There Is No Difference Between Donetsk And northern Cyprus - 1945

14.APRIL.2022
Michael Rubin

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.

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.

Dangerous double standards - KATHIMERINI

21.02.2022 • 21:30

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.”

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.”

1974-2019: 45 years of unchecked Turkish aggression in Cyprus - LOBBY FOR CYPRUS

20 July 2019

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.

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.

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.

Cyprus: The Beginnings of a Racial Bizonal – Bicommunal Federation - DEFEND DEMOCRACY PRESS

19/05/2017
Stephanos Constantinides

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.

This new state structure will emerge with the dissolution of the Republic of Cyprus and will be structured on the basis of racial criteria.

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.

Save the Republic of Cyprus and democratic values – an urgent call to change strategy - LOBBY FOR CYPRUS

Lobby for Cyprus 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.

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.

Lobby for Cyprus calls upon the United Nations and all parties to:

We won't accept just any solution on Cyprus

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.

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.

International Justice: The Case of Cyprus - HUFFINGTON POST

Turkish troops invading Cyprus in the summer of 1974

By Constantine Tzanos

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.

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.”

In 1974, ISIS was in Cyprus - PHILOS PROJECT

ROBERT JONES

July 28, 2016

Since 2014, Yazidis in Iraq have been exposed to genocide at the hands of the Islamic State, which has led to their forced expulsion and exile from their ancestral lands.

ISIS has executed thousands of Yazidis and abducted a myriad others from the Sinjar area, raped them repeatedly and sold them as sex slaves. Nearly 200,000 Yazidis have been displaced in northern Iraq, where the large majority lives in refugee camps.

Forty-two years ago, similar crimes were committed in Cyprus by another occupying army, which is also a NATO member.

In the summer of 1974, the Turkish military invaded Cyprus in a bloody military campaign.

Not so fast! Turkey was no great 'secular' state before Erdogan - WND

Ethnic cleansing of Greek Cypriots by the invading Turkish military, 1974

Exclusive: Andrew Bostom examines brutal conquest, Islamization of northern Cyprus

By Andrew Bostom

Although much ballyhooed 42 years later for its unsuccessful attempt to remove current Neo-Ottoman, Islamic Jew-hating President/Muslim despot Mas-Kom-Ya Erdogan, July 20, 1974, the same putatively “secular” Turkish military waged a “successful” jihad invasion of n
orthern Cyprus.

Using Cyprus’ own short-lived July 1974 military putsch (the Greek junta-supported coup had collapsed by [July 23, 1974]) as a pretext for long sought expansionist designs within Cyprus, pseudo-secular Turkey claimed its 1974 jihad invasion was a “peaceful action” that sought to “restore” Cypriot rights, territorial integrity, and security “without any discrimination toward the (Christian majority and Muslim minority) Communities.” But the July-August, 1974 jihad of Turkey’s pseudo-secular military regime, consistent with the devastating half millennial legacy of its Ottoman forbears’ campaigns, was punctuated by Islamic jihadism’s trademark “sacralized” brutality against non-Muslims: massacre, pillage, enslavement, rape, deportation (of infidels) and colonization (by Muslim replacements).

Brexit please!

BREXIT PLEASE! Let's put the EU to the test. If it cannot survive it, then it was just an illusion. An illusion of family, an illusion of security. The sooner we find out the faster we'll forge those strategic relationships that truly matter. My hope is that the EU comes out stronger. Hopefully the UK too. We face a financial risk from Brexit after all.

Of all the nations in the EU the only one facing an existential threat is us. A Brexit should help fellow members appreciate our top priority better. If they can't and won't back us 100% (with "Turkey"'s cheerleader out) then what the hell are we in for.

My thoughts on why Cypriots should want the UK out HERE & HERE.

The UN Negotiator Liking & Retweeting a Sworn Antibizonalist

Snapshot #1

UN Cyprus tweeted on June 8th 2016 about Lisa Buttenheim's departure (will we ever know the real reasons?) (1st snapshot). I replied with a tweet that read "Good people. Condemned to star in the Bizonality Sisyphean Tragedy. Cherchez le Brit" (2nd snapshot). And to my surprise Espen Barth Eide, of all people, both liked and retweeted (3rd snapshot). An honest mistake? Or perhaps not? I immediately captured the screen as I suspected it would not stay up for long. Indeed, minutes later it was gone!

But what (part of the tweet) could have prompted Mr Eide to both like and retweet? My tweet contained three messages.

Brexit: a Blessing for Cyprus

In a previous post I argued that Cyprus should favour Brexit. But as I was watching Cameron last night describe what Brexit would mean for the UK I became more convinced than ever that Brexit would be a blessing for Cyprus. If the UK backed Brexit, Cameron said, the UK would be left outside the negotiating room, "our nose pressed to the window, trying to find out what decision they were making", adding: "That would be terrible."

Indeed. It would be, for the UK. And as a result it would seek as much inside information and influence as possible. No EU member (with the exception of Malta perhaps) is both Britain-friendly but also small enough to allow not merely a peek inside but also influence on EU policies. In other words, Cyprus would cease being just a geostrategic rock in the the eastern Mediterranean loaded with all kinds of "sovereign" critical surveillance and mission enabling infrastructure, but it would also become an extremely attractive political ally, in the true sense of the word.

All the UK has to do to maintain its geostrategic privilege of the military bases is smile. The "sovereignty" bit makes it so. But for the political privilege the British would have to do a great deal more than smile. They would have to give. And it so happens we have something to ask for in return. Urgently. Freedom from 60's & BBF's political apartheid and 74's geographic division. The smiles would no longer cut it for the natives.

Why do Cypriot Greeks reject “peace” plans? - IANS, University of Edinburgh

May 26, 2016
By Lambros George Kaoullas (Staff Writer)

24th April marked twelve years since Cypriot Greeks rejected in a referendum, by an overwhelming 76% margin, the UN-sponsored “Annan Plan”. By contrast, 65% of Cypriot Turks with Turkish settlers in the occupied north accepted the plan in a separate referendum.

This rejection by Cypriot Greeks must be startlingly puzzling to a foreign observer. I can even picture an annoyed reaction in my mind: Wait a minute!

Their Cyprus Problem

US Ambassador in Cyprus Ronald L. Schlicher, 2008 January 29, 14:17 (Tuesday): "3. (C) Reftel Para 10:  Under the terms of the 1960 independence treaties, Great Britain was allowed to retain two "Sovereign Base Areas" (SBAs) and several isolated sites scattered throughout Cyprus, such as the RAF radar dome on Mt. Olympus, the island's highest point, and various antenna arrays in Ayios Nikolaos, near Famagusta.  Via varied formal agreements and informal arrangements, the United States enjoys some access to and benefits from these UK facilities. Unlike the Cyprus-owned infrastructure noted above, the damage or complete loss of SBA-housed facilities would pose a threat to our national security interests in the eastern Mediterranean."

Towards “regime change” in Cyprus? - DEFEND DEMOCRACY PRESS

06/05/2016

By Dimitris Konstantakopoulos

It is usual in European politics those years, for people to vote one thing and their leaders to do another. This is what happened in many occasions, from the French referendum of 2005 on the European “constitution” till the Greek referendum of 2015, not to mention pre-electoral promises never fulfilled.

But there are also a few exceptions, when a leader cannot or does not want to go against the will of the voters. Such an exception was the referendum on Cyprus in 2004, when the population voted overwhelmingly to reject the Annan plan for the “reunification” of the island.

Many readers may think that what is happening in Cyprus, a small member-state of EU in Eastern Mediterranean, is of rather marginal importance. This is what mainstream media are implying by their (non) reporting on the real parameters of the Cyprus question. But, in reality, the opposite is true. Cyprus, in spite of its magnitude, is too important to speak much of it!

Taking the Cypriots for a settlement… ride - CYPRUS MAIL

MAY 17TH, 2016

By Dr Yiorghos Leventis

Having outlined the sad historical background of the denial of implementation of the core UN principles of equal rights and of self-determination for the people of Cyprus in our Victory Day anniversary analysis (9 May 2016), it is necessary to take a look at the current state of affairs with respect to the settlement process of the Cyprus question.

The latest statement we had from the Chief Negotiator of the victimised side on the Cyprus equation i.e. the Greek majority, whose right to self-determination has been violated for 70 long years, came out last weekend. It reads as follows: Today we have the best chance ever for reunification of Cyprus which is why we should take advantage of it and do everything we can in this direction. This is a unique opportunity and this window of opportunity will not stay open forever.

Grim Legacy of VD for Cyprus: Non Implementation of Self-Determination Created Tragedy: Should the UN Legitimize the Travesty? - International Security Forum

By Dr. Yiorghos Leventis on May 09, 2016

Today marks the anniversary of the defeat of Nazism. The 9th of May 1945, Victory Day, marks the date Nazi Germany, bent on subjugating the whole world, was utterly defeated by the Allied Powers. The latter through their commitments signed under both the Atlantic (1941) and the UN Charter (1945) undertook, inter alia, to lead the colonized peoples to self-government and ultimately to self-determination.

The two cornerstone charters agreed for building a better postwar world clearly illustrated the importance of self-government/self-determination in world affairs. On the one hand the Atlantic Charter (14 August 1941) stated, inter alia, self-determination and restoration of self-government to those deprived of it as ideal goals of the post-World War II international order.

On the other hand, the United Nations Charter, in other words the agreed constitution of the new world order (signed in San Francisco, US, 26 June 1945) dedicates a whole Chapter - XI: Declaration regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories – detailing the obligations of the UN member states towards leading their colonized peoples to self-government-self-determination.

Political Islam's Made-in-Cyprus Trojan Horse - CLARION PROJECT

Turkey tanks roll in to Cyprus

Turkey's invasion of Cyprus, which forced Christians out of their ancestral homes, has created the phenomenon of 'bizonality,’ a geographical separation between Muslims and Christians. Strangely, this new reality has even become the basis of the UN-led Cyprus negotiations -- despite the Security Council’s own resolutions condemning Turkey’s actions.


BY KYRIACOS KYRIAKIDES April 12th, 2016

In 1974 an illegal coup instigated by Greece’s junta caused the deaths of almost 100 Christian Cypriots. The ensuing unilateral Turkish invasion of Cyprus, ostensibly to protect the Muslim minority, was a sheer catastrophe, causing several thousand deaths.

The historic Christian majority of the 37% occupied northern part was forced or intimidated out, and the Muslim minority island-wide was later invited in.

"Bizonality," a pure ethnic-religious geographical separation, became a new reality, strangely even the basis of the UN-led Cyprus negotiations, despite the Security Council’s own resolutions (353 (1974), 541 (1983), 550 (1984)) condemning Turkey’s actions and calling for the respect of Cyprus’ “sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.” No wonder Cyprus has “been dubbed a graveyard for peacemakers.”

Being Greek is about loving life! When "The Simpsons" got their Greek on! Opa!

Posted by Greek Gateway on Friday, April 8, 2016

Cyprus with most IDPs (Internally Displaced People) in the World