Cyprus | What Do You Want to Know? 

Thanks again for all the great questions. I hope it managed to answer some of your questions people. As ever, do drop and comments or further questions below. By the way, and apologies for the shameless plug, if you are interested in reading more about the Cyprus Problem, can I recommend my introductory guide to the issue: amzn.to/3A1B81W

Your knowledge and presentation of the Cyprus Problem is amazing, better than the average cypriot expert. I think you navigate through nuances very well, but our generation also needs to address head on all the topsy turvies on the issue that no longer can be ignored. If people can do this responsibly, it would be people like you. Lazarus come forth!!!!

Thanks for this James! Cyprus is fascinating! And thanks even MORE for answering my question! It's fascinating to see your views on this! Enjoy the island James!

I have to honestly say that this is one of the most informative and, in my opinion, most accurate videos out there, that I have seen, regarding the Cyprus issue and its sub-elements . I want to thank you for creating and putting this video out there all the way from South Korea as a Turkish Cypriot !

Such a great video. I’m a British born Cypriot and I’m fascinated by your love and knowledge of Cyprus. I must say I agree with many of your views. One of the other reasons why the Greek Cypriot community voted against the Annan plan was the deployment of some 40,000 mainland Turkish soldiers on the Island. Unfortunately, as long as Erdogan is in power in Turkey there will never be a solution in Cyprus. You should read the book Cyprus Conspiracy, it’s very enlightening. Good job professor.

Thank you so much. This is probably the best video I've ever seen on Cyprus. For so many years I've seen only one side told on the Cyprus issue but you represented both sides so well with fact and a level of the highest knowledge on the Cyprus issue, and I think this issue needs that level of knowledge. I'd love for you to keep making these Cyprus videos if possible, I think it gives not just neutrals a better level of understanding but I also think it gives both sides a better level of understanding of the other sides story and thoughts. Thank you again, from a Turkish Cypriot friend.

This update was great. Thank you, Prof. Ker-Lindsay.

Great video, as always. I really learned a lot!

Thank you for this very informative video! It really helps in understanding the Cyprus issue.

Thanks for answering my question James, I feel really honored :) I wish you talked a bit more about the position of Greece itself on the matter, but thanks nonetheless.

Great insights!

I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question James! Thanks much sir! I look forward to watching all your videos. Cheers!

Can you make a video about the negotiations between Anastasiades and Akinci? Thanks for your work!

Lovely video!

Thank you for this video James. Having visited Cyprus myself, I really hope they will unify. Thank you for giving me a deeper look into this issue.

Thank you for a great video as always. Two questions that popped into my head while watching was: 1) What are the lessons/key takeaways of this issue? 2) How can those lessons/key takeaways be applied to similar issues across the globe, such as Serbia/Kosovo, Israel/Palestine/Jerusalem, the Korean Peninsula, and Morocco/Western Sahara.

What a bout the other portion of the Island that is under the Britain rule ? Is it a British territory or what ? And how Greek Cyprus regard it ? Thank you Prof.

got you two views on this one, started the video at work and finished it at home. 👍👍 I honestly knew next to nothing about Cyprus before I became a sub here. Have you considered a 100k subscriber video special?

Hello James. Fascinating videos and I love your book as well. I love here in Cyprus. I am married to a Turkish Cypriot but work and spend a lot of time in the south. I often find myself in social situations where TCs and GCs mix. From my perspective the tension you mentioned is very real. Seeing barbed wire and automatic weapons is uncomfortable and even the moderates on both side have certain entrenched opinions. Further more crossing can often be awkward. From my experience there is far more common culture than many Cypriots would care to admit. A solution would provide many benefits, particularly if we saw a change in leadership in Turkey that wanted to strengthen it's relationship with Europe. From my personal perspective life is somewhat cheaper in the North, beaches are less busy and there are more family owned independent businesses. I do want a unified island without barbed wire where I can walk from across the divide freely. In your opinion what other tangible, day to day, benefits could a solution provide for those living here today?

Hi Professor. I was wondering whether or not you are going to cover the 2022 farmers protests in Netherlands. Most mainstream media channels on RU-vid ignored that particular issue.

A very fair, balanced and accurate account. It is true that the origins of the Cy Prob belong to different times with different people and different mentalities under very different circumstances. Today we have neighbours from all over the world and having a TC/GC neighbour will not raise eyebrows. Still beginning largely separate and letting things flow is the answer. 85% of the legislation is now voted at the EU level so potential disputes will be minimized. There are thousands of TCs working in the ROC area and tens of thousands come and go daily in both directions. It is time to take into account these facts as well.

Hi James, I first became aware of your work when I did some work on Disaster Diplomacy and its impact on Greek - Turkish Relations around 20 years ago. Appreciate your in depth analysis on the Cyprus problem, and your passion for our beautiful, troubled island.

As a Cypriot, this is the first time I see someone talks about the Cyprus problem on Yotube better than Cypriots themselves. Thank you for your effort for being objective as a Turkish Cypriot. Peace is near I hope.

As a Cypriot I believe that 2014 Annan Plan should come to the table again and both sides should work just a bit on it and solve this Cyprus issue. I believe it will be solved in 2 years time. Thanks for the video and thanks to both sides who live on this beautiful island in PEACE for years. No war Make love ❤

Thanks James, for you on-location report! What made you choose to do your studies on Cyprus?

Great video and very informative, nice to see someone taking neutral stance on this issue. Can you do the similar video for Balkan issues? I would like to see western neutral stance for issues like: -Kosovo and Albania unification. -Issues with Serbia and Kosovo and how long can this frozen conflict continue. -Can Bosnia be held by force or will it broke apart. -Will Albanians in Macedonia ask to join Albania or will they stay in Macedonia. -What will EU do if there are no indication of other countries from Balkan joining in the next 10 to 20 years or even 30? -Is there even a point in this much conflict when all are eager to join EU where borders and custom checkpoints basically do not exist and borders make no sense? Balkan remains one of the Europe's most volatile region with the exception of Eastern Europe where there is active war being waged right now. It will be interesting to see Q&A video regarding that from neutral standpoint as the situation on Balkan is pretty much the same as in Cyprus - everyone is blaming everyone else and think they have suffered the most and are most in the right which leads to nobody progressing beyond the current established system.

Professor, I am a Greek Cypriot living in London (one of many). Congratulations on this video, overall I liked it (I have some disagreements of course, but this is Cyprus we're discussing, so...) and hopefully you will help educate the people who will see it and have no idea of the complex history of the conflict. Let me give you a fairly mainstream Greek Cypriot reading of the situation and our options: * The status quo is the best out of the bad options available * Engagement has failed, in the sense that although lots of Turkish Cypriots now accept the idea of a United Cyprus, they still demand excessive (in our view) privileges and insist on bizonality (even the most progressive among them) which isn't really different from what Turkey asks. So we get the same intransigence but in a more beautiful language. * The EU is seen as a joke (the British media don't have the privilege of being the only ones to trash the EU). We especially can't stand hearing how "The EU fully supports Cyprus" without doing anything to sanction Erdogan.

I don't think Cyprus uniting is any more likely that the USSR doing so. On the same note, so long as the Turkish-Cypriots have access to Turkish passports, jobs and funding from Turkey as full citizens and not as immigrants then this isn't really an issue of two states, it's an issue of Cyprus vs Turkey and Turkey is too imperialist to come to a settlement.

A truly excellent analysis of the situation. By far the best I've seen in the many decades I've followed the issue. Ur understanding of the problem is thorough, balanced and fair. The questions u selected to answer were also excellent, and ur nuanced analysis of Greek Cypriot identity viz a viz Greece and the Greek nation is spot on. It would be no exaggeration to say that this video should be sent to all those dealing with the issue at the UN and EU. It would be very helpful. Very impressive. I look forward to reading and seeing more of ur work. Hats off to u

Love your videos! Would you ever cover Gibraltar?

Great video and I love you taking the time to answer my question. I did not know Lazarus ended up in Cyprus!

22:29 the teasing thing is a very Greek habit in general, if you put Greeks from northern Greece, from Athens, Cyprus, Germany, United States and Australia together you probably going to get a very explosive mixture 😄 you know like a family coming together in holidays because they miss eachother only to end up fighting? 😄😄 And that's one of the reasons why been drafted in the Greek army is such an experience Especially if your last name is screaming " Cypriot" 😄😉

Hi Professor JKL, you say things would have been different if the TCs had not declared UDI in 1983. Can you explain how bearing in mind in 2004 GCs rejected the A plan and rolled into the EU whilst the TCs voted in favour of the A Plan and none of the EU promises to the TCs were kept? In the EU and the wider western world there is an inherent bias towards the Greeks, GCs when opposed to the Turks, TCs. It is this wall the TCs will never be able to climb no matter what they do.

I think free movement of people and a good trade agreement across the island is the best that can be hoped for

Your answer about the isolation of T/Cs was spot on!

I hope you answer my question. What if the shoe was on the other foot and it was the Turks who were the majority and it's them who violated the initial agreement and it was Greece which invaded. Do you think the Turks would have been part of the EU? Do you think status quo would have reigned this long? In your video you cited GC will be entitled to their properties or compensation. Does the same apply to the TC?

I've always wondered : How do the Cypriots in general feel about the British presence on the Island? Are they hostile, in favor, or just somewhat neutral?

Hey Professor, great video (as always)! I asked some questions in the original community post and I'm interested in hearing your answer. I copied it below. Feel free to answer if you find the time. Regardless, thank you for the work you do. In a two-state solution for the island of Cyprus, what are the basic provisions one could reasonably expect to come from that deal (i.e. regulatory alignment, free movement of people, demilitarization, mandated bilingualism for services, etc.)? Could such an agreement leave the door open for reunification in the future, similar to the Good Friday Agreement's provisions for Irish unification?

Hey Prof. James. Thanks for making these videos. Can you please do a video where you talk about more in depth about the anan plan please? i was very young when the referendum took place so i would like to know more about it and i am sure more cypriots would like to know more about and why we rejected it. thanks

I want to know how to get a work permt

Why are education qualifications from the TRNC recognised by the international community yet other certificates, laws and legislation are not?

Thanks for doing this Q&A, wish I could have submitted a question but it was a crazy busy couple of weeks, glad to see a lot of good intriguing questions. The internationally-envisioned solution as you’ve described it seems to be similar to the Dayton Agreement, where the Turkish Cypriots keep their existing administration in a new confederal Cypriot state, in exchange for concessions to the Greek Cypriot administration. I do agree that this is really the best compromise option. However I am curious as to why, if it was recognized internationally in 1977 and 2004 that the Turkish Cypriot entity is entitled to keep a proportion of the land in a reintegration settlement, you seem to be of the opinion that the Turkish Cypriot entity and its resident corporations should not be entitled to some proportion of energy resources as well? I’d think that this would be one of the primary worries about reintegration for Turkish and/or Turkish Cypriot power brokers In the end though I think your take from the last video is spot on, that reintegration is very possible under the right circumstances but that this moment doesn’t appear to be it. As you point out, this is especially so now that Turkey is fully incorporating Northern Cyprus into its burgeoning sphere of influence, alongside the Aliyev regime in Turkic-speaking Azerbaijan (which used Turkish support to swiftly defeat Armenia and its Artsakh client), the newly-reunified Libyan government (whose leaders in Tripoli were saved by Turkey from near-certain defeat at the hands of their Tobruk rivals), the new Turkish-garrisoned client state in Northern Syria known as the Syrian Interim Government (which opposes both Assad’s Syrian Arab Republic regime and the Kurdish defacto state known as North & East Syria), along with several other on-and-off members (including some of the Turkic-speaking Central Asian republics, Pakistan, and more).

It takes a substantial amount of intellectual and moral courage to take on such a difficult scenario and to do it with such clarity and do it so well...kudos. To have a successful deal you have to have two groups willing to "deal" and that doesn't exist on Cyprus. The United Nations is an institution best suited to supporting the status quo, not actually solving problems, especially problems like Cyprus ( or Haiti or DR Congo or Bosnia etc., etc., etc.). The only way to solve Cyprus' issues is to force a settlement on Cyprus. Unfortunately there is still a place in the world for "Gunboat diplomacy", some problems just need a "Bigger Hammer", sad but true.

A loose federation will not work, we have seen what is happenning in Bosnia, where peoples continue to live and rule separated, with suspicion across different communities. Furthermore, true unification will never happen as nationalists on different sides continue to stir separatist sentiments. For a nation to work, the two sides should be encouraged to mix to dispel the distrust between the communities. If both sides are not willing to form a state together, it would be more beneficial to exist as separate nations. Which will being precedent efforts to tinderbox areas like Palestine, Taiwan issues.

Only just finished watching this Q and A, great detail on the situation in Cyprus, spent a couple of months in Larnaca many years ago now, another very nice place in Cyprus, there are so many.

Thanks for answering my question about the sovereign bases James. I think RAF Akrotiri is too strategic for Britain to let go as it’s helped the U.K. project power in the Middle East and assist military manoeuvres East of Suez. Dhekelia I can see being handed over to a United Cyprus.

Great video. Thank you.

im greek cypriot,...can t say i agree with the annan plan or yoru views on it but i must say your geopolitical assesment of the situation as an outsider is quite on point. cheers mate

The Anan plan being a workable settlement is highly subjective. It was simply the most likely settlement that could have been accepted by both sides at the time. Just like most aspects of the Cyprus issue it was characterised by asymmetries.

Hi James, thank you very much for answering my question (number 2). Overall I’ve summarised your answer as - Rauf Denktas was extremely intransigent between 1974-2004 whilst the Greek Cypriot side have been intransigent from 2004 onwards. You also stated that the bigger opportunities were lost under Denktas. Now whilst I appreciate your response and understand your point of view, I do not think it’s entirely fair to state this. If we actually look at what Nicos Rolandis was referring to, we can see the Greek Cypriot side have been more intransigent before, during and after Denktas. Here are the following proposals rejected: ) 1948: Consultative Assembly: REJECTED 2) 1955-56: Harding proposals: REJECTED 3) 1956: Ratcliffe Constitution: REJECTED 4) 1958: Macmillan Plan: REJECTED 5) 1959-60: Zurich-London Agreements: REJECTED in 1963 6) 1964: Acheson Plan: REJECTED 7) 1972: Agreement of Clerides-Denktaş: REJECTED 8) 1975: Bi-communal Arrangement: REJECTED 9) 1978: Anglo-American Canadian Plan: REJECTED 10) 1981: Evaluation of Waldheim: REJECTED 11) 1983: Indicators of Perez de Cuellar: REJECTED 12) 1985-86: Consolidated Documents of Perez de Cuellar: REJECTED 13) 1992: Set of Ideas, Boutros Boutros-Ghali: REJECTED 14) 2002-2004: Annan Plan: REJECTED 15) 2015-2017: Crans Montana - REJECTED

Great Video. One element which was not spoken about regarding the Anan Plan 2004, was the outcome when the dust settled. The EU complicated the Cyprus problem even further by accepting Cyprus into the EU when it should of used its leverage to ensure Cyprus will be accepted into the EU ONLY when a settlement is achieved. Now I can go on and so forth. Any political power which touches Cyprus complicates the situation. If you want a settlement then leave it to the people. Not Greece, Britain, Turkey, EU...to come up with there own constitution and federal settlement.

I love how the British left behind countries that are divided, after giving "independence" to most of the territories they invaded. They now have the advantage of being the negotiator, but the instability in these countries is certainly advantageous to them. It's a shame to see the chaos that Post-Ottoman lands are experiencing; it's like a 200-year-old scar that never stopped bleeding...

i think most greeks (myself included) just dont understand why it has to be turkish troops specifically, we understand they want a seperate military force for protection but why couldn't that be done by a 3rd party or better yet un peacekeepers? I dont think any agreemnet that leaves turkish trooops makes it past a vote with the greek cypriots it's too much of a sore spot after the evictions, invasion, etc. im not a cypriot so i wouldnt have a vote but hypothetically i know for myself personally if the entirety of the annan plan was the same except the turkish troops being replaced by un peacekeepers i'd be on board ( and yes that includes turkey and britains right to intervene in the case of a constitutional crisis). do you (or anyone else please, i'd love as many second opinions as possible) think that slight change would significantly improve it's chances of passing with the greek cypriot community whilst still being accepted by a majority of turkish cypriots?

The annan plan was to replace the Zurich agreements . The first seven articles of the Zurich agreements relate to the British bases ie 99 year lease ,no commercial exploitation and no third party use . In the Annan plan the base agreement were not replicated . The Annan plan was crafted by sir david hannay and presented by Kofi Atta Annan, in effect the coastal regions of the bases would have an EEZ ,and the base area would become british . Another and more important reason the GC rejected the plan was it gave Turkey intervention rights which like in 1960 made cyprus semi independent and ripe for destabilision .

I wonder if the Annan plan was at the end successful, would that be the end of all the disagreements in general? Having doubts on that. The Hardliners are represented constantly as heroes by both sides. Thanks for the summary by the way.

Could you take another look at Serbia-Kosovo relations amid new tensions?

Hello James. Would you be willing to make a new video on the geopolitics going on around North Macedonia? Much can be said about this: relations with Greece after Prespa agreement, the sudden vetos by Bulgaria after issues were settled between North Macedonia and Greece, the French proposal seen from both sides as well as the Albanian gains from it, the fact that North Macedonia and Albania were linked together and not allowed to go separately on the EU path, and the sudden recognition of the Macedonian church by the Serbian Orthodox Church... could it be a way to strenghten relations between N. Macedonia and Serbia in order to counter Greek and Bulgarian claims on the country? What could happen in the following years during the accession process to the EU/What changes would happen if the country finally entered the EU? I feel like each country surrounding N. Macedonia is moving their pawns, trying to strenghten their geopolitical control over North Macedonia. It would be very interesting to hear your opinion on these issues. Best regards.

This is the best video I have ever seen on Cyprus. I had hoped that about half (1/3? 1/5?) of your video would be shot in Northern/Turkish Cyprus and the remainder in Southern/Greek Cyprus. The silent similarities and contrasts in backgrounds would have been interesting

Could you kindly one day make a video of the East African Federation?

It's impossible to unite Cyprus today.

My general sense as a less directly aware observer of the Cyprus situation is that Papadopoulos' stonewalling and the rejection of the Annam plan served mostly to benefit Greece and Turkey at the cost of Greek and Turkish and especially other Cypriots. The case for taksim seems to becoming ever stronger at the cost of the case for an independent Cyprus as years go on. The people of either part of the island grow ever more apart.

Do you think it is at all possible to resolve the Kosovo-Serbia dispute in a way similar to the Annan Plan? There seems to be countless parallels between the two situations, except for the crucial fact that Kosovo has significant international recognition.

Prof Thank you for the new video. I think the question that has to be answered is more or less the following: why a Cypriot (GC) from the northern city of Kyrenia who is now a refugee in his/ her own country should vote in favour of Annan Plan taking into account that he,/ she will have no benefit from such a settlement,? On the contrary his her motherland which is now illegally occupied will become legitimately the ownership of the conqueror and at the same time he she gain nothing in terms of security.. Likewise, why a GC from Nicosia or Limassol or Paphos or Larnaca or the free area of Famagusta should be expected to be in favour of such Plan given that they will gain nothing too in terms of security and that by accepting such Plan they will risk everything else that they have today? Nowadays these people enjoy a divided state whose free part however is a real western democracy, despite the threat from Turkey. But if they accept a settlement like the Annan Plan they feel that they give the occupied part to Turkey and at the same time they make Turkey a partner in the south. The RoC is effectively abolished and a new state is established as a kind of an experiment. An experiment under the full control of Turkey. Who can trust Turkey? A country pursuing her newly revealed vision named Mavi Vatan, whatever that means... A country which nowadays eyes the territory of almost half of Greece.. Just as food for thought. Thanks

I realize this isn't the point of this video, but your "library voice" is really soothing to listen to. It's making my brain tingle. You should use it more often. The bustling sounds in the background are helping too.

Where we go for here.

A very long historical problem. Thanks for your assessment on the issue surrounding Cyprus. It seems that government in Turkey is saddled with a massive problem current leaders would rather not have, but reactionaries made the decision to invade in 1974. It seems to prove that agression creates many long lasting problems.

54:00 Switzerland has been a federation with the current political system since 1848 and there hasn't been any significant ethnic or linguistic change (one small-medium town + agglomeration has become more French speaking, and one even smaller town has switched from mixed to fully German, both in the canton of Fribourg, that's all) because of it. But there is still a ton of pride in the linguistic/ethnic tradition one comes from and of course Swiss national pride (I'd say were one of the most patriotic in Europe, which you can even see in things like widespread showing of flags, which is not something you see in countries like England or Germany).

Just a point I want to make on 2:22. I personally rejected the plan since the settlers would be allowed to stay. Many settlers are strongly aligned to Turkey and there are a lot more extremists as well, like the Grey Wolves who murdered Tasos Isaak. The bizonal bicommunal federation is really the only realistic solution, that avoids another war, but it has to consist of a Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot community, not a Greek Cypriot and Turkish community. That is unacceptable. These people are not Cypriots and they have no place in the island. They settled as a means to ethnically cleanse the occupied area and alter the demographics, which is a war crime. But you are right that there is no political will to find an actual solution and the people didnt really realise what a bizonal bicommunal federation would look like. But the settlers are a major problem in my opinion.

I think Federal arrangements create weak governments and they are not very efficient in the long run. One can see this in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in Spain and its Comunidades and even in the US during the pandemic. Have some Ouzo on my behalf! 🥃

Well, what a very informative, factual, unbiased view on Cyprus 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

What do you think Cyprus should do in terms of enhancing its trade horizon? Do you think that EU membership will help the island’s trade activities? what do you think cyprus should do in terms of enhancing its trade horizon? do you think that eu membership will help the island’s trade activities? please answer this questions thanks💚💚💚

I have to admit that I enjoyed the whole content and I commend you for your valiant and hard efforts to make this as unbiased as possible. 6:43 I do believe that, although the Annan plan was far from perfect, it set the foundations of a settlement. Yet the overwhelming negation of this plan by the Greek-Cypriot community can be justified, not because of the hasty solutions provided with this plan, but mainly due to the fact that 40% of the country is under an ongoing military occupation. Moreover, the self-proclaimed TRNC is a creation of that occupation, encompassing enormous pieces of land that were never even inhabited by Turkish populations in the first place. Therefore, I find it rather unfair and certainly indecent, if not outright preposterous, to ask from the Cypriots to comply with any negotiation efforts. Therefore, I would still put the blame on the international community for failing to reverse this occupation and demand at the very least from Turkey to remove this occupation force, once and for all. 19:37 Precisely. Even in Greece, I would roughly estimate that a 8-9% of the voting population actually wants unification. Plus, the democratic forces of Greece support a sovereign and independent Cyprus, molded in the doctrine of the "unified defence area", which is de facto supported by the Greek deep state. Aside from ultranationalistic fantasies, Greece and Cyprus as 2 states can still be considered a singular geopolitical entity. The Turkish governement simply takes advantage of the situation to present this 8-9% of ultranationalists as the core of the Greek population. This is not the first time they do this. Sadly, many Turks are still victims of this propaganda. 31:21 When talking about federations we have in mind Germany or the United States of even Russia. But the reality is that we also have other failed federations such as Bosnia. Cyprus is going to look much more like Bosnia if it ever becomes a federation, than Germany for example, with the same ramifications probably. We have a population which is divided between Christians and Muslims, Greek speaking and Turkish speaking. We have to take into account that the Turkish Cypriots (not counting the Turkish settlers) are a minority. Which makes the balancing of such a state almost impossible, as the Turkish Cypriots will gain unfair percentages, while the Greek Cypriots will lose percentages. Something similar happened in Bosnia and where has it lead us? You have a Republika Sprska asking for independence, plus the tense situation inside Bosnia as an entity, since it is an unstable state, created only to function temporarily as a mediocre resolution. A federation seems unstable. A unitary state, with a fully recognized significant minority, which can be organized in communities throughout the island and have representation in a parliament, while running their own religious and educational affairs and possibly social affairs as well, can also be examined as an alternative model. This could also be the legal foreground for other similar conflicts throughout the world, even in Ukraine too. Here's also some food for thought. The terms Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot are the principal factors of underming stability in Cyprus. An effort to remove those titles could prove better in the long run as Cyprus will develop a national identity as it should have after the decolonization period. We should also remember that the Treaty of Lausanne has a reference on Turkish Cypriots that are willing to stay on the island should abandon any claims of Turkish citizenship and ethnicity and they would be counted as British citizens. Which naturally leads to a Cypriot identity overall, since after the decolonization the state became independent and wasn't split between Greece and Turkey. All in all, I do believe that there is going to be a settlement. But the lights now fall upon the Turkish Cypriots. It is they who will decide their fate. The Republic of Cyprus is ready to welcome them all in a unified and unitary state, independent and strong. If they still wish to linger under Turkey's shadow and if they won't denounce the occupying forces, then chances are dim. There may be a solution even then. But at the expense of the already downtrodden Greek-Cypriots, who are forced to live in a wounded country, while some of them were forced to move from their homes, still bearing the scars of the past. If you can even call that a solution.

Q&A for all videos pls

i also find it hard to understand how turkey can claim that islands don’t have an EEZ yet at the same time it recognises the EEZ claims of the TRNC. What they really want to say is that greece and cyprus aren’t entitled to an EEZ just because international law doesn’t favour the turks in this case.

Excellent video, though; I'm still thinking that it's in the best interests of everyone to have a two-state solution. A repeat of the previous constitutional crisis or even a Bosnia and Herzegovina-style situation seems likely otherwise. It'd be like trying to get Haiti and the Dominican Republic to unite just because they share the same island and at one point existed as a singular entity. In my mind, the best solution is for the TRNC to be recognized and allowed to interact with the greater democratic world; that way, it can afford to turn away from Turkey and its dive into authoritarianism Ideally, it'd end with the TRNC's ascension into the EU, technically uniting the island more loosely. But hey, if they can pull it off, either way, I'd be happy. I just don't think it's okay for the Turkish Cypriots to be left in political limbo like how they are in the status quo.

I've been studying the Cyprus problem for many years now and have come to the conclusion that Cyprus is like a house . Unless said house is built properly from the beginning you will alway have ongoing repairs that never end . For me the solution to the Cyprus problem is to go back and start from the beginning of building this Cyprus house , only this time it's done with all communities and no interference from Turkey , Greece , or the UK , oh and by the the UK must cede back the two bases to Cyprus .

The two different economies would be a course of contention. In federal system the integration of economies may create tensions

52:00 The Annan plan had discriminatory elements to it. It placed restrictions on how many Greek Cypriots could live in the Turkish Cypriot state of the island and vice versa. Given the island was entering the EU at the time, accepting the Annan plan at the time of EU accession would have meant a clawback on liberties guaranteed under EU law. The Annan plan basically put a guarantee that you won’t have more than X number of Kostas or X number of Mehmets as your neighbour depending on the state you belong to.

Papadopoulos made his proposals, by were not taken into account by the UN. On the contrary, all Turkish proposals, on March 26 in Burgenstock, passed into Annan 5. It became way too unbalanced...

I like the that you take a neutral stance in your videos. Your hesitancy regarding the first question and reluctance to agree that the Annan plan was a "fair and just" settlement has been noted.

Do you think that our education system (I am talking about the South, I don't know about the North) plays its part as well when it comes to identity? I remember during my school years there was a lot of emphasis on Greek history and Greek literature that had a theme of historical struggles and tragedies of Greece. In my opinion this is very unhealthy for the younger generations because it plants in their minds a very specific narrative chosen by a group of specific individuals instead of promoting critical thinking and complex research from many different sources when studying the history of Cyprus. I personally don't feel Greek. I love Greece, it's the place I chose to study and I love the people there I met some really amazing people and it's a gorgeous place with fascinating history. But I can be equally fascinated about any other place in the world and invest in learning about their history and their culture. I feel Cypriot, which to me it is a complex and beautiful identity that is made by "ingredients" of many different cultures. But this is me and I am not implying that everyone in Cyprus should feel the same. You can identify as a Greek of Cyprus or a 100% Greek if you want, it's not what matters to me. Because identity, and especially in Cyprus, should be kept at a personal level and not trying to force it upon others. This is my issue with our education and society in the south and I made this question based on it.

Reality is often disapointing I don't think the Island will ever be one again.

This was really fascinating, but I think the question I'm left with after watching is: what are the push factors for the Greek Cypriots towards a settlement? It seems like while they may talk about wanting reunification, there's not much reason to pursue it. Especially if it's the case that the other two options (independence and Turkish patriation) are untenable, is there any strong reason the Greek Cypriots might have for not just waiting the Turkish Cypriots out until they agree to even more favorable terms? Or even pursuing reunification at all? It seems like right now the south has EU membership, international recognition, good tourism, and the north can be mostly out-of-sight-out-of-mind.

Excellent videos on the Cyprus question, subscribed. I would like to share some thoughts. I agree that Greek Cypriots (GC) are more comfortable with the status quo than Turkish Cypriots (TR). But this assessment hides a big aspect of the issue/conflict,one that I feel wasn’t addressed enough. TR may not like the situation but Turkey itself is very happy with it as it is a de facto taksim. At the same time GC like the situation but Greece doesn’t like it at all, it is a festering wound that Greeks afraid it may well bring them at war with Turkey. And frankly if Greece and Turkey come to blows over the Aegean the war will spillover to Cyprus as well. For better of for worse, the fate of Cyprus doesn’t rely solely in the hands of Cypriots but other outside actors too. The international environment is changing. The western influence over Middle East and the Levant is weakening, and western dedication to backing a stable and democratic Cypriot state not guaranteed any more. Even if an Annan style agreement based on BBF is struck, I still personally feel that Turkey will still attempt to exert some degree of control over the unified state. I am very pessimistic, the region is very unforgiving to small, multiethnic states with a history of violance. Cyprus is way more likely to become Lebanon than Switzerland I am afraid.

Didn't Papadopoulos torpedo the Annan Plan on the eve of the vote? Despite signalling his support with Annan during its formulation? And the Annan plan getting support from Greece, EU, and the UN?

I admire you enthusiasm for unification, however just like your last video i feel you miss extremely important things out that i have actually read in some of your articles but you seem to miss in your videos. For example you mention what you believe to be a mistake by TC’s in 1983 but how could they feel comfortable barely 20 years after bloody christmas and those events. The fact you haven’t mentioned any of the crimes committed by eoka b and the bath tub murders and the mass graves and refer to it as fighting as if TMT was around before the enosis ideology really surprised me. I understand you don’t want to upset too many people but also sometimes, you just have to state the facts. How could turkish cypriots feel comfortable as early as 1983 living with out the turkish army there? What sort of leader would Denctash have been if just forgot about the very recent past. Again though, thanks for the video hope to see another one soon.

If Turkish Cypriots were (78%) majority of the island of Cyprus, and have always been a majority, would they agree to a solution in which 36% of the island is exclusively Greek Cypriot state?

To be honest I didn't made a question because others had made the same questions before me Hat of community 😉

Will Republic of Cyprus be allowed to join Schengen because of it's in-ability to control borders in the north. Similar problem to Ireland. Without re-unification or closing the borders to the north?? I would have thought the EU would be un-happy, but what do you think? Also, why did the EU allow a divided island in to the EU, should it not have been conditional on agreement to the annan plan. The sequence of events were all wrong and very much a missed opportunity.

The Annan Plan was in contradiction with the high-level agreements of 1977 and 1979

I think PJKl is mistaken about the recognition of TRNC by Azerbaijan saying that it might happen. I'm araid that he is not informed well about the politics of Azerbaijani President I.Aliyev.

I wonder, whether the current geopolitical development with a new cold war, Turkey moving away from the west while Greece moving in the opposite direction, we can see the China/ Russia block favoring the Turkish stand by eventually recognizing North Cyprus, making the settlement even more difficult.

The UN Security Council should put sanctions on Turkey and Erdogan for the reopening of Varosha - Famagusta, in violation of the UN Security Council Resolutions, that Varosha should be handed to the control of the UN, who then would hand over the town to the lawful inhabitants and the government of the Republic of Cyprus. The UN has said the situation should be reversed but what is the UN doing about it? UN troops should be sent to the area which would make a strong statement of opposition to this decision.

If you look around, I believe the solution has sorted itself: there will eventually be a _Turkish State of Northern Cyprus_ and a _Greek State of Southern Cyprus_ where people are free to come and go but this has yet to be formalised. This is the virtual position we find ourselves in now. Note we already have many Greeks in the North as Tourists and Shoppers who feel safe enough to be here. I also believe there are a few (the rich) who don't like it being sorted and wish to maintain facade of wrath for purely mercenary (and other) reasons as they continue to get cheap shopping and Casino holidays in the North.

55:00 in Limassol there is a small turkish cypriot community

As long as Turkey is calling the shots in the North, no reconciliation is possible in Cyprus. It’s as simple as that.

Turks of Türkiye or Cyprus or the Balkans have learned to not expect to be "accepted" by the so called "Int'l community" AKA "European / Western community".. TRNC will be recognized sooner or later.. In that sence, Greeks might be "comfortable" today, but Turks have the patience to be "isolated" for some time to be independent tomorrow. Isoloted not meaining much for Cyrpiot Turks anyway..

Disclaimer: The following strictly personal opinion may sound controversial to some and is not meant to offend or undermine the importance of anyone. It is written by somebody who loves the island of Cyprus and really cares about the best possible future for its people I believe that the core of the unsolvability of the Cyprus problem is that both sides are stuck with official political lines that they in fact do not want, but will never admit to not wanting. The Greek Cypriots do not really want unification: they have achieved a very high quality of life, they are quite rich and prosperous and they live in a stable country that provides access to all EU privileges. A possible reunification would be costly, and could undermine the stability of the country and therefore the touristic industry which is the main source of prosperity. They would have to share the governance with Turkish Cypriots, and they are well aware that Turkey's aggressive and invasive policy in every country where there is a related minority would be a constant drawback in any sort of progress and even a danger to the democracy. They may also have in mind that Turkish Cypriots have a higher birth rate, which could mean that the demographic proportions could change to their disadvantage over the years. The Turkish Cypriots actually want unification: the declaration of independence brought to them all the disadvantages that this severe violation of international law resulted in, including isolation, non-recognition, and total political and financial dependence on Turkey, but none of the benefits of having a country of their own: they have to deal with tons of settlers, they are a puppet "state" of Turkey, thus not really independent, 20% of the people living there are Turkish Army, and the economy is blocked and even subjected to all the trouble the Turkish Lira goes through. Unification would bring huge economic benefits, as well as direct entry into the EU. Thus, deep inside, it is the Greek Cypriots that want a 2 country solution and the Turkish Cypriots that want a 1 country solution. But none can admit to it, or they will sound like traitors. This is never spoken but becomes apparent behind a voting curtain. In a possible reunification agreement, Greek Cypriots will probably lose from their everyday life prosperity and Turkish Cypriots will win I always shock my Greek Cypriot friends by telling them that a truly brave (Greek) Cypriot leader would be the one that would trade really expensively independence for Northern Cyprus in return for as much more land and coastline as possible

What about the stolen properties of the greek cypriots? What about the fact that the 18% of the turkish cypriots ( in 1974), invaded and still holdind more than 40% of cyprus? What about the thousands of turkish people that were forced to imigrate to cyprus, to change the percentages of the population? Souldn’t they go back to turkey and leave the island alone?

Thank you for your video. It's very informative with really good content on Cyprus issues. I'm a Cypriot but I don't live in Cyprus anymore. The content of this video also mentions communal living, safety, security and violence. I like to be an optimist or an idealist and say that a unification or settlement of Cyprus will work out well but unfortunately the reports of incidents indicate otherwise. With Cyprus and Turkey I see evidence of inadequacies or insufficiencies and unfortunately this has brought me to a point where I had to rethink about the communal integration with settlement in Cyprus. For North and South Cyprus integration or coexistence worked ok before the conflicts however that was a long time ago, decades ago. The world was a different place than. Cyprus was also different than. Since 1974 the rest of the world had moved on and progressed with certain issues and more legislation has been enforced in many other countries eg. Protection of Human Rights and Personal Human Freedom but Cyprus and Turkey clearly lagged. In terms of legislation for protection of all public life, laws against Hate, Racism, violation of Human Rights, Discrimination and Victimisation have been late, poorly implemented or poorly enforced and some of these don't actually even exist there. There's been mention of tensions, and the possibility of no violence in the community if there was a communal integration of the two ethnicities with a settlement, I just can't see this happening successfully. I find the information in the Human Freedom Index by country 2022 very compelling. Switzerland is ranked first on top of the list with a score 9.11 Comparatively Cyprus is ranked 29th place down the list with Human Freedom Index score of 8.42 Turkey is ranked 139 place down the list. In the Freedom Index by Country 2022, Turkey has a Human Freedom Score of 5.25 Interestingly North Cyprus is not even mentioned in this current Human Freedom Index list. The Human Freedom Index includes 12 categories: Rule of Law Security and Safety Movement Religion Association, Assembly, and Civil Society Expression and Information Identity and Relationships Size of Government Legal System and Property Rights Access to Sound Money Freedom to Trade Internationally Regulation In the Human Freedom Index, neither Cyprus nor Turkey are ranked in the Top 10 Countries with the Highest Human Freedom Indexes (2021). Clearly both countries have a lot of work to do to improve and protect Human Rights and Personal Human Freedom. This raises serious concerns for me in which the personal freedom of an individual is clearly not safe and there is evidence of violence and even no accountability for the most recent serious violations of human rights and personal freedom which is incredibly sad and disappointing. The reports from other journalists and activists eg. from Esra, that I've seen in recent years in the media including both North and South Cyprus and Turkey contain incidents of Hate, Racism, violation of Human Rights, Discrimination with threats, harm and murder, brutality which I find shocking, horrifying and am appalled with. These activists and journalists have struggled to bring a sense of equality within their own communities or ethnicity. These also include reports of incidents violations of LGBTIQ+. These are all clear signs of violence in those communities or ethnicities. It's definitely not safe in some respects. So I really don't think that Turkish and Greek Cypriots living together and integrating is ever going to work well or at least be equal, or safe or fully peaceful or nonviolent. I definitely would not feel safe to express my 'Personal Freedom' over there. In such a context, these two ethnicities/countries definitely have not progressed as well or in line with the rest of the world or even with each other. Some of these ethnicities just do not want to recognise Human Rights or Personal Human Freedom and there is definitely a sense of a reluctance or refusal to protect members of it's own ethnicity or community from violence especially when I recently witnessed reports of tensions and conflict in some of those countries of people disrupting Gay Pride events and threatening and murdering LGBTIQ+ individuals who have been involved in certain Pride events. ( I'm not going to name which ethnicity or country has been most reported because I don't want to start any arguments, so for reference just watch the other RU-vid videos on such related issues). I think acts of mutual kindness and respect done in recent years by both ethnicities are a good thing towards friendship and establishing better relationships between the two countries/ethnicities. If a good foundation is not there, the structure will collapse. Even though these two countries/ethnicities have been living side by side, unfortunately what I see is that these two are 'worlds apart' and they are far too different from each other. I wouldn't want to live back there during any community integration because security and safety would be a real concern for me. These two ethnicities have a lot of work to do so they can establish a good strong foundation before any communal integration.