The root of Turks' minority thinking

Reuven Eliaz sheds light on the concept of the dhimmi (appeared as a comment at this thread) which explains why Turks cannot reconcile themselves to being a minority living under a Greek majority.

"Since its inception, Islam has divided the world into two parts: the "dar al-Islam," or "realm of Islam," which means territory that has already been conquered in the name of Islam, and the "dar al-harb," literally "realm of the sword," meaning territory that has not yet been conquered in the name of Islam.

Whose problem?

Many of us have come to endorse that "the story is what we have to give for taking". It seems to me Turkey and Great Britain carved out this mental box for us and maintain it through Turkey's military might and deep-state über propaganda machine, coupled with British "wash the hands of" stance until time conveniently takes care of the problem.

I say that we gave too much already back in 1960. What is truly long overdue is we complete April 1st 1955's goal of self-determination. Cypriots demand to run their country without tyranny of the minority or foreign meddling. I say it is solely a story of 'taking back' what should have never been given in the first place.

Connecting the dots for Cyprus ... a clue!

Two weeks ago, on August 15, I presented the graphical depiction of the Cyprus puzzle as a set of nine dots asking you to try to connect the nine dots using four straight lines without lifting the pencil from the paper. I suggested that each of the nine dots could stand for:

Bilingual states?

Greek Cypriots [90%] agree to having a bilingual Republic of Cyprus for the sake of their 10% ethnic Turkish community. Do ethnic Turks of Turkey [75%] agree to having a bilingual Republic of Turkey for the sake of their 22% ethnic Kurdish community? If not, why not? What does this say about ethnic Turks? 

My advice to Erato Kozakou Markoullis

Dear Minister,

I will be brief. While formal discussions continue based on the 77-79 high-level agreements we need to offer an alternative channel to tCypriots, those tCypriots who feel that their "official" political will has recently been hijacked by Turkey via the illegal settlers, just as it was hijacked by extreme nationalists in the 50s and 60s. An alternative channel to express their ideas for going forward as well as to share with them how we ideally see our joint future. Turkey's recent grand posturing presents the perfect alibi, if at all such a need exists, for the Republic of Cyprus to initiate a parallel "informal" discussion with a different agenda, an alternative to allow for the expression of the minds and hearts of thinking-Cypriot-first tCypriots, of all Cypriots.

It's Cyprus-like rights, stupid!

To all my Kurdish friends: It's Cyprus-like rights, stupid! [to paraphrase Bill Clinton's famous 1992 campaign slogan]

If Kurds are sincere in their desire to live side by side with ethnic Turks within common borders then they are being political imbeciles if they do not make their demands as simple and effective as: "We want not more, but not less, than Turkey has been trying to secure for the Turkish Cypriot ethnic minority [circa 15%] in Cyprus". It is a concise and powerful message:

Wandering in the desert

Turkey's 1980 junta constitution is broken. So is Cyprus' 1960 one. Both UN nations must find the right balance of rights for their double-digit ethnic minorities. Turkey uses force in both countries to "define" those rights.  Is it about time we publicly debate why the majority ethnic Turks of Turkey find totally unacceptable for Turkey's Kurds those rights that the majority ethnic Greek Cypriots are willing to grant Cyprus' ethnic Turkish Cypriots? In doing so we will uncover, for the entire world to see, the prevalent fascism that permeates the thinking of Turkey's leaderships.

Why revisiting 1963 makes sense?

I do not particularly care for the man, the priest or his legacy. I am interested in the man's ideas and how useful they may for us today going forward. For as sure as hell the current basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation (BBF) is not a step in the right direction, as it not only builds on the bogus equality of 1960, it introduces zones as well, zones which were never part of Cyprus, not in the over 3.000 years of gCypriots living here at least (can't be sure about the paleolithic and neolithic eras).

Let me give you the short version why I think the 1963 ideas make sense:

To think unconventionally is a matter of survival

If we (gCypriots) want to go back to our homes we must learn to speak the language of the occupier, divider, ethnic cleanser and colonizer: fascism! Not to become, but to understand the messages he sends, as well as respond in ways the fascist can appreciate. A paradigm shift is necessary. In addition to the usual arguments based on international law, justice and morality which any fascist anywhere evades, arguments that a fascist can in fact process and respond to must be employed. Such arguments should take the game away from home and into the fascist's own turf. Then he'll notice! 

Anyone solved the Cyprus puzzle yet (click link)? 

A Kurd of Turkey and a Cypriot see eye to eye!

Baran [a Kurd], 24 August 2011 , 05:59 "@Antifon, your blog, http://bit.ly/qmY246, is excellent and I highly recommend it to all thinking people whatever their nationality. Kurds and Kurdish leaders have been saying for some time now that they want the same rights, freedoms and status successive Turkish governments have belligerently and violently demanded for Turkish Cypriots.... but their voices are not being heard as much as they should! Sadly, it seems more blood, death and destruction are needed for the Turkish mentality to change! ..... It doesn't take much for the dormant Kemalist virus to flare up and rob the best of the Turks of their sense of fairness and most critical faculties! ...... Nevertheless, your optimism can be infectious and therefore I thank you for your insight! Keep more coming please ......"

A Kurd asks "What is stopping you Mr. Erdogan?"

Baran , 22 August 2011 , 15:09 [A Kurdish post on Today's Zaman] "All that Mr Erdogan needs to do to end the bloodshed between Kurds and Turks is to address all citizens of Turkey and say the Kurdish citizens of Turkey are entitled to the same rights, freedoms and status Turkey so aggressively advocates for a relatively handful Turks who are citizens of another independent country,that is, Cyprus! ...... That would be morally the right thing to do as well. So, what or who is stopping him? Does he or his cronies enjoy seeing flag-draped coffins? Do his cronies financially, economically benefit from the senseless spilling of young Turkish and Kurdish men"

The essence of Turkey's "Kurdish" problem & Cyprus

Şahin Alpay, Turkish journalist: "The problem, in fact, is essentially the denial of Kurdish identity and the non- recognition of the Kurds' democratic rights. There is no way to solve the PKK problem without the resolution of the Kurdish problem. Even if the unlikely is achieved and the PKK is suppressed entirely, another violent organization may form in its place so long as the Kurdish problem remains unresolved."

Homer: the sexiest thing in Cypriot waters in a very long time!

Noble Energy will use the Homer Ferrington rig currently drilling at the Noa field, near Yam Tethys offshore from Ashkelon. 

Noble Energy brings forward Cypriot drilling Amiram Barkat 14 August 11 GLOBES

Why Russia's support for drilling is special?

Four of the the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have proclaimed the Republic of Cyprus' sovereign right to drill off its shores, namely the EU (UK & France), Russia and the USA.

The tail wagging the dog is simply not natural!

The Cyprus puzzle will be solved when we can all agree that the tail wagging the dog is an unnatural state. I spent a good part of an hour last night laughing with this metaphor first made, in the context of Cyprus' Turkish problem, by David Edmond at the Lobby for Cyprus Facebook page. 

All of thinking Cypriot-first tCypriots need to get together, take care of whatever insecurities they have as a community, bear in mind that they will be addressing a majority community with even bigger insecurities, and come up with a plan to be reintegrated into the Republic of Cyprus (RoC).

Cyprus' sovereignty, it matters who proclaims it!

With the exception of the Republic of Turkey, the illegal occupier, divider, ethnic cleanser & colonizer of Cyprus, no one  else disputes the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus. The telling difference this time around is that superpowers (USA, EU) are proclaiming the obvious , the sovereignty of the Cyprus Republic, not as a result of Cypriot encouragement but on their own accord in order to serve their own vital interests, both financial and strategic.

Understanding Turkey 101

Half of Turkey believes in the invulnerability of the so called 'Father of the Turks' and the other half in that of the 'New Father of the Turks'. Each half hates the other with a passion. Both "religions" are laughable to anyone with western logic and reason capacities.

Now, the other third of the country

Suspicion of something rotten inside Turkey

If you share my suspicion that something is terribly wrong having Turkey preach us Cypriots on equality and minority rights, then do yourselves a favor and read this article (click on this link) that demonstrates in Ottoman grandeur Turkish hypocrisy. As a prologue, let me offer my advice to Kurds of Turkey, who make up circa 22% of Turkey's population:

I tell you this Kurds of Turkey: in order to avoid a bloody war and to postpone the "to be independent or not to be" dilemma for a future generation of Kurds do your selves a favor.

Order order!

“I am not about to give advice to American companies,” U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Frank Ricciardone said in response to a question about whether Washington would urge Noble Energy to stop natural gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean. “We are aware of Turkey’s stance on this. Regarding the solution in Cyprus, as always, we continue to support the efforts from both parties,” said Ricciardone.

Εxpectations

It is no secret that gCypriots will never approve any BBF, a type of solution that was considered in the aftermath of Turkey's illegal invasion and its horrid repercussions. Cyprus will demand the full application of all relevant UN resolutions prior to engaging with the tCypriot minority to address its concerns.

Furthermore, it is vital to honestly and courageously inform third parties and the tCypriot minority that gCypriots will  never agree to a 1960 either, a solution in whose foundations various explosive clauses were planted mainly by the Turks and the British.

320 Greek Cypriot prisoners bayoneted to death in August 1974

A schocking account by a Turkish Cypriot eyewitness of the slaughter of 320 Greek Cypriots by soldiers of the 1974 invading army.

Turkey to ask UN for respect of international law

According to the private Turkish NTV television station "Ankara wants the US administration to warn the American companies against taking part in the Greek Cypriot initiative to explore gas and oil deposits in the Mediterranean ... Turkey seeks to bring the issue to the attention of the UN Security Council, contacting members of the 15-nation body on the dispute." One cannot help wonder what Turkey plans to tell the UNSC members. One possibility certainly is "We demand the application of international law asap"!

How much more pitiful can Turks get?

Connecting the dots for Cyprus

In the past I argued about the need for Cypriots to think out of the box. A graphical representation of the Cyprus puzzle is given here. Try to connect the nine dots using four straight lines without lifting the pencil from the paper.

One might say that the nine dots represent:

Big mouth Cyprus!

We must all acknowledge the hopelessness of Turkey's and nationalist tCypriots' predicament. Energy has changed everything. The EU needs the Republic of Cyprus [RoC], which tCypriots abandoned in the '60s following some really bad advice from Turkey's then ultra nationalists, and thus regardless of Turkey's EU maneuvers, the EU and the west in general have no option but to side with legality and claim this new wealth of energy as "their own", thus not only contributing to the EU's ailing economy but also via securing an alternative energy route reducing non-NATO leverage on the alliance's members. This time around, because of energy, the west's backing will not be a middle of the road approach & will not shy from escaping the realm of verbal warnings.

Is that a 'no'?

Turkish journalist Ilhan Tanir: In a three-point statement I received from the State Department on Wednesday [August 10 2011], the U.S. administration states that it is aware of Turkey’s position on the issue [Cyprus plans for gas drilling], and reiterated its commitment "to support strongly the efforts of both Cypriot parties to reunify the island into a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation." However, as a final point, the U.S. administration underscored that it views the plans in terms of "securing energy supplies through better energy diversity" and that "is something that the United States strongly supports for all countries."

'Can't have it both ways', it turns out!

David , 10 August 2011 , 03:48 - "On the one hand Turkey breaks the agreements by invading Cyprus and attempting to create a Turkish state in the north of the country, and on the other hand Turkey quotes the same agreements it is breaking as a basis to challenge Cyprus' sovereign rights to search for gas in its EEZ. A confused, contradictory and disastrous policy by Turkey that hasn't achieved its aim of international recognition for the north of Cyprus, has failed to stop Cyprus entering the EU and failed to stop the government of Cyprus being recognized as the sole legitimate government of the island."

A most interesting "Turkish" what-if of an ethnic Turk

Davutoğlu “went to Libya and took part in an opposition demonstration. What if a Western diplomat joins a demonstration in Diyarbakır one day?” he [ Republican People’s Party, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu] said.

A press release from the not too distant future

NICOSIA -- Cyprus is expected to place an estimated €7,1 billion order for 126 fighter jets during the next fiscal year starting April 1, the biggest such deal globally in the past 15 years.

The deal is expected to help the small island nation of Cyprus create a modern air force capable of defending itself against the aggression of Turkey, which since 1974 and against numerous United Nations resolutions illegally occupies 37% of Cyprus' territory and since then pursues against the Geneva conventions massive colonization in an apparent attempt to modify the ethnic makeup of the country.

Turkey's energy frustrations

Dean Plassaras · Principal στην εταιρεία P&A Consulting LLC - "Turkey's frustration is easy to understand. 1) Nabucco is dead or nearly dead. The recent completion of Nord Stream will provide EU/Germany with natural gas supplies the size of two Nabuccos. 2) The Israeli Leviathan gas find, which is in close proximity to Block 12, is considered to be Europe bound and will contribute to EU energy security. Most and foremost, any natural gas and oil found in Cypriot waters is a European energy asset. Its significance is even larger when one considers that North Sea O&G supplies are declining and that Easterm Mediterranean is providing a replacement." - comment made at Campaign to neutralise Turkey gas protests By Elias Hazou Published on August 9, 2011 CYPRUS MAIL 

Language understood by the world's movers and shakers

Energy may very well prove to be the catalyst for a solution to Cyprus' Turkish problem. Energy, unlike human rights and international law, is in a language that international players with the means to enforce their will do understand. It will be extremely interesting to see them one by one be forced to take sides publicly.

I predict Turkey's Erdogan will very soon be demanding even more apologies for new insults to the great Turkish nation! 

Why the Kurdish-tCypriot analogy makes sense?

Ethnic Turks make up circa 70% of Turkey's population. Kurds make up almost 25%. The rest is made up of many much smaller minorities. As Turkey contemplates the adoption of a federation model to replace its junta inspired constitution, gCypriots need to ask themselves: would we accept to grant tCypriots those rights that Turkey is willing to grant her Kurds?

A call to action

Turkey is the common house of two peoples [as well as a number of very small minorities], the relationship of which should not be one of majority and minority, but of two equals. This reality about 'Turkey' must be reflected in Turkey's new constitution, a hot topic on the Turkish agenda, perhaps even the name of the country.

Who best to advise Turks and Kurds about majority-minority relations and the right balance of equality than us Cypriots? We are able to remind ethnic Turks of their own ideas (1960 or 2011, their basic theme does not change) and share with them our experiences and ideas (1963), from both the majority and minority viewpoints.

Honest assessment

Orhan L. , 07 August 2011 , 05:02 - "The fault is with Erdogan and his intransigent policy on Cyprus. Erdogan has foolishly taken Turkey down a path that has alienated the Europeans and risks Turkey's future prosperity. Why is Erdogan risking Turkey's future when even Turkish Cypriots have had enough of Turkey's disastrous policies in north Cyprus? It's time this foolish and shameful episode in Turkey's history was ended and Turkish troops withdraw from Cyprus.". Find the comment at this link:

How would you like to be prepared Mr Erdogan?

Could it be that the Arab Spring has risen expectations of the region's peoples, including Turkey's Kurds beyond the level Erdogan thought he could manipulate?

Could it be that the demoted generals were right in that the only way to maintain ethnic-Turkish supremacy in a country which is 25% Kurdish is the use of force and a strictly monitored democracy?

Kurds demand ... (cnt'd)

"Hello, this is my house. Can I come in?"

"Hello, this is my house. Can I come in?" - A thief obtains no title or rights to possession of stolen items. A thief cannot pass any right of ownership of stolen items to subsequent purchasers. Turkey leave Cyprus, leave our home, leave our land, go home.

Cyprus "bullies" Turkey on the property and energy fronts

Two recent developments illustrate rather convincingly that the Republic of Cyprus against the Republic of Turkey has the potential of developing into a fascinating David Goliath story. On the energy front Europe will get a new burst of energy from Cypriot oil and gas, Israel will get a safe transport path to Europe for its reserves, the USA will secure the drilling contracts, and Turkey seems to have little option but to sit back like a good little girl and watch it all happen. On the property front for the first time since the 1974 illegal invasion of Cyprus by Turkey a Briton is extradited to Cyprus based on a European arrest warrant to face allegations of unlawfully developing and trading in Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied north in a first of its kind case for Cypriot justice. Erdogan's non-recognition of Cyprus bravado talk seems more of a joke with each passing day and even worse Eroglu's defense of Turkey's "rights" in illegally occupied Cyprus the very definition of comedy.

An Israeli perspective on Turkey's Kurdish issue

The Kurdish connection | Op-ed: Israel’s foes that back ‘Palestine’ may end up paying price of Kurdish state’s establishment | Guy Bechor | Published: 08.03.11, 21:08 / Israel Opinion | Y Net News

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was described here as the Middle East’s ruler. Commentators spoke at length about “the Ottoman empire’s revival” and used similar superlatives that are largely disconnected from reality. After Turkey was kicked out of Europe and realized it has no chance to be accepted by the European Union, Ankara was also rejected by the Arabs (with the exception of the PLO, which has been left without a patron.) Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other Arab elements made it clear to the Turks that they are unwanted in the Middle East. The only option left for Turkey in our region is, again, Israel.

Cheap nationalism in Turkey?

“Turkey still has not been delivered from cheap nationalism. Why should Dalaras hesitate about giving a concert in Turkey, and why should we not listen to the velvet voice of the Aegean? Why should Aynur be forced off stage because she sang in Kurdish?” asked Hasan Saltuk, the owner of Kalan Music, who is also dubbed as the archaeologist of Anatolian music, in a phone interview with the Daily News.

Antifon's middle name is Archimedes

Kurds demand COMMUNITY rights in Turkey.

This is the biggest lever ever available to Cyprus and the EU to apply pressure on Turkey to acknowledge that what she has been trying to achieve in Cyprus is unbelievably unjust to Cyprus' overwhelming majority population and that a more balanced formula is needed.

If Turkey's ideas in Cyprus were just, then Turkey should have no problem applying them to address her own Kurdish issue, a problem persisting since the 1920s with 50.000 deaths in the last 30 years alone.

Kurds demand community rights.
Turks acknowledge the need for a constitutional overhaul.

Why is Turkey resisting her own recipe?

Realpolitik: There is no other way!

Cypriots must break out of their failed paradigm. Turkey understands the language of bullying and meddling in others' affairs. Let us take the blinders off. The only way to bring Turkey to her senses is to help promote her own minority problem with the Kurds, a whopping 25% of population. Turkey speaks to our minority. We must respond in kind. Immediately! Only then will some European and American eyebrows raise. Kurds will find our minority's demands, extorted by Turkey, extremely interesting. Invite BDP/KCK to Cyprus without delay so as to share with them our experiences and ideas in majority-minority relations. Simply the reaction by Turkey would make the move worth it! If you feel there is any other way out of the stalemate, then I am sorry for the level of intelligence of my Cypriot compatriots, simple or prominent.

Terrorists or freedom fighters?

Nuray Mert - "One must be cruel to take the risk and feel ready to pay the price of a Kurdish-Turkish confrontation not only in the big cities but also in all parts of the country where Turks and Kurds live side by side. One must be delusional to think there is no such risk."