The Cyprus Problem – Part IV
The road to a viable solution was still very difficult,
though a light was shown at the end of the tunnel. In
Turkey, the AKP (Justice and Development Party) won a
landslide victory under the leadership of Recep Tayyip
Erdogan. Announcing that his primary policy goal was to
see Turkey join the EU, Erdogan emphasised his wish to
solve the Cyprus issue. Also, the Green Line was opened by
Turkish Cypriots authorities ending thirty-year
restrictions on travel across. Another important event
took place in the Turkish Cypriot parliamentary
elections, which were won by the main pro-solution
opposition party led by Mehmet Ali Talat; the
implications of the results were obvious.
All the developments above, paved the way for the
Annan Plan which proposed Cyprus a bizonal,
bicommunal federal republic. Specifically, the structure
of the state would be based on the Swiss model. There
would be a single common state formed by two
component states- (as the federal-units were called)-
would consist of anything not directly governed by the
common state, and the two component states would
cooperate through agreements and constitutional laws
that would ensure that they would not infringe upon the
functions and powers of each other. Even though the
state would have a single international personality;
everyone with her to citizenships-that of the common
state end of the continent state in which the person
resided. They would also be substantial territorial
adjustments in favour of the Greek Cypriots, which
would take place over a three-year period. The people
would not be entitled to return to their homes, they
would be paid compensation.
As for the Political System, the new state
would have a parliament made up of two houses;
the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies- both of which
would have forty-eight members. In the Senate, the two
component states would be politically equal at all times
and would have twenty-members each. The relative
numbers of seats in the Chamber of Deputies would be
determined according to the proportionate population
of the two component states, with neither state having
less than 25% of the seats. Any decisions by the
Parliament would require a simple majority vote of both
houses to pass.
As for the executive , power would be vested
in a six-member presidential council, members of
which would be elected by both houses of the
parliament from the single list. The offices of
president and vice president would rotate among
members of the presidential council every 10
months.
Lastly, a Supreme Court would also be
established.It would be made up of nine judges–
three Greek Cypriots, three Turkish Cypriots, and
three non- Cypriots.
In terms of security and international affairs,
the three 1963 treaties would be maintained.
Cyprus would be prohibited from any union with
another country. At the same time, the island
would accede to the European union and in doing
so would henceforth be constitutionally bound to
support Turkish EU accessions.
. In terms of defence, each side would disband
its defence forces, and Greece and Turkey would
each be permitted to keep up to 6000 troops on
the island for seven years, after which the numbers
would be gradually reduced with the aim of
eventual full withdrawal of all Greek and Turkish
forces.
As soon as the Annan Plan was unveiled, it
received widespread support from the US, EU and
the Turkish government. The Turkish Cypriot
community welcomed the plan stressing that the
deal would end their isolation and that the full EU
membership would lead to a number of significant
economic and social benefits for the community as
a whole. That is why 65% of Turkish Cypriots voted
in favour of the plan.
The picture on the other side of the Green Line
was rather different. The level of opposition was
just too high. Although some parties came out in
favour of the agreement, so did a number of
leading political figures, including two former
presidents, George Vassiliou and Glafcos Clerides,
It was not good. An overwhelming 72% of the Greek
Cypriots voted no. The plan was defeated.
Turkey, the AKP (Justice and Development Party) won a
landslide victory under the leadership of Recep Tayyip
Erdogan. Announcing that his primary policy goal was to
see Turkey join the EU, Erdogan emphasised his wish to
solve the Cyprus issue. Also, the Green Line was opened by
Turkish Cypriots authorities ending thirty-year
restrictions on travel across. Another important event
took place in the Turkish Cypriot parliamentary
elections, which were won by the main pro-solution
opposition party led by Mehmet Ali Talat; the
implications of the results were obvious.
All the developments above, paved the way for the
Annan Plan which proposed Cyprus a bizonal,
bicommunal federal republic. Specifically, the structure
of the state would be based on the Swiss model. There
would be a single common state formed by two
component states- (as the federal-units were called)-
would consist of anything not directly governed by the
common state, and the two component states would
cooperate through agreements and constitutional laws
that would ensure that they would not infringe upon the
functions and powers of each other. Even though the
state would have a single international personality;
everyone with her to citizenships-that of the common
state end of the continent state in which the person
resided. They would also be substantial territorial
adjustments in favour of the Greek Cypriots, which
would take place over a three-year period. The people
would not be entitled to return to their homes, they
would be paid compensation.
As for the Political System, the new state
would have a parliament made up of two houses;
the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies- both of which
would have forty-eight members. In the Senate, the two
component states would be politically equal at all times
and would have twenty-members each. The relative
numbers of seats in the Chamber of Deputies would be
determined according to the proportionate population
of the two component states, with neither state having
less than 25% of the seats. Any decisions by the
Parliament would require a simple majority vote of both
houses to pass.
As for the executive , power would be vested
in a six-member presidential council, members of
which would be elected by both houses of the
parliament from the single list. The offices of
president and vice president would rotate among
members of the presidential council every 10
months.
Lastly, a Supreme Court would also be
established.It would be made up of nine judges–
three Greek Cypriots, three Turkish Cypriots, and
three non- Cypriots.
In terms of security and international affairs,
the three 1963 treaties would be maintained.
Cyprus would be prohibited from any union with
another country. At the same time, the island
would accede to the European union and in doing
so would henceforth be constitutionally bound to
support Turkish EU accessions.
. In terms of defence, each side would disband
its defence forces, and Greece and Turkey would
each be permitted to keep up to 6000 troops on
the island for seven years, after which the numbers
would be gradually reduced with the aim of
eventual full withdrawal of all Greek and Turkish
forces.
As soon as the Annan Plan was unveiled, it
received widespread support from the US, EU and
the Turkish government. The Turkish Cypriot
community welcomed the plan stressing that the
deal would end their isolation and that the full EU
membership would lead to a number of significant
economic and social benefits for the community as
a whole. That is why 65% of Turkish Cypriots voted
in favour of the plan.
The picture on the other side of the Green Line
was rather different. The level of opposition was
just too high. Although some parties came out in
favour of the agreement, so did a number of
leading political figures, including two former
presidents, George Vassiliou and Glafcos Clerides,
It was not good. An overwhelming 72% of the Greek
Cypriots voted no. The plan was defeated.
Editor-in-Chief
Reem Haddad