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Our
adventures in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continue....
  
This has just been issued. With apologies for the English in some places, but still worth a read.
Speech by President Talat on the Orams Case
The case, which is known as the Orams case in the public opinion and which its phase before the Court of Justice of the European Communities (ECJ) has been concluded, has become an extension of the Greek Cypriot initiatives to deem and to indicate the property issue in Cyprus as an issue comprised only of conflicts between individuals.
Until the case has been brought before the ECJ, it has gone though a lengthy judicial process. Although the Presidency and other competent authorities have not become a direct party in this private civil case taking place between Mr. Apostolides and the Orams couple, we have closely followed the process of the case, provided all kinds of support and done our duties in this respect. Despite our interest and support, we preferred - for the sake of the process - not to respond to the statements made often in an accusing tone.
Since the phase of the case before the ECJ is concluded, it will be appropriate to share the recent developments and my views in this respect with the public opinion, spending utmost care not to damage the next phase of the process.
The process has started with the case filed against the Orams couple by Mr. Apostolides in the Greek Cypriot courts. In the case heard in the absence of the Orams couple, the court has ruled that the Orams couple is to pull down the villa they have built on the immovable property which belonged to Mr. Apostolides’ family before 1974 and to return the said property to Mr. Apostolides. It also ruled that the damages, incurred as a result of the fact that the claimant cannot use the said immovable property, to be paid.
Following this decision, the Orams couple appealed in the Greek Cypriot court but the decision remained the same.
Meanwhile, upon the application of the claimant Mr. Apostolides, the British court has confirmed that the decision of the Greek Cypriot court can also be enforced in the UK within the framework of the 44/2001 EU Regulation.
Following this decision of the British court, the Orams couple has applied to the British High Court. Upon this application, the British High Court has ruled that, in northern Cyprus, the EU Law has been suspended under Protocol 10 of the Act of Accession of the Greek Cypriot side to the EU, therefore, the 44/2001 EU Regulation can not be enforced in terms of the issues regarding northern Cyprus; also, the Orams couple were not provided with enough time to appear in person in the Greek Cypriot courts and defend themselves and as a result, the judgment of the Greek Cypriot courts against the Orams couple cannot be enforced in the UK.
After this decision of the British High Court, within the framework of the right included in Article 43 of the EU Regulation, claimant Mr. Apostolides has applied to the Court of Appeal of England and Wales. In accordance with the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Order 2001 which is in force in the UK, Mr. Apostolides, who is not satisfied with the decision of the British High Court, has the right to apply either to the Court of Appeal or to the House of Lords. Mr. Apostolides preferred to apply to the Court of Appeal.
In accordance with Article 44 of the 44/2001 EU Regulation, apart from this right to apply to the Court of Appeal, Mr. Apostolides does not have any other right to apply to another court in the UK.
When the case was brought before the Court of Appeal, the Court has deemed that, before it concludes on the case, it requires referring the case to the ECJ for preliminary ruling on five important issues, primarily Protocol 10, which was the basis of the first instance court’s decision in favor of the Orams couple. In fact, for the Court to deem this way Mr. Apostolides has applied to the court and the court has decided to refer the case to the ECJ upon the application of Mr. Apostolides.
In line with the well known proceedings of the EU Law, if the national courts (in Orams case the Court of Appeal) require the preliminary ruling of the ECJ, the national courts have the right to directly refer to the ECJ even if the parties reject to it. Besides, since the case was before the Court of Appeal, if one of the parties apply, the court is obliged to refer the case to the ECJ in accordance with Article 234 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community.
As a matter of fact, in his evaluation reflected in the records of the court, the Lord Chief Justice of the British High Court stated that Mrs. Cherie Booth, one of the lawyers of the Orams couple, asked the British High court to conclude the case but the primary issue in this respect is the European Law. The Lord Chief Justice said: “This is perhaps a case, as opposed to many, where certainly the primary issue is so much one of European Law and has so little input that this jurisdiction could give as a result of any connection as with this country that it probably would not be profitable for us to attempt to suggest to the European Court what our view of the answer might be. If that were right then the exercise we ought to be involved in is making quite sure that all the issues are identified and, if possible, that we have agreed terms for the reference of the European Court.”
In order to eliminate all kinds of questions in our minds, it should be stated once again that anyone who is at least familiar with the EU Law knows that, if a national court requires the preliminary ruling of the ECJ regarding a case, it has the competence to ask for it independent of the demands of the parties of the issue.
After the case was brought before the ECJ, the hearing took place and during this hearing the parties have stated their views concerning the questions the British Court of Appeal referred to the ECJ. Also, Commission of the European Communities has delivered its views regarding the issue to the ECJ and underlined that, while determining views in such issues “international public policy” should be taken into consideration.
On 18 December 2008, in line with the proceedings of ECJ, the Advocate General Ms. Kokott has announced her views regarding the issue. After her views which in line with the proceedings of the ECJ were not obligatory in terms of law were announced, it appeared that her views are consistent with the views of the claimant Mr. Apostolides.
As the evaluation of the ECJ is announced today, the ECJ phase of the case is over. It is not proper to express views regarding the decision before the full text is read out and a detailed investigation of it is carried out. It is unacceptable that the ECJ has ignored that the case between Mr. Apostolides and the Orams couple has emerged not as a result of an illegal action committed by the Orams couple, but as a direct consequence of the property issue in Cyprus and the fact that there are two different property regimes and two different laws in two sides of the island.
At this point, the important thing is to inform the people of the TRNC correctly regarding the future profile of the issue.
Firstly, it should be acknowledged that the decision of the ECJ does not mean that this case is over. At this stage, the issue will be brought before the British Court of Appeal once again and the Court, taking into consideration the responses of the ECJ to the questions referred to it, will decide whether the decisions of the Greek Cypriot courts regarding the Orams case can be enforced in the UK or not.
While deciding, the British Court of Appeal will take the accordance of the decision with the public policy into consideration. Therefore, before the decision of the Court is announced, the final result of the Orams case will not be determined.
In the meantime, it should not be forgotten that the case the Orams couple have filed in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on the grounds that their right to a fair hearing is violated in the case before the Greek Cypriot courts has not been finalized yet. Provided that the Orams couple wins this case before the ECHR, it will be proven that the proceedings in the Greek Cypriot courts were against the human rights.
However, it should be acknowledged that we consider the property issue in Cyprus not as individual conflicts but as a reflection of the Cyprus problem. Unless the Cyprus problem is solved, it is not possible to solve the property issue comprehensively. In a comprehensive settlement, property issue will be solved taking into consideration not only the rights of the pre 1974 owners but also the rights of the currents users. The issue will be solved not only through return of the properties but through a mechanism where compensation, exchange and return are evaluated together.
During the whole process of the Orams case, we have expressed these facts in all the contacts we have established both in Cyprus and in international arena. We have underlined that the property issue in Cyprus can not be settled through cases such as the Orams case, that such initiatives serve nothing other than straining the relations between the two peoples and that they do not help the comprehensive settlement of the problem. In order to express this position of ours, we have benefited from our friends and received professional service.
Therefore, the Turkish Cypriot people should acknowledge that, regardless of the decision that will emerge from the British Court of Appeal regarding the Orams case, the TRNC Presidency and all the organs of the state will protect the law enforced in the TRNC. Until the Cyprus problem is solved, the Turkish Cypriot side will respond to the tactics of the Greek Cypriot side to undermine our position at the negotiation table via solutions we will produce within the framework of law.
This position of ours should also be taken into consideration by the Greek Cypriot leadership and Greek Cypriot people as well. Our search for a settlement at the negotiation table should not be deemed as a sign of weakness. We will maintain our efforts to reach a settlement regardless of the conditions but we will not refrain from adopting necessary measures required for the well being and protection of the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people.
The recent developments in this process have indicated once again that the EU membership the Greek Cypriot side has unjustly obtained is being exploited against the Turkish Cypriot people. Same developments prove once again that the EU does not have a positive role in the settlement of the Cyprus problem. Everyone interested in the settlement of the Cyprus problem should now comprehend this fact one more time.
As stated in the then UN Secretary General’s 27 May 2005 dated report, these developments confirmed that increase of individual property cases constitutes a serious threat both to the relations between the two peoples and to the negotiation process. It should not be forgotten that in the said report it is also stated that property issue will be closed through a comprehensive settlement.
At this stage, the views stated by the ECJ concerning the Orams case will be evaluated by the competent authorities of the TRNC, their likely effects to the Cyprus problem will be determined and necessary legal and political measures will be taken. Turkish Cypriot people should be aware of this fact and continue their daily lives with peace of mind.
Presidential Press Office
There are some interesting facts in this speech and in particular the later half of the speech indicates the attitude which is being taken by the government here.
Far from over yet and we should be aware that some of the off the cuff statements, by many, on some of the blog sites can only serve to further damage the already delicate property market both here and in the South.
It is painfully obvious that the press in Uk and elsewhere do fully read the judgments and understand the facts before blindly writing articles which cause people to panic. Two instances of this have occured in the last couple of days.
First I received a call from a journalist on The Telegraph, he initially wanted only to find out how much panic there now was on the island. I asked him if he would be so kind as to fully research any article before just blandly stating that we were all to lose our homes. I asked him to investigate why the courts in the Republic of Cyprus had for the last 4/5 years refused access to Turkish Cypriots with land claims in the South and I reminded him that there are 40,000 Turkish Cypriots with property deeds from the Greek side of the island. He was not aware of this and promised to call back after discussions with his boss. He never called back.
The second incident was today. Does anybody ever remember that program fronted by Trevor MacDonald that was so heavily biased towards the Greek side that we all thought that the program had been funded by their propaganda budget. Well today I received a call from a lady who said she had spoken with me at the time, whilst doing research for that program. I pointed out to her that that program had to be one of the worst researched programs ever discussing the Cyprus issue. She slammed the phone down. So watch out for another biased ITV program.
Before we get back to the newspapers, the political situation and what is going on here I just have to tell you about an evening of show songs, given by the Chorus Lambousa.
The people performing are all amateurs and have spent many weeks rehearsing for this absolutely fabulous show which we went to at Hotel Lambousa.
The stage was set out as a club bar and we started out with our Compare singing Wilkommen which made it very plain to all that the whole show was based on a working girls club. The songs were all from a whole variety of well known shows. Some of the chorus gave us Big Spender, Dancing Queen and You'll Never Walk Alone. The show was interspersed with solos and duets all in the theme of the whole Razzle Dazzle Club background. The end of the first half was the well known Aquarius. Some of the guys dressed up in their old Flower Power gear. The special one for The Layabouts was our friend Roger B who looked a bit like something out of a wigwam, it will be a long time before we let him live that one down.
The second half commenced with the chorus and the song Razzle Dazzle and then continued with solos and duets, some of the most noticeable were When I'm 64 by Anita Long and Ian Woods and then another stage appearance by Roger singing Yesterday. The finale was the Rhythm of Life, which was the theme for the entire evening. At the end the audience gave the entire cast, the producers etc a very well deserved standing ovation. A thoroughly brilliant evening and we look forward to the next show scheduled for December.
Still it rumbles on. The press continue to display a a total lack of any real sense of reality and knowledge of the real story behind the divided island. Even our own Cyprus Today leads off with "Thousands could now lose homes", what a load of c--p. Fortunately deeper in the paper in the special report and from two regular columnists, the realities of the situation begin to come out. An article in the Cyprus Mail as a result of an interview on The Voice of America, sums up the feelings here.
Orams case could spell end of Cyprus talks
By Nathan Morley
Eroglu: I’m very angry and upset
HARDLINE Turkish Cypriot ‘Prime Minister’ elect Dervis Eroglu has suggested that if British Courts adopt the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling in the Apostolides-Orams case, then it could spell the end of the current UN sponsored peace talks.
In an interview yesterday with Voice of America, he said that he was “very angry and upset” by the latest twist in the Orams case and that Turkish Cypriots were becoming increasing fed up with the process.
“The decision of the European Court of Justice, if accepted as it is in the British High Court of appeal, will mean that it will not be meaningful for us to continue the negotiations. This will affect very negatively the process,” he said.
His comments come after the ECJ backed the right of a Greek Cypriot to reclaim land in the occupied areas that has since been sold to Linda and David Orams, a retired British Couple.
However, Eroglu stressed he would not personally ask for an end to the talks, but said the Turkish Cypriot public would believe any further discussion between the two communities would be pointless.
“If the Greek Cypriots want to push us with courts and judges, then the negotiations are nonsense. Our people will believe that it is meaningless to be at the negotiating table and they will put pressure on us to finish this process.
“This situation has created great difficultly for us, with trade, the economy and investment.”
Eroglu’s nationalist UBP party favours a two-state solution and calls for international recognition of the Turkish-occupied areas
The party also seeks integration with Ankara rather than EU membership.
Eroglu also stated that he was convinced that the current peace talks being held between President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat would be the last ever such process on the Cyprus problem.
“This is probably the last chance, Turkish Cypriots are starting to get fed up with this whole negotiating process, and they are losing their interest. People are more bothered about economic problems, their daily life. They don’t ask anymore ask about the talks. If we can’t use this last chance, Turkish Cypriots will start to think only about their own state.”
Eroglu also confirmed he will appoint a representative of his to “monitor” the talks taking place in the UN-controlled buffer zone, with a simple “yes”, but refused to give further details saying: “Ask Mr. Talat.”
This statement of intent has been seen as the first sign of “meddling” in the process.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009
Mr Eroglu is from the UBP party, not the same party as the President, Mr Talat. The UBP are more and more inclined to a divided island solution as they fully understand that these two Cypriot peoples cannot live together in perfect harmony, so despite what may have been said before in talks a change of direction looks extremely likely. A sort of last chance saloon really. It is likely that this whole thing will quieten down again over the next few weeks and flare up again when the British court convenes.
Other news of interest. Tourist Chief hits out at CTA. Tourism chiefs are saying that our National airline are partly responsible for the downturn in tourism here. They quote the prices as being prohibitive and the lack of seat availability from many UK and European airports. They also have clearly said what I have been saying for some time, CTA is very overstaffed. 750 employees for a total fleet of only 5 planes, ridiculous, the industry norm is 50 per aircraft.
A major clean up of the tourist beaches has started in time for the summer season. Councils are warning that they have difficulty containing the problem, they blame it partly on rubbish washing across from Syria and Lebanon but also actually agree, that locals should be educated to preserve their heritage.
Two of the local blog sites went down on Wednesday, Cyprus 44 and TRNC Villa Owners. A South Cyprus blog site is being blamed for hacking in and closing the sites.
The weather. UGH. We don't understand what is going on, by this time of the year we should be experiencing wall to wall sunshine and warm pools, but no the forecast is again for more rain this week and as I write this it is actually raining a little and b-cold outside. Well only cold to those of us who are acclimatised I suspect.
New game for the Pumas Rugby team booked for coming Saturday:-
Hi Frank & Joan
The Pumas have a second friendly fixture.
The Ottomans from Turkey have agreed to play the Pumas on Saturday May 9th.
Gates open at 3pm
Kick off will be 3.30pm
There will be a BBQ, bar and entertainment on the training pitch straight after the game at 5pm.
The BBQ will be chicken sis and burgers, tickets cost 10TL on a first come first service from the gate, limited to 150.
Bar will be serving cider, beer, white wine, red wine and soft drinks.
Come along for a great family day and support the only rugby team in North Cyprus.
Should be an enjoyable afternoon.
Oops. A change to the Rugby.
Hi Frank & Joan
We have a last minute change to the fixture on Saturday 9th May 2009. Unfortunately the Ottomans had to cancel the trip over to Cyprus last minute on Tuesday night. The UN have kindly offered to come over with another team from the Forces and play a mini 10's tournament.
There is also a possibility of further teams coming as well.
Kick off will still be at 3.30pm at Alsancak stadium. There will be a bbq and bar running during the tournament on the training pitch. Burger or chicken sis for 5TL. Bar will be serving wine, beer, cider and soft drinks. There will be a bouncy castle and face painter for the kids and Kelvin will be playing music after the game.
We are desperately short of people to help with the BBQ, we were hoping for people to do half an hour stints, so that no one person is lumbered with cooking the whole day - do we have any volunteers able to help us? If so please contact Claire on 0533 866 2758.
Anybody fancy themselves as BBQ experts.......
Yesterday evening was the last one for Steini & Sigga before they go back to Iceland tomorrow, so the four of us went for dinner at The Padesha. We had an excellent dinner but it was a great pity that we were the only people in the restaurant. This is happening all too often these days as more and more places are opening up, but the cake does not get bigger so just as many are closing down. We four had a super evening and although they are coming over again in September we had to promise to go to Iceland next year, which from France will be much easier.
This morning I got up to start the round of hedge cutting again. The lantana hedges are full in flower so they had attracted 100s of butterflies. It is a shame to cut so many of these flowers off, but I know from experience that if I don't cut at this time, after all the rains, they will go wild and I will regret it.
Stewart and Barbara were round for dinner this evening. They are going to France on holiday next month so wanted to borrow our GPS device as we had said what a boon it was when we were over there. This required a little lesson in sage, difficult as there are no satellite maps for Cyprus.
There has been much advertising of late about an Abba concert at The Mercure Hotel here in TRNC. Their music is probably, we are ashamed to admit, from our era. A few of us decided that this would be a good evening out. However we know about the prices at the so called 5* hotel so Stewart, Barbara and us two decided a trip to The Ravine for some fish & chips and a couple of beers might be a good idea, before the concert.
Now those of us who were going have lived here long enough to know that 5* here is not what you probably expect, but we never learn! We paid 70TL per person (£65.00 per couple) and found out when we got there that it was an outdoor concert. OK fair enough, but no time to nip back for that big sweater and maybe we should have realised that these sort of things are always outside, despite the huge concert hall in this hotel. But this was the moment when we discovered what Abba Fever really meant. A grassy bank, round the back of the hotel on very damp bean bags and a 45 minute wait for them to actually start the concert. The added insult to this was the free drink offered to over 50s only....surprise, surprise, they didn't want to check my passport to prove it. Now the drink was also really 5*, some watered down soft drink of the quality that we would never buy locally or a very small bottle of some unknown beer that really should have been given back to the horse.
When will be learn. They build a fancy hotel and staff it with people who are only 2/3 star trained. I actually overheard a resident complaining to one of the locals about the same thing.
Anyway enough of the damp bum complaints, the concert was brilliant. The Swedish group who are professionally doing this Abba music were really good. The two girls in the group had super voices and looked good too. Shades of Mama Mia but much, much better and the concert lasted almost a couple of hours with the two guys giving their two penneth whilst the girls did costume changes. The usual finale with smoke, smoke and more smoke and of course a couple of encores. By this time we had found ways of keeping warm because some had gone home early or just wandered off, so we grabbed the spare bean bags.
On our way home, just as I was thinking of a Glen something over ice before bed, we encountered a hold up. Somebody had decided to park their 4x4 in a ditch and the police had called in the breakdown truck to get them out.
Up early for a Sunday, as we had to collect Richard from the airport at 9 o'clock. At least when it got round to brunch time we were able to use up the mushrooms with some poached eggs on toast, to fill the inner man. Glad he is back as he is the only expert in the house at making smoothies.
Lazy day time with an opportunity to read the weekly Cyprus Today as well as watch the football, which was very important after Liverpool's decisive win yesterday.
First headline from the new government in power. They have discovered a 100 million TL deficit in the budget. According to them it is going to grow as well, as the TRNC monthly income is 135m TL but outgoings are 200m TL and on top of this many firms are owed money by the state. I feel an investigation coming on maybe they could start by looking at the outgoing expense accounts, sounds a bit like the UK.
The very intelligent head of the Estate Agents union has come up with a super plan to counteract the effect of the Orams decision and to kick start the building industry again. First he suggests that all title deeds should be issued "to the bearer" and I don't think I need to point out the stupidity of that. Secondly, a two year jail sentence for anybody coming over the border with a summons for a property owner here. Thirdly, stop all Greek Cypriots from coming over the border, but allow all other EU citizens to cross. Oh boy!!!! He did however suggest that all PTPs should be issued immediately, now that would please many.
There are of course numerous articles quoting lawyers opinions about the EU ruling on the Orams case, but to summarise them all. According to TRNC law. demolition and the return of properties is impossible. Thus, the benefit that could be gained by the Greek Cypriots in this difficult, long and expensive road is minimal. The only result can be the effective implementation of compensation and that the only just, fast and cheap way the problem can be resolved is by an island solution.
On a very positive front, planning permission has finally been given to commence the building of an £8 million marina, 30 k east of Girne. The man whose idea this was always been, has spent 5 years trying to realise a dream and finally work will commence in July.
Another call from ITV this weekend asking for input into a program expanding on the one they did three years ago, fronted by Trevor MacDonald. I said that I was personally not prepared to be interviewed in the light of the last totally biased thing they produced last time, but have now given them some names of Cyprus Today journalists who may talk sense to them.
Guess what summer must be coming at last. Joan and I went in to the pool for the first time. It is still very cold but getting better.
Six of us only for the Layabouts night out tonight. We went to The Red Lion (ex Hensons) on the road down to Denizkizi hotel.
They have got their tables out on the terrace but it is not quite warm enough to sit out to dine in the evenings, unless of course you do it very early.
This is very much an English pub style place but have to say that the food was excellent and very reasonably priced.
You know I said that it was getting warmer, well today we had to have water delivered by tanker for the pool. They needed to put in 3 tons as a result of evaporation. This is a regular summer problem here, since we are not allowed to use the automatic top up from the mains anymore.
I have just had a phone call confirming an earlier suggestion. Apparently a senior British judge; and I don't mean John Deed, has confirmed that there is no way that the British courts will ratify the EU decision on the Orams case until such time as the island is settled, either by reunification or split. This means that they have clearly shot themselves in the foot as now they have to resolve the property issue politically before anything else can happen. Please don't ask me to get our friend to get this judge to put his comments in writing, because it ain't going to happen until the official hearing.
Not for nothing is somebody investing £8 million on a marina and I feel sure that many Turkish Cypriots will feel gratified that at last the south have to recognise them and their lands and property instead of hiding behind the "History started in 1974" cloak. Only last week we visited some local friends who showed us a file containing the deeds for over 300 donums of land, much of it with property on it. That has got to be worth a lot of compensation money.
What a plan. A lovely lazy Sunday except of course I had to spend an hour in the garden after breakfast, followed by a nice swim, a shower and a trip out to the church summer fair. This is always held at The Hermitage, where the vicar lives, and is always well attended. There are the usual stalls with books, bric-a-brac, home made cakes, and the music stage in the middle of the grounds for children and brave adults to perform on. This year it was very hot and many would have liked some sort of shade over the stage I think.
Joan and I returned home having bought a couple of books and a home made fruit cake, bad for the diet I know, but it was very nice.
There are some interesting things in the local paper stemming from the newly formed governments approach to things. They have offered to work closely with expats to tackle major concerns about life in the TRNC. They have agreed to set up a working group, with the protection of foreign property buyers top of the agenda.
All this is of course coming out of the concern surrounding the Orams case result. I have to say that I cannot see this going much further and that panic is the last resort. How can the British courts accept a decision made in a European Country about a property, in a country which they do not recognise and a decision which was made in an EU court, which is trying to dictate how English law should be applied. Are we now so completely controlled by Europe that they can dictate our court decisions? Polite---poppycock.
There is also an article in the paper which claims that Mr Apostolidis, who made the claim against Linda and David Orams, is living on Turkish Cypriot land in the south. He denies this of course, but it would not be a huge surprise.
It's gangster country. A wrecked BMW X6 was found in a ravine area above Lapta with the body of a guy, with 5 bullets in his brain, inside the wreck. It appears that the guy was a thorough bad guy working in and around the clubs and casinos and had already done some time in jail. Guess somebody objected to him being around. Three have been arrested and charged with murder, we will have to await the outcome. Locals I have spoken to say the guy will not be missed.
The week long court case starts Monday to examine whether direct flights should be allowed to run between UK and Northern Cyprus. If anybody hears anything, let me know.
Well after a further swim, lazy look at the football on telly,(oh dear!), we three settled for a nice big piece of roast pork with the trimmings. We rounded the dinner off with Richard's poached pear special. which was extremely delicious, must do that again some time.
There are all sorts of rumours around about the way this new government is tackling things. Apparently the first things happening are some major changes at the highest civil servant levels. I heard this from a very good friend who is likely to get one of the posts and he tells me that it is all geared to cut out much of the corruption current. Now that would be a revelation.
There is also talk about doing away with the thirteenth salary currently paid to government employees. If that is true then that will cause a bit of an uproar, but will be a huge saving on the budget. I think that this sort of thing is being dictated by Turkey, who apparently paid the deficit inherited by this new government.
Hopefully the next rumour which is to reduce the numbers of superfluous staff is true because then some might learn what it is to work and be properly trained to get through the huge backlog of paperwork which exists.
We await the new rumours and the actualities.
Yesterday I said about getting things to work, well today I just have to relate this experience so that the next time you come to do some banking here you will know all about it.
Joan and I wanted to transfer some Euros to our bank in France, not a huge great sum so shouldn't be a problem and we had a small deposit account maturing today so seemed the right thing to do with it.
We got to the bank at 9.15 this morning and took our number. We were number 12 and they were currently working on number 10, so no sweat. Five minutes was all we had to wait.
We gave the cashier our deposit account card and a print out of the bank details in France with all the necessary IBAN Numbers etc.
It took from then until 10.50 to complete the transaction with the cashier checking and triple checking with her superiors etc before we got the papers to sign and were able to leave. We had tied up one cashier for all of this time and by the time we had left others were dealing with customer number 38.
So next time you are in a full bank in UK and worrying about the time it takes to do things, think about this one experience.
You know that I said that the old Saffron Restaurant was now the Punjab, well we decided to give it a try with The Layabouts crowd.
There were 14 of us so we had pre-booked to give them a chance to arrange the tables.
Have to say that it was very good. We all ordered just main courses and our own drinks. The choice between us was very mixed but all the food came at the same time and all piping hot. Everybody declared that they had done a super job and at a good price with the usual brandy on the house thrown in with the coffee. Worth going back to.
Well the big news this week is that Cyprus Today, our beloved English newspaper is going to introduce a midweek edition. Guess they are going to be doing a lot of cut and paste out of UK newspapers on-line.
The headline today though is that Gary Robb, that well known developer of Amaranta Valley, currently deported and in jail in UK facing serious drug charges, is going to sue the Turkish Government for 50 million Euros, he says for breaching his human rights by allowing his deportation. The mind boggles!!!!
Some of the TRNC's top brains, including academics and lawyers, joined forces this week to create The Action Committee to the ECJ verdict on the Orams case. They are now only debating their response to the EU. Correct me if I am wrong, but should this not have happened immediately after the result was announced? I hope that this is in fact the start of the new government trying to put together a strong case for the TRNC and finally getting their act together and fighting back. Let us all hope so and maybe with some input from ex-pats in the shape of the BRS and others.
The London High Court heard the case for direct flights during the last week. The lawyers acting for CTA feel positive but it will be a couple of months before the verdict is announced.
Quiet day at home today with a BBQ planned for the three of us later in the afternoon. I spent a bit of time doing some necessary maintenance stuff around, such as cleaning out and resealing the shower base in the second bathroom and then finally giving the gas BBQ a really good clean and the teak surround some oil.
Joan and I had found some huge mushrooms earlier in the week so Richard decided that his culinary skills should come to the fore and he would do stuffed mushrooms as a starter. This we followed with mint and garlic lamb chump chops with salad stuff and a strawberry flan. Well you have to have one day a week without worrying about the diet and you need to wash down with a good bottle of wine. Yummy stuff.
A very interesting article which appears in the Cyprus Dialogue and written by a Greek Cypriot. This guy has been in politics almost all of his life and clearly sees the problem the way it is. The article is quite long but worth a read.
THE ARTICLE IS HEADED. NICOS A ROLANDIS. POLITICAL BUREAU.
Minister of Foreign Affairs1978-1983
Minister of Commerce, Industry & Tourism1998-2003
Member of the House of Representatives1991-1996
President of the Liberal Party1986-1998
Vice-President of Liberal International 1994-1998
13 May 2009
GOD, ALLAH, THE GOLDEN SPOONS AND
THE CYPRUS PROBLEM
In accordance with an entry in my political archive, John Peristianis, Cyprus Ambassador in Paris, had requested to come and meet me whilst I was in Geneva on the 9th May 1979 (I was Foreign Minister at the time). Peristianis reported the following:
“The Prime Minister of Greece Constantinos Karamanlis received me in Athens. He told me that the Cyprus side does not pursue the line agreed with Athens. Karamanlis told me that Makarios had accepted a solution based mainly on territory, which would consequently entail a geographical separation of the two communities. Karamanlis further said that Kyprianou had also agreed that the question of territory was more significant than the constitutional aspect. Furthermore Karamanlis allowed me to read the relevant minutes kept in the office of the Greek Prime Minister. In general terms, my impression through my various contacts in the French capital is that Greece and Cyprus are not “at idem” on the Cyprus issue. This is also the opinion of journalists Montiano and Sulzberger”.
I knew that Peristianis was well connected with Karamanlis and that the information he gave me was absolutely correct. Besides, my own experience had led me to the same conclusion. I briefed President Kyprianou accordingly.
The perennial lack of understanding between Greece and Cyprus has been one of the main reasons for the worsening prospects for a Cyprus settlement. In the early sixties Makarios was in constant conflict with the Greek Government, to such an extent that Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou wrote to him on the 25th February 1964, during one of the bloodiest and most grave phases of the problem, that he could follow the Cyprus developments only through the international press. The clashes of Andreas Papandreou and Kyprianou in the 1980s are also well known. On some occasions when we visited Athens in those days, we were received at the Airport by a junior attaché of the Protocol department of the Ministry. The Cyprus President was not even hosted at a lunch on those occasions. It is also tragic that in January 1996, during the Imia islets crisis, when Greece was at the verge of war with Turkey and the peril of catastrophe was hovering all over Cyprus, President Clerides, despite his persistent efforts, was unable to reach Greek Prime Minister Simitis for almost two days. And what about Costas Karamanlis fully agreeing with both Papadopoulos and Christofias, whose positions on Cyprus have always been diametrically opposite! Such an attitude reflects a lack of respect for the average Cypriot and is indicative of the je-m’en-foutisme and apathy which charactarises the relations between the two countries.
The lack of understanding generates indecisiveness and indecisiveness generates disaster. Many leaders on the Greek Cypriot side stick to the lowest common denominators, to cheap patriotism and silly slogans, which are repeated like a mishmash of stupid clichés. There is no in-depth analysis, no political thought, no soul searching.
The Turkish side, on the contrary, seems to know perfectly well what it is after and how to achieve it. Turkey exploited our mistakes and the crime of the coup d’ etat in 1974 and she invaded Cyprus almost with impunity. Today, 35 years on, as a result of the lack of resoluteness on our part to pursue an acceptable or tolerable solution of our problem, Turkey was acclaimed in Brussels in 2004 by the European Council (with our consent as well!) for her constructive efforts to resolve the Cyprus question. Furthermore, she was recently voted by an overwhelming majority of the U.N General Assembly as a member of the Security Council.
Turkey has managed to convince the international community that she is interested in a speedy solution of the problem, whilst we, the victims of occupation, keep harping on the tune that we do not want “asphyxiating timeframes” (we are asphyxiated for 35 years!). Our message to the world is that there is no need at all to hurry up, which is interpreted by the international community as a lack of care for a solution. Very, very clever indeed!
But do some of us really want a solution – as AKEL put it recently. Do we pursue a “feasible” solution, the way Makarios referred to it in the past? Because if the solution we are after simply reflects our wishful thinking, if it is not feasible and if it is not in line with what we have already agreed in the past and consonant with the Security Council resolutions (bizonality, political equality etc), then we are simply daydreaming. We do not want a solution. For example, the Makarios-Denktas Agreement of 1977 provides that matters of principle and basic human rights will be open for discussion, taking into consideration the bicommunal federal system and certain practical difficulties of the Turkish Cypriot community. It also provides that there will be separate territorial areas which will be administered by the two communities. Do we accept all these, not simply on paper, do we accept them in real terms?
And if we do not accept them, then how do we envision that the solution will be brought about? How shall we recover the occupied territories and the properties lost? How will the Turkish army be withdrawn? How, in practical terms, will the Turkish settlers, who have inundated the occupied north, depart?
Do we possess the military strength to impose what we consider as just? (although we have partly demolished our just cause through our sins perpetrated during the first 14 years of the Republic of Cyprus). Can we, either on our own or together with Greece, defeat Turkey, one of the strongest allies of NATO, in the Cyprus land space? And is Greece prepared to embark on a military adventure over Cyprus? Or is it that some of us may have the same inspirations again with those of 1974, when some empty-headed Greeks and Cypriots tried to bring about union with Greece and instead they landed Cyprus up with humiliation, occupation and havoc?
And if the military option is not advisable, can we, by virtue of judgments of European courts remove even a single Turkish soldier, or a single Turkish Settler? Can we recover even a square foot of occupied land and return it to the refugee, who has been deprived of it and keeps waiting for years and years? We had recently a just ruling of the Court of the European Communities. This ruling protects the rightful owners against the illegal exploitation and sale of their properties to European citizens. However is it possible for this ruling to transgress the above limits of protection? Could the judgment of a Court cause the return of properties, in practical terms, to their owners? Could it regulate matters of war and peace? Could it reverse the torrent of international human exploitation?
The Cyprus problem cannot be resolved either by war or by rulings of Law Courts. If the two sides do not have the will and the courage to recognize their blunders of the past and to follow jointly the path of peace, through a historic political settlement, the Cyprus problem will not be resolved.
Christofias and Talat have a very difficult road to cross, if it is not already too late. Christofias needs a real and active help and support from the side of Greece. He carries on his shoulders the weight of his political allies, who fight him continuously and openly, whilst at the same time they swallow with golden spoons the ambrosia and the nectar of the God of Power. Talat has Eroglou and Ankara breathing down his neck. Let God and Allah help them both.
Well this is it, the day of the Midweek Cyprus Today. So what have we got for our £1.50.
One of the leaders of the "Action Group" forming out of the Orams decision is calling for a day of action. Actions such as sealing off the EU offices in Lefkosa, closing the borders by filling the roads with protesters. They want vigorous action to highlight the injustice of the ECJ ruling. They particularly want the High Court to squash the decision because as they point out, the president of the court is Greek married to a Greek Cypriot. Couldn't possibly be any bias there.
There is still a huge problem with the budget deficit and the new government is suggesting that it may not be able to pay pensioners this month end and some government workers may also have a problem. That would be a huge disaster for the economy here.
More on the island discussions, at least I think that that is what it is about.
UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon is saying that he is disappointed at progress
Britain's representative at the UN says that a unique opportunity exists for the Cyprus leaders to find a solution.
The South and the UK will, according to the Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister, be discussing ways of working closer together. At the same time it is revealed that British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband has pulled out of meetings in Athens and Ankara, because the South objected to him meeting with President Talat in his offices here.
At the same time "It's all Turkey's fault" claim the Greek Cypriots.
Does this sound to you like good progress towards a solution?
The rest of the newspaper is as predicted, cut and paste from world news.
An evening at Shakespeare House to attend a band concert in aid of The Army Benevolent Fund. If you look back over a few years you will see that we have attended a number of these. In previous years it has been very hot as we have all got there early afternoon and sweltered under sun umbrellas. This year we were setting up just after 5 o'clock and the concert was not due to start until 7.30 p.m., a much better arrangement.
For those who want to participate, there is a prize for the table themes. This year our theme was "On the Nile". Probably chosen by the ladies because between us we had enough Egyptian clothing to go around. I was very pleased to donate, hence you see Charles wearing my "frock" which left me the opportunity to be more conventional and wear an Egyptian shirt over light trousers.
The music this year was from The band of The Parachute Regiment who marched in to join us and entertain. There was as usual lots of good music, including some big band style which gave an opportunity for a number of soloists, including amongst these was this solo trumpet. An excellent concert all round and for some it looked like hard work. This diminutive drummer had her work cut out with some of the instruments she had chosen.
During the interval we had a raffle, always a money spinner on these occasions and the winning table was announced. This year the winners were a crowd dressed up from the harem, a brilliant theme and very colourful.
As always a superb evening and also as always the setting lends itself to this concert.
The Weekend version of Cyprus Today has now been published so lets see what they have to say. My guess is that they will have trouble finding lots of local news but have an opportunity to pick the best bits out of UK newspapers for people to read.
Apparently a case of Swine Flu has been identified on the island, but this is in the south. Lets hope it does not migrate across the border.
I have frequently mentioned the introduction of speed cameras on the island, with a plan for 50 more this year. Well it has been revealed that in the 16 months since they were introduced they have netted 1.7 million TL. Not a patch on UK income but then the fines are much lower, but still with an accumulating points on your license system. Government statistics suggest a 40% reduction in the number of accidents, but if you drive on the roads here you will still come across a regular number of idiots, overtaking on blind corners, mobile phones glued to their ears etc.
The Royal mail has conducted the test on mail to us here in TRNC and their results show that 20% is not arriving. They had been told but needed to find out for themselves. Now we will have to wait for a further investigation and the final report. Meantime the advice to all is:- If it is important then use registered mail, this seems to always get through.
The British Residents Society (BRS) are introducing a new website and newsletter www.brstrnc.com The newsletter will appear on the site. with the first being available on 20th June. Watch out for that one.
A platform launched to challenge the European Court of Justice ruling on the Orams case is STILL considering what to do. It is absolutely brilliant that at last somebody is making a stand, but please stop talking about it and come up with some concrete legal challenges. What about all that land in the south owned by Turkish Cypriots?????
The new Prime Minister is to meet with President Talat every Tuesday from now on. The Prime Minister wants a representative from his party on the negotiating team with the Greek Cypriots, but the president is resisting. The Prime Minister has stressed that he and his party are also for a solution, but not at any cost. A clear indication that their ideas for unification or division are not that close together and I think that the Prime Minister is more in tune with the peoples wishes.
The government has made two more appointments to run state operated businesses, one of these is for the Cyprus Turkish Electricity board. There is still a huge problem over the budget deficit inherited by the new government. If Turkey has to prop things up they will make demands on this government but they are saying that they will not touch things like the salary, pensions or inflation linked pay rises, cutbacks will have to be on other things such as overtime. Meantime there will be no pension cheques at the end of this month, so look out for marches etc.
Now it is time for a lie in the sun and a swim. See you soon.
Joan and I went down to the old harbour this evening as we had been invited for dinner on Sakki. Joan had been down earlier in the week to book for my birthday trip at the end of June and received the invite then. This really is the best boat in the harbour as far as value for money is concerned and a really friendly couple who run it.
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