Thread: Analysis: Cyrpus

Cyprus Background

Greek and Turkish Cypriots share many customs but maintain distinct identities based on religion, language, and close ties with their respective motherlands. Greek is predominantly spoken in the south, Turkish in the north. English is widely used. Cyprus has a well-developed system of primary and secondary education. The majority of Cypriots earn their higher education at Greek, Turkish, British, or American universities. Private colleges and state-supported universities have been developed by both the Turkish and Greek communities.

Cypriot culture is among the oldest in the Mediterranean. By 3700 BC, the island was well-inhabited, a crossroads between East and West. The island fell successively under Assyrian, Egyptian, Persian, Greek, and Roman domination. For 800 years, beginning in AD 364, Cyprus was ruled by Byzantium. After brief possession by Richard the Lion-Hearted during the Crusades, the island came under Frankish control in the late 12th century. It was ceded to the Venetian Republic in 1489 and conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1571. The Ottomans applied the millet system to Cyprus, which allowed religious authorities to govern their own non-Muslim minorities. This system reinforced the position of the Orthodox Church and the cohesion of the ethnic Greek population. Most of the Turks who settled on the island during the 3 centuries of Ottoman rule remained when control of Cyprus--although not sovereignty--was ceded to Great Britain in 1878. Many, however, left for Turkey during the 1920s. The island was annexed formally by the U.K. in 1914 at the outbreak of World War I and became a crown colony in 1925.

Cyprus gained its independence from the U.K. in 1960, after an anti-British campaign by the Greek Cypriot EOKA (National Organization of Cypriot Fighters), a guerrilla group which desired political union with Greece, or enosis. Archbishop Makarios, a charismatic religious and political leader, was elected president.

Shortly after the founding of the republic, serious differences arose between the two communities about the implementation and interpretation of the constitution. The Greek Cypriots argued that the complex mechanisms introduced to protect Turkish Cypriot interests were obstacles to efficient government. In November 1963, President Makarios advanced a series of constitutional amendments designed to eliminate some of these special provisions. The Turkish Cypriots opposed such changes. The confrontation prompted widespread intercommunal fighting in December 1963, after which Turkish Cypriot participation in the central government ceased. UN peacekeepers were deployed on the island in 1964. Following another outbreak of intercommunal violence in 1967-68, a Turkish Cypriot provisional administration was formed.

In July 1974, the military junta in Athens sponsored a coup led by extremist Greek Cypriots hostile to Makarios for his alleged pro-communist leanings and for his perceived abandonment of enosis. Turkey, citing the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, intervened militarily to protect Turkish Cypriots.

In a two-stage offensive, Turkish troops took control of 38% of the island. Many Greek Cypriots fled south while many Turkish Cypriots fled north. Since then, the southern part of the country has been under the control of the Government of Cyprus and the northern part under an autonomous Turkish-Cypriot administration supported by the presence of Turkish troops. In 1983, that administration proclaimed itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," recognized only by Turkey. UN peacekeeping forces maintain a buffer zone between the two sides. Except for occasional demonstrations or infrequent incidents between soldiers in the buffer zone, there had been no violent conflict since 1974 until August 1996, when violent clashes led to the death of two demonstrators and escalated tension. There is little movement of people and essentially no movement of goods or services between the two parts of the island. Efforts to reunite the island under a federal structure continue, however, under the auspices of the United Nations.

Q&A: Cyprus peace process

Why did the Greek Cypriots reject the plan?

Most of the population felt the plan gave too many concessions to the Turkish side. In particular they were angry that not all Greek Cypriot refugees would have got their homes back, that Turkish troops were being allowed to stay on the island indefinitely and that Turkish settlers were also being allowed to stay.


What about the Turkish Cypriots?

They ignored the advice of their veteran leader Rauf Denktash and voted to accept the plan.

Many people wanted the benefits that reunification would have brought, and thought the plan represented a fair compromise between the conflicting demands of the two communities.


What does the outcome mean?

Cyprus stays divided into Greek and Turkish sectors for the foreseeable future. It could be a long time before the international community is prepared to take another stab at solving the problem.

And when the island joins the EU on 1 May, only Greek Cypriots will get the benefits and responsibilities of being in the club.

Membership is suspended in the Turkish Cypriot area, despite the "yes" vote, in line with an earlier decision that the north could only join if the island was reunited.


Doesn't that seem unfair?

The Turkish Cypriots certainly think it's unfair, and the European Union is looking at ways of easing long-standing sanctions against the breakaway zone, to help improve living conditions for northern Cypriots.

Some critics say a divided Cyprus should never have been allowed EU membership, as it paved the way for the paradoxical outcome of the pro-plan Turkish community staying on the outside while the anti-plan Greek population get in.

The Greek Cypriots will also get only a lukewarm welcome into the EU. The European Enlargement Commissioner has strongly criticised the government for its handling of the referendum campaign.



Who had agreed the peace plan put to the voters?

No deal was reached between the island's leaders on the shape of the plan. Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash did not even attend the final round of talks in Switzerland.

But both sides had already given Mr Annan permission to "fill in the blanks" - that is, to make his own proposals on the elements they could not agree on.

So that is what he did - arguing that the plan he put to the people was a compromise between the wishes of the Greek Cypriots, the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek and Turkish governments.

None of them got all they wanted, but Mr Annan insisted he had tried to balance their conflicting demands.

Mr Annan urged voters to see the plan as the best chance for peace in a generation.


How did the peace process get this far?

Cyprus' impending entry into the EU created a fresh momentum for progress.

Mr Annan, who was behind an unsuccessful peace drive in 2003, decided to have another go.

He invited Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to New York in February 2004 to see if talks could be restarted.

Several days of intensive discussions yielded what he had hoped for: an agreement that if the leaders could not agree on the final shape of the plan, he would write it himself.

Talks involving the Cypriot communities and then the Greek and Turkish government indeed failed to reach a deal, so in the end Mr Annan "filled in the blanks" himself as anticipated.


What was in the peace plan?

The idea was to reunite Cyprus formally, but run it as two separate Swiss-style cantons for most practical purposes.

The deal would have meant the Turkish community giving up some of the land it held and many - but not all - Greek Cypriots returning to the homes they had to flee in the 1970s.

The largely symbolic presidency of the united Cyprus would have switched back and forth between the two communities and large-scale demilitarisation would have taken place, although Turkey was being allowed to maintain a military presence on the island indefinitely.

Mr Annan's plan included a reduction in land held by Turkish Cypriots to 29%. The number of Greek Cypriots allowed to return to their homes would not have been allowed to exceed 18% of the Turkish Cypriot population - allowing tens of thousands back but leaving tens of thousands more permanently displaced.


How has life already changed on the island?

Most Cypriots had the first chance to see the other side of the divide after April 2003, when travel restrictions were eased after 29 years of total division.

Since then, thousands have crossed the border daily, and emotional meetings between former friends and neighbours have helped overcome some of the prejudices.


How long has the island been divided?

Cyprus has been partitioned since 1974, when a Greek-inspired coup prompted a Turkish invasion of the northern third of the island.

Thousands of people were displaced from their homes and many have never returned.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was declared in 1983, but has never been recognised by any country other than Turkey.

Since 1974 Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been living separately, divided by a so-called "green line", patrolled by the United Nations.

More than 30,000 Turkish troops are still stationed on the island and Nicosia remains Europe's last divided capital.

Quick Facts
1. There are 30,000 Turkish troops stationed in Northern Cyprus.
2. Turks occupy 38% of the land area, Greeks 60%, the capital Nicosia is divided into Greek and Turkish areas by a wall called the Green Line.
3. Greeks constistute 78% of the island's population, Turks, 18%.
4. There are about 150,000 - 200,000 Greek Cypriot refugees, which is about the same as the population of Turkish Cyprus.
5. Turkey is the only country that recognizes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and gives it large amounts of foreign aid to bolster it's economy.
6. The average income in Southern Cyprus is 4-5 times higher than that of Northern Cyprus.
7. North Cyprus is sanctioned.

Key Reasons Greek Cypriots Rejected the Plan

1. It allowed for a continued Turkish military presence on the island.
2. The plan did not allow for most Greek Cypriot refugees to return to their former homes in North Cyrpus.
3. The Annan Plan provides for a bicameral legislature, of which the Senate would have 24 Turkish Cypriots and 24 Greek Cypriots.
4. Many other reasons.

Why Turkish Cypriots Accepted the Plan

1. Entry into the European Union.
2. Lifting of sanctions, and a revitalization of the North Cyprus economy, which has been stagnant for decades while the South thrives.

Consequences of the Failure of the Referendum

1. Southern Cyprus will enter the European Union in a few days, Turkish Cyprus will not.
2. Cyprus can veto Turkey's possible entry into the EU.
3. Northern Cyprus was awarded a $260,000,000 grant for voting yes on the referendum.

Originally Posted by Irondüke

Cyprus can veto Turkey's possible entry into the EU.

That could get nasty. I hope they can come up with a real solution soon.

No other comments?

Nobody interested in Cyprus? Trooth?

Originally Posted by Irondüke

No other comments?

Nobody interested in Cyprus? Trooth?

Sorry Irondüke, I'm interested, but what else can I add. What are your intrests/thoughts on Cyprus?

Originally Posted by Confed999

Sorry Irondüke, I'm interested, but what else can I add. What are your intrests/thoughts on Cyprus?

I didn't mean to imply you weren't interested, I was just wanted to see if somebody could add some depth

Originally Posted by Irondüke

I was just wanted to see if somebody could add some depth

I need more depth on this issue, it's not like the media here is spewing news about Cyprus. I didn't even know about it being divided until I met someone from Cyprus 5 years, or so, ago. You've allready provided a bit more info than I knew about.

hmm, I've seen one more country divided like this, but in South Asia...its Sri Lanka.

IMO Mr.Annan's plan is not fair.

1. It allowed for a continued Turkish military presence on the island.
2. The plan did not allow for most Greek Cypriot refugees to return to their former homes in North Cyrpus.
3. The Annan Plan provides for a bicameral legislature, of which the Senate would have 24 Turkish Cypriots and 24 Greek Cypriots.

All these 3 points are one sided, advantage Turkish Cypriots. Greek origin Cypriots form 78% but they'll get the same # of rep's as Turkish Cyp's. Even a bird brain wud know that it aint gonna work.

After uniting the island and forming a unified Cyprus, it would make no sense to have Turkish troops, when atleast 78% of people are against it. Cyprus will not have any sovreignity them. Also when the unified island joins EU, how are they gonna take care of a non EU force in their (EU) soil.

They should just give increased autonomy with in the unified island, should send back turkish troops, and allow refugees on either side to settle on their respective lands.

Also EU should not allow South Cyprus in to EU, untill this problem is solved. Coz EU can use the entry qualification as a barter and can settle the problem, coz if at all South has to concede some thing more than what I said, we can get that thro EU's pressure on South.

Ironduke,

A nice summary and to the point.

Thanks

There is also the problem of 115,000 settlers from the Turkish mainland.

Some quick facts:
-About 50,000 Turkish Cypriots have left Cyprus since 1974 for Turkey and other countries.
-As of 1996, 109,000 Turks from the mainland have settled in Northern Cyprus.
-Out of a population of approximately 200,000 in Northern Cyprus, 90,000 are Turkish Cypriots. The remainder of Turks from the mainland.
-There are 35,000 Turkish troops in Northern Cyprus.
-160,000 Greek Cypriots were driven from their homes in Northern Cyprus in 1974.
-50,000 Turkish Cypriots were driven from their homes in Southern Cyprus in 1974.
-In 1974, there were 160,000 Greek Cypriots and 70,000 Turkish Cypriots in Northern Cyprus.

Sources:
1) United Nations documents
2) European Union/Parliament/Commission Documents
3) Non-Greek, non-Turkish human rights organizations
4) Documents from unbiased foreign governments

If anybody wishes to question my motives, then I guess I'd be obliged to dig up the links for the sources I quoted. This information has been extracted from a post I made in a debate about Cyprus 14 months ago.