Hanging on by a wing and a prayer – CTA were about to go into liquidation when the government promised to inject 20mTL ($13m) extra cash into the failing airline. The airline is losing $3m per month so they should be back for more money in July.

Floods: time to put your hands up – flood victims are being urged to take legal action against government district offices and municipalities for failing to prevent poor building practices. The total insurance bill for flood damage is estimated to be £18m.

Remains of former president recovered – Tassos Papadopolous’ body was found hidden in a grave

Girl killed by ex-boyfriend – he killed his 17 year-old ex-girlfriend and then himself.

Expats rally to give Ismail a new arm – he lost his arm in a machine at the bakery where his father works and because he is not a TRNC citizen is not eligible for government help. Expats are tring to raise $15,000 needed for a prosthetic arm. Editor: shouldn’t they be suing the bakery?

EU steps in with disaster aid cash – the EU has allocated €100,000 to replace equipment damaged by the flood at Lefkoşa hospital

Deaths probe claiming floods are not to blame – investigators claim that a power failure at Lefkoşa hospital was not to blame for 7 deaths within 14 hours.

Workers digging trench unearth child remains – the remains of an adult and a child were found at the site of an old cemetery

‘ECHR judgement is a breath of fresh air’ – but RoC Attorney-General Petros Clerides says the ruling is ‘political’

Girl power comes to fore in call for peace - an International Woman’s Day pro-peace demonstration took place near the Lokmacı crossing in Lefkoşa.

New poll shows growing support for President Talat - Dr Eroğlu (UBP) 52.9% and President Talat (Independent) 47.1%,  up 1.6% since the last poll. Editor: +/- 1% accuracy?

‘Our father was killed’ – the family of a TC holidaymaker found dead in November 2006 demanded that the case be reopened. The case has so many odd features that would point to a crime having been committed that the family are demanding it was re-investigated.

By chance I stumbled across a notice on the HBPG website:

“The first protest will take place on Wednesday the 10th March, starting from Gonyeli Roundabout at 0900 and driving in convoy to Parliament.

At the request of buyers a meeting was held with the Construction Association to discuss buyers supporting them at their planned protests against the government’s lack of fulfilling promises to regulate the industry. They agreed that, as our ultimate objectives are similar, they would be delighted if we joined and supported them.

The first protest is planned for Wednesday the 3rd March at 1000 outside Parliament in Lefkoşa. Full details will not be available until Monday evening but they plan to meet in Girne, Gazimagusa and Lefkoşa and drive in convoy to Parliament and arrive at 1000.

If you are fed up with the government’s broken promises and the lack of regulations within the construction industry please give some time to support this worthy cause. You can either join the convoy at one of the meeting places or make your own way to the Parliament building in Lefkoşa.

Please read: Building row to hit title deed transfers

Source: http://www.hbpg-trnc.net/diary.html

I read the article referred to and discovered that HBPG was supporting a threat by the Construction Contractors’ Union to stop issuing title deeds to homebuyers unless the government cuts the Union members’ costs. Confused, well I was? I thought the HBPG was fighting to stop builders from using title deeds to blackmail people.

Apparently HBPG are there to force the government to introduce regulations to do with inspecting building works. This seems a bit late as the recent storms should have made it very clear to the government that building standards are atrocious.

I wonder if many people will turn up? Those with a time machine might like to turn up last Wednesday.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) established that Greek Cypriots could pursue their property cases in a British court after having first established their case in a Republic of Cyprus (RoC) court. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), in their decision concerning the Immovable Property Commission(IPC), established that Greek Cypriots must first approach the IPC (or wait for a solution) and if not satisfied with its decision could then refer their case to the ECHR.

Which is right??? Without a doubt, the ECHR’s ruling takes precedence over the ECJ’s. Does this means that the Orams’ decision is now wrong and should be quashed? How can the Orams’ verdict be sustained when, according to the EU’s current position on solving the Cyprus property problem, Greek Cypriots cannot use individual EU courts to establish trespass and to force individuals to vacate and demolished property.

The law is not just an ass, it’s an ass with a head at each end pulling in different directions.

US Greeks are disturbed by  the fact that Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat is expected to officially meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington on March 30 and they are therefore trying to prevent the meeting from going ahead. The National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH) have sent a letter to President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden “to reverse the decision.”

“Pursuing anything that suggests de facto recognition of the occupation regime would not only be contrary to countless U.N. Security Council resolutions, but it would perhaps force the Republic of Cyprus to reconsider its stance with regard to Turkey and the European Union,” the U.S. Greek leaders said. “Please overturn these misguided actions by people in your administration.”

This comes after Hillary Clinton recently called for the lifting of an international economic embargo on Turkish Cypriots. However, Vice President  Biden has in the past supported Greeks and therefore may put pressure on Clinton. This is the second country to officially invite President Talat to meetings, Spain being the first to do so just over a week ago.

Greek Cypriots are starting to wake up and realise the impact of the ECHR’s decision to make the Immovable Property Commission the first stop for their property issues. The only other alternative is to await a solution. The expectation is that once a solution seems to be only a distant possiblity, GCs will start to flock to the IPC hoping that it will be a slightly more immediate. Even then, some observers believe, it will be 5-7 years before compensation or restitution is decided.

One reason that GCs may prefer the IPC to waiting for a solution is that their economy may start to melt down under their own requirement to pay TCs compensation. This, on top of the current economic uncertainty, could have a serious impact on individual GC finances. Cash strapped GCs might be pursuaded to take the cash and run, especially if the GC government can no longer prevent them from doing so.

Interestingly, even though the cost to Turkey may be anything from £2-20bn what they receive in return is a surprising bonus. If every GC were to use the IPC, OK I know that’s never going to happen, then what Turkey ends up with is ownership of much of the GC property in the north, to dispose of as they wish. Let’s face it, what they wish is for north Cyprus to become Turkish. In the end they could own well over 50% of property and the impact of this could be that very few GCs get to live and vote in the north. Thus  partition would not be needed.

Turkish Cypriot victory at EHCR - read NCFP articles

Making a connection – after the flooding, culverts are being installed in the Girne bypass to combat flooding. The “main chunk” of the route is expected to be completed by April.

Erdoğan: “we could withdraw” - “Turkey has said it is prepared to withdraw its troops from Cyprus in the hope of gaining the support of Greek Cypriots for a solution… over a period of time.” Editor: but not before a settlement.

Former leader may join the race – UBP leader Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu is alleged to be standing for the presidency. Various theories have been forwarded as to why he wants to stand including using the threat of his bid to get himself the PM’s job.

Ercan car park ‘losing 1m TL a year’ – Editor: so it is cheaper to have free parking????

Owners’ blow as high winds take roof off - Karakum restaurant lost their roof in high winds.

South petrol prices rise above those in North - 10 litres of petrol in the north is €4 cheaper than in the south

‘Grand solution’ is vital to EU efforts - apparently ‘the golden formula’ is for Turkey to be members of the EU.

Eroğlu defiant as Talat commits to land return – President Talat, in negotiations, has agree to return 7% of TRNC occupied land to the GCs but Eroğlu has said that none would be returned.

Independent Karpaz call - the Free United Karpaz Associated has called for the Karpaz to be an autonomous zone in a United Cyprus and there have also been calls for it to come under Greek Cypriot rule

House about that - thanks to the help of ex-pats a Turkish couple living in a portakabin, after their home was declared uninhabitable, are a step nearer to having a new home. The expats have pledged to raise £10000 for this project of which £1300 has been collected so far.

Staff keep jobs after threatening strike – 40 Easter Mediterranean University English Prepatory School staff are back to work after the decision to make them redundant was reversed

137 grounded or just union ‘flight of fancy’ – there is confusion whether these CTA staff will be made redundant in July.

Euro millions jackpot - all the €259m EU aid to the TRNC has now been allocated. For example, €900,000 to clean up the Lefke copper mine, €3.5m for the Committee for Missing Persons, €144,000 for Çatalköy ‘bug control’ and €14.5m in support of the implementation of the ‘acquis communautaire,’ EU law.

Human rights group Embargoed! welcomed today’s ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which upheld that the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) in North Cyprus was an “accessible and effective” local remedy for Greek Cypriot refugees. The group called the judgment “a victory for common sense and Cyprus”.

In its landmark ruling on the case of Demopoulos vs.Turkey and 7 other cases, the ECHR held that the IPC was “an appropriate domestic body, with access to the relevant information” and therefore an “appropriate forum for deciding on complex matters of property ownership and valuation and assessing financial compensation, notwithstanding the time and efforts required from the applicants to exhaust domestic remedies”. The decision effectively quashed the view argued by the Greek Cypriot authorities and applicants, that the IPC was not valid as it was in the “illegally occupied territories”.

The ruling noted that in November 2009, the number of cases brought before the IPC stood at 433, of which 85 had been concluded, the vast majority through “friendly settlement”. To date, the IPC had awarded 47 million euros as compensation for over 70 cases, and the restitution of some 361,493 square metres of property. The Court also accepted that after more than 35 years of the properties being left by Greek Cypriots following the war in Cyprus, it would “risk being arbitrary and injudicious for the Court to impose an obligation to effect restitution in all cases – which would result in the forcible eviction and re-housing of many men, women and children”.

The Court also stressed that this ruling should not to be interpreted as an obligation to make use of the IPC and that refugees could choose to wait for a comprehensive political solution. However, if applicants wished to lodge an application before the ECHR, its admissibility would be decided in line with the principles laid out in today’s ruling – essentially, all local remedies including the IPC in North Cyprus, must have been exhausted first.

Embargoed! spokesperson Ata Cholak said, “This is a great victory for common sense and Cyprus – it checks the ridiculous piecemeal legal action encouraged by profiteering lawyers, which has added untold stress and years of waiting for Cypriot refugees. People on both sides have suffered because of the conflict and urgently need closure. The IPC strikes a balance between an individual’s right and the parameters established for a comprehensive settlement. It was established on the recommendation of the ECHR and – as the Court has agreed – it functions in accordance with international law.” He continued, “The IPC has resulted in tens of people enjoying a fair, fast and local resolution to their property dispute. We now hope the principles behind this ruling can be applied to the whole island – it will mean Turkish Cypriot refugees can enjoy the same rights to a fair and fast remedy, something which is currently not possible in the Republic of Cyprus.”

The group is holding two seminars on the Cyprus Property issue on 15 March 2010. Titled “Solving the Cyprus Property Conundrum”, a pool of experts from North Cyprus will review this complicated issue in light of current developments. A closed session will take place at the House of Lords on Monday morning, with a public seminar held in the evening in Room D302, situated on the third floor of Clement House at the London School of Economics (LSE) in Aldwych. The two hour event starts at 18.30 and has limited capacity; interested persons are invited to contact Embargoed! to reserve their place (email: events@embargoed.org or call + 44 (0)7806 932966). Further details about the LSE event can be found on the Embargoed! website, http://www.facebook.com/l/4502b;www.embargoed.org

Subject: ECHR ruling [on TRNC Property Commission] a victory for common sense and Cyprus

05 March 2010: Human rights group Embargoed! welcomed today's ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which upheld that the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) in North Cyprus was an "accessible and effective" local remedy for Greek Cypriot refugees. The group called the judgment "a victory for common sense and Cyprus".

In its landmark ruling on the case of Demopoulos vs.Turkey and 7 other cases, the ECHR held that the IPC was "an appropriate domestic body, with access to the relevant information" and therefore an "appropriate forum for deciding on complex matters of property ownership and valuation and assessing financial compensation, notwithstanding the time and efforts required from the applicants to exhaust domestic remedies". The decision effectively quashed the view argued by the Greek Cypriot authorities and applicants, that the IPC was not valid as it was in the "illegally occupied territories".

The ruling noted that in November 2009, the number of cases brought before the IPC stood at 433, of which 85 had been concluded, the vast majority through "friendly settlement". To date, the IPC had awarded 47 million euros as compensation for over 70 cases, and the restitution of some 361,493 square metres of property. The Court also accepted that after more than 35 years of the properties being left by Greek Cypriots following the war in Cyprus, it would "risk being arbitrary and injudicious for the Court to impose an obligation to effect restitution in all cases - which would result in the forcible eviction and re-housing of many men, women and children".

The Court also stressed that this ruling should not to be interpreted as an obligation to make use of the IPC and that refugees could choose to wait for a comprehensive political solution. However, if applicants wished to lodge an application before the ECHR, its admissibility would be decided in line with the principles laid out in today's ruling - essentially, all local remedies including the IPC in North Cyprus, must have been exhausted first.

Embargoed! spokesperson Ata Cholak said, "This is a great victory for common sense and Cyprus - it checks the ridiculous piecemeal legal action encouraged by profiteering lawyers, which has added untold stress and years of waiting for Cypriot refugees. People on both sides have suffered because of the conflict and urgently need closure. The IPC strikes a balance between an individual's right and the parameters established for a comprehensive settlement. It was established on the recommendation of the ECHR and - as the Court has agreed - it functions in accordance with international law." He continued, "The IPC has resulted in tens of people enjoying a fair, fast and local resolution to their property dispute. We now hope the principles behind this ruling can be applied to the whole island - it will mean Turkish Cypriot refugees can enjoy the same rights to a fair and fast remedy, something which is currently not possible in the Republic of Cyprus."
Subject: ECHR ruling [on TRNC Property Commission] a victory for common sense and Cyprus

 

05 March 2010: Human rights group Embargoed! welcomed today's ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which upheld that the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) in North Cyprus was an "accessible and effective" local remedy for Greek Cypriot refugees. The group called the judgment "a victory for common sense and Cyprus".

 

In its landmark ruling on the case of Demopoulos vs.Turkey and 7 other cases, the ECHR held that the IPC was "an appropriate domestic body, with access to the relevant information" and therefore an "appropriate forum for deciding on complex matters of property ownership and valuation and assessing financial compensation, notwithstanding the time and efforts required from the applicants to exhaust domestic remedies". The decision effectively quashed the view argued by the Greek Cypriot authorities and applicants, that the IPC was not valid as it was in the "illegally occupied territories".

 

The ruling noted that in November 2009, the number of cases brought before the IPC stood at 433, of which 85 had been concluded, the vast majority through "friendly settlement". To date, the IPC had awarded 47 million euros as compensation for over 70 cases, and the restitution of some 361,493 square metres of property. The Court also accepted that after more than 35 years of the properties being left by Greek Cypriots following the war in Cyprus, it would "risk being arbitrary and injudicious for the Court to impose an obligation to effect restitution in all cases - which would result in the forcible eviction and re-housing of many men, women and children".

 

The Court also stressed that this ruling should not to be interpreted as an obligation to make use of the IPC and that refugees could choose to wait for a comprehensive political solution. However, if applicants wished to lodge an application before the ECHR, its admissibility would be decided in line with the principles laid out in today's ruling - essentially, all local remedies including the IPC in North Cyprus, must have been exhausted first.

 

Embargoed! spokesperson Ata Cholak said, "This is a great victory for common sense and Cyprus - it checks the ridiculous piecemeal legal action encouraged by profiteering lawyers, which has added untold stress and years of waiting for Cypriot refugees. People on both sides have suffered because of the conflict and urgently need closure. The IPC strikes a balance between an individual's right and the parameters established for a comprehensive settlement. It was established on the recommendation of the ECHR and - as the Court has agreed - it functions in accordance with international law." He continued, "The IPC has resulted in tens of people enjoying a fair, fast and local resolution to their property dispute. We now hope the principles behind this ruling can be applied to the whole island - it will mean Turkish Cypriot refugees can enjoy the same rights to a fair and fast remedy, something which is currently not possible in the Republic of Cyprus."

 

The group is holding two seminars on the Cyprus Property issue on 15 March 2010. Titled "Solving the Cyprus Property Conundrum", a pool of experts from North Cyprus will review this complicated issue in light of current developments. A closed session will take place at the House of Lords on Monday morning, with a public seminar held in the evening in Room D302, situated on the third floor of Clement House at the London School of Economics (LSE) in Aldwych. The two hour event starts at 18.30 and has limited capacity; interested persons are invited to contact Embargoed! to reserve their place (email: events@embargoed.org or call + 44 (0)7806 932966).  Further details about the LSE event can be found on the Embargoed! website, http://www.facebook.com/l/4502b;www.embargoed.org

The group is holding two seminars on the Cyprus Property issue on 15 March 2010. Titled "Solving the Cyprus Property Conundrum", a pool of experts from North Cyprus will review this complicated issue in light of current developments. A closed session will take place at the House of Lords on Monday morning, with a public seminar held in the evening in Room D302, situated on the third floor of Clement House at the London School of Economics (LSE) in Aldwych. The two hour event starts at 18.30 and has limited capacity; interested persons are invited to contact Embargoed! to reserve their place (email: events@embargoed.org or call + 44 (0)7806 932966).  Further details about the LSE event can be found on the Embargoed! website, http://www.facebook.com/l/4502b;www.embargoed.org

ECHR Court Room

The ECHR applicants were 17 Cypriot nationals of Greek-Cypriot origin, living in Nicosia, Limassol, Lakatamia and Larnaca. They were complaining that they’d been deprived of the use of their property and/or access to their homes in northern Cyprus as a result of the Turkish military operations in July and August 1974 and the division of Cyprus.

Since December 2005 property owners could bring a claim before the Immovable Property Commission (“IPC”), for a fee of 100 TL per application provided they submitted title deeds or proof of ownership. As of November 2009, 433 cases had been brought before the IPC  and of these  85 had been concluded, the vast majority by a friendly settlement. Over 70 applicants took a total of €47m compensation  and 361,493 square metres of property had been “restituted”.

The Court reiterated that “an appropriate domestic body, with access to the relevant information, was clearly the more appropriate forum for deciding on complex matters of property ownership and valuation and assessing financial compensation,” In other words the IPC. The Court also stated that “it would risk being arbitrary and injudicious for the Court to impose an obligation to effect restitution in all cases – which would result in the forcible eviction and rehousing of many men, women and children.”

The Court also stressed that there was not an obligation to use the IPC and that claimants could, if they wished, wait for a political solution instead.

Karpaz Gate Marina is currently being constructed by Sea-Alliance Group Ltd, a maritime services operation specialising in marina developments according to Britain’s All At Sea Newspaper is to be “enhanced significantly to provide the very best repair and refit facilities in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).”

This facility will open up the Karpas for marine visitors and bring additional economic benefits for the development of this area. All vessels based at or visiting the marina will have access to a 18,000sqm dry dock for refit and repairs aided by a 300 tonne crane instead of the 180 tonne crane originally planned. This crane is larger than most found on the Turkish coast and is the biggest in the TRNC.

Roy Klajman, Managing Director of Sea-Alliance Group Ltd, says: “it has always been a priority for the owner and managers of Karpaz Gate Marina to offer world-class facilities. Improving the repair and refit facilities beyond our original plans is an important part of that strategy. Visiting superyacht and megayacht owners will have access to the largest and best possible maintenance facilities in the eastern Mediterranean and we anticipate that this will be a big draw for visitors.”

The marina is set to be completed in Spring 2011 and is currently on time. More than 400m of the 650m of breakwater is now complete and 90m of the 150m the second breakwater is complete. These will ensure a sheltered environment for yachts requiring either an eastern Mediterranean home port or visiting berth.

Editor: “Mastakounas Evaggelos” has re-written his previous article and added several new observations.

If an outsider wanted to look at the Cyprus issue from an “everyday” Greek-Cypriot’s point of view, one has to take into account the fact that nothing that has, or will be placed on the negotiating table is considered fair by a GC.

Even if every (current) GC position placed on the table by GC politicians were to be agreed upon, the ending solution would still be considered unjust. If you are a GC reading this, in all probability, the above needs no extensive explanation. For others, here is an attempt to explain this “irrational behaviour”:

I feel anyone who lost what the GCs lost in 74′, in the way they did, would demand full “restitution.” There is, however, no known restitution for betrayal, loss of human life, pain and suffering (although after 35 years an honest apology, surprisingly enough, would come close).

This way of feeling (versus thinking) largely explains the GC politicians’ way of thought on the negotiating table, and in order to be fair regarding GC politicians, although they do recognise this “anomalous” effect in their strategy, they are unable to escape it due to the pressure they come under, politically, by their voters and their opponents.

The above is mainly the reason (other than Turkey) why every solution placed on the negotiating table is worse than the one that came before. I assure you, a 1977 proposed solution would now be received with a huge approval rate by GCs should it was placed for vote.

Here is a little more in-depth view of this way of thinking and some untruths that exist in the minds of GCs and TCs:

Men in black, Makarios and other troubled bearded Makarios-voting GCs.
The changes Makarios attempted to make in 1963 were in my view reasonable changes. It would allow the RoC to survive an unworkable constitution, one that was tilted in the favour of TCs. The TCs chose to walk out in protest encouraged by their separatist fanatical leadership who craved self-rule. They were after power.

In retrospect of the 1963 events, Makarios should have withdrawn these changes in order to re-unify the communities. He should have punished the people who committed crimes against TCs. He did none of that. He was wrong again in 74 in misjudging the idiocy of the Greek Junta and their intent to divide Cyprus. He was on the whole a moderate in views and mediocre as a politician.

GCs are not particularly religious.
Religion is ingrained in Greeks (as a culture) but people do not have strong religious beliefs and rarely attend church. As a whole we do not like the church. We also don’t like the way they look, all covered up and bearded like figures from previous centuries. The service in church is, in effect, in a different language which we “sort of understand” what is being preached. We don’t like to see them on TV, we don’t want them in our politics. They actually have little influence on what people think. We would like the church to be there for spiritual support and stay out of our lives. The above is contrary to what many TCs believe about GCs

The misunderstood ENOSIS Saga
It is often thought that GCs en mass supported ENOSIS before and during 74 and that the Junta in Cyprus had the support of the people (other than the 200-300 GC that opposed the RoC). It is also thought that Greece (and Greeks) wished GCs to join the Greek state. This is NOT true. Greece clearly stated in 55’ (to Makarios) that ENOSIS was not an option at the time. This remained the case to our day. The fact is that by 74 the only people “supporting” ENOSIS were the people who were not happy for being sidelined by Makarios’ (authoritarian) government and its spoils. These people did not care about unifying with Greece, all they wanted was to be in power. This was the EOKA B crowd. They were later pardoned by Makarios (as some kind of supreme over-ruler). These were the morons that got us into this mess. Most GCs think these people need to be in Jail, others turned a blind eye after the bloodbath in 74 for the sake of reconciliation. I feel Makarios’ policy of not punishing these people (and the people who committed the atrocities vs TCs earlier) is the reason why the RoC never really rose out of its problems.

Everyday common GCs, in the years before 74, were happy to keep getting richer and were getting comfortable. Greece was a deeply troubled place in the years 67-74. GCs were happy to stay put. No one spoke of making changes. Makarios opposed the Junta in Greece. Makarios was a threat to the generals in Greece (another story why). Clearly, no ENOSIS potential there. SO NO ENOSIS anywhere. Not the people, not the politicians, and certainly not the army. Not even the GC hot-heads (like Grivas). They were all after POWER. I think if ENOSIS with Greece was put to vote today (or anytime after 67), it would receive no more than 1-2%.

The Greek Junta, an award for idiocy and supreme betrayal
The junta in Cyprus, did not represent the views of ANY GC, not even Nick Sampson’s.  Allegedly, he had a gun to his head when taking over the Cyprus Junta presidency. Not only did the Junta not support ENOSIS, they actually FACILITATED the Turkish invasion. This facilitation happened in real terms, on the ground, when the invasion was happening. We have hundreds of (Greek and GC) dead soldiers and thousands of alive ones that will testify on how the Greek army command DELIVERED NC to Turkey. Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus would be militarily a very costly undertaking (even for mighty Turkey) had the Junta not arranged for this betrayal. They purposely sabotaged the defences of the RoC.

The Greek Junta fell under the weight of what happened in Cyprus 3 days after the invasion occurred. Greece returned to democracy ever since. The generals then, disregarded the very real threat of Turkey invading. The goal was to oust Makarios, divide Cyprus and sustain a conflict so they can stay in power.

GCs to this day feel betrayed by “mother” Greece (or rather its Junta). Greek Cypriots are culturally different to natives of Greece. There are many reasons for this which are not really relevant to this article. It is important to point out that we are to an extent ”incompatible” with each-other.

So Turkey “intervenes”
GCs think that the Turkish “intervention” occurred under the legitimate-looking pretext of protecting TCs from the regime that took power via taking over the RoC. Personally, I feel the threat to TCs under a Greek Junta was very real. The threat was real had Turkey not invaded simply because the Junta would act violently to FORCE Turkey to invade. So Turkey pre-empted the threat and used the guarantees as cover. The Junta gave Turkey the perfect excuse. One has to wonder if this was a pre-agreed deal.

It is important to say that there was no known anti-TC policy on Juntas’ part in the sense that their goal was not ethnic cleansing but simply to maintain power at all cost (including killing GCs and TCs alike). One of course has to mention that Turkey delayed this pre-planned invasion by 7 years. It was first attempted in 1967 but was foiled in the last moment by the intervention of primarily the U.S.

So if the “intervention” was to restore legitimacy, it did none of that. One month after the invasion (and the Juntas’ demise from power soon thereafter), Turkey proceeded to complete its division plans by expanding the territory it held, shaping it in the way it is today. In the process it committed crimes against innocent GCs which went unpunished by the courts of this world.

I feel  that the Turkish military had (and still has) no real interest in the well-being of TCs, much in the way it has no real, well meant, interest of the Turkish people as a whole. Much like the Greek Junta, the establishment in Turkey were looking for a way to stay in the forefront of Turkish politics and maintain their status as “protectors” of the Turkish people. In effect, governing Turkey in the place of any elected democratic government.

In the years to follow, the intention to move towards a solution was NEVER there with exception of Turkish PMs Ozal and Erdogan (for different reasons).Turkey had considered the Cyprus issue “solved” for the better part of the last 35 years. There are numerous such statements made by Turkish Presidents to that end. Turkey proceeded with its plans in the mid-80s with a surprising announcement of the “TRNC”. A turn from the popular view that Turkey would annex Cyprus. It then changed the demographics of North Cyprus so as to solidify the separation, much to the dismay of TCs, most of whom had fled the island in the years before and after this.

This kind of new “diplomatic” face of Turkey is news to all of us (including TCs). This new face first surfaced post 2003 with the opening of the “borders”. GCs feel that nothing has really changed. Turkey has simply took off its military uniform and put on a suit. I feel, however, this is an important change and hints to the fact that Turkey is making an effort for change. I am hopeful that Erdogan will prevail and will bring about slow but meaningful change.

On TCs, “our brothers”
We don’t like them. And let me explain why. I happen to think that the only people who lost more than we did were the (majority) of TCs. TCs were the only ones in this insane Cyprus story that had more people conspire against them than the GCs did. The GCs were of course this additional group that turned against TCs.  GC marginalised and took advantage of TCs. Surprisingly not in the political arena (1960-63 and after) but in a social/cultural way. We ignored TCs’ needs and plans like the Akritas plan sought to keep them on the sidelines of society. For this, GCs are guilty and we cannot blame our “bad leaders” for this.

The reason why we do not like you is not the mutiny in 1963 or the invasion in 1974. It’s not even the “TRNC” or the fact that you are living in our houses. TCs were no angels in the years between 1955-59, 1963-64 and in 1974. They, however, only played a secondary role in terms of influencing the situation. And therein, is the reason why we do not like them. It’s because they never had the strength to voice any kind of opinion. They went from GCs pushing them around to Turkey turning them into refugees and taking any voice they had. They let corrupt people run their “government”. They did not stay and fight, they fled to London. They let GC houses be taken over by settlers who in turn deprived them of their own opinion in their internal matters. They did nothing to return Famagusta, ignoring the suffering of its inhabitants, letting it go to ruin instead.They didn’t protest when the Turkish army was killing GC civilians on the DMZ. They pretended they didn’t see that. The few TCs who do voice opposition are marginalised in the TC community.

Where are you? Where are you? Are you there? Do you care?

GCs on themselves
What a crowd! Short-changed by the Brits, mislead by our leaders, turned on TCs, betrayed by Greeks (Junta), turned on ourselves, invaded by Turks, abandoned by TCs. What a ride!
There is no doubt, we are ourselves to blame for what we have become. We had choices (not always), and we messed them up.

Yes, everyone played their role and used us to get where they wanted to get to in their struggle for power in disregard to our best interests. But there is no denying, we were not defending Cyprus for Cypriots. We were living in denial of reality especially in the years prior to 1974. Turkey is the perpetrator here and is guilty of crimes. And it is right for us to continue to fight them off the island.

We have, I feel, learned our lesson. We paid for it with our own blood.

GC on a solution
The solution to the Cyprus problem is hidden in the misty world of Turkish governance and what seems to be an endless struggle for control of the sick man of Europe. Things are starting to turn, slowly very slowly.

Peace