem is Turks' problem. And someone must tell them that. For the sake of all of us!"

More than a protest against austerity measures?

"It's a shame the authour of this editorial has such a simplistic understanding about what's going on in the North. Today's protest meeting went far beyond any demand for the payment of the overdue 13th wage, ..."

Semantics in the way of an Aristotelian revolution?

Aristotle meant a revolution to be one of:

• Complete change from one constitution to another

• Modification of an existing constitution 

There is a heated discussion in Turkey today, as well as plenty of friendly advice from abroad, regarding the need for the adoption of a civilian constitution, one that

Is federation the wrong recipee for Cyprus?

"A solution based on the present talks will be the start of the dissolution of Cyprus -both for Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.

Under normal circumstances, a federation is created by the mutual agreement of two founding independent sovereign states or provinces, to form one common unitary Federal State - like America and Canada. The said constituent states of a federation, usually possess no powers in relation to foreign policy and therefore, they enjoy no independent status under international law. However, federalism in itself, guarantees equal-representation of member states irrespective of numerical population differences or language. A commitment to form such a system is more than a loose administrative alliance - it’s a marriage without divorce!"

Honest talk from Turkey?

Abdullah Gül with journalists

"When they ask me to apply my Cyprus logic at home my arguments seem inadequate" he said. "Why should a 10% minority of the Cyprus Republic enjoy rights that we are not willing to give our Muslim brothers, the Kurdish ethnic minority which makes up almost 25% of the nation? How would you answer them?"

Cyprus is all fired up!

Christofias is proving himself to be an apt negotiator / finally putting to rest the myth of Turkish superiority in diplomacy! Bravo Christofias from a Cypriot who never voted for you in the past! If only you could be a little less of a communist in financial matters :) !

I wonder what will come out of the Geneva Jan 26th meeting

Demetris Christofias and Derviş Eroğlu will go to the January 26th 2011 meeting with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Geneva not knowing what is in store.

Antifon wonders  "Perhaps too difficult a concept for humans to grasp!"

Human rights' and Kurdish rights' violations an almost identical match!

See the entire report here: Human Rights Watch - World Report 2011 for 2010 Events.

“The main fields of concern regarding the Kurdish issue remain persistent,” Öztürk Türkdoğan, chair of Turkey’s Human Rights Association, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review on Monday. 

Wikileaks and Turkey's admission of inability to control her generals

An exchange based on a Wikileaks revelation on the Cyprus Mail website pertaining to the article "A cosy lunch on the Bosporus is no answer" by Loucas G Charalambous published on January 23, 2011 addresses the outdated, undemocratic, blurred power sharing in Turkey.

T-Cypriots reclaiming communal rights prior to a solution?

An interesting exchange between Cypriots addressing the attempt of a group of T-Cypriots to reclaim their communal rights as per the 1960 constitution 

Property, Power and Equality towards a solution

Cypriots debate power, property and equality as critical issues leading to a solution

Is Ergenekon/TSK language based on trust or power?

Are the recent revelations in Turkey about the Sledgehammer and Balyoz plots against the government and the Ergenekon clandestine organization any different than like revelations of the past?

How on earth can the Turks still believe they are somehow in the right?

A short answer to "How on earth can the Turks still believe they are somehow in the right?" when everyone that matters seems to back G-Cypriot positions

Turkey's Kurdish Question: a book by the Carnegie Corporation of New York

Kurds have a bright future!

Why do successive Turkish leaderhips fail to apply their Cyprus logic to their Kurdish challenge? Why failed forced assimilation policies for almost 90 years at home, and separatist / partition policies in Cyprus? My Kurdish friend Kani Xulam, a "Turkish" national, puts it this way

“We are a nation-state that is respectful of international law”

As a Cypriot and a European I kindly ask that at the very minimum my intelligence is not insulted

Davutoğlu & Barzani   

“We are a nation-state that is respectful of international law,” [13 November 2010 in TODAY'S ZAMAN] Davutoğlu said, noting that Turkey is also respectful of the territorial integrity of other states and expects the same kind of respect. There is no small or big state for us. We don’t have any intention of playing the role of ‘big brother’ for anyone, either.

The emperor's clothes in 1837 & Turkey's principles in 2011

The Emperor’s New Suit by Hans Christian Andersen (1837) 

Hans said it all! Simply replace the word "clothes" with the word "principles" and you have an Andersen perceptive insight into today's Turkey: the region's self-proclaimed Emperor!

Many, manyyears ago lived an emperor, who thought so much of new clothes [PRNCIPLES] that he spent all his money in order to obtain them; his only ambition was to be always well dressed. He did not care for his soldiers, and the theatre did not amuse him; the only thing, in fact, he thought anything of was to drive out and show a new suit of clothes. He had a coat for every hour of the day; and as one would say of a king “He is in his cabinet,” so one could say of him, “The emperor is in his dressing-room.”

A sober Turkish Cypriots' supporter's view of the current situation

A supporter of Turkish Cypriot positions presents a reality check

Can the Turkish Republic be trusted by Cypriots?

Cypriot exchanges addressing whether Turkey can be trusted by Cypriots, whether the UN recognizes Cyprus' occupation by Turkey as such, and on who lied to whom which appeared on the Cyprus Mail website in response to the article

To win or not to win the Turkish Cypriots' heart?

A few words, allow me the pompousness of adding wisdom, for my fellow gCypriots who attempt either to win over the hearts of tCypriots. I sympathize with you.

I too for a long time tried the same. I have come however to realize that I needed a paradigm shift. A paradigm shift that for me has happened 100% allowing me to see things clearly. What I understood is that my past efforts to win over tCypriots were futile for the reasons I list below. I understood that Cyprus' future must be defined by the majority Cypriot will, and certainly not by the a minority, or her political pimp, which as a result of an unfavorable balance of power in 1960 achieved 100% undemocratic super-rights.

There is a need to change to fundamentals of the Cyprus-Turkey equation

If Cypriots try to find a solution on today's facts, without active support from allies against the TSK (Turkish Armed Forces), then capitulation to Turkish demands or alteration of Cyprus' ethnic makeup or both are the available scenarios. There is a strong need to alter the fundamentals of the equation to make it a more balanced one. The Israel-Cyprus-Greece-EU energy axis is most welcome but more is needed by the mosquito against the elephnat.

A silly comparison or the catalyst everyone is searching for?

The overall Kurdish problem is indeed complicated in that it spans four countries which host Kurdish populations. If an independent Kurdistan will ever come about, that is most likely going to be out of Iraq. Turkey only needs to concern herself with her own Kurds, and as long as TAKSIM/PARTITION is not the goal of the Kurdish community of Turkey for the eventual creation of a "Great Kurdistan" then in reality she only needs to worry about meeting their demands for more autonomy and self-administration in the east where they form the majority or only population for millennia, and more "cultural rights" as well as community status for all Kurds irrespective where they live inside Turkey.

Kurds make direct reference between Cyprus and their plight within Turkey

I have long maintained that a direct link between the efforts to reach a federation solution in Cyprus must be linked to the efforts of Turkey to end her 88 year long bloody problem with her almost 20 million strong population of ethnic Kurds. This link was the impetus behind the creation of this blog as a matter of fact.

Turkey's real aims in Cyprus & the inescapable comparison with her own Kurdish community's demands

The opening of the port of Famagusta under the EU is a no brainer. Except for Turkey. Why? Because Turkey's ultimate goal has nothing to do with bringing the two communities together.

Erdogan in 2011 & Makarios in 1963, Turkey in 1923 and Cyprus in 1960

The Kurds should have been founding partners of Turkey just as T-Cypriots became in Cyprus. They were promised such status by Mustafa Kemal. Kemal cheated them. That is why tens of thousands of Kurds have died since 1923.

Democratic solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey by BDP

BDP 11/01/2011 (Democratic Autonomy Project)

A- Reform in Turkey's Political-Administrative Structure and Model of Solution to the Kurdish Question

The Republic proclaimed after a joint struggle waged by the People of Anatolia in 1920’s, has not been able to acquire a democratic quality in spite of the eighty-four years that have passed.

Erdoğan following in the footsteps of Makarios

Merkel's visit to Cyprus and Papandreou's in Ankara visits, both produced good results. Let us not forget that there is a "WAR" going on in Turkey itself between the so called deep-state & the CDU-CSU equivalent of Turkey, i.e. the "mild" islamist AKP.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sometimes reminds me of Makarios in the early 60s, trying to push forth with some desperately needed fundamental changes while keeping the military/militaristic idiots at bay. Not an easy thing to do, especially when their most revered jewel is Cyprus & the current constitution bestowing upon them the obligation to do whatever necessary, as they perceive it, to preserve the unity of the state.

Monitoring Turkish Hypocrisy and/or Half-knowledge!

As the debate heats up in Turkey about the level of "cultural rights" or "equality" or "regional autonomy" or "federation" for "her" 22+% Kurdish ethnic minority, almost 20 million people, I will update this post regalarly [most recent addition on top] with opinions and facts of interest from the Turkish press which strike familiar chords for all Cypriots.

A Greek Cypriot tells his story

A personal account by a Greek Cypriot who lived through the rotten 1960s