Cyprus: Under the Half-Moon

8/6/2019 Cyprus: Under the Half-Moon

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CyprusUnder the half-moon

Henrik R. Clausen & Liz SchmidtSociet for Danish Culture & Constitution, Euro eNews


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An island divided


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Brief historical outline 1

1878: End of Ottoman rule

1923: Turkey writes of all interest in Cyprus

1925: British Crown Colony 1950: Turkey declares: No interest in Cyprus

1954: Britain forces Turkey to want Cyprus back

1956: Turkey decides to retake Cyprus 1958: Turkey establishes TMT underground army

1960: Cyprus gains semi-independence


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Brief historical outline 2

1960-1964: Escalating conflicts

1964: Turkey bombs Cyprus with Napalm

1964: UN deploys peacekeeping mission

1974: Turkish invasion on pretext of coup byGreek junta against Archbishop Makarios.

Turkey should have left when the coup collapsed. Rather, Turkey went from Attila 1 to Attila 2 and

conquered 36 % of the island the best parts.


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Images of an invasion

200,000 Cypriots displaced 6,000 civilians killed, 1,000 raped,

1,619 still missing 70 % arable land lost 65 % tourism lost 83 % port capacity lost


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What United Nations said

Security Council Resolution 353:

Calls upon all States to respect the sovereignty,independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus.

Requests the withdrawal without delay from theRepublic of Cyprus of foreign military personnelpresent otherwise than under the authority ofinternational agreements, []

Security Council Resolution 360:Noting that all states have declared their respect forthe sovereignty, independence and territorial integrityof the Republic of Cyprus,


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Taksin implemented: TRNC

UN Resolution 541:calls upon all states not torecognise any Cypriot state otherthan the Republic of Cyprus;

TRNC is illegal, but seeks to useanysituation to change that.

Rauf Denktash:If we would accept merely beinga minority, a solution could befound within a week.


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What United Nations said

Resolution # 541:

Article 2: Considers the declaration referred to above aslegally invalid and calls for its withdrawal;

Article 7: Calls upon all States not to recognize anyCypriot state other than the Republic of Cyprus;

Isolation of TRNC is UN-mandated, because its

existence is an open violation of international law.Thus, it is also self-imposed by the Turks.


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Cultural destruction: A war crime

Protecting the cultural heritage of occupied territoryan obligation under international law.

Destruction of cultural property a war crime.

Turkey turns a blind eye to theft,for it aids its long-time objective.

UNESCO and others report:In the area occupied by the

Turkish army, museums andmonuments have beenpillaged or destroyed.

Long-term objective:

Eradicate the Cypriot past.


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Neglect, misuse, theft


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Collapsing churches who cares?


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Respect for Christianity? HAH!


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The Kykkos Monastery


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UNESCO: Church of Archanglos

Discreet outside, magnificent inside

Also to avoid attracting invaders, plunder

Many such places destroyed in the north:The Turkish invasiontook place just asUNESCO waspreparing todesignate sites.


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Inside theancient church:


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Cyprus vs. Turkey in the EU

2004: Turkey accepted as EU candidate

2005: Negotiations started despite widespread

public opposition in Europe. 2006: Recognition of Cyprus and customs

union become a stumbling block.

2011: Turkey stilldoes not recognize Republicof Cyprus, occupies 1/3 of its territory.

The situation is fundamentally absurd.


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2004 Annan Plan = Partition

Abolishes the Republic of Cyprus

Establishes loose federal state

Restricts Cypriots' right of return Legalizes Turkish settlers, TRNC

Retroactively legalizes the invasion

Fails to address cultural destruction

In short: A mockery of international law


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Annan Plan referendum:A result undesired for EU

Referendum on the Annan Plan April 24th 2004

To be null and void in case of rejection

Widely rejected by Cypriot politicians North: 65 % in favor

South: 76 % against

(Greek) Cypriots blamed for rejection Has been talking point by Turkey against any

further progress on Cyprus.


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Severe violations of international law

A war of aggression is a crime against internationalpeace.

Aggression gives rise to international responsibility. No territorial acquisition [] resulting from

aggression is or shall be recognized as lawful. Geneva convention forbids The transfer by the

Occupying Power of parts of its own civilianpopulation into the territory it occupies.

Rights to property, homeland, cultural heritage etc.


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A question of property rights

Cypriots deprived the use of their property

Private property, property of Church of Cyprus,Republic of Cyprus etc. still theirs.

2010 UK verdict against Oram family requires:

Cease trespassing the land of Mr. Apostolides;

Deliver up possession of the land to Mr. Apostolides;

Pay Mr. Apostolides rent of the land ( 1.2 million)

Knock down what has been built on the land.

Sets a significant and useful legal precedent.


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Opening the LedraStreet crossing

Opened in 2003

Easy passage for EU

citizens 15 million crossings

Many have visited their

old family property Feared unrest did not

materialize


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Defend Europe: Speak for Cyprus!

A test case for international law

UN Resolutions from 1974 & 1983 are good

Annan Plan and 2004 referendum cooked Recognizing Republic of Cyprus is crucial

Cultural destruction and theft a big issue

The tough question of the settlers Upholding fundamental property rights

Let the Cypriots have the final word!

Cyprus: Under the Half-Moon

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