Cyprus Problem

[Antioksidan]

What do you think about the Cyprus Problem and Turkey's attitude about that? Is the problem one-sided or every side has it own obstacle not to bring peace?

Tell us your opinions and let's have a useful brainstorming :73

[airwings]

Cyprus Issue

In July 1974, using a coup against President Makarios as a pretext, Turkey, alleging a right of "intervention" as guarantor of the 1960 Constitution, invaded Cyprus (July 20, 1974) "to restore security and order and to protect the Turkish Cypriots."

These assertions, however, cannot be sustained. The right of "intervention" that is provided for by the treaties of Zurich and London does not explicitly involve the use of force. Even supposing that this were the case, the UN Charter explicitly excludes the use of force and its provisions override over all possible international agreements to the contrary, as the Charter itself emphasizes. Apart from this, the Turkish Cypriot leader himself, Rauf Denktash, at the time characterized the coup as an "internal affair" of the Greek Cypriots, stressing that it did not affect the Turkish Cypriot community.

Moreover, in cases of disruption of the constitutional order, the Treaty of Guarantee provided for consultations between the guarantor powers (i.e., Turkey, Britain and Greece). Only if concerted action were to prove impossible, did the Treaty of Guarantee reserve for each of the guarantor powers the right to act unilaterally with the exclusive aim of restoring constitutional order. Turkey, however, never entered into consultations before invading the country whose territorial integrity it had guaranteed. In addition, when, after a few days, constitutional order had been restored, the Turkish forces not only refrained from withdrawing, but also proceeded to the second stage of the invasion (August 15, 1974), while negotiations were still taking place in Geneva. Thus, Turkey finally carried out its expansionist plans, occupying 37% of Cyprus and turning 200,000 Greek Cypriots into refugees.

Thirty years after the invasion, Turkey continues to occupy 37% of Cyprus. It has so far refused to apply UN Security Council Resolutions and ignored all calls to withdraw the occupation forces and stop the forcible eviction of people from their homes, the enforced separation of families, the oppression of the enclaved, the systematic plundering of the Cypriot cultural heritage and the settlement of Turkish citizens in the occupied territories. Moreover, not content with occupation of part of the island, Turkey has also embarked upon a new, ever-worsening campaign of threats against the part of Cyprus that remains free.

Since 1974, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership have repeatedly refused to negotiate seriously, either refusing talks on one pretext or another, or setting impossible pre-conditions in order to guarantee the failure of the talks. The Turkish side probably hopes that the international community might eventually give up on achieving a just and viable settlement and accept the results of the 1974 invasion as fact. The direct talks between President Clerides and the T/C leader Mr. Denktash, which started on January 16, 2002, are the last opportunity of finding a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus problem before the conclusion of Cyprus accession negotiations.

Hellenic Mistakes

The Hellenic mistakes in Cyprus issue at my humble opinion are :

1= Zurich and London Agreements. The sign and the conditions of them divided the people of Cyprus into two communities on the basis of ethnic origin. The divisive and inflexible nature of the Constitution granted a broad veto power to the Turkish Cypriot community, although it represented only 18% of the total population.

2=The support to the EOKKA B.

3=The withdraw of the Hellenic Division. This affects the entire defense of the island, with the knows results.

4=The support of the Hounta in the pretext. In July 1974, using a coup against President Makarios as a pretext, Turkey, alleging a right of "intervention" as guarantor of the 1960 Constitution, invaded Cyprus (July 20, 1974) "to restore security and order and to protect the Turkish Cypriots.
This also has a another impact. The withdraw of the Cuprus forces from the Northwest coasts with the known results.

5=The non military support in the Cyprus during the invasion as a result to follows the faith assurances from the US Secretary Kissinger that the Turks stop the invasion.

All the above is my opinion from 1955 until 2002, without including Annan Plan.
If anyone wants to talk and this issue please just open a new topic

[Antioksidan]

Thanks for stating your and your country's views about the Cyprus Issue, no matter how we may have some objections to some of them. The important thing in this web site is stating your views.

By the way, I should point one thing, the part until the "Hellenic Mistakes" is quoted from the Hellenic Republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' web site. It can be accessed at: http://www.mfa.gr/english/foreign_po..._invasion.html
http://www.mfa.gr/english/foreign_po..._solution.html

Our visitors can read the whole passages from the web pages above.

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Now, I'll open a new thread, opening a discussion about the Annan Plan which is still the most up-to-date event of the issue. I hope to have a good brainstorming there.

[airwings]

It's true as concern the part or betters the general idea. And if anyone wants to bring any opposite statement(s) from the above link i am ready to discuss.
I want to hear and the Turkish mistakes

[küçükkarabalık]

Turkish mistakes..Hmm there are many i think.But a operation to the cyprus is not one of them.But if a Imperialist Country like Turkey or Greece made this operation it takes another position.This operation was necessary against Racist Eoka,Makarius and the others.But which Turkey did this operation.We should look at this.Firstly it can be seen as Turkish Soldiers came there to rescue Cypriot Turks.In fact,it should be like this.But in time,turkey started seeing cyprus as a military base in Meditarien.And a way to control its south side.It didnt think neither cypriot turks or cypriot greeks.As Greece did.I think the solution to this event should be independent from Turkey and Greece.It should be done by Cypriots.I wish brotherhood of peoples (Turks And Greek) win this war.Labourer Of Cyprus,Unite :D