tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088124560622779172023-12-03T12:44:47.351+02:00Cyprus Solution Revisited and Turkey's Hypocrisy UnveiledLinking the Cyprus issue to the Kurdish issue of Turkey is the only effective way to [a] uncover Turkish hypocrisy on her approach to majority-minority community relations [b] bring about a fair and permanent settlement to Cyprus' Turkish problem and [c] help bring community status recognition for the close to 20 million Kurds of Turkey.
A win-win-win for the Kurdish, Turkish and Cypriot peoples.
It may also bring about the first ever truly democratic constitution in Turkey's history!Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comBlogger815125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-87891255672580862762022-04-14T11:11:00.000+03:002022-04-16T11:13:54.384+03:00There Is No Difference Between Donetsk And northern Cyprus - 1945<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0gWrMQTD3lWlbYUzW8pjgBgaNSK9IL9s0C5eBVHbAHuT_NBMlxSVw7dw5WjsbM_Pcd-zbMRhaXASeBpZyqm6HOFyNeXmpu3A6eouq9UP1Kl5S89SBhqmkClmIdVDj8X99R1U6NSmN2623OFWW870ydjMcssKDiLmjWQCJjA4jr0hiwlCxgvNI09fpg/s1280/Cyprus.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1280" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0gWrMQTD3lWlbYUzW8pjgBgaNSK9IL9s0C5eBVHbAHuT_NBMlxSVw7dw5WjsbM_Pcd-zbMRhaXASeBpZyqm6HOFyNeXmpu3A6eouq9UP1Kl5S89SBhqmkClmIdVDj8X99R1U6NSmN2623OFWW870ydjMcssKDiLmjWQCJjA4jr0hiwlCxgvNI09fpg/w400-h226/Cyprus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>14.APRIL.2022 <br />Michael Rubin<br /><br />Cyprus Gaffe Highlights Deeper Policy Flaw: Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland did not distinguish herself when, at a press conference in Cyprus during a tour through Europe, she spoke about a forthcoming meeting with Ersin Tatar, the leader of the Turkish-occupied northern portion of the country. “I’m going to go up to the north and spend a little time with President Tatar,” she said before someone in the audience queried her legitimization of the occupation by calling Tatar “president.” “I guess it was a mistake,” she said after confirming with her aides off-podium.<br /><br />Put aside the projection to Cypriots that she visited without knowing the situation; those aware of the issues arising from an almost 50-year occupation need not clumsily page through notes.<span><a name='more'></a></span><br /><br />The real problem is that the State Department believes it appropriate to speak in any way to Tatar. Tatar is a puppet of Turkey, no different than Philippe Pétain in Vichy France or Vidkun Quisling in World War II-era Norway were puppets of Germany. Tatar is an illegitimate ruler, empowered not by Cypriots, but by Turkish settlers. As such, he is the figurehead of the cultural genocide that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan conducts on the island as he tries to radicalize Cyprus’ traditionally moderate Muslim minority. If Turkey and its proxies really sought a diplomatic solution to the island’s partition, there would have been a resolution decades ago. The reality is northern Cyprus engages in diplomacy insincerely, as a tactic to delay resolution while they alter demography.<br /><br />A broader problem, however, is that the State Department remains blind to such tactics. Rogue regimes commonly use proxies in order to advance their policy goals while avoiding accountability for their actions. To talk to Tatar replicates the same mistake which Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and both the Trump and Biden administrations made when negotiating with the Taliban and treating them as functionally different than Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency which directed, funded, and controlled them. It would also be no different than talking to Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of Hezbollah, and believing him to be independent of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as some European diplomats and American progressives do. Likewise, it would be as illogical as treating Denis Pushilin, the leader of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” as anything more than a Kremlin placeholder.<br /><br />If President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken truly want to revive American diplomacy, it is not additional money that the State Department needs but an end to pro forma stupidity. If the United States is to remain a superpower, it should not distract itself with proxies of hostile powers, but should hold their controllers accountable.<br /><br />A rule-of-thumb should be if any politician cannot make an agreement without the approval of a regime in a foreign capital, then he is not worth engaging. Diplomacy with proxies has a high cost both by enabling aggressors to distract and delay and by legitimizing occupiers. Certainly, everyone in the State Department agrees that direct talks with leaders in Donetsk would not only be pointless, but they would actually do real harm by bestowing legitimacy on an illegitimate regime.<br /><br />There is no difference between Donetsk and northern Cyprus. The United States should sanction northern Cypriot Quislings just as they do Ukrainian ones, not legitimize them. If the United States wants peace in Cyprus, it must understand northern Cyprus is a distraction.<br /><br />The path to peace lies with maximum pressure on Ankara until the return of all Turkish settlers to Turkey proper and the dismantlement of any vestige of Europe’s longest occupation.<br /><br /><i>Now a 1945 Contributing Editor, Dr. Michael Rubin is a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). Dr. Rubin is the author, co-author, and co-editor of several books exploring diplomacy, Iranian history, Arab culture, Kurdish studies, and Shi’ite politics, including “Seven Pillars: What Really Causes Instability in the Middle East?” (AEI Press, 2019); “Kurdistan Rising” (AEI Press, 2016); “Dancing with the Devil: The Perils of Engaging Rogue Regimes” (Encounter Books, 2014); and “Eternal Iran: Continuity and Chaos” (Palgrave, 2005).<br /></i><br /><a href="#">Source</a>Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-17211015613288603552022-02-21T23:38:00.005+02:002022-02-21T23:39:13.122+02:00Dangerous double standards - KATHIMERINI<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_iphVr5d7EHXCoJQsF8GCBy2dNlW9kcO-Kfl8Xamqt24qGtst7OLCiXpHzSrLqDUzfNX076G0-4k0Z8_trL4QMmyvh08ql-GR4CpHza_1oRL-g7ls7alwcf-p56BhpU6lnk7Aa5BsvUVG3jUi4vRwqK4PpM5eeOtO5NRUNbNQHFiMHHf06tiaCETMoA=s960" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="960" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_iphVr5d7EHXCoJQsF8GCBy2dNlW9kcO-Kfl8Xamqt24qGtst7OLCiXpHzSrLqDUzfNX076G0-4k0Z8_trL4QMmyvh08ql-GR4CpHza_1oRL-g7ls7alwcf-p56BhpU6lnk7Aa5BsvUVG3jUi4vRwqK4PpM5eeOtO5NRUNbNQHFiMHHf06tiaCETMoA=w400-h250" width="400" /></a></div>21.02.2022 • 21:30<p></p><p>Advocating for justice for Cyprus in Washington, DC requires levels of commitment and stamina that most people do not appreciate. Listening to administration after administration loudly declare commitments to human rights and international law while reducing such commitments to whispers with regard to Cyprus is maddening. Trying to decipher why the US State Department uses the word “occupation” around the world while studiously avoiding it when talking about Cyprus makes us feel for the scholars who were trying to understand hieroglyphics prior to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone. Tragically, we often feel that State Department and National Security officials speak to us (and to the Republic of Cyprus) as if they are engaged in their own version of the Melian Dialogue: “The strong do what they will, the weak suffer what they must.”</p><p>This frustration reached a new level this month. On February 1, Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. They discussed bilateral relations, regional cooperation (including fixing the mess caused by the famous EastMed “non-paper”), and new confidence building measures on Cyprus. The day before, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield admonished the Russians at the United Nations Security Council with this statement: “Imagine how uncomfortable you would be if you had 100,000 troops sitting on your border.”<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>Madam Ambassador, Hellenes can do better than “imagine.” Cyprus is occupied by 40,000 Turkish troops and we can’t recall your admonitions at the Security Council regarding those troops even as the Republic of Cyprus points out movements that they make in the buffer zone in occupied Cyprus, movements that threaten the tenuous stability on the island. In the Aegean, Turkey maintains an invasion force just miles from inhabited Greek islands, regularly violates Greek airspace (with American jets to boot) and has pre-declared war in the event that Greece exercises its rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Given your proclamations on Ukraine, the US response to the formal challenge to Greece’s sovereignty by Turkey’s ambassador to the United Nations (“the sovereignty of Greek islands is not in question”) should have included a criticism of Turkey’s force posture and warmongering vis-a-vis Greece.</p><p>President Joe Biden declared that the present crisis “is about more than just Russia and Ukraine.” By the same token, Turkey’s belligerence in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean is about more than Greco-Turkish relations. Ankara undermines international law as well as Eastern Mediterranean cooperation and integration. The only NATO member that currently faces an active threat of war is Greece, and that threat comes from a NATO “ally” – Turkey. For all the hand-wringing going on over what the consequences would be for NATO if Russia invaded Ukraine, there is too little consideration of how easily the Alliance could be obliterated from within because of Turkey’s aggression toward Greece.</p><p>If no one in the administration is considering what Russia makes of Turkey’s free passes when it comes to invasion, occupation and threatening war, then the president’s National Security team isn’t doing its job. In a 2014 New Republic piece, David Klion argued that the best historical analogy for Russia’s invasion of Crimea was not Hitler’s “incursions into Czechoslovakia and Poland, ostensibly to liberate German-speakers in those countries,” but Turkey’s 1974 invasion of Cyprus. Klion conceded that “even this analogy may be too hard on Putin.” The State Department can pretend that its failure to hold Turkey accountable for 47+ years of occupying Cyprus has nothing to do with Russia’s behavior, but it is in fact merely pretending.</p><p>Russia would surely love nothing better than the world tolerating the status quo in Donbas and Crimea while it deepens its colonialization of these regions. That is why Moscow must smile at tweets by the US ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus declaring how “pleased” she was that she and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Erika Olson met with the intransigent, nationalist Turkish-Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, who constantly thumbs his nose at overall US policy on the reunification of Cyprus and blatantly violated American warnings on Varosha. The Russians must have cracked jokes about a future American ambassador to Ukraine visiting the “leader” of the Donbas region with a deputy assistant secretary of state and having a “good discussion and an important and positive exchange of views.”</p><p>During his 2014 visit to Cyprus, then Vice President Biden declared: “The United States – I want to be clear about this – recognizes only one legitimate government of the Republic of Cyprus, and my visit and meetings throughout the island will not change that. It is my personal position. It’s the position of the United States of America, and it’s the position of the entire world – save one country.” The actions of too many US ambassadors to Cyprus and lower-level State Department officials have allowed Turkey and Turkish-Cypriot officials to doubt that statement.</p><p>Maybe it is time for the Greek-American community, the advocacy organizations they are allied with, and the US Congress to doubt administration declarations that it is “clear-eyed” with regard to Turkey. The process for choosing a new US ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus will be fully under way soon, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee should ensure that the nominee understands that undermining the Republic of Cyprus or encouraging Turkish-Cypriot intransigence is unacceptable. The way the administration spends money for purported bicommunal activities, and the level of engagement by State Department officials with Turkish Cypriots that openly defy US policy should also come under strict Congressional scrutiny.</p><p>It is time for the US to start treating the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean as bigger than a Greco-Turkish dispute. Continuing to get this wrong only enables Russia in Ukraine and China in the South China Sea. Hopefully we can soon hear these words from Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield: “Imagine 40,000 troops occupying your country and keeping you from going home for 47 years.”</p><p>Endy Zemenides is executive director at the Hellenic American Leadership Council.</p><p><a href="https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/1177805/dangerous-double-standards/" target="_blank">Source</a></p>Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-1889040300842526652021-05-03T15:16:00.002+03:002021-05-03T15:16:32.982+03:00One viable settlement: one Cyprus - LOBBY FOR CYPRUS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTE_FY0jsxa_CmyXCzLBYTv4BFwnOG1MlgKdCSky1nPSylmJ9E6GanJ7Se85lIeFtAENPwBcf9CAQ0wPbpUbDv9MnuqguBt9673imRBOWGpAKKZXnfjiTDrj6dWqOnGE7BrjZLP0Cmyjfn/s1200/buffer-zone-cyprus_1652-wp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTE_FY0jsxa_CmyXCzLBYTv4BFwnOG1MlgKdCSky1nPSylmJ9E6GanJ7Se85lIeFtAENPwBcf9CAQ0wPbpUbDv9MnuqguBt9673imRBOWGpAKKZXnfjiTDrj6dWqOnGE7BrjZLP0Cmyjfn/w400-h266/buffer-zone-cyprus_1652-wp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>April 23, 2021<p></p><p>On 27-29 April the long anticipated UN-sponsored informal ‘five-party’ summit is set to commence in Geneva. The aim, according to the UN, is to forge a path towards kickstarting a new round of ‘talks’ to settle the Cyprus issue, ie the ongoing occupation by Turkey of the northern area of the Republic of Cyprus. </p><p>In a typical display of intransigence and belligerence, Turkey and its subordinate regime in the occupied territories of Cyprus have attempted to up the ante and further poison the political climate by once again promoting the maximalist notion of a ‘two-state’ settlement that would once and for all carve up the Republic of Cyprus into two states. Such an outcome would not only reward Turkey for its brutal invasions of 1974, it would legitimise its illegal occupation of 36 per cent of the territory and 57 percent of the coastline of the Republic of Cyprus. The government of the Republic of Cyprus, with good reason would refuse to consider such an outlandish demand. </p><p>But in calling for a ‘two-state’ settlement, President Erdogan of Turkey and his mouthpiece Ersin Tatar in the Turkish-occupied zone of the Republic of Cyprus are being disingenuous. Turkey does not seek to create two entirely independent states but a confederation in which Ankara is master of one ‘state’ in the north; has a say in the affairs of another ‘state’ in the south; and in addition exerts control over a central government. Via such a confederation (or indeed federation) Ankara’s occupation would not end, it would in effect be extended. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>Lobby for Cyprus, an organisation founded by refugees who were forced to flee their homes and lands by Turkey’s invasion forces, reiterates that any settlement that denies forcibly displaced Cypriot citizens their inalienable right to return is unacceptable. </p><p>Regrettably, the UN-sponsored ‘peace process’ has for too long been exploited by Turkey to make increasingly maximalist demands that would not be entertained anywhere else in the world, let alone in the European Union. Successive governments of the Republic of Cyprus have been intimidated into making concessions after concessions that embolden the government of Turkey to seek further capitulation. </p><p>One such concession is Turkey’s long-standing insistence on ‘political equality’ which subverts the most basic principles of democracy of one-person-one-vote and equates an 18 per cent minority with the 82 per cent majority.</p><p>Lobby for Cyprus is alarmed by the fact that the Republic of Cyprus will not be officially represented at the ‘five-party’ summit where its destiny may be determined and it is unfortunate that the president of the Republic of Cyprus is relegated to participating as a ‘community leader’. </p><p><br /></p><p>The refusal of Turkey, its subordinate occupation regime, and the United Kingdom to permit the EU to participate in the ‘five-party’ summit is telling. It is clear that the settlement structures which have been on the table for decades, namely a bi-communal bi-zonal federation, are not and cannot be in compliance with the fundamental principles and values of the EU – or for that matter of the UN itself.</p><p>As Turkey descends into tyranny under president Erdogan, who was recently described by Italian Premier Mario Draghi as a ‘dictator’, it would be foolhardy for the government of the Republic of Cyprus to submit to any settlement that would grant Erdogan’s Turkey a stake in the governance of Cyprus, let alone any ‘guarantor rights’. To do so would pave the way for future catastrophes with grave consequences such as Turkey’s brutal invasions and occupation of Cyprus in 1974. </p><p>The Republic of Cyprus is enshrined in law and it must not subvert it’s own sovereign existence and allow its legitimate citizens to be integrated into any neo-Ottoman space under Turkey’s dominion, in the form of a dysfunctional institution masquerading as a ‘confederation’ or ‘federation’. </p><p>Until the Cyprus issue is dealt with on the basis of invasion and occupation, there can be little hope of justice and long-lasting peace and stability, not only in Cyprus but in the entire region. It is unproductive to continue to present the Cyprus issue as an internal affair that exclusively concerns the relations of the majority population on the island and one minority population.</p><p>It is time that Turkey’s privileged status granted to it by the international community as invader, occupier, human rights abuser, and perpetrator of international crimes came to an end.</p><p>If ‘everything is on the table’ as has been suggested, then the primary aim of the ‘five-party’ summit and any future ‘talks’ should be a unitary Republic of Cyprus that does not segregate Cypriot citizens on the basis of ethnicity, language or religion and that is devoid of the ‘zones’ that Cypriot citizens have been violently forced into by Turkey’s occupation forces. Not only should the refugees and internally displaced persons be able to return, all legitimate citizens of the Republic of Cyprus should be free to live wherever they wish in their own nation state, as do other EU citizens in their own countries.</p><p>UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on participants at the ‘five-party’ summit to be ‘creative’. How the Republic of Cyprus, a small, virtually defenceless nation can be creative in fighting for its existence against the might of Turkey, a powerful and provocative NATO member that occupies large swathes of its territory with 40,000-plus troops, remains to be seen. Perhaps the UN Secretary-General can employ some creativity in upholding the values of the organisation he represents and for once, in the case of Cyprus, stand up for the weak against the powerful.</p><p>Lobby for Cyprus calls upon the United Nations and all parties to:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>end the Turkish occupation and colonisation of the north of the Republic of Cyprus via a lawful, ethical, transparent and procedurally fair process;</li><li>ensure that the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus is fully respected, that the Republic is officially represented at any ‘talks’ relating to it and that the Republic is neither dissolved nor undermined;</li><li>oppose any so-called ‘guarantor’ or ‘intevention rights’ of foreign powers;</li><li>refrain from legalising the de facto segregation imposed in Cyprus by Turkey;</li><li>oppose a settlement that would legitimise the segregation of Cypriots along ethno-religious lines;</li><li>build a settlement on the enlightened founding values of the United Nations, the Commonwealth, the Council of Europe and the European Union; and</li><li>ensure that any settlement respects the rule of law, justice, democracy, human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all legitimate Cypriot citizens.</li></ul><p></p><p>Lobby for Cyprus remains committed to supporting a settlement for a unitary Republic of Cyprus that is based on the 3Rs:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>removal of all Turkish occupation troops;</li><li>humane repatriation of Turkish colonists, who were transferred to occupied Cyprus to alter the demography of the island;</li><li>right to return of all refugees and internally displaced persons, without restriction or preconditions, as called for by UN resolutions.</li></ul><p></p><p>Lobby for Cyprus reiterates that the only viable Cyprus settlement is one based on a truly unitary Republic of Cyprus. Not partition, not segregation, not apartheid and not on the basis of legitimising Turkey’s criminal acts as Ankara and its apologists continue to insist. </p><p><i>Lobby for Cyprus is a non-party-political human rights organisation that campaigns for a Cyprus free from Turkish occupation and for a unitary Republic of Cyprus without segregation along ethnic and religious lines.</i></p><p><a href="https://lobbyforcyprus.wordpress.com/2021/04/23/un-five-party-summit/" target="_blank">Source</a></p>Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-41339879523331475652020-02-28T08:45:00.000+02:002020-02-28T08:45:44.943+02:00Reconciliation with Turkey should only come with a price<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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February 19, 2020 12:35 PM<br />Michael Rubin<br /><br />Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/president-erdogan-threatens-imminent-turkish-operation-syria-200219092248649.html">threatening</a> to fight the Syrian army directly if Syrian President Bashar Assad does not stop his assault on Idlib, the last major zone controlled by the Syrian opposition. While Erdogan imagined himself a master tactician, he is now learning that it was Russian President Vladimir Putin who played him. Erdogan discarded decades of alliance with the United States for a brief fling, only to discover Putin’s professions of love were for more limited aims.<div class="ArticlePage-contents" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Montserrat, serif;">
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This is not the first time Erdogan has found himself outplayed. But, after <u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.the-american-interest.com/2019/12/03/its-not-us-its-him/" style="box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">deliberately trashing</a></u> Turkey’s relationship with the U.S., it is time Washington plays hardball. Those who say that Erdogan notwithstanding, Turkey is too important for the U.S. to turn its back against are likely underestimating the corrosive impact of 17 years of Erdoganism, the incitement and indoctrination broadcast over the airwaves or taught in Turkey’s schools, and demographic change.</div>
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That said, if Erdogan makes a realist calculation that he cannot trust Moscow and wants greater balance with Washington, then the White House, Congress, and the State Department should consider letting Turkey back into the fold, but only at a price.</div>
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It has now been more than 45 years since Turkish forces invaded<span style="font-size: 1rem;"> Cyprus. Turkey’s goal was to prevent the coup-installed Cypriot government and the Greek military regime from engineering a Cypriot Anschluss,</span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1rem;"> </i><span style="font-size: 1rem;">which might put Cyprus’s ethnic Turkish minority at risk. Even if that motivation was valid, the crisis soon passed. The Greek junta collapsed, and Greece transitioned to democracy by November 1974. Any reason for Turkish forces to remain in Cyprus also ended. Turkey had other plans, however.</span></div>
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What began essentially as a rescue mission for a beleaguered minority turned into an overt and imperial land grab that today is characterized by the transfer of non-Cypriot settlers into the Turkish zone, a self-declared independent Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which only Ankara recognizes, and the <u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/cut-turkish-airlines-off-from-europe-rather-than-be-complicit-in-theft" style="box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">theft of Cypriot resources</a></u> that, if left in Cypriot hands, could benefit and tie together all Cypriots, regardless of religion and ethnicity.</div>
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Alas, Turkey’s imperial designs on Cyprus have become the rule rather than the exception. Turkish forces have entered Iraq and refused to leave. And, over the last two years, Turkey has also occupied broad swaths of Syrian territory, first in Afrin and, more recently, further east. Contrary to Turkish state television, Erdogan did not order Turkish forces into Syria to combat terrorism. After all, he could provide <u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/the-emptiness-of-turkeys-complaints-against-syrian-kurds" style="box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">no evidence</a></u> that any terrorist attack had been launched from areas under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces and, indeed, the Syrian Kurdish forces had actually secured the border and prevented terrorism.</div>
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Rather, Erdogan wished first to <u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in-afrin-turkey-seeks-ethnic-cleansing-not-terror-eradication" style="box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">ethnically cleanse</a></u> the region of Kurds and <u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-47069403" style="box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">loot their resources</a></u>; second, to wrap Turks in national fervor in order to distract the public from recession; and, third, to claim the mantle of military hero in order to cement his legacy as the most consequential leader since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who founded modern Turkey almost a century ago. It was a cynical ploy, and Erdogan has no one but himself to blame for its failure.</div>
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The military price will be difficult for all Turks to bear. Just as Saudi Arabia discovered with Yemen, it is a lot easier to send forces in than to <u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-east-watch/syria-could-be-turkey%E2%80%99s-vietnam-86256" style="box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">extricate them</a></u>. And as the U.S. has discovered in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, there is no such thing as a cakewalk. The diplomatic price should also be high. American diplomats such as former U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Jim Jeffrey say America needs Turkey. Actually, they have got it reversed: Turkey needs America.</div>
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The price of any diplomatic support should, however, be high: Nothing less than a full withdrawal of all Turkish forces and settlers from Cyprus, Iraq, and Syria.</div>
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<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Michael Rubin (<a href="https://twitter.com/mrubin1971" style="box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">@Mrubin1971</a>) is a contributor to the </i>Washington Examiner's<i style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Beltway Confidential blog. He is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and a former Pentagon official.</i></div>
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Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-9273138102261293392019-07-21T19:27:00.000+03:002019-07-21T19:27:01.993+03:001974-2019: 45 years of unchecked Turkish aggression in Cyprus - LOBBY FOR CYPRUS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax-aa1LxpvXdXDWvIYX_BYj3F9zKMTnOxoxJe84eHlfgEImis7LhFVDCT3fmAtCH4p0QhrWtvif1GYeBLhL5rCM_GAMfLGJiq07t6uufJH9RARJmuLJxLQsCzPvgSpyRzV6N8SqgaTmUE/s1600/BARBARIANS+THE+SUN+594c511b170000290010263f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax-aa1LxpvXdXDWvIYX_BYj3F9zKMTnOxoxJe84eHlfgEImis7LhFVDCT3fmAtCH4p0QhrWtvif1GYeBLhL5rCM_GAMfLGJiq07t6uufJH9RARJmuLJxLQsCzPvgSpyRzV6N8SqgaTmUE/s320/BARBARIANS+THE+SUN+594c511b170000290010263f.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>
20 July 2019<br /><br />The date 20 July represents the awful anniversary of Turkey’s illegal, brutal and unjustified invasion of the Republic of Cyprus in 1974. It was followed on 14 August 1974 by the equally illegal, brutal and unjustified second invasion in which Turkey ethno-religiously cleansed 36 per cent of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. Turkey has remained in occupation of it ever since. In 1974, the world looked on with sympathy but did absolutely nothing of any substance in response.<br /><br />We are currently witnessing the most dangerous developments in the Cyprus issue since 1974. Turkey is carrying out a third invasion by illegally sending drill ships into the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus – initially to explore but no doubt subsequently to drill. At the same time Turkey has secretly despatched 40 tanks newly purchased from Germany to the occupied area for what purposes no one knows. At the same time, Turkey has recently taken purchase also of the S-400 missile system from Russia allegedly to defend itself and threatened to open up the town of Varosha under Turkish control, despite having refrained from doing so for 45 years in order to use the town as a bargaining chip in the mislabelled peace talks. To cap it all, Turkey has descended into tyranny and, with the help of Russia, it is now building a nuclear power station in a seismically active area to the north of the occupied area.<br /><br />The aggression of Turkey towards the Republic of Cyprus continues unchecked and contrary to countless UN resolutions. Turkey’s blatant disregard for human rights, cultural heritage and international law knows no limits. And still the world looks on with sympathy but does nothing to confront this bully.<a name='more'></a><br /><br />Appeasing a bully never works. Turkey will not change her spots and it is foolish to hope that she will. Successive Cypriot governments have tried to play the good guys out of fear of upsetting powerful Western allies. Those Western allies have in turn tried not to upset their presumed regional ally and member of Nato, Turkey.<br /><br />Turkey has always been a threat to its indigenous minorities and near neighbours as demonstrated by successive pogroms and genocides against the Pontic Greeks, Asia Minor Greeks, Assyrians, Armenians, the Greeks of Cyprus, the Kurds and others. Who will be next? Is it sensible to allow Turkey to arm herself to the hilt with Russian support? Is it wise to let Turkey build a nuclear reactor so close to the Republic of Cyprus?<br /><br />Allowing the Turks to get away with it in Cyprus sends a signal that international law doesn’t matter.<br /><br />Strong economic sanctions are needed from the US, EU and UN to restrain this neighbourhood bully. Without them Turkey will continue to bring insecurity, instability and injustice to the Eastern Mediterranean.<br /><br />The Cyprus issue can only be resolved by uniting the Republic of Cyprus on the basis of the rule of law, justice, democracy, self-determination and the 3Rs:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The Removal of Turkish troops;</li>
<li>The humane Repatriation of the Turkish colonists;</li>
<li>The right of Return of all refugees and forcibly displaced persons.</li>
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<br />These are the messages that the West must now send to Turkey.<br /><br /><i>Lobby for Cyprus is a non-party-political human rights organisation that campaigns for a unitary Cypriot state without segregation along ethnic and religious lines</i><div>
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<a href="https://lobbyforcyprus.wordpress.com/2019/07/20/cyprus-1974-2019/" target="_blank">Source</a></div>
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Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-71819968419514911772018-07-02T11:30:00.000+03:002018-07-02T11:31:12.422+03:00Cyprus: The Beginnings of a Racial Bizonal – Bicommunal Federation - DEFEND DEMOCRACY PRESS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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19/05/2017<br />Stephanos Constantinides<br /><br />The solution negotiated by the Greek side for the Cyprus issue gradually shifted to a two-state confederation and an institutional framework that would confirm Ankara’s sovereignty over the entire island and preserve the interests of the US and NATO in the region.<br /><br />This new state structure will emerge with the dissolution of the Republic of Cyprus and will be structured on the basis of racial criteria.<br /><br />This means that there will be an ethnic vote and citizens will not vote with single electoral lists but with lists based on their ethnic origins and religion.<a name='more'></a><br /><br />They will also elect their representatives from a list of ethnic candidates and on the basis of ethnic quotas. Therefore, the democratic principle of one person, one vote from single electoral lists, as is happening all over the world does not apply. In practice, this means that Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots will elect their representatives separately, plus there will be political and numerical equality, even if Greek Cypriots account for 80% of the population and Turkish Cypriots for 18%. But this is something that does not exist anywhere else in any modern state, federation or single state. If, for example, this was the case in the US, African-Americans would have to vote separately from other citizens. Similarly for the Anglo-Saxons, and the Hispanics. If it were in Spain, there would be no uniform electoral lists, but the Basques would have voted separately, the Catalans separately and so on.<br /><br />How, however, will such a unification process be applied in a country divided by occupation? Above all, there will be frontiers between the two states that will make up the confederal structure and preserve their ethnic population’s purity! For example, only 20% of refugees will have the right to return to their homes, precisely to preserve the ethnic purity of the Turkish Cypriot state.<br /><br />No federation in the world is ever discussed on a territorial and, above all, property issue on the basis of race criteria. In Cyprus this issue arose because of the Turkish invasion and ethnic cleansing imposed by Turkey on the violent movement of the populations. But people who have been violently moved always retain rights to their property. This is recognized by international law and confirmed by court rulings. The territories in question are always in accordance with international and European law in the Republic of Cyprus.<br /><br />In federations, the borders between the provinces or states of a federal state are completely informal and are adapted to administrative and geographic needs rather than to racial criteria. These are, for example, the typical borders between two Cypriot provinces or two Cypriot villages or between two regions in Greece. Cyprus is being discussed in a way that leads to the creation of ethnic-racist (racial) borders between the two constituent states. In essence, what will result from such a solution will be similar to the national borders of two independent states. That is why we are talking about the territory that every constituent state will have and, as such, a territorial problem is being discussed.<br />In no federation is there an ethnographic rape of land occupation nor is it being discussed. In no federation is there an ethnic-quota possession of property or any discussion of it. The citizens of these states are free to get as much property as they want in any part of the federal state. For example, in Canada, a French-speaking resident in the province of Quebec can get as much property as he wants in the English-speaking provinces of Canada. And respectively the English-speaking resident of another province can get as much wealth as he wants in the French-speaking province of Quebec. There is no restriction based on race criteria.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />In no federation in the world are there national boundaries between its constituent parts. For example, there is no such thing in the Canadian provinces, nor between the US states nor among the German federal states. In other words, the federal territory is unified. If this adds to the fact that the two constituent states will also have their own “internal” citizenship, it will in fact be a confederal form. Because nowhere in the world do the constituent parts of the federal states have their own citizenship. Nowhere is this issue discussed. Why is it discussed in Cyprus? Simply because at the negotiating table the debate is not about a federation which exists in the rest of the world, but about a confederal structure with full dependence on Ankara.<br /><br />In all federations–we are talking about serious states–there is territorial unity. The central government exercises control over and manages vital parts of this territory, such as airports, ports, railway stations and major sea or river bridges. In Cyprus, we are negotiating the borders of the two future constituent states as if they were independent states where each one would have complete control over its territory!<br /><br />Many politicians and technocrats will tell you that, since the future solution will collapse anyway, we ought to get at least as much territory as we can! And some people remind you that this was told 42 years ago, to Cypriots leaders by Konstantinos Karamanlis, the “ethnarch”! But this is not a serious policy. Neither are the representatives of the Turkish side of such a low intellectual level to negotiate returns of land without consideration. Furthermore, territory can be easily be reoccupied by Ankara, at any given time. As for property, on the basis of what has been agreed, it is essentially settled in favor of the settlers since they will have more rights as users than the owners.<br /><br />This situation results from the acceptance of the bizonal federation as a basis for the solution of the Cyprus problem. In historical references to the beginning of the concept of bizonality, many refer either to the Zurich-London agreements, which of course introduced political bicommunism, but not bizonality, nor the federal state. The state that emerged from the Zurich-London agreements was certainly malfunctioning with multiple disadvantages, mainly with tribal electoral charts and tribal leadership, but it remained unified. Others, attribute the bizonality concept to the Makarios and Kyprianou agreements with Denktash. But even in these agreements – in essence, they consisted of negotiating/settlement guidelines, and not agreements, as they are so called – the term “bizonal federation” does not exist. Even the most fervent enthusiasts of the bizonal solution admit that this term entered the public debate and was accepted in the 1980s, with the persistence mainly of the British who promoted the relative Turkish position in the era of President George Vasileiou. Of course, this was a perennial requirement of Ankara.<br /><a href="http://www.defenddemocracy.press/varoufakis-diem2025-fighting-wrong-fight/"><br /></a>There is a difference between the terms “bi-communal” or “bi-regional” and “bizonal” federation, both conceptually and politically-constitutionally. By the term “bi-zonal”, an area is encircled with national borders and the notion of a separate state emerges. In addition, the term bizonal introduces elements of sovereignty that do not exist in the region term. This term also introduces confederal elements that do not exist in the concept of bi-communality. This also explains the persistence of some in considering the bi-communal elements in the 1960 constitution as supposedly federal references. There is therefore no legitimacy for bizonality in the settlement guidelines agreed between Makarios / Denktas on 12/2/1977, nor in the 1960 constitution. There was even a clear and precise legal opinion of the Attorney General of the Republic of Cyprus, Michalakis Triantafyllidis on this matter. Besides, in the Makariou-Denktash guidelines there is no explicit reference to the creation of two regions, but to territories under the administration of the two communities. Until 1989, no reference was made to the term “bi-zonal” in the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Cyprus. For the first time, the term “bi-zonal” appears on 12 March 1990, in Security Council Resolution 649, at the time of George Vassiliou’s presidency.<br /><br />But in reality the bi-communal roots and, by extension, the policy of separation that led to the adoption of the bizonal federation appear / can be traced back in the first “constitution” that the British gave to the colony in 1882. In this constitution, the British distort and deform the concept of liberal democracy and adopt the concept of the “millet” of the Ottoman period. Based on this notion, ethnic communities are recognized as a political subject as a matter of priority, while citizens are placed in a second category. Thus, by implementing the “divide and reign” policy for the election of the members of the notorious Legislative Council that they later introduced, the British imposed the authority of two separate electoral bodies, one of the Greeks and one of the Turks, where as national religious communities they elected their delegates from separate electoral lists and ethnic quotas. This was exactly what served the well-known British policy of “divide and reign”.<br /><br />But in no democratic country of the world, was this principle applied. If, for example, it was implemented in Britain itself, there would have to be separate electoral bodies, separate electoral charts and national religious quotas for Protestants, Catholics, Irish, Scots, etc. And today we will add Muslims, of course. If it were implemented in the US, there should be separate electoral bodies for whites, African-Americans, Hispanics, Muslims, etc. This reduction can be done in all countries where liberal democracy is applied and uniform electoral lists are in place, as well as the election of representatives of the people, regardless of racial origin, religion or color.<br /><a href="http://www.defenddemocracy.press/turkey-stops-by-threat-of-force-oil-drills-in-a-eu-member-state-eu-does-nothing/"><br /></a>In Cyprus, since the introduction of this policy of dichotomy in 1882, we went to the Zurich-London agreements in 1959, with the same logic, and from there to the bizonal federation that we are discussing today and which will be nothing more than a form of apartheid. What Nelson Mandela (whom some people in Cyprus are saying that they follow) has rejected in South Africa. If such a system is ever implemented in Cyprus, Cypriots will simply be converted into guinea pigs of a New Order political lab where the structure is built on racial criteria.<br /><br />The Bi-Zonal Cypriot Cutting Federation is a state-of-the-art construction without a future that will cause far more problems than it will solve. It does not serve the interests of either the Greeks or the Turks of Cyprus. But it serves very well the interests of Turkey and those of the Anglo-Americans and NATO. Besides, if this state-building shows something positive, Turkey does not apply it to the Kurds, Spain does not apply it to the Basques and the Catalans, France does not apply it to the six million Muslims, Canada does not apply it to French-speaking people, Britain itself does not apply it to its multiple minorities. Nowhere in the world is this discussed. But it is being discussed in Cyprus, as if Cypriots were citizens with special needs. The existence of multiple ethnic minorities has not of course prevented Barak Obama, without a bizonal tribal system, from becoming president of the United States, nor the French-speaking minority in Canada being the head of the country for decades, nor Jewish citizens becoming prime ministers in Britain and France. Why, then, in Cyprus would the Turkish Cypriots be excluded from the presidency of the Republic, from executive or legislative power, in a unified society, with common parties based on programmatic and ideological references rather than racial constructions?<br /><br />In conclusion, a bi-zoning construct in Cyprus legitimizes the effects of the Turkish invasion, serves Turkey’s long-term geopolitical interests in the Eastern Mediterranean because it allows control of the whole of Cyprus through the controlled Turkish minority that becomes equal with the Greek majority on the basis of political equality, neutralizes Greece from a historical area with centuries of presence and maintains intact the Anglo-American sovereignty and that of NATO in the region. We must not forget that no one insults/offends the status of the British bases in Cyprus as a sovereign British territory!<br /><br />* Stephanos Constantinides is Professor of Political Science in Quebec, Canada (he taught at Laval University, the University of MontreaL and the University of Quebec at Montreal) and a scientific associate of the University of Crete.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.defenddemocracy.press/cyprus-the-beginnings-of-a-racial-bizonal-bicommunal-federation/" target="_blank">Source</a></span></div>
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Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-44485839508233171042018-02-25T18:38:00.000+02:002018-02-25T18:46:22.519+02:00Akinci, Nami, Ozersay: the local Turkdom on the march again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKQ_IGiOwV5ATPdbDpNE_Kq50bS4FAyNETFCKoM1SGuoc-lG-uIGpfRpH5XGW6TgFzU5J3tbVsXKSg_BcacPsrucQdRMyku7gjcC_8h9FJp7JsAm-UAuBMaVJb54rSZGngLD1HFYQkIcM/s1600/The+Cyprus+Revolt+Nancy+Crawshaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKQ_IGiOwV5ATPdbDpNE_Kq50bS4FAyNETFCKoM1SGuoc-lG-uIGpfRpH5XGW6TgFzU5J3tbVsXKSg_BcacPsrucQdRMyku7gjcC_8h9FJp7JsAm-UAuBMaVJb54rSZGngLD1HFYQkIcM/s320/The+Cyprus+Revolt+Nancy+Crawshaw.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In Crawshaw's book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cyprus-Revolt-Development-Aftermath-International/dp/0049400533/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1" target="_blank">Cyprus Revolt: The Origins, Development and Aftermath of an International Dispute</a>" you will find the flyer / leaflet Turks were circulating in Cyprus in the 1950s to incite the local minority Muslim population. A similar propaganda is in the works today. By Kemalists then, by Islamists today. The beast is hungry yet again. Partition wasn't enough. And whatever the new demand will be, it won't be enough. A new generation will demand whatever may be left to take.<br /><br />Here it is:<br /></span><br />
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"<b>Oh Turkish Youth! The day is near when you will be called upon to sacrifice your life and blood in the PARTITION/TAXIM struggle - the struggle for freedom. You are a brave Turk. You are faithful to your country and nation and are entrusted with the task of demonstrating Turkish might. Be ready to break the chains of slavery with your determination and willpower and with your love of freedom. All Turkdom, right and justice and God are with you. PARTITION OR DEATH.</b>"<a name='more'></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cyprus-Revolt-Development-Aftermath-International/dp/0049400533/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cyprus Revolt: The Origins, Development and Aftermath of an International Dispute | Crawshaw, Nancy | ISBN 0049400533</span></a></div>
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Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-30577897768821173952017-08-13T12:50:00.000+03:002017-08-13T12:50:58.786+03:00The Fallacies of the Cyprus “Problem” - E-INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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ILIAS KOUSKOUVELIS, AUG 12 2017<br />
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In the early morning of July 7, 2017, another round of negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations on the so called Cyprus “problem” has ended in Switzerland. Some are trying to understand why. Others, however, have ostensibly entered the “blame game” and/or misinformation, unjustly pointing the finger to the government of the Republic of Cyprus, because, allegedly, it did not make the necessary concessions, so as to satisfy Turkish demands. For those who are trying to understand why, I am arguing, hereinafter, that none should have expected these negotiations (or any previous) to succeed. They were doomed to fail for three reasons, which constitute the fallacies of the so-called Cyprus “problem”.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fallacy One</span><br />
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The first fallacy is that international actors, international organizations, diplomats, and analysts are trying to understand first and deal then with a “problem”, and not with a case of pure and brutal military invasion perpetrated by Turkey in 1974 and still preserved illegally until today.[1] This is where all starts and all ends: in the thought dominating (our) minds that we are to deal with a “problem” and not with a flagrant violation of almost all fundamental principals of the United Nations Charter and a series of non implemented compulsory decisions of the Security Council.<br />
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In fact, Turkey still maintains some 40.000 heavily armed troops on the island, presenting since 1974 an every day threat for the very existence of what is left territorially of the Republic of Cyprus, making us wonder how the Republic of Cyprus’ citizens – EU citizens since 2004 – and its economy may endure such a situation. Turkey, as demonstrated in the negotiations, has not the intention to withdraw its occupation forces from the island (BBC 2017). Most important, even if those troops were to be reduced, Turkey was adamantly against abandoning the status of the guarantor power, contrary to the intention of the other two guarantors (the U.K. and Greece).<br />
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Why? The official narrative says in order to guarantee the rights and the security of the Turkish Cypriots (TRTWORLD 2017). Obviously, this is neither the real nor a convincing reason, as Turkey, given its record of human rights, cannot guarantee the rule of law, especially in an EU country. The real motive is the expansionist policy of Turkey, and its tactic to exercise through Cyprus pressure on the Republic, on Greece, on the EU, and more broadly, on the West.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fallacy Two</span><br />
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It is clear that Turkey does not want to contribute to “solving” the problem. And this is the second fallacy committed by those who consider Turkey well-intentioned to solve the Cyprus “problem” under the rule of the AKP Party and of Erdogan, and given Turkey’s current and favorable general and regional distribution of power. In fact, Turkey’s position on Cyprus was clearly stated many years ago by Ahmet Davutoglu.[2] The following excerpts from his book are more than explicit:<br />
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“It is not possible for a country that neglects Cyprus to have a decisive saying in the global and regional politics. It cannot be active in world politics, because this small island occupies a position which can directly affect the strategic links between Asia and Africa, Europe and Africa, and Europe and Asia. And it cannot be active in regional politics, because Cyprus has its eastern edge resembling an arrow that points to the Middle East, and its western edge establishing the cornerstone of the strategic balance among the eastern Mediterranean, the Balkans and North Africa”. (Davutoğlu 2008, 176)</blockquote>
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“(…) Even if there was not one Muslim Turk there, Turkey had to maintain a Cyprus problem. No country can stay indifferent towards such an island, located in the heart of its very own vital space.” (Davutoğlu 2008, 179)</blockquote>
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“Turkey needs to see the strategic advantage which it obtained… in the 1970s, not as the component of a Cyprus defence policy, directed towards maintaining the status quo, but as one of the diplomatic main supports of an aggressive maritime strategy”. (Davutoğlu 2008, 180)</blockquote>
Consequent to these views, Turkey not only continues the illegal occupation, but it also increases problems for Cyprus. Most characteristic is the aggressive stance over the issue of energy resources discovered in the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the prospect of their exploitation. Since 2010, in the very beginning, Turkey stated that it has rights to the resources, warned the countries of the region that supporting the moves of the Republic of Cyprus will have consequences in the Cyprus negotiations (Hurriyet Daily News, Jan. 5, 2011), and attempted to stop Cyprus and the various international companies to proceed with exploration (Hurriyet Daily News, Aug. 5, 2011). Then it moved on to an illegal agreement of delimiting the continental shelf with the self-proclaimed “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, so as to carry out research into the area between itself and the northern cost of Cyprus (Hurriyet Daily News, Sept. 21, 2011). It has repeatedly sent research and military vessels in the Cypriot EEZ, whenever and wherever surveys were being held out, in order to, according to Erdoğan’s statement, protect the Turkish interests, thus causing tension in the region and reaction on the part of Israel, the U.S.A., and the EU.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fallacy Three</span><br />
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From time to time Turkey remembers the Turkish Cypriots and declares that it maintains troops on the island and remains a guarantor, in order to protect their rights on the Mediterranean energy resources. Despite the inconsistency of whose rights Turkey is protecting, Turkish or Turkish Cypriot, this raises a question relative to the political importance of the Turkish Cypriots and their ability to negotiate independently from Turkey the solution of the “problem”. It is the answer to this question that constitutes the third reason explaining the failure of negotiations and, at the same time, reveals the third fallacy.<br />
<br />
A big part of the negotiations was conducted between the leaders of the two communities, despite the fact that the one is the President of an internationally recognised state and the other the leader of a Community. But protocol, which no doubt matters in international relations, is not the obstacle here. The obstacle is that the Turkish Cypriots are so dependent on and from Turkey that they really do not have the ability to strike any deal if Turkey disagrees. It is therefore a fallacy to think that because the two communities on the island (perhaps genuinely) want to end the division, this is going to happen. And it is lost energy, human resources, political capital, time, money and unfulfilled hopes to have the impotent Turkish Cypriot leader discussing with a democratically elected, internationally recognised and with full power to strike a deal President of the Republic of Cyprus.<br />
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It is very nice having the two leaders meeting, taking the customary picture, and trying to solve the details of how a re-unified island and its government may work. But, it is also fallacious! Because, the solution of the Cyprus “problem” is totally dependent on the end of the occupation, which does not depend on the Turkish Cypriots! It depends on the Turkish government and particularly, at this moment, Erdogan.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion</span><br />
<br />
Thus, if anyone in the future wants genuinely to deal with the “problem”, they should start where all negotiations should have had started since 1974. The place is called Ankara, the country is Turkey, the leader now is Erdogan, and what needs to be done is to end, first, the occupation and, second, the anachronism or the absurdity of a non EU country guaranteeing the rule of law and the security of an EU member state.<br />
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Otherwise, we will continue living in our minds with the fallacies of what has been named a “problem”, masking the crucial fact that Turkey is the invader and small Cyprus the victim.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Notes</span><br />
<br />
[1] On the invasion and its consequences see the Historical Review of The Cyprus Question of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus available at: http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2016.nsf/mfa08_en/mfa08_en?OpenDocument<br />
<br />
[2] He served successively as adviser to Erdogan on foreign affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Prime Minister.<br />
<br />
References<br />
<br />
BBC, (2017). Cyprus Talks: Erdogan Dismisses Full Turkish Troop Withdrawal, 13 Jan. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38609828 [Accessed 2 Aug. 2017].<br />
<br />
Davutoğlu, A. (2008). Stratejik Derinlik. Türkiye’nin Uluslararası Konumu. 24th Edition. Istanbul: Küre Yayınları.<br />
<br />
Hurriyet Daily News, (2011). Greek Cyprus to License Offshore Oil Gas Search. [online] Available at: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/greek-cyprus-to-license-offshore-oil-gas-search.aspx?pageID=438&n=cyprus-to-license-offshore-oil-and-gas-search-2011-01-05 [Accessed 5 Jan. 2011].<br />
<br />
Hurriyet Daily News, (2011). Turkey to Deter Gas Exploration Plans. [online] Available at: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-deter-gas-exploration-plans.aspx?pageID=438&n=turkey-to-deter-gas-exploration-plans-2011-08-05 [Accessed 5 Aug. 2011].<br />
<br />
Hurriyet Daily News, (2011). Turkey and N.Cyprus Clear Gas Drill Hurdle. [online] Available at: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-and-n-cyprus-clear-gas-drill-hurdle.aspx?pageID=438&n=turkey-and-n-cyprus-clear-gas-drill-hurdle-2011-09-21 [Accessed 21 Sep. 2011].<br />
<br />
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Historical Review of the Cyprus Question. [online] Available at: http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2016.nsf/mfa08_en/mfa08_en?OpenDocument [Accessed 3 Aug. 2017].<br />
<br />
TRTWORLD, (2017). Why are Turkish Troops in Cyprus?, 5 July. [online] Available at: http://www.trtworld.com/europe/why-are-turkish-troops-in-cyprus-394000 [Accessed 3 Aug. 2017].<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.e-ir.info/2017/08/12/the-fallacies-of-the-cyprus-problem/" target="_blank">Source</a></div>
Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-88016326045465259922017-08-08T22:59:00.000+03:002017-08-08T22:59:53.254+03:00Announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the celebrations in the occupied enclave of Kokkina, Cyprus, of the 1964 napalm bombings of Tillyria by the Turkish air force<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://goo.gl/cUhzCs" target="_blank">Source</a></div>
Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-5656865390950933202017-07-08T23:15:00.000+03:002017-07-08T23:17:02.046+03:00International Conference on Cyprus: hard truths - GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Saturday, 08 July 2017<br />
<br />
Greece attended the Conference in Crans-Montana determined to contribute in every possible way to resolving the Cyprus problem, and in the hope that everyone would act in such a direction.<br />
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But Turkey's conduct dashed any hopes anyone had that there would be a change in its stance. Just as Turkey abandoned the first Conference, in Geneva, it torpedoed the second. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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Turkey drove the Crans-Montana conference to an impasse. A very characteristic feature of its stance was the revelations Turkey made during the dinner on 6 July, when the UN Secretary-General expressed his intention of setting down in writing the points of convergence that had been achieved. His goal was to shape a framework for agreement so that the conclusive negotiations could continue, with Greece’s consent, in New York. But this was not possible, because when the critical moment was reached at the Conference, Turkey resolutely refused to allow a number of promises it had made to the Secretary-General to be set down in writing.<br />
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This was typified by the Turkish side categorically refusing to accept the abolition of the inexistent “rights” of intervention it invokes. An abolition that, a short while earlier, at a bilateral meeting with the UN Secretary-General, Turkey had indicated it would accept at the dinner that was to follow. And this was because Turkey was aware that all of the participants apart from Turkey itself and the Turkish Cypriots demanded their abolition.<br />
<br />
We remind that, three days earlier, the Turkish Foreign Minister had bluntly revealed Turkey's position, according to which Ankara "needed these rights so that it can intervene throughout Cyprus whenever it deems it necessary." <br />
<br />
The Turkish side also revealed during the dinner of 6 July that it wants to continue the violations in the name of the Treaty of Guarantee, to ensure and perpetuate its military presence in Cyprus. And all of this was in spite of promises to the contrary made to the UN Secretary-General on the afternoon of Thursday, 6 July. Promises that, in hindsight, are revealed to have been an effort to create the false impression that it was ostensibly willing to negotiate. But lies never get one very far, and the truth always finds a way to come out.<br />
<br />
As soon as Turkey was faced with the Secretary-General's proposal for a binding written record of the potential compromises, it was forced to reveal and admit its real positions and intentions. It became evident that, throughout the duration of the multilateral negotiations, <b><i>Turkey had had no intention of compromising. Moreover, it also became evident that, through its stance, Turkey sought to deceive the UN Secretary-General.</i></b> Immediately after these revelatory developments, the UN Secretary-General was forced to declare, in short order, that the Conference had ended.<br />
<br />
So the Conference ended with the revelation/confirmation of Turkey's true intentions, which run counter to international law and the resolutions of the UN. <br />
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We reiterate that Greece will continue to work relentlessly, with all means at its disposal, for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, in close cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus, the UN and the European Union. And it calls on all of the parties to the Conference to show responsibility, respect for international law, and self-restraint.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mfa.gr/en/current-affairs/statements-speeches/international-conference-on-cyprus-hard-truths.html" target="_blank">Source</a></div>
Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-5909454034913406312017-06-30T09:46:00.000+03:002017-06-30T09:46:17.214+03:00Save the Republic of Cyprus and democratic values – an urgent call to change strategy - LOBBY FOR CYPRUS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://lobbyforcyprus.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6ac2ae701b740bb77bb40e3e2&id=d75acfcc85&e=7636ffc220" target="_blank">Lobby for Cyprus</a> expresses serious concerns about the secrecy with which the ‘Conference on Cyprus’ in Switzerland is taking place. We are also alarmed by the astonishing fact that the Republic of Cyprus is not officially represented at the ‘Conference on Cyprus’ where its destiny may be determined. <br /><br />Lobby for Cyprus condemns any attempt to dissolve or undermine the Republic of Cyprus and to permit any Turkish military personnel or colonists to remain in the Republic under the pretext of security.<br /><br />Lobby for Cyprus calls upon the United Nations and all parties to:<a name='more'></a><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>end the Turkish occupation and colonisation of the north of the Republic of Cyprus via a lawful, ethical, transparent and procedurally fair process;</li>
<li>ensure that the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus is fully respected, that the Republic is officially represented at any ‘conference’ relating to it and that the Republic is neither dissolved nor undermined;</li>
<li>refrain from legalising the de facto segregation imposed in Cyprus by Turkey;</li>
<li>reject the proposed ‘bi-communal, bi-zonal federation’ that would legitimise the segregation of Cypriots along ethno-religious lines;</li>
<li>oppose any so-called ‘guarantor’ or ‘intevention rights’ of outside powers;</li>
<li>build a settlement on the enlightened founding values of the United Nations, the Commonwealth, the Council of Europe and the European Union; and</li>
<li>ensure that any settlement respects the rule of law, justice, democracy, human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all legitimate Cypriot citizens.</li>
</ul>
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If the Republic of Cyprus is transformed into a ‘bi-communal, bi-zonal federation’ in line with the divisive demands of Turkey, this will create a dangerous precedent for those who oppose democracy and wish to divide other sovereign states.</div>
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<br /></div>
Accordingly, Lobby for Cyprus calls for the adoption of a substantive change in strategy to save the Republic of Cyprus and by extension, the democratic world.<br /><br />Lobby for Cyprus remains committed to supporting a settlement for a unitary Cypriot state which is based on the:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>removal of all Turkish occupation troops;</li>
<li>humane repatriation of Turkish colonists, who were transferred to occupied Cyprus to alter the demography of the island;</li>
<li>right to return of all refugees, without restriction or preconditions, as called for by UN resolutions.</li>
</ul>
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Notes</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>On the morning of 28 June 2017, a ‘Conference on Cyprus’ was reconvened at Crans-Montana in Switzerland with the participation of ‘five parties’ described as ‘the two sides’ and ‘the three Guarantors’ but not the Republic of Cyprus, a Member State of the UN, the Commonwealth, the Council of Europe and the European Union.</li>
<li>In 1974 Turkey invaded the Republic of Cyprus and continues to unlawfully occupy 37 per cent of the territory and 57 per cent of the coastline of Cyprus, with approximately 40,000 troops, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.</li>
<li>Approximately 200,000 Cypriot refugees are prevented from returning to their homes, properties and lands in the occupied north.</li>
<li>Turkey continues its policy of colonising the occupied territory of Cyprus with Turkish nationals, in violation of the Geneva convention.</li>
</ul>
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<br /><a href="http://lobbyforcyprus.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6ac2ae701b740bb77bb40e3e2&id=d75acfcc85&e=7636ffc220" target="_blank">Lobby for Cyprus</a> is a non-party-political human rights organisation that campaigns for a Cyprus free from Turkish occupation and a unitary Cypriot state without segregation along ethnic and religious lines. <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://mailchi.mp/77d6b3b229cb/save-the-republic-of-cyprus-and-democratic-values?e=7636ffc220" target="_blank">SOURCE</a></div>
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Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-6093645134146503042017-06-28T14:45:00.001+03:002017-06-28T14:45:39.109+03:00We won't accept just any solution on Cyprus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />On the eve of the Conference on Cyprus, we feel compelled to express our views on the Cyprus negotiations on behalf of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), the International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), the Federation of Cypriot American Organizations (FCAO), the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), the American Hellenic Council (AHC), the Hellenic Federation of New Jersey, and the Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH). Our community has worked with successive U.S. Administrations on behalf of a workable and lasting solution on Cyprus. In 2004, when we warned that the flawed Annan Plan was headed in the wrong direction, some officials defamed us as “rejectionists”, “hard liners”, or as “not having a bottom line.” Yet history proved us right and the officials predicting a landslide victory in 2004 wrong. At this key moment in Cyprus’ history, we have decided that it is time for us to speak out, warn against false steps, and describe an agreement that we may be able to support.<br /><br />We have not only advocated for an end to the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, but for a new and better Cyprus. We have: invested in Cyprus; led business delegations interested in a reunified Cyprus; pushed for better bilateral relations between Cyprus and the United States. We have prepared for reunification with our Turkish Cypriot brethren by supporting bi-communal programs, by opening lines of communications with Turkish Cypriot business and opinion leaders, by encouraging policies like the issuance of Republic of Cyprus passports to Turkish Cypriots. We are informed by Cyprus’ tragic past, but not enslaved by it. Our point of reference is the Cyprus of the future, not the Cyprus of 1974.<a name='more'></a><br /><br />When we expressed our support for the February 2014 Joint Declaration that began this round of negotiations, we were full of hope. We dared to believe that the world was finally invested in a reunited and truly independent Cyprus, that the days when Cyprus was sacrificed at the altar of a larger political agenda had passed us. These hopes have been dashed over and over again.<br /><br />Cypriots are prepared to make difficult, and in many cases painful, compromises on issues like territory, power sharing, and property. We acknowledge that Cypriot led negotiations over these issues have progressed further than ever before. At the same time, we regret that the issue that ultimately damned the 2004 Annan Plan — that of security — has not witnessed tangible progress.<br /><br />We support the proposition that all Cypriots have the fundamental right to feel secure in their country. Indeed, the security of its citizens is the primary responsibility of any state. Several ideas — including an expanded peace keeping mission, an international police force, and other federal structures — that can provide security to all Cypriots are actively under consideration. With well-developed European institutions providing additional layers of security, we are convinced that a reunified Cyprus can meet the highest standards of protection for all its citizens.<br /><br /><b>The legalization and continued presence of a Turkish occupation force — of any size — and granting Ankara the right of any kind of intervention is completely inconsistent with the goal of a workable and lasting reunification.</b> We cannot prioritize the international community’s desire for a diplomatic victory at the expense of a viable solution. Supporting a reunification with an uncertain future because it is subject to a Turkey with hegemonic aspirations and the ability to wait out every single diplomat involved in today’s negotiations is irresponsible.<br /><br />We have been asked whether we cannot simply support “whatever the Cypriots agree to.” We are offended by this question. It assumes that our priorities are at odds with those of the Cypriot people. We are attuned to sentiment in Cyprus, and right now our conclusion is that the almost singular focus on process without addressing certain issues is setting up the Cyprus negotiations for failure.<br /><br />We are not at the negotiating table, and many of us will not have a vote in a referendum on reunification. But we are being asked to invest in and encourage investment in a reunified Cyprus, and to reassure the citizens of Cyprus that the U.S. will stand firmly behind a Cyprus solution and help ensure that it is workable and lasting.<br /><br /><b>If Turkey’s presence is formalized in a reunified Cyprus — either through guarantees or troop presence — we cannot do any of the above with confidence. Cyprus is in Europe, and just as U.S. policy has prioritized a Europe “whole, free and at peace,” we ask the same for Cyprus.</b> Turkish troops and rights of intervention prevent both the “free” and “at peace” from ever being true. We are committed to the security of Turkish Cypriots and ALL Cypriots, and there are several structures which do not involve Turkish troops that can achieve that security. Going into the upcoming Conference on Cyprus, we condition our support of an agreement on it avoiding certain provisions:<br /><br /><ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>A reunified Cyprus cannot be subject to foreign guarantees. </b>The demands by Turkey to retain its guarantor status keep Cyprus inherently unsafe. An EU member state is in no need of any guarantees by foreign powers. </li>
<li><b>Turkish troops have no place in a reunified Cyprus.</b> In 2008, former Vice President Biden insisted on the “full withdrawal of Turkey”. We have the same demand. Foreign armies are not meant to carry out policing functions and would only serve as a source of instability. </li>
<li><b>The benefits that each community is to realize in a reunified Cyprus cannot be subject to temporary derogations and unclear timelines.</b> If these benefits are not in place on Day 1 of a settlement, a successful referendum is less likely, and what will in any case be a challenging implementation period will be derailed. </li>
<li><b>Any settlement cannot contravene the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.</b> The Convention is binding on Cyprus and Turkey. The Charter is binding on Cyprus. For any settlement to be lawful, and for all Cypriots to have the full protection of the law, both the Convention and the Charter must be incorporated.</li>
</ol>
<br />We continue to believe that a successful reunification of Cyprus will not only benefit the people of Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey, it will stabilize a volatile Eastern Mediterranean and further the interests of the United States. Focusing more on process and deadlines than on substance will only lead to failure and instability. <br /><br /><br />Nikos Mouyiaris, Chairman and Founder, HALC<br />Endy Zemenides, Executive Director, HALC<br /> <br />Philip Christopher, President, PSEKA<br />Andrew Manatos, President, CEH<br />Nick Larigakis President, AHI<br />Kyriakos Papastylianou President, FCAO<br />Tasos Zambas, Executive Vice President, FCAO<br />Ioannis Fidanakis Executive Director, AHC <br />Savas Tsivicos President, Hellenic Federation of New Jersey</div>
Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-87719367554476338552017-06-25T17:50:00.002+03:002017-06-25T17:52:17.810+03:00The Turkish Sword of Damocles Over Cyprus - THE HUFFINGTON POST<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headline, the Brtish newspaper THE SUN, 5 August 1974</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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06/22/2017 07:31 pm ET<br />
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<b>The headline "BARBARIANS" described the Turks who had invaded Cyprus. The reporter, Iain Walker, wrote about the dramatic and bloody effects of the Turkish onslaught against the Greeks of Cyprus (Photo: Fanoula Argyrou)</b><br />
<br />
Once again Cyprus is fighting for its life. The Greek island-home of Aphrodite is confronting its ancient enemies, Turkey and the United Kingdom. This confrontation is taking place in a secret diplomatic meeting in Geneva on 28 June 2017.<br />
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Turkey and the UK are former imperial powers that colonized Cyprus for long stretches of time. In 1878, Turkey passed Cyprus to Britain in exchange for British promises to support the Turks in any Russo-Turkish war. The British were not much better rulers than the Turks in Cyprus. Greek Cypriots fought the British and won their freedom.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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However, the liberation of Cyprus from the British and the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960 took place at a time of heightened cold war anxieties. The US opposed the former Soviet Union, now Russia, everywhere. The result was a bad international agreement that brought Turkey back into the future of Cyprus. Indeed, American cold war appeasement policies toward Turkey and the lingering hatred of the British for their defeat in Cyprus made Turkey the Sword of Damocles over Cyprus. Not only that, but misplaced American fears of communism translated into cowing Greece and independent Cyprus to legitimizing the illegitimate. Greece and Cyprus had to partner with Turkey over the “protection” of Cyprus.<br />
<br />
There was no way out of such existential complexity and fear. The US managed the Mediterranean. It recruited Turkey in the NATO ranks, despite that country’s bleak historical record of occupation and genocide against the Greeks in Greece and Cyprus and against the Armenians. US insisted that Turkey had to be appeased. So in addition to having UK and Greece as guarantors of Cypriot independence, Turkey entered the fray, giving it an opportunity to unsettle Cyprus at will.<br />
<br />
This happened in 1974. Greece was then under military rule. Under the pretext of protecting the Turkish minority from Greek Cypriots and a potential union of Cyprus with Greece, Turkey launched an invasion of Cyprus and occupied almost forty percent of the island.<br />
<br />
Now in the Geneva secret talks Turkey and the UK want to abolish the Republic of Cyprus and in its place set up a fake and “segregationist bi-communal and bi-zonal federation.”<br />
<br />
I am quoting from a <a href="https://professors-phds.com/8546-2/" target="_blank">letter</a> the International Hellenic Association sent to actors in the Cypriot tragedy: key diplomatic officials of the United Nations, EU, America and China:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
“[A]ll post-1974 diplomatic talks [about Cyprus] have tended to focus on appeasing Turkey, legalizing the illegal effects of its invasions and precluding the application of international criminal justice.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Alas, the post-1974 appeasement of Turkey has backfired. Instead of producing ‘peace’, appeasement has propelled Turkey into a menace, which endangers the EU. Instead of stimulating democracy in Turkey, appeasement has helped to turn Turkey into a tyranny. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Instead of fostering inclusive values, appeasement has conveyed semblance of credibility to the segregation inherent in ‘bi-communalism’ and ‘bi-zonality’.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“If ‘bi-communalism’ and ‘bi-zonality’ are entrenched under any ‘settlement’, this will reward aggression and may even create a dangerous precedent within the EU and the wider democratic world of which the US forms part. Such a precedent may then be exploited by [Turkish] President Erdogan and by other enemies of democracy; they have already started to interfere or sow the seeds of division in various parts of the EU, such as Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and, ironically, the UK.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“In view of the above:</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“We call for new strategy in support of the Republic of Cyprus, in defense of democratic values, in the interests of the democratic world and in line with the post- 1945 international legal order.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“We call for the Republic of Cyprus to be saved from the ordeal of being transformed into a segregated ‘bi-communal, bi-zonal federation’ in line with the post-1964 strategy of Turkey.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“We call for a new democratic constitutional philosophy under which every citizen of the Republic of Cyprus, irrespective of ethnicity or religion, is protected by the rule of law, the principle of equality and the prohibition against direct or indirect discrimination.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“We call for the rescission of the 1960 Treaties of Alliance and Guarantee, coupled with the removal of all Turkish forces and, subject to due process, the humane deportation of all colonists illegally present on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“We call for the 1960 Treaty of Establishment to be modernized in a manner which does not undermine the Republic of Cyprus and its security. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“We call on Turkey, with whose citizens we have no quarrel, to turn its back on tyranny, to transform itself into a genuine democracy and to cease threatening the Republic of Cyprus and other Member States of the EU.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“We call on Turkey to become a State Party to the many legal instruments which it has hitherto shied away from, such as the Crime of Apartheid Convention of 1973, the UN Law of the Sea Convention of 1982 and the Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court of 1998.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“We call on the UN to enforce international humanitarian law in the interests of criminal justice. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“We call for the humane founding values of the EU to triumph over the doctrine of division that imbues the proposed ‘bi-communal, bi-zonal federation’.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“We call for a transparent and procedurally fair program of constitutional and legal renewal, which transforms the Republic of Cyprus into a genuinely unitary, united, integrated and free democratic state. Only such a state can be a secure bulwark of the EU and of the democratic world in the Eastern Mediterranean, one of the most conflict-prone parts of the world.”</blockquote>
<br />
The quoted text expresses what has to be done to keep the Republic of Cyprus alive. The international community should embrace that Republic. Second, somebody has to teach a lesson to Turkey: mind your own business and leave Cyprus alone. EU should be that somebody.<br />
<br />
Finally, the International Hellenic Association includes Greek professors and scholars from all over the world. I am a member of the association. I, too, signed this letter.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-turkish-sword-of-damocles-over-cyprus_us_594c4b21e4b0326c0a8d071d">Source</a></div>
Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-17761756934079953242017-05-13T10:28:00.001+03:002017-05-13T10:28:10.487+03:00Glavin: Here's why Cyprus is as divided as ever - A Comment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No room for Anatolian concepts on the island of Venus</td></tr>
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Various inaccuracies in <a href="http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/glavin-heres-why-cyprus-is-as-divided-as-ever?fb_comment_id=1306641796079563_1307456455998097&comment_id=1307456455998097#fb3ddee8cb2734" target="_blank">this article in Ottawa Citizen</a> but one piece of information is vital in understanding what history has proven beyond any doubt, that the Turkish invasion and subsequent division, ethnic cleansing and ongoing colonization of Cyprus was pre-PLANNED and prepared for:<br /><br />The Greek coup happened 5 days before the invasion. During that unsuccessul attempt about 100 people died. All Christians. NOT A SINGLE member of the Turkish Cypriot minority was harmed. Yet, most will buy the Turkish MYTH (there are so many on a vast array of issues) of an ethnic cleansing that preceded the invasion. Did Turkish Cypriots also die in 1974? Of course. BUT NOT BEFORE 40.000 TROOPS INVADED A PRACTICALLY DEFENSELESS ISLAND. Not before Turkey and Turkish Cypriots declared war on Cyprus.<br /><br />We must also ask and demand answers from Turks and Turkish Cypriots:<a name='more'></a><br /><ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Why insist on POLITICAL EQUALITY in Cyprus, but deny their own 20million Kurds?</li>
<li>Why did Turks insist on exclusive Turkish education for the Greek speaking Muslim minority in the 50s, yet have been denying Kurds even learning their own language since the 20s?</li>
</ol>
Trust me. Their inability to cope with the questions will blow you away.<br /><br />Bizonality, the basis of the talks, is apartheid. Plain and simple. Stealing land, historic land no less, from Christians to create de-jure Muslim zones is a despicable concept. Bizonality was a 60s and 70s construct in order to safeguard US/UK critical bases on the island. It makes no sense in an EU nation in 2017. Occupied Cyprus, like the rest of Cyprus, is majority owned by Greek Christians. Before advising Cypriots to accept a Muslim de-jure zone in Cyprus Canadians, Germans, French, English, etc. must ask themselves: what if a Muslim minority demanded its own zone in the future as per the Cypriot precedent (god forbid)? Would you agree, in the interest of peace?</div>
Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-23749152744798227262017-05-07T10:24:00.000+03:002017-05-07T10:32:14.315+03:00A Dangerous Precedent<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's the face of your minority dictating the terms of your surrender?</td></tr>
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Bizonality (not merely stupid, a criminal concept for Cyprus) raises the ante on every state with large difficult/unwilling-to-assimilate minority communities. Any form of legalized division on Cyprus would make a disaster precedent under international law. It's up to us not to approve such nonsense. Whatever the cost. And I'm afraid it may include human lives too, as Turks realize that the end game is nigh and they have no option but to play what has been their only card all along: military force.<br /><br /> Bizonality in a nutshell: Imagine a section of your town or country carved up, its Christians thrown out, forced to sell their properties, your country's Muslims (or ethnic minority) invited in, and the two zones, the smaller one de-jure for Muslims and the other for kafirs, to be equally represented in political structures, each with effective veto powers. If you can imagine it then you understand the solution the United Nations is promoting for Cyprus. It will never be approved. Just as you would never approve it. None of you.</div>
Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-50625310856418758572017-03-11T12:03:00.003+02:002017-03-11T12:03:45.769+02:00International Justice: The Case of Cyprus - HUFFINGTON POST<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkish troops invading Cyprus in the summer of 1974</td></tr>
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By Constantine Tzanos<br />
<br />On May 22, 2016, the Greek Cypriots in the independent south of Cyprus will go to the polls, with the issue of the reunification of the island heavily weighing on their minds. Northern Cyprus remains under Turkish occupation since 1974.<br />
<br />
The preamble of the United Nations (UN) Charter states: “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war... to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law... our respective Governments... have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations (UN).” The purpose of the UN, as expressed in its Charter is: “To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes.” To achieve this purpose, “all Members shall refrain ... from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.” In the event that international law, as expressed in the UN Charter, has been breached the UN Security Council is empowered to decide on measures “to be employed to give effect to its decisions.”<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Cyprus has been a part of the Greek world as far back as can be attested by recorded history. After the collapse of the Byzantine Empire and the defeat of the Venetians it fell to Ottoman rule from 1571 to 1878. In 1878 it was placed under British administration, was annexed by Britain in 1914, and in 1925 became a British colony. Greek Cypriots joined the mainland Greeks in the wars of independence against the Ottomans, and the British played with Greece and the Greek Cypriots the idea of Cyprus’ enosis(union) with Greece a number of times when this served their interests, to afterwards turn the other way. In 1955, the Greek Cypriots started a guerrilla war against British rule demanding enosis with Greece. The British colonial policy of “divide and rule” cultivated intentionally animosity between the Greek majority and the Turkish minority (18% of the population) in the island. Hitchens quotes C.M. Woodhouse’s writing “Harold Macmillan [then Foreign Secretary] was urging us to stir up the Turks in order to neutralize the Greek agitation.” It was the British who first in 1956 proposed the idea of partitioning the island, and their fingerprints are present on all developments on the Cyprus issue which in one way or another have some form of partition as a feature.<br />
<br />
In 1960, Cyprus was granted independence under an imposed unworkable constitution, which made the conflict between the two communities unavoidable. The arrangements of 1960 (Treaties of Guarantee, Alliance and Establishment) were heavily influenced by the British, who were driven by the perception that the partition of the island, one way or another, served best their interests. This served also the Turkish interests, and since then Turkey is consistently striving to get the most from such a partition. The British ideas of division and the Turkish insistence on partition have propagated through what has followed including the UN supported negotiations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and the Annan Plan.<br />
<br />
On 20 July 1974, Turkey, a UN member state, in violation of the UN charter, claiming a right (which is also questionable) under the Treaty of Guarantee to intervene, invaded Cyprus and defying the UN Security Council quickly occupied 37% of the island, and forced the separation of Greek and Turkish Cypriots into two communities. The day of the invasion the U.N. Security Council called “upon all States to respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus;” demanded “an immediate end to foreign military intervention;” and requested “the withdrawal without delay from the Republic of Cyprus of foreign military personnel present otherwise than under the authority of international agreements.”<br />
<br />
Subsequently, these demands were reiterated by the Security Council in numerous resolutions, which not only were ignored by Turkey, but also in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, Article 49, Turkey settled in the occupied Northern Cyprus a large number of its own nationals to change the demographics of the island. It has been estimated that today in the occupied part of Cyprus there are about 150,000 - 160,000 settlers.<br />
<br />
After the failure of the second Geneva Conference on 13 August 1974, under the urging of the Security Council the two Cypriot communities engaged in a lengthy series of heavily asymmetric negotiations - on the one side the Republic of Cyprus represented by the Greek Cypriots, the “orphan child” of the UN(Waldheim, UN Secretary General), pressured from all sides to compromise, and on the other side the leadership of the Turkish Cypriots, supported by 40,000 Turkish troops in the occupied territories, committed to the Turkish objective to partition the island. A walk through the resolutions of the UN Security Council and reports of the UN Secretary-General reveals that the international justice system left the victim, the Republic of Cyprus, to negotiate the settlement of the “case” by accommodating its assailant, Turkey.<br />
<br />
The original call of the International Community (UN), for “the necessity to restore the constitutional structure of the Republic of Cyprus established and guaranteed by international agreements” retreated to a call for a bi-communal federal Republic, then for “a federation that will be bi-communal as regards the constitutional aspects and bi-zonal as regards the territorial aspects”, then for “two politically equal communities....in a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation.”<br />
<br />
The original demand of the International Community for the withdrawal “of all foreign armed forces” retreated to a call for “significant reduction in the number of foreign troops.”<br />
<br />
The demand for the “return of all refugees” (about 240,000 Greek Cypriots) ended up in the Annan Plan to the return of about 50% of them.<br />
<br />
The urge of the UN for negotiations “whose outcome should not be impeded or prejudged by the acquisition of advantages resulting from military operations”, retreated to pressure on the Greek Cypriots to accommodate the demands of Turkey, which has and is taking “advantages resulting from military operations.” The problem of Cyprus gradually morphed from one of a foreign invasion in violation of international law into, and dealt as, an issue of conflict between two communities to absolve the assailant of its criminal actions.<br />
<br />
The leadership of the Turkish Cypriots, with the support of Turkey and its troops on the island, defying the calls of the Security Council, first declared the occupied north Cyprus an “autonomous” Turkish Cypriot administration, then “Turkish Federated State of Kibris,” then independent “Turkish Cypriot Administration,” and subsequently a sovereign state, the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.”<br />
<br />
The intransigence of the Turkish Cypriot leadership led to the failure of the Waldheim (UN secretary) initiative.<br />
<br />
The Turkish Cypriot leadership, caused the failure of Perez de Cuellar’s (UN Secretary) initiative by insisting to “the right of secession”, caused the failure of Ghali’s (UN Secretary) initiative by voicing positions “fundamentally at variance with the Set of Ideas”, and “repeatedly imposed obstacles in the establishment of bi-communal contacts” aiming “to build co-operation, trust and mutual respect between the two communities.”<br />
<br />
Articles 41 and 42 of the UN Charter empower the Security Council to take measures “to give effect to its decisions.” They include “complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air, postal, telegraphic, radio, and other means of communication, and the severance of diplomatic relations,” and if these would “have proved to be inadequate, it may take such action by air, sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security. Such action may include demonstrations, blockade, and other operations by air, sea, or land forces of Members of the United Nations.” Since 1966, the Security Council has imposed sanctions against a number of countries, in the 1960’s intervened militarily in Congo, and in 1990 authorized the use of force against Iraq, which had invaded Kuwait.<br />
<br />
The unwillingness of the UN Security Council to enforce its resolutions and its continuous yielding to the Turkish demands led in 2004 to the Annan Plan, heavily influenced by the British. The Plan re-endorsed the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance, which provided the excuse for the Turkish invasion; re-affirmed the British sovereignty rights on the Cypriot territory of the British bases; would, if implemented, keep Cyprus a hostage of Turkey in perpetuity; would dismantle the Republic of Cyprus and replace it with the United Republic of Cyprus without real sovereignty in a federal system of veto powers that most likely would lead to the same deadlocks as the unworkable constitution of 1960; did not resolve the illegal settlement of Turks in the occupied Northern Cyprus; did not resolve equitably the territorial issue; did not allow for the return of about 50% of Greek Cypriot refugees to their homes; and would enforce many other inequities to accommodate Turkey, the assailant of the Republic of Cyprus and the violator of international legality.<br />
<br />
If the Annan Plan was a just resolution of the Cyprus problem why it is not implemented by Turkey to resolve its Kurdish problem? Why the international community does not pressure Turkey to adopt such a solution to its Kurdish problem?<br />
<br />
Since the Greek Cypriots voted “no” in the referendum for the Annan Plan, the Security Council resolutions continue to urge the two sides to proceed with the implementation of confidence-building measures and negotiations for a comprehensive settlement. However, as it was recognized in a recent security council report, the Annan Plan looms in the background, with Greek Cypriots hoping “to create a new basis for negotiations that did not involve the Annan plan”, and “Turkish Cypriots (and Turkey)” fearing “that this new process would put aside the fragile achievements of past rounds of negotiations and, particularly, the gains they had achieved in the Annan plan.”<br />
<br />
Recently optimism has been expressed that a solution of the Cyprus problem can be imminent. In January 2016, Cyprus president Anastasiadis said: “To paint a picture that we’re just shy of an overall settlement is a mistake.” He said Akinci, the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, is expressing “positions that reflect concerns of the past.” One such issue is an insistence that Turkish Cypriots remain the majority in terms of population and ownership of private property inside the constituent state they will govern as part of an envisioned federation. The Turkish Cypriots also want the retention of the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance that give the right of intervention in Cyprus to Turkey, Greece and Britain.<br />
<br />
The President of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus Yiannakis Omirou, expressed similar concerns. He said that we want a solution the soonest, but one that will end the Turkish occupation, safeguard human rights, terminate the 1960 guarantees, and will not provide for permanent derogations from the EU acquis communautaire.<br />
<br />
The problem of Cyprus demonstrates the impotence of the international community “to maintain international peace and security... in conformity with the principles of justice and international law.” The critical issues of the problem remain the same since 1960: the insistence of Turkey to either partition the island, or keep it under its thumb; the unwillingness of the international community to enforce the dictates of international legality; and the appeasement of Turkey with the imposition of unworkable solutions. Understandably, as international law and our world are today, there are many cases where realities make the enforcement of international law a daunting or unfeasible task, but Cyprus has been an example of a not such a case.<br />
<br />
Before the aspirations of the Greek Cypriots to free Cyprus from British colonial rule came to surface, Greek and Turkish Cypriots lived together peacefully. There is no reason that they could not live again peacefully together under their own State and under the protections provided by the membership of Cyprus in the European Union.<br />
<br />
Constantine Tzanos, Nuclear engineer, PhD<br />
<br />
<a href="http://(Reuters)%20The%20Syrian%20government%20has%20called%20on%20the%20United%20Nations%20to%20force%20Turkey%20to%20pull%20%E2%80%9Cits%20invasion%20forces%E2%80%9D%20out%20of%20Syria,%20state%20media%20said%20on%20Friday.%20%20Turkey%E2%80%99s%20military%20shelled%20Syrian%20government%20forces%20and%20their%20allies%20in%20northern%20Syria%20on%20Thursday,%20causing%20deaths%20and%20injuries,%20state-run%20SANA%20news%20agency%20reported.%20%20Turkey%20launched%20its%20first%20major%20military%20incursion%20into%20Syria%20in%20August,%20deploying%20tanks%20and%20air%20power%20in%20support%20of%20rebel%20groups%20opposed%20to%20Syrian%20President%20Bashar%20al-Assad.%20%20Turkey%E2%80%99s%20operation%20aims%20to%20drive%20Islamic%20State%20from%20the%20border%20and%20stop%20Kurdish%20militias%20from%20gaining%20ground%20in%20their%20wake.%20%20Syria%E2%80%99s%20foreign%20ministry%20urged%20the%20U.N.%20secretary%20general%20and%20security%20council%20to%20%E2%80%9Cforce%20Turkey%20to%20withdraw%20its%20invasion%20forces%20from%20Syrian%20land%20and%20stop%20the%20attacks%E2%80%9D,%20SANA%20said.%20%20The%20Syrian%20government%20blames%20Turkey%20for%20%E2%80%9Ckilling%20tens%20of%20thousands%20of%20its%20innocent%20sons%20and%20destroying%20Syrian%20infrastructure%E2%80%9D,%20it%20added.%20%20Northern%20Syria%20has%20become%20an%20increasingly%20complex%20battlefield%20in%20the%20multi-sided%20war,%20with%20the%20Russian-backed%20Syrian%20army,%20Turkish-backed%20rebels%20and%20U.S.-backed%20militias%20all%20waging%20separate%20campaigns%20against%20Islamic%20State.%20%20Ankara%20is%20particularly%20concerned%20about%20the%20Syrian%20Kurdish%20YPG%20militia%20which%20it%20considers%20to%20be%20an%20extension%20of%20the%20Kurdistan%20Workers%20Party%20(PKK)%20that%20has%20fought%20a%20three-decade%20insurgency%20inside%20Turkey./" target="_blank">Source</a></div>
Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-13500514251174584482017-02-26T15:56:00.001+02:002017-02-26T15:56:31.217+02:00A Typical Conversation with a Turkish Cypriot<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A typical conversation with a member of the Turkish Cypriot minority suffocating in her/his own version of reality:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>Cypriot</u></b>: The Greek Cypriot majority granted you the privilege of exclusive education in Turkish as far back as in 1960. Do you support exclusive Kurdish education for Kurds in "Turkey", who constitute 20-25% of the country's population?</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<b>TC</b>: What does the Kurdish issue have anything to do with Cyprus?</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<b>Cypriot</b>: Well, for one I am trying to establish the pricniples we are trying to uphold, regardless of the people involved. Second, Kurds are a community of the country you claim to depend on for your security and rights. So how that country treats it's own ethnic community is relevant, would you not think so?</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<b>TC</b>: The Kurds have nothing to do with us. You stole our rights and now you are trying to find excuses.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<b>Cypriot</b>: I see what you are saying. But, hypothetically, if Kurds were to ask a charter like the one you achieved in 1960, would you support them?</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<b>TC</b>: You are a fascist. I will not talk with you anymore.<br />
<a name='more'></a></blockquote>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KyriakidesK/posts/1253884471364036?pnref=story" target="_blank">Source</a></div>
Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-36220897497016305472017-02-15T20:47:00.005+02:002017-02-16T08:56:19.733+02:00Mustafa Akinci is NOT a Hypocrite!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Mustafa Akinci, the leader of the Turkish Cypriot minority in Cyprus, <b><u>strongly advocates</u></b>:<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>the <b>political equality</b> of Turks and Kurds</li>
<li>Turk-Kurd <b>rotational presidency</b> in "Turkey"'s (RoT) new charter</li>
<li><b>exclusive Kurdish education</b> for RoT's Kurds</li>
<li><b>external guarantees</b> for RoT's long-persecuted Kurds</li>
<li>Kurdish <b>veto rights</b> in RoT</li>
<li>that Kurds, unlike Turkish Cypriots, have a <b>legitimate claim to contiguous land</b></li>
<li>a <b>new flag & charter</b> for RoT that recognizes the reality of two peoples</li>
<li><b>PKK's armed struggle</b> as a way to secure Kurds' rights in RoT</li>
<li>the <b>UN presence</b> in RoT to secure the safety of the Kurdish people next to Turks</li>
</ul>
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Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-85569478857341183502017-02-10T10:16:00.000+02:002017-02-10T10:16:25.434+02:00Lobby for Cyprus statement on ‘talks’ to settle the Cyprus issue<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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February 8, 2017<br />Lobby for Cyprus</div>
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Any settlement to the Cyprus issue must be just, sustainable and above all, in line with the rule of law. It must be for the benefit of all citizens and lawful residents of the Republic of Cyprus, which encompasses the entire island.<br /><br />It should not be overlooked that the so-called ‘Cyprus problem’ has been caused by Turkish-inspired constitutional segregation, which has been aggravated by Turkey’s invasion, occupation, ethnic cleansing and colonisation of 37 per cent of the territory and 57 per cent of the coastline of the Republic of Cyprus.<a name='more'></a><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Turkish occupation troops should be removed from occupied Cyprus. Removal should commence on day one of the implementation of a settlement. Turkish troops are currently in Cyprus for neo-imperial reasons: to maintain Turkey’s illegal occupation; to project Turkish military power; and to prevent refugees from returning to their homes, properties and lands.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Cyprus does not require any so-called ‘guarantor powers’, least of all a former imperial ruler, Turkey, which has a track record of invading Cyprus. No self-respecting independent country requires ‘guarantors’. Greece and Britain seem willing to give up their guarantor status. Turkey should do the same.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The Republic of Cyprus should not be dismantled and Turkey must recognise it forthwith. While some aspects of the Cyprus constitution clearly need to be reformed, the Republic should not be dissolved.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The term ‘re-unification’ in the context of the proposed ‘bi-communal bi-zonal federation’ (BBF) is a misnomer. A BBF would perpetuate ‘bi-communal’ segregation and legitimise the de facto partition imposed in 1974. A BBF would be akin to apartheid as it would divide the people of Cyprus into zones according to ethnicity and religion. A segregated Cyprus would conflict with the principles of the European Union, of which Cyprus is a member and would violate the fundamental human rights of all Cypriots. It would legitimise Turkey’s illegal occupation of an EU member state. (In this context, one wonders why neither the Republic of Cyprus nor any of its three ‘guarantor powers’, Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom have never become State Parties to the Crime of Apartheid Convention of 1973.)</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Another misconception is that Cyprus consists of “two peoples” and so should be divided on that basis. In reality, Cyprus is a rich mosaic of various ethnic and cultural groups that include Armenians, Maronites, Latins and many others. More than 20 per cent of the population of the Republic of Cyprus is neither Greek nor Turkish Cypriot, so it is nonsensical that Cyprus is permanently divided into two separate ‘communities’ and two separate ‘consituent states’.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>As United Nations Secretary General António Guterres recently stated, “we are not looking for a quick fix” to the Cyprus issue. We agree with the Secretary General that a settlement should be solid and sustainable. A settlement that sets out primarily to appease Turkey and its supporters and deliver partition, would not be for the benefit of Cypriots, but for the perceived interests of outside powers.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The notion of a rotating presidency on the basis of one of two ethno-religious ‘communities’ is incompatible with the concept of a modern state that is based on equality, integration and democratic norms. It is a concept founded on institutional discrimination.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>‘Territorial adjustments’ would award Turkey and its occupation regime the spoils of war and would legitimise Turkey’s illegal invasion, occupation and acts of ethnic cleansing against Greek, Armenian and Maronite Cypriots. It should not be forgotten that prior to Turkey’s invasion of 1974, Greek Cypriots made up the overwhelming majority of the population in what is now the occupied north of the country.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>All refugees should be allowed their right to return to their homes, lands and properties, as called for by UN resolutions. The number of refugees who will be permitted to return should not be based on arbitrary figures that are agreed at the negotiating table for political expediency.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>All norms of society, fundamental human rights, rule of law and democracy should not be jettisoned for the sake of a solution. The fundamental rights of Cypriots as European Union citizens should be protected by the EU and not diluted in order to satisfy Turkey, which does not even come close to meeting the values and standards required for EU membership.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The colonists, ie the Turkish nationals transferred to the occupied north of Cyprus en masse, should be humanely repatriated to Turkey, subject to the due process of law. It is a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 for an occupying country to settle territory with its own citizens. Rather than giving Greek Cypriots compensation for the confiscation of their homes and properties, Turkey should compensate its own citizens and finance their repatriation to Turkey. Turkey colonised the occupied north with its own citizens in order to transform the demography of the island and to complicate efforts for a settlement.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The EU recently stated it would contribute to a Cyprus settlement financially. The cost of a settlement should be financed by Turkey and not Cypriots. The victims (Cypriots) should not be expected to pay reparations to the aggressor (Turkey).</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The return of Varosi (Famagusta) to its legitimate inhabitants is called for by UN resolutions as a confidence building measure. Turkey should not use Varosi as a bargaining chip to gain further concessions from the Cyprus government.</li>
</ul>
It should not be ignored that for decades, all major concessions on the Cyprus issue, have been made by the Cyprus government. These include the concept of ‘political equality’ and a ‘BBF’. Turkish Cypriots, who constitute 18 per cent of the population, would have political equality with 80 per cent of Cypriots who are Greek. A ‘BBF’ would require the confiscation of occupied Greek Cypriot lands in order to form a fragile ‘federal’ umbrella of two separate ‘constituent states’.<br /><br />Turkey and its occupation regime, fronted by Mr Akinci, still maintain that a settlement should be on the basis of the absurd concept of ‘taksim’ (apartheid) which Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership have demanded since the 1950s. Once again, President Erdogan recently displayed Turkey’s intransigence with his comments that all Turkish troops will remain in Cyprus “forever”.<br /><br />Lobby for Cyprus calls for a common future for all Cypriots in a truly unitary and integrated Cypriot state, which rests on the rule of law and the principles of liberal democracy. It would be a backward step for Cypriots to be divided on the basis of their ethnicity or religion into two largely homogenous zones. The Cyprus government, UN and EU should not consent to the segregation of the people of Cyprus. Turkey and its occupation regime should not be allowed to found a state within a state at the expense of Cypriots who were forced out of their homes and lands by Turkey. Any such settlement will not be viable or sustainable and would fly in the face of modern and inclusive democratic values, upon which all states should be founded on.<br /><br /><a href="https://lobbyforcyprus.wordpress.com/2017/02/08/cyprus-issue/">Source</a></div>
Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-38770141021485250692017-01-14T12:06:00.001+02:002017-01-15T11:25:09.078+02:00If this ... why not this?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The over four fifths Christian majority of Cyprus, its historic community with non-stop cultural dominance on the island that spans millennia, wanted union with Greece. The British, the colonial power at the time, said no. Along with "Turkey", the patron of the circa 18% Muslim minority, they devised a political apartheid solution to grant Cyprus a crippled independence in 1960. The 1960 charter was never put to a vote. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
"Turkey", like Cyprus, also has a large ethnic community, the Kurds, whose population exceeds 20%. The Kurds of "Turkey" differ from Cyprus' Muslims in two significant ways. Not only are they the dominant majority for centuries in North Kurdistan, the eastern part of "Turkey", but they also shed blood for independence after being promised by the Turk Mustafa Kemal that Turks and Kurds would share the new state. Kurds have been persecuted ever since. Their children cannot even learn Kurdish in Turkish schools, let alone have a Kurdish education, a right Turks demanded for the Muslim Cypriots in 1960.<br />
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Muslim Cypriots on the other hand never constitued the majority in any district of Cyprus. Furthermore, not only did they not fight against the colonial power like Kurds did for Turks, but they joined it in the UK's fight against the historic Christian majority.<br />
<br />
Ninety years after the establishment of the Turkish Republic Kurds are still dying and being persecuted by the ethnic Turks. They managed to enter parliament as a single political party for the first time ever in 2015, exceeding the 10% threshold. Today its leaders are (again) behind bars. Most of the Kurdish south east lies in ruins, not much different than Syria or Iraq. Everybody speaks of the Cyprus problem, yet nobody speaks (yet?) of the Turkey problem. You see, the western family does not want the dirt about its NATO member "Turkey" be spilled out in the open.<br />
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Today, Muslim Cypriots want to build on the ludicrous political and cultural privileges which were extorted on their behalf in 1960. Among other things, together with "Turkey" they demand the land they <b><u>stole</u></b> (note: this is the official term) from Christians to be legally recognized as their own. They want 50-50 power share in everything forgetting they are a minority in every respect on Cyprus, in numbers, in historical presence, in cultural footprint, in property ownership. They demand a rotational presidency between Christians and Muslims. And of course automatic membership into the EU, which would serve as "Turkey"'s back door to the Union since "Turkey"'s own membership prospects lie in ruins.<br />
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I am not sure about the king, but my eyesight is still good enough to spot a heckuva lot of nakedness in the halls of international diplomacy and the Turkish and Muslim Cypriot political elites. </div>
Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-62233009467642784962016-12-27T20:38:00.000+02:002016-12-27T20:38:33.836+02:00Sam Harris on the dangers from a moderate religious viewpoint<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sam Harris talks about the danger that can result from even a moderate religious viewpoint. Highly recommended (14 minute video).<br />
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Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-19941146645972188792016-12-11T10:46:00.002+02:002016-12-11T10:46:35.783+02:00State Propaganda Nobel Prize goes to ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In normal countries state propaganda competes with free speech. In countries like "Turkey" state propaganda defines the limits of public discourse, punishing those that venture into the unsanctioned.<br /><br />This is not an Erdoganian phenomenon. It has been true for all "Turkey"s since 1923. Turkish journalists, academics, etc. always knew their limits, knowing that careful self-censorship is a must for self preservation.<br /><br />It's crucial to understand that the seemingly free opinions we read by Turks in the English language NEVER, I repeat, NEVER appear in any Turkish outlet in the Turkish language! It's in fact part of the carefully crafted state propaganda machine. The state wants foreigners to assume that what they read is also what Turks do. That is not the case. Articles written by Turkish journalists in English which offer a rosy picture of a "Turkey" that harbours all opinions are never published in the Turkish press in Turkish.<br /><br />In Erdogan's "Turkey" things become even worse, as if they were not bad enough. In this new "Turkey" of his state propaganda is the sole truth. Pretenses have been dropped. Those who dare speak against the official state line, without exception, are 'eliminated' in one way or another.<br /><br />In Cyprus we are victims of heinous Turkish propaganda for decades. The Turkish Cypriot minority in particular has been at its mercy, almost entirely shaping its fears, hopes, aspirations and ultimately its perception of reality.<a name='more'></a><br /><br />You want to be constructive in Cyprus? Acknowledge the role of Turkish state propaganda over time, a mix of part-truths, exaggerations and outright lies, in shaping the make-believe world of the Turkish Cypriot minority.<div>
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Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-83966690193758148982016-11-28T10:01:00.000+02:002016-11-28T10:01:19.469+02:00A short video highlighting Erdogan's war on HDP<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="268" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QM50yxdqZeA" width="400"></iframe></div>
Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-3193765925106438862016-09-12T20:24:00.001+03:002016-09-12T20:24:58.309+03:00Lord Radcliffe on claim by 18% pop to share political power equally with 80% 'Constitutional Proposals for Cyprus'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://twitter.com/LobbyforCyprus/status/775367658757820416/photo/1?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=fb&utm_campaign=LobbyforCyprus&utm_content=775367658757820416" target="_blank">SOURCE</a></div>
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Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-808812456062277917.post-51649323545063646112016-09-04T01:17:00.002+03:002016-09-04T01:17:29.258+03:00Turkish bombs and riots in Cyprus: Handling the facts - William Mallinson:<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Why the public has had to wait so long to read some fairly obvious things is anybody’s guess. The papers that I excavated merely show that Britain knew full well that the Turkish Cypriots planned riots in Nicosia in the summer of 1958, and that the latter planted a bomb against their own people in order to blame the Greek Cypriots. Before commenting on the whole distasteful farrago and its relevance and implications for today, let us reproduce some extracts.<br />
...<br />...<br />It is fairly well known that truth is the first casualty of war, although it does often emerge years later. Whenever one dares to speculate, one is often branded a ‘conspiracy theorist’, as I would have been, had I speculated that the Turks planted a bomb against themselves, without the documentary evidence that I have now provided. One day, perhaps we shall be provided with incontrovertible evidence that it was indeed also Turks who planted a bomb at their own consulate-general in Thessaloniki, although enough books by serious academics already point the finger at the Turks. And while on the subject of agents provocateurs, it is highly unlikely that Greeks or Greek Cypriots murdered a British housewife in Famagusta October 1958. [18] It could have been an American, a Turk or even an Englishman. One hopes that one day incontrovertible evidence will appear.<br />
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To conclude The moment that Britain began thinking of transferring its Middle East headquarters to Cyprus in early 1952, the die for dividing Cyprus was cast. [19] ‘All’s fair in love and war’, as some say, whether cynically or simply realistically. Britain and the US could not afford to countenance a truly independent Cyprus, given their fear of the Soviet Union. It is the same today, just as in the Ukraine, where agents provocateurs abound. One day, there, too, the truth will come out.<br /><br />
<b>Source</b>: <a href="http://mignatiou.com/2014/05/turkish-bombs-and-riots-in-cyprus-handling-the-facts/" target="_blank">Turkish bombs and riots in Cyprus: Handling the facts</a></div>
Κ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΙΔΗΣhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282474204751071848noreply@blogger.com