ΦΩΝΗ ΚΥΠΡΙΩΝ – KIBRISLILARIN SESİ – CYPRIOTS’ VOICE
COMMUNIQUÉ no. 47 – FEBRUARY 2024
Cypriots’ Voice has examined the current sociopolitical situation in Cyprus and concluded as follows:
- The appointment of the UN Secretary envoy Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar is signalling that international diplomacy aims for a settlement of the Cyprus problem that could trigger positive catalytic developments in the context of the peaking conflicts in the wider area of the Middle East. Cypriots’ Voice calls upon Cypriot leaders and the guarantor powers to seize the opportunity and work for a settlement based on a Bizonal Bicommunal Federation with political equality in line with UN Security Council resolutions and the agreed negotiated convergencies.
- Cypriots Civil Society Organisations are convinced that in Crans Montana a solution of the Cyprus Problem was within reach. What is needed now is only a last effort to finalise the agreement by clarifying the remaining issues. The only realistic way for such a goal is a process starting with the unconditional acceptance of the six-point frame suggested by the UN General Secretary at Crans Montana in 2017. Cypriots’ Voice stress upon the need to disseminate a clear simple message via a wide range of media to inform the public about the benefits and the importance for Cyprus and our immediate neighbours of a peaceful Bizonal Bicommunal Federation settlement of the Cyprus conflict.
- The Current Economic situation in north Cyprus is closely associated with the economy of Turkey and the economic policies implemented by the protocol with Turkey that suppress the development of GDP of the TC community. Salaries are expressed in TL whereas the main marketable goods are exchanged in hard currencies like sterling pound and USA dollar, a situation that suffocates effective market demand at a tremendous deterioration rate. The TRNC administration prefers to collect taxes mainly via indirect taxes which are mostly paid by low-income people. Most of the large public procurements (roadworks etc.) are given to firms from Turkey. The only inflow opportunities available to Turkish Cypriots are the green line trade and the economic activity that is created via crossing of people to and from either community. Cypriots’ Voice believes that unless there is the solution of the Cyprus problem it is very difficult to have sound economic development in north Cyprus. We appeal to the Government of Cyprus and the EU to adopt effective measures to facilitate economic relations between communities and to enhance the EU interventions via programmes and grants for projects promoting cooperation and intercommunal contacts.
- The set of measures announced by the government of the Republic of Cyprus for Turkish Cypriots, despite the positive message they are implying, are considered ineffective and in most cases meaningless. The Government should direct such measures towards strengthening the economic and social cooperation between the communities, for example by minimising monitoring procedures at crossings, lifting discrimination between citizens by applying clear and unconditional naturalization to all Turkish Cypriot legal offspring, regulating equal access to public benefits for Turkish Cypriot beneficiaries, and be consistent with previous announcements and grants.
- The illegal trading of Greek Cypriot properties in the north by mafia circles complicates the solution of the property issue via negotiations. However, this issue should be regarded as an incentive for effective preparation of the negotiated holistic settlement of the Cyprus problem. The appointment of a Technical Committee with appropriate mandate could monitor and analyse the property cases in line with realities within the legal frame concluded by international court decisions and practices.
- The European Parliament Elections in June 2024 must be regarded as an opportunity for Cyprus to show willingness of reconciliation and civic action towards unity and respect of European Values. The Government of the Republic of Cyprus must be encouraged by EU to promote and facilitate the participation of Turkish Cypriot European citizens in the electoral process via the opening of easily accessible voting centres, e-voting, and letter voting. Attracting more Turkish Cypriot voters in combination with nomination of more Turkish Cypriot candidates could promote Cypriots’ connection with European values and opportunities.
Cypriots’ Voice is committed to undertake an active role for informing the citizen about the current situation of the Cyprus problem and to this effect are working in setting up a mechanism to produce and disseminate meaningful messages to encourage the participation of the civic society in the process of UN efforts towards a permanent and sustainable peaceful state of affairs in the common homeland.
10/02/2024