Cyprus Leaders Meet

Graham


Joined: 20/10/2007
Posts: 397

Message Posted:
21/03/2008 12:20

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7308128.stm



Graham

ukturk



Joined: 01/09/2007
Posts: 1974

Message Posted:
21/03/2008 15:06

hi graham

i have been watching it on tv

lets see what the outcome is at least the greek cypriot leader is ready to sit down and talk with talat the last one would not even sit down at the same table not alone shake his hands!!!!

one thing has been said about this meeting that they will first start by opening the leedra street crossing lets see what happens and in my eyes its all talk until i see some action!!!

whats thats saying actions speak louder than words!!!!!

regards

ukturk

lovelife


Joined: 07/07/2007
Posts: 231

Message Posted:
21/03/2008 15:10

Reading this, we all know the greek Cypriots rejected the Annan Plan, but Cristofias mentions that he would prefer talks based on an agreement in 2006, what was that?



Anyone out there know?



LL

Perry


Joined: 27/01/2007
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
21/03/2008 15:11

Ledra Street to open immediately.



Fully fledged reunification talks to begin (with UN involvement) in 3 months. We will see....



Full story on BBC news.

stickle


Joined: 20/02/2008
Posts: 172

Message Posted:
21/03/2008 15:19

From the BBC



Peace talks on Cyprus to restart

The Cypriot president and the Turkish Cypriot leader have agreed to resume peace talks on reunifying the island.

The deal was struck at a meeting between Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat in Nicosia - the first such high-profile talks since 2006.



The two men also agreed to reopen a key crossing in the divided capital.



Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been divided since 1974, when Turkey deployed troops after a coup by Greek Cypriots who wanted union with Greece.



"This is a new area for the solution of the Cyprus problem," Mr Talat said after the meeting in a UN buffer zone near the abandoned Nicosia airport.





"We shall try our utmost in order to come to an agreed solution for the interest of the Cypriot people, both communities, as soon as possible," President Christofias said.



The two leaders also agreed to reopen the crossing at Ledra street, a pedestrian thoroughfare that runs along Nicosia's dividing line.



The street has come to symbolise the partition of the island.



Mr Christofias and Mr Talat said they would meet again in three months' time.

Bowman


Joined: 02/05/2007
Posts: 256

Message Posted:
21/03/2008 15:31

Great to see this phrase used by the BBC , "when Turkey DEPLOYED troops after a coup....." It seems they have finally come to terms with the fact that it was not an invasion!!

TimothyCadman


Joined: 13/12/2007
Posts: 1040

Message Posted:
21/03/2008 15:39

Bowman,



They are still saying on BBCWorldservice "invasion after Greek coup", so it's not filtered through to all levels.

ukturk



Joined: 01/09/2007
Posts: 1974

Message Posted:
21/03/2008 15:42

hi guys

the leedra crossing wont open straight away!!!!

technical work will beging on monday then after the whole area will be cleared of all land mines which were laid by both turks and greeks and hopeflly the cossing will be opened by the 31st of march both mayors of both sides have commented

regards

ukturk

simma



Joined: 03/02/2008
Posts: 346

Message Posted:
21/03/2008 18:40

Hi Guys, I'm going over on the 30th March. Will post as much feedback as possible on my return.

John.

jemjem


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 42

Message Posted:
21/03/2008 21:51

we went over last monday just showed passports both turks and greeks going back and forth it seemed very relaxed i take from what you are saying you will not have to show your passports this will be a big step forward lets all hope for the best

millzer


Joined: 12/04/2007
Posts: 978

Message Posted:
21/03/2008 23:41

July 8th Agreement was basically just an agreement to start to talk about talks. It was signed between Talat and Papadopolous in 2006.

Bowman


Joined: 02/05/2007
Posts: 256

Message Posted:
22/03/2008 02:33

Hi Millzer, cant help yolurself......can you?????

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
22/03/2008 08:45

on al jezeera they reported the same thing , ledra st to be opened immediatly as act of good will , they showed and interviewed a turkish cypriot womens group , compaigning FOR reunification !!!!!!! time will only tell .

regards simbas

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
22/03/2008 14:26

Hi Pat,

hope you are well.Just read that it will be 10/15 days before ledra will be fully open,must be seen as good news though,

Regards,

Paul.

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
22/03/2008 17:18

hi paul , yes thanks paul i am good , hope you are too, things must be moving then eh !

regards ,pat

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
22/03/2008 18:35

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R97h7DV40I8

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
22/03/2008 18:43

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=136649

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
22/03/2008 19:29

Mark,

Very informative posts,lets hope common sense prevails this time and both sides are happy with the outcome,

Regards,

Paul.

Pugsey


Joined: 22/03/2008
Posts: 173

Message Posted:
23/03/2008 03:46

We are hoping to move out to TRNC this year and have bought property (no roof yet) and are interested to know what the overall opinion is about possible renunification. When we were out in early March a few people talked about it but seemed happy to stay separate with recognition of TRNC.



What are the likely impacts economically of reunification i.e. cost of living. Would currancy become euro, and if so what happens to bank accounts held in YTL?



Maybe I'm thinking too far ahead!!

Tiggy


Joined: 25/07/2007
Posts: 1994

Message Posted:
23/03/2008 04:49

Hello Pugsey,



I think most have the same thoughts as you. Time will tell and we will know how to move forward.



TC's seem to have the will to move forward, just hope it is matched by the GC side.



P.

THOMAS


Joined: 27/01/2008
Posts: 28

Message Posted:
23/03/2008 09:58

I have the same concerns as Pugsey i.e. cost of living,currency and YTL accounts considering i was planning living off my investments as i'm sure a lot of people are doing now.If TRNC falls into line with euro does this mean only 4 to 5% returns?Over to you accountants out there.

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
23/03/2008 14:21

dejas vous Thomas.

Pugsey


Joined: 22/03/2008
Posts: 173

Message Posted:
24/03/2008 00:36

Glad it's not just me worrying about this. My inlaws are moving over with us with the thoughts of benefiting from the interest rates etc.



I suppose it is just a case of wait and see.



Maybe I'll have that roof by then!!

orangekazzie



Joined: 31/07/2007
Posts: 1091

Message Posted:
24/03/2008 01:31

Thomas

We are in the same boat (live off interest) until our pensions kick in and that isn't for a few years yet so we are hoping that the great interest rates remain for as long as possible.

Karen

ukturk



Joined: 01/09/2007
Posts: 1974

Message Posted:
24/03/2008 12:03

hi guys

of course if north cyprus does ever get reunified (which i doubt will happen within a year or two) cost of living will rise but remember like the cyprus pound it took at least 2-3 years for that to be disolved and the euro to be made legal tender, so this wont happen on the north side they will keep ytl and slowly introduce the euro and remember most imported products in the north are expensive anyway so they will become cheaper but its more of the local produce and resturarants that will rise in price

and this goes with the interest you get on your savings, even the rates do fall in line with european interest rates then this will inline with greek interest rates which at the moment is 10% and if this is not enough then i would suggest you come over to turkey and open a turkish bank account and survive on the interest you will get here in turkey very simple to open a acoount hear all you need is a tax number which i can optain for you no problem (email me if you need the help) then open the account and recieve a card and you can draw out money and contol your finances in cyprus without no trouble

hope this helps

ukturk

paul90


Joined: 07/11/2007
Posts: 350

Message Posted:
24/03/2008 12:48

Hi Erkan - very interesting thoughts in your post and good advice about interest rates in different EC member states.

However if there was a full and proper reunification and a single Cyprus state then the administration would probably not want a foreign currency (Turkish Lira) being legal tender within the country. I think they would try to make the change to the Euro co-incide with the date of re-unification.

Of course there will be no borders so people will be free to buy goods throughtout the island - so if there are still two currencies for a while then people could easily shop around for the best deals either in the north or in the south with the Euro.

It will be interesting to see what happens - (the above may be hyperthetical -only time will tell.

ukturk



Joined: 01/09/2007
Posts: 1974

Message Posted:
24/03/2008 14:02

hi paul

you are right about time will tell, if this situation does happen i personally dont think they can or will straight away change in to the euro, you will have to ease it in because they have been doing buisness and trading in ytl for many years so to stop using the lira would be a nightmare for most cypriots especially in the villages, the one thing round what you are saying about the two currencies is to have all products that you can buy in the north or the south the same price when you convert from euro in to ytl but the knock on effect of this it that products will increase on the north or vica versa get cheaper

it will defo be interesting to see what happens because this has not happened before two seperate states, one in the e.u one not in the e.u and two diffrent montary systems it will take a lot of time i think

warm regards to you

ukturk (erkan)

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
24/03/2008 18:19

msge 18



You are welcome Paul



My contact tells me that it is all systems go for reunification. The Leaders want it, and so seems the majority of Cypriots.



So the will is there, lets see if they can find the means to agree a solution. They are probably quite far apart in their wants and needs, so it will have to be quite a well thought solution. If one side compromises too substantially it might leave a bitter taste in years to come.



What do you feel are going to be the sticking points? These are a few of my thoughts



*Turkish settlers

*Land and property issues - repatriation, compensation etc

*Redress for foreign purchasers (GC desire)

*Power sharing - bi zonal, bi communal or unitary

*Boundaries (depending on political structure)

*Withdraw of Turkish troops

*Severance/reduction of Greek and Turkish influence (politics)

*Language barriers

*Reliigious differences



and

*Education, healthcare etc - everyday governance



ps I wonder, once they start to negotiate if the reunification honeymoon might start to turn a bit sour



Have they said if the populace will be asked to vote once a solution has been laid out?

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
24/03/2008 19:40

Hi Mark,your contact eh sounds very mi5.It really is a minefield (no pun intended)and is so very complicated,most of which is way over my head.There is an old saying which says that you should never run before you can walk.I just hope that people do not expect these changes to take place overnight as they will not.



One step at a time has got to be the way forward.I think the opening of ledra is a great public relations excercise and believe this will happen by march 31.The next has to be direct flights,tourism is so important to the north and i do honesly believe that if this were an option,millions of what ever currency people decided to spend in the north would be pumped into the economy.



I do feel though that over the next year or so it could be one step forward and two steps back.But as long as the leaders keep talking,and give out positive vibes then a solution will be found.Who would have ever thought that northern ireland would have found a solution,

Regards,

Paul.