In the landmass we incorrectly call "Turkey" we have bizonality. In Cyprus we don't. So called "trnc" is loot. Most properties belong to Christians with titles from one of the oldest land registries in Europe. Cypriots will never vote for an apartheid plan that legitimizes land grab and ethnic cleansing.
What "Turkey" wants in Cyprus is the same it wanted since the 1950s: its total control by using the Turkish Cypriots as stooges. Akinci is a good development, but before long everyone will realize that at 1 billion lira subsidies per year he does not really have a say. And even if he did, his community's demands for special minority privileges are compatible neither with reason nor the history of this land, even though Turkish Cypriots have been misled to believe that they deserve them. Cherchez les "S"BAs for that.
The only problem Akinci and Erdogan will be solving is northern Kurds' Turkish problem. Kurds are monitoring the process very closely. I am afraid of how Turks will react when they realize what an effect Cyprus has had on Kurdish political thinking.
In Cyprus, the smartest thing we could do is have Akinci as the first president of the Republic after agreeing necessary changes to the current constitution. Changes that address Turkish Cypriots' security concerns, but without privileges that any western majority anywhere would consider unreasonable, like those malevolently plugged in the 1960 charter by the British and their Turkish allies.
What a better way to begin the healing process than having a Turkish Cypriot president of a healed Republic?
Also, the minority needs to learn Greek. The language apartheid imposed on Cypriots in 1960 must stop. Just as Hispanics learn English in the USA, Scots learn English in the UK and Kurds learn Turkish in "Turkey", Turkish Cypriots must learn Greek. Language will unite us once again.
Last, bizonal apartheid in Cyprus would set a dire precedent, especially for large Muslim minorities in Europe, if we allowed it to happen and become legitimate under international law and part of the acquis communautaire.
Nobody in their right mind wants that.
What "Turkey" wants in Cyprus is the same it wanted since the 1950s: its total control by using the Turkish Cypriots as stooges. Akinci is a good development, but before long everyone will realize that at 1 billion lira subsidies per year he does not really have a say. And even if he did, his community's demands for special minority privileges are compatible neither with reason nor the history of this land, even though Turkish Cypriots have been misled to believe that they deserve them. Cherchez les "S"BAs for that.
The only problem Akinci and Erdogan will be solving is northern Kurds' Turkish problem. Kurds are monitoring the process very closely. I am afraid of how Turks will react when they realize what an effect Cyprus has had on Kurdish political thinking.
In Cyprus, the smartest thing we could do is have Akinci as the first president of the Republic after agreeing necessary changes to the current constitution. Changes that address Turkish Cypriots' security concerns, but without privileges that any western majority anywhere would consider unreasonable, like those malevolently plugged in the 1960 charter by the British and their Turkish allies.
What a better way to begin the healing process than having a Turkish Cypriot president of a healed Republic?
Also, the minority needs to learn Greek. The language apartheid imposed on Cypriots in 1960 must stop. Just as Hispanics learn English in the USA, Scots learn English in the UK and Kurds learn Turkish in "Turkey", Turkish Cypriots must learn Greek. Language will unite us once again.
Last, bizonal apartheid in Cyprus would set a dire precedent, especially for large Muslim minorities in Europe, if we allowed it to happen and become legitimate under international law and part of the acquis communautaire.
Nobody in their right mind wants that.