Talat: "The last resolution doesn't affect the discussions"Turkish Cypriot (T/C) leader Mr. Talat described the last European Commission Resolution as "expired food which cannot be eaten". Nevertheless, he said that this will not affect the discussion procedure which has started a few weeks ago.According to the T/C news, Mr. Talat stated that no resolution will have any value what so ever, if it is not balanced, something that the last European Commission Resolution is not.Mr. Talat underlined that it is extremely strange the fact that the Resolution includes that the T/C part should once again confirm its determination for re-uniting the island, while it is set in favor of the Greek Cypriot side (G/C), since it is stated in the resolution that the T/C side should cease the construction process within G/C property.The resolution stating that the northern part of Cyprus is under Turkish military occupation, as well as the UN resolutions 541 and 550, are in favor of the G/C side, said Mr. Talat.Mr. Talat was asked to comment on the Mr. Stefanou (Rep. of Cyprus Governmental Representative) statement that the T/C leader does not have a constructive attitude. Mr. Talat replied that the T/C side proved of wanting a solution by voting 'yes' on the Anan plan referendum, statin that it is the Greek Cypriots turn to prove that they want a solution.
Politis News 04/10/2008
So let me get this straight... The T/C voted for the Anan plan in the referendum of Apr.2004 (in which not only T/C but also Turkish settlers had a vote), and this means that the T/C side proved of wanting a solution. On the other side, the G/C, voting against the Anan plan means that they do not want a solution... Is this what Mr. Talat is trying to say, or is it just my small mind?
My dearest Mr. Talat, obviously you didn't get the whole picture... Because if the Anan plan was based on the European rights and the European law, protecting at least some basic rights of all European citizens, or protecting human rights for both the T/C and the G/C, I would vote FOR the plan too. I chose to vote AGAINST it, not because I didn't want a solution but because the Ana plan which was proposed as a solution was not even protecting basic European rights. So, I actually did not want a bad solution for either the G/C or the T/C. I chose to say NO to the Anan plan because I WANT A EUROPEAN SOLUTION which will respect the rights of all citizens, of all people, no matter what their nationality is. The Anan plan had so many exceptions from the European Rights and EU Law, that one could really find it hard to call it a European solution. After all, the practical reality proved that it was a good thing that we voted AGAINST it. The next day (1st May 2004), all citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, G/C and T/C (and not only), instantly became European Citizens just like all other countries of the EU. The Τ/C have already issued passports of the Rep. of Cyprus, since they are entitled to do so. The Turkish Settlers on the other hand remained nationally Turkish.
There's an ironic situations that I only recently realized it is a reality for all Cypriots. All of us, Cypriots, can really enjoy and completely apply in our lives the European rights, when we are living abroad. When Cypriots are not in Cyprus, that is when we live in another EU country, we actually become fully European... Isn't it ironic that we can actually work where-ever we choose within the EU area, but not where-ever we want on our island. Isn't it ironic that we can buy property throughout any EU country, but when it comes to our own island we can't (The Anan plan had restrictions based on nationality). Isn't it ironic that we can choose to live, work or fall in love in 24 EU countries but when it comes to Cyprus we get a choice of the half part of the island... Since Cyprus is divided after the Turkish invasion (the Turkish call it peace mission), G/C and T/C are deprived their right to the other side of the island. Actually, T/C are not really prevented from moving to the 'free' area, since they are allowed to live and work in the southern part, but I think that what is 'politically / leagally correct' doesn't always have a practical / real side to things, so in reality I don't know if this is a possible thing. If I were a T/C, am not sure if I'd choose to move to the so-called 'greek side'. There are some who choose to do so, but I bet it musn't be very easy so I can understand that practically it's not really a choice, mainly because of the military and political situation... So, we Cypriots have all our EU rights anywhere but in our own home country. We need to leave the island in order to be fully European Citizens, when all other citizens are entitled to their rights within their home. I myself have been living abroad the past 8 years...
I moved to London (UK) last July (2008), and since then I have met a number of Turkish Cypriots (T/C). I see people who have a critical mind, a good judgment and love for their island. People who before the Rep. of Cyprus becoming a full member of the EU, they used to live in a exclusion, since the so-called state they were living in is still not recognized internationally. Living in an unrecognized state, in real life this results in a number of difficulties. When they needed to travel, they had to get visas and travel through Turkey, whereas today they are EU citizens (citizens of the Rep. of Cyprus) traveling through Larnaka international airport. Today Τ/C are as European as G/C are, and that's how it should be... The same of course doesn't apply to the nationally Turkish Settlers, who were brought from Turkey after 1974, as an attempt to change the demographic character of the population of Cyprus. These people are still Turksih citizens, thus do not own EU passports of the Rep. of Cyprus... The T/C actually enjoy the European rights given to them after accepting via their votes a 'non-European' solution like the Anan plan. After the G/C voting against the Anan plan, the T/C are too EU citizens. I think it is important to remember that the European citizenship (Full Cyprus entry into the EU: 1st May 2004) is a result of the efforts of the Greek Cypriot side all these years, to maintain economic figures and alignment to the European Law, as well as a result of Greece political support (although PASOK and Nea Dimokratia, the 2 main parties ruling Greece the past decades, supported the Anan plan, as a European solution, back in April 2004). We must also remember that the T/Cypriots continue to lead a life in an unrecognized state, which despite the possession of their EU passports, is still a difficult every-day life. One of these T/C friends was telling me that not even their football teams are not allowed to enter any worldwide games. On the other hand, the G/Cypriots are still living in the southern part and most people think that they are leading good and healthy lives... Well, that is not true as well... Families, like my own, are still not allowed to move back to their properties in the Northern part. Of course they can go and visit, but just as tourists. Assuming they personally recognize the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" by applying for a visa to get to the northern part, they can visit their property. I have to do so in order to visit the house my mom and my grandam were brought up. I still haven't. I don't feel ready to do so yet... not as this situation is still going on...But let's say I did. Best case scenario, the people who now live in my property (assuming it still exists in Morfou area), might allow me to see the house from the inside, maybe make a cup of Cyprus coffee for me to drink with them, in my own house... Imagine what happens to Turkish Cypriots who are also refugees from villages of the southern part. There was this guy living in Hatfield-England, who had a kebab house which I used to visit during my under-graduate studies. He was a refugee from Pafos (Southern part), living and working in the UK since a while after '74, and was building a house somewhere in the Northern part, with money sent from the UK. When I asked him why he didn't move back to Pafos, or why he chose to built a house in the northern part, he had told me back then that he was affraid that if the Cyprus problem were to be solved, he might have a problem with his brand new house, as he was building it in a greek-owned land. This situation is not helping anyone, and we are not helping ourselves... And this brings me back to the fact that in England (or any other EU country), I can live together with T/Cypriots, go out together, visit their stores/restaurants, enjoy European rights such as buying a house or working anywhere in the country. Everything is great as long as I don't live in Cyprus!
At least now, after discarding the Anan plan (or at least I hope we have), we get a chance to accept a better solution, to vode FOR a solution which will respect our rights as people! For accepting such a solution, there needs to be one, and frankly, I don't see either of our leaders, greek or turkish cypriot politics, moving towards a respectful and human-centered solutions.
I am not personally looking for a solution which will unfair for the Turkish part. On the other hand, I don't want any unfair solution for any citizen of the Cyprus state. The only solution I see possible is a human-centered solution. A solution which will respect the people first, and their nationality or religion on a second level. This solution should be based on the EU law, a fair law for everyone, G/C or T/C. I cannot allow my self to settle for a solution which will not be respecting all its citizens, neither for Greeks not for Turkish, and the Anan plan was not. I don't want to get into the details of the Anan plan and I see no reason to touch aspects like the refugees-issue, the settlers-issue, the property-issue or the financial side of the new state of a possible new solution. But, I would say that if Mr. Talat wants a solution, as much as I want one, if he wants a right solution for all Cypriots, and not a division of the island like he seems to be seeking lately during the talks with President Christofias, then Mr. Talat should and ought to keep a more serious attitude, a different than the one he is keeping now. Because so far his attitude is just unacceptable.
Today, all Cypriots, Greeks and Turkish, we are all EU citizens. We cannot tolerate any less rights that what we have now or comparing to all the rest EU citizens and no-one is to prove their "commitment" to a solution, no matter what they voted on the Anan plan...
Cypriots all over, on the island or abroad, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, everyone! Our leaders are making fun of us...
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