Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Open letter to the two leaders: re-start the talks for all our sakes

http://cyprus-mail.com/2017/03/26/open-letter-two-leaders-re-start-talks-sakes/

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There is a Flag of Cyprus. There is a Flag of Turkey. There is a Flag of Greece. I suggest that they are all equals. While Mr. Anastasiades is ridiculed at times for wearing two hats, I wish Mr. Akinci would show more heart; I have never seen a photo of him standing beside in effect his Flag as a Cypriot, the Flag of Cyprus. Indeed, if he made this challenge, to fly this Flag, because Cyprus is important to him, about half of his voting public would be prepared to support the effort if they dared to do the same; what would the Grey Wolves do? What is the challenge to ELAM, how many across the island would choose to join with him, in flying this Flag, if, he showed this courage?
One thing would become clearer though: Cypriots are the other half in what is the real debate, and it would appear that "Greeks" and "Turks" are their opposition.
More importantly, i suggest that when it comes to Constitutional Reform, what is the Problem, can be solved in Cyprus, and it may serve Turkey's needs in Turkey (emulated with that in mind,) as it serves Turkish needs in Cyprus. That is to say, that with good sense in uniting here, in Cyprus as Cypriots, it provides the impetus, in Turkey, but not just Turkey, for Peoples similarly at odds, to see despite their diversity and distinctions as identities, in a BBF (like Canada or the United States), that there exist a set of Principals, where based on them they have a reason to defend each other as Citizens. That beyond their identity as a Person, as Individuals, and as a State, they express this willingness to unite.
...it is heartening to see so many who will take the time and effort to write clearly their thoughts, for Cyprus, and for Cypriots. I too, agree, that by this time, both Leaders must now recognise, and respect the fact that Cypriots want Freedom, and that they were elected, not as "Greeks" or as "Turks", winning against this choice as a matter of fact in their respective elections.

Sunday, March 12, 2017

A STRONG MOTHERLAND MEANS A STRONG TRNC

http://cyprusscene.com/2017/03/11/ozgurgun-a-strong-motherland-means-a-strong-trnc/comment-page-1/#comment-1275538

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…strong “motherland”, what does that mean? And strong for who?

There is one Turkey, who can imagine differently? But Turkey is not “Turkish”, it too is more than some mono-clonal structure of Turks”, easily defined as “Turks”. Indeed, despite great efforts, Kurds fill seats in Turkey’s Legislature, like the Alevi, they are not “Turks”.

What is a united Cyprus? It is a template for Turkey, in its own reform. In finding a solution to end the Problem, in Cyprus, it may share this benefit in its own National issues.

Recognising the Republic of Cyprus, is not anathema to Mr. Erdogan’s goals if you think about it. Certainly if Turkish Cypriots united as Cypriots, it would send a great signal of hope to Turkey’s anxious population, and to the region in general.

…as for the “water of peace”, it is a step forward if it is “gifted” to Cypriots, as a People; it will pay a good deal of reparations, it may help in making for Turkey an ally of Cyprus. It is a first step to regional capacities, and security, to further Ecevit’s dream, (improved with modern circumstance) pipelines going both ways, to Israel and/or beyond, and to a greater benefit.

While in Cyprus, Cypriots struggle for unity and peace, let us remember that the world is not divided between “Turks”, and that which is not “Turkish”. We are Individuals, and as Individuals we may choose among a wide array of identities, our “being”, as Persons; “Turkish” and “Greek” (read: not Turkish), can hardly define the scope of these choices. It is a fiction to insist that Cypriots cannot be defined as Cypriots, just as it would be in Turkey.

…Cyprus divided, is a Turkey divided.

Thursday, March 09, 2017

Turkey puts pressure on Nicosia to return to talks

http://in-cyprus.com/turkey-puts-pressure-on-nicosia-to-return-to-talks/

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Is Mr. Akinci a Cypriot? We certainly know of his “Turkishness”, it rivals the “Greeks” in its hypocrisy.

…doesn’t he realise that he has no friends in either Legislature, and that, he and Mr. Anastasiades, are the only friends to Cyprus? Who voted for him let him remember, it was not the “Turks”, and not the “Greeks” for his confrere.

Turkey puts pressure, indeed; the man Akinci has been crushed so it seems, with angry phone-calls, and brown envelopes, no doubt. Why else this lack of courage from a man who to Cypriots meant so much more?

Wednesday, March 08, 2017

What is the Cyprus problem?

http://www.thecypriotpuzzle.org/cyprus-problem-ykanli/#comment-1642

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Curious that the Cypriot People, as Cypriots, seems to have no place in the view taken by Mr. Kanli.

He talks of “Greeks” and “Turks”, in Cyprus, as equals; I ask myself, what is a Turk, if there are “Kurds”, and “Turks” in Turkey, aren’t they equal, wouldn’t they (“Greeks” and “Turks”/ “Kurds” and “Turks”) be equal for the same reasons?

Indeed, the Cyprus Problem, is Turkey’s problem, that of the identities we carry as Human beings, as Individuals, and as Persons; how these are expressed, politically. The world is not divided as Mr. Kanli suggests, those “Turkish”, and those not “Turkish”. Dividing Cyprus in such a manner has been Turkey’s goal, now for decades, and despite the failure of the Annan Plan, it seems that, in such a policy nothing has changed, because it is the same goal in Turkey, by its “Turks” for its “Turks”.

Turkey is more divided than ever, and this is something to think about, because One Cyprus, means, One Turkey.

“…2) a quest for Turkey’s help to overcome an acute water shortage on the island.”, seriously; what was the Karpas, and what is it today, I remember. I remember that it was the Cypriot Republic who organised a system of Public Works, where there was none before, everybody had water to drink, electrification, and asphalt roads. And since then I have seen who is the better steward in Cyprus. Such a statement should be referenced, I have never heard such an historical fact, and it would be appreciated being something new, quite controversial in and of itself.

…it was Mr. Ecevit if I recall who dreamed of exporting water from Turkey throughout the Eastern Mediterranean, “Peace Pipes”, toward the management of water regionally, for the benefit of the larger whole’s security. Recall as well, the Euphrates, great efforts were made, then, toward those ends. Such efforts are no less valid today.

Erdogan has built a stretch of pipe to Cyprus, it is true, but it is no gift to Cypriots, Turkish, “Turkish” or otherwise. If Mr. Kanli, takes the time to consider my view he may reconsider the value of Turkey’s contribution in this matter, how it it is that Turkish Cypriots had thirst, and, the privatization of every drop of water, and every watt of power I might add, into the hands of few, and unknown for the most part, so that as a population, people may not thirst (if it’s paid for), (representing only 30% of “that” water). What is the greater good from all this effort and expense?

I still hope that it will be “gifted” to the People, as Cypriots, it is the right thing to do, it shows Grace, and it pays a lot of reparations. Such a signal for Turkish Cypriots to unite, as Cypriots, for Cyprus, is not anathema to the plans Turkey must have in Turkey without it tearing apart. Like Cyprus, one Turkey, one Flag of Turkey, Constitutional Reform, a BBF, within, another level of Government, Cypriot Constituencies, as in Cyprus, one Cyprus, one Flag of Cyprus, Freedom without any further distinction or discrimination, within Liberty, as Persons, Turkish Constituencies.