Would a unilateral solution work?

Author: Savas Savvides

Date: 8/25/2024 1:48:21 PM

One can argue that the Turkish Cypriots, since 1974, are under occupation by the Turkish Army. As such, one can argue, they are not in a position to freely negotiate with the Greek Cypriots in a way that prioritizes their aspirations for their families and community.

Similarly, one can argue, that the Greek Cypriots are stuck on the idea of bilateral negotiations and cannot think of anything else &outside the box&. If we are to believe Einstein who famously said &it is a sign of craziness to keep trying the same method again and again and expect a different outcome& then the Greek Cypriots are crazy. We are already in year 2024 and this makes it 50 years since the 1974 invasion and 50 years of failed bilateral negotiations.

So, then, one can ask, is there a unilateral peaceful solution? I dare say &yes, there is&.

Basically, besides waiting for some external participant (such as the United Nations, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, etc.) to draft a 600-page document that is then &negotiated& with Turkey, the Greek Cypriots can draft a very simple two-page solution and then ask every interested party from around the world, how that simple plan can be more balanced (and totally fair to the Turkish Cypriot families). This two page plan can then become the staring point for the future generations (from both sides) that will solve the problem.

The problem with 600-page plans is that Turkey loves to negotiate as if they are in an Anatolian bazaar. Even if they get 100% of what they ask, they will bargain for more. This is hard for the American, British, etc. to understand. Americans when they negotiate, once they achieve, let's say 95% of what they aimed, they shake hands, sign the deal and go to dinner with the other party. In contrast Anatolians want a free small carpet to go with the big carpet they negotiate for days, etc. For better or for worse, it is part of their psyche.

Yes, a two-page public unilateral plan will not force Turkey to walk away, but it would allow the Greek Cypriots to internationally take the high moral ground and simply be able to say &Tell us where we are unjust to the Turkish Cypriots families and we will fix it&.

And some of the items in that unilateral plan can be implemented right away.

And before you say this is a &pipe dream&, let me remind you, that Turkish Cypriots already have European Union passports because the Republic of Cyprus (and a full member of the European Union) issues them.

And because of that, 100,000 Turksih Cypriots are eligible to vote in the elections for members of the European Parliament. And already a Turkish Cypriot has served one full term as one of the six representantives Cyprus gets to have in the European parliament.

This unilateral balanced solution can essentially have a strong federal government with both GCs and TCs citizens involved, and with weak municipality-states under it - and apply it to the extend they can (for example, provide a budget to mayors in municipalities in the occupied areas but who can regularly cross over to the government-controlled areas.

Under that plan, for example, the Turkish Army can be authorized (against its will and without its approval) to stay in a military base in the occupied areas for 20 years.

Similarly, individual Turkish Cypriots could be appointed to high level posts, embassies, etc.

So, as long as the solution is fair to every Turkish Cypriot family/citizen it is a good solution.

...more to come...