14-01-2003 20:47									#1
	50.000 Turkish cypriotes scream for United Cyprus! (even bigger rally than previous) Support Apolyton

Tens of thousands of Turkish Cypriots have demonstrated in northern Nicosia in support of a United Nations plan to reunite Cyprus after 28 years of partition.
As many as 50,000 people - more than a quarter of the population of the breakaway region - took part, according to police and diplomats.

Denktash, if you don't have a pen, we have one



Banner at rally


Protesters were calling on veteran Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to drop his opposition to the UN proposals, which have a deadline of 28 February for acceptance.

This would pave the way for the north along with the more prosperous south to be admitted to the European Union next year.

Opinion polls suggest a large majority of Turkish Cypriots support UN efforts for re-unification.

Schools and shops were closed and demonstrators were bussed in from other towns in the north of the island which is economically and politically dependent on Turkey.

Waving banners saying "Give peace a chance" and "We want to be prisoners no longer", participants took to the streets of the divided capital.

Many also waved flags and olive branches.

Police with plastic riot shields lined the border to prevent people from trying to cross to the Greek side.

Diplomatic push

On Monday, the special UN envoy for Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, made a renewed appeal to the sides to come to an agreement over the UN plan before the deadline.

He is leading a fresh push to secure agreement, after the failure of efforts at the EU's Copenhagen summit in December.


Mr Denktash is accused of blocking progress
He said the plan offered little scope for drastic changes.

"The choice is between this plan, perhaps with balanced refinements here and there as needed, and no plan at all," Mr de Soto said.

"Will a re-united Cyprus become a beacon of co-operation between Greece and Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean... or will a divided Cyprus continue to strain relations between Greece and Turkey and vis-à-vis Europe?" he said.

A new round of negotiations is due to begin in the UN-controlled buffer zone between Mr Denktash and the Greek Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides on Wednesday.

However the BBC's Tabitha Morgan in Nicosia says that so far, Mr Denktash has shown no signs of bowing to public pressure.

Mr Denktash has denounced the protesters, saying they weaken his position at the negotiating table.

Isolation

Without Turkish Cypriot agreement, only the prosperous two-thirds of the island run by Greek Cypriots will be granted EU membership.

Correspondents say this would leave the impoverished Turkish Cypriot community - which now numbers about 200,000 - out in the cold.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey sent in troops after a short-lived Greek Cypriot coup by supporters of union with Greece.

Turkey keeps about 30,000 troops in the north of the island which now calls itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and is recognised only by Ankara.

The UN plan proposed by Secretary General Kofi Annan would reunify Cyprus as a single state with two federal regions linked by a weak central government.

If accepted, the UN envisages that the deal would be put to a referendum on 30 March in the north and the south of the island.

Then, if Cypriots backed the deal, a treaty on enlargement of the European Union, due to be signed in mid-April, would pave the way for the whole island to join the EU.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2656211.stm


Oh, I don't know... should we take them in?


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	15-01-2003 01:26									#2
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I heard there were 70.000 demonstrators...

On other news, big anti-EU demonstrations are expected in Nafplion 24-26/1 and Athens 1-2/3 during the summits of EU ministers of Labor and Education repectively. The government has warned the demonstrators that they have to contain their behavior along the limits dictated by the government, otherise they will be suppressed. The demand that Greece should get out of the EU, is branded as unacceptable and beyond the limits and will not be tolerated, according to the govt spokesman.

	15-01-2003 01:31									#3
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quote: The demand that Greece should get out of the EU, is branded as unacceptable and beyond the limits and will not be tolerated, according to the govt spokesman.

and who is going to demand that?

	15-01-2003 01:35									#4
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why would greeks resist joining the EU? The EU is generally a much wealthier entity , with higher incomes and standards of living than greece. Greeks are set only to enjoy it!

	15-01-2003 01:38									#5
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Greeks are rational and know who pays their bills. Thats why I m surprised they are going to protest against EU.

Or is govt spokesman just trying to divert attention from something else?

	15-01-2003 02:21									#6
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quote: Originally posted by VetLegion Greeks are rational and know who pays their bills. Thats why I m surprised they are going to protest against EU.

I know. The people in poor countries with such a large net benefit from the EU like Greece should be among its loudest supporters.

	15-01-2003 02:40									#7
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It seems that some of us are not so glad about it. Go to the fruitmarket and ask the people about the Euro. Most will say that prices have increased dramatically, while wages are static.

And yes, unfortunately Greeks are of the loudest supporters for the EU. IIRC the latest polls are 79% for, whereas in many EU countries opinions are more divided.

Nevertheless, those who disagree are still free to demonstrate, aren't they? According to the govt spokesman, they aren't.

	15-01-2003 02:41									#8
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quote: Originally posted by axi The demand that Greece should get out of the EU, is branded as unacceptable and beyond the limits and will not be tolerated, according to the govt spokesman.

Not to be tolerated? Violence is not to be tolerated. This is suppressing an policy IDEA by a group of it's own citizens.

This is democracy? I don't think so.

	15-01-2003 02:53									#9
	Re: 50.000 Turkish cypriotes scream for United Cyprus! (even bigger rally than previous) Full PM-box? Change here!

quote: Originally posted by paiktis22 Denktash, if you don't have a pen, we have one Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey sent in troops after a short-lived Greek Cypriot coup by supporters of union with Greece.

I think 28 years of Greek/Turkish "help" is enough

quote: Originally posted by paiktis22 The UN plan proposed by Secretary General Kofi Annan would reunify Cyprus as a single state with two federal regions linked by a weak central government.

Just like the British setup, a Turkish veto on Cyprus in
a weak central government. I wonder how long it lasts
before another coup?

Cyprus is the ping pong ball between Greece and Turkey.

	15-01-2003 02:57									#10
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Summary please. Less than 100. Ta.

	15-01-2003 22:27									#11
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Greece win

	15-01-2003 22:29									#12
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No veto. Acquis communautaire throughout the island DL ozz

	15-01-2003 22:50									#13
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quote: Originally posted by paiktis22 Greece win

ROFL

How does Greece win? Their coup failed to secure the
island and bring it into Greece. That it did do was divide
the island and swell the Turkish garrison from 990 men
(as provided by the constution) into 30,000 men.

So after 29 years of divison the island comes into the EU as a sovieign state. The EU will shield it from both
Greece and Turkey, and maybe those people will finally
have peace.

If Cyprus was really smart they would tell both Greece and Turkey to bugger off. And let our troops come home.

And I quote

"The UN plan proposed by Secretary General Kofi Annan would reunify Cyprus as a single state with two federal regions linked by a weak central government."

Veto Yes , Socrates.

	15-01-2003 22:54									#14
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Turkey wanted Cyprus devided.

Greece win.

No veto, acquis communautaire.

Greece win

	15-01-2003 22:59									#15
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Turkish cypritotes are telling Turkey to bugger off.

Greece win

	15-01-2003 23:02									#16
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Actually,
Democracy win

but since Greece = democracy
Turkey= dictatorship


Greece win

	15-01-2003 23:05									#17
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quote: Originally posted by paiktis22 Greece win

quote: Originally posted by axi Nevertheless, those who disagree are still free to demonstrate, aren't they? According to the govt spokesman, they aren't.

I forgot that you must spout the "official" government line on these issues. Thats' why all you can say is
"Greece win", I thought the dictatorship was over?

Apparently not.

	15-01-2003 23:09									#18
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Freedom of thought in a democracy lets you evaluate the facts freely.
And they are obvious: Greece win

	15-01-2003 23:12									#19
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quote: Originally posted by paiktis22 Freedom of thought in a democracy lets you evaluate the facts freely.

According to your compatriot, that doesn't seem to exist in Greece at the moment.

	15-01-2003 23:13									#20
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Gov. asked groups to protest peacefully.

US = dictatorship in comparison.

	15-01-2003 23:15									#21
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quote: Originally posted by paiktis22 Gov. asked groups to protest peacefully.

The demand that Greece should get out of the EU, is branded as unacceptable and beyond the limits and will not be tolerated, according to the govt spokesman.

	15-01-2003 23:23									#22
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False.
KKE, elected and parliamentary represented political party lobbies for that freely for the last 20 years.


Greece assecion to the EU :1981

	15-01-2003 23:25									#23
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Also, gov. representative never said that.

	15-01-2003 23:35									#24
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Also murderers

UK = didnt give independance when asked, hijacked constitution as favor to Turkey, hanged 15 year olds

Turkey= stirred up turkish cypriotes to not live peacefully with Greeks because it wanted island for its own for security reasons

USA= supporting Greek dictatorship (=only one wanting enosis).

Greece win against 3 powerful entities of savages just like Playstation and provides democracy prosperity and freedom to the island of Aphrodite.
(United Greek dominated, turkish minority as it should be - no veto as it should be)

	15-01-2003 23:45									#25
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Who was the 15y/o Britain hanged?

	15-01-2003 23:47									#26
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Dont remember his name now. A Cypriote boy.

	15-01-2003 23:51									#27
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quote: Originally posted by paiktis22 US = dictatorship in comparison.

ROTFL

Oh, In a democracy you have freedom of ASSEMBLY.

I bet you'd find one every day in front of the White house even now, or especially now.

	15-01-2003 23:54									#28
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Greece = no need for permit to assembly
US= need to get permit

Greece = far more demonstrations, far more representation, even communist

US = none and EVEN more curtailing of personal freedoms after 11 sept.

Greece win

	16-01-2003 00:20									#29
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quote: KKE, elected and parliamentary represented political party lobbies for that freely for the last 20 years.

That particular line hasn't been spoken very much by the KKE, after 1989. They have been *****ing about the need to have a referendum before we ratify each european treaty like Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice (as every other european nation has) but they do not pose the very issue of being a member of the EU any more.

It is obvious of course that this is much more harmless and "acceptable" than a line faithful to the total rejection of the EU.

	16-01-2003 00:22									#30
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Greece can be put to the test now that we have a raging nationalist buffoon and his more sensible counterpart in the same thread.