The way to a solution ( or The Road to Lysi)

The way to a solution ( or The Road to Lysi)

There is a lot of gossip going on from the two sides of the “Green Line” because of statements made by the two leaders. Mainly because of things that Mr Akintzi said.

Many people “from the other side” are shouting and are complaining that their leader has agreed to return land back to the G/C. Nationalist Newspaper of the north , “Volkan” wrote that “the hunting guns are ready”, implying that no T/C user of G/V property will willing turn it back to the rightful owner.

Many people “from our side” are complaining and are accusing Mr Anastasiades that he is offering too much political rights to “the minority”. And they are complaining that the T/C side will never give us any returns.

For an impartial speculator , though , things are very simple. Since we decided that we want to reach a solution , 2 things are important and have to be done:
1) T/C have to return land to the G/C side. Lots of land. A lot of land so many G/C refugees will return to it. T/C have to realize that no agreement will be accepted , unless it provides for the return of big areas and lots of people. This must be made understandable and acceptable by the T/C community.

2) G/C have to accept the T/C as their equal partners in the new state. The G/C side has to accept and fully digest that there are going to be also T/C officials in the government of the new Federal Republic of Cyprus. There will be Ministers and MPs like the government of the republic in 1960. And they will have the same rights and obligations like their G/C colleagues.  G/C should understand and fully realize that there are going to be T/C “all around and in their way”. This has to be completely acceptable. And T/C have to be seen as friends and partners and not like some “burden”, that will make things difficult.

In order for a solution to pass through the acceptance of the people , these two actions must be realized and be accepted completely. If these conditions are not met, the majority of the people will reject the solution with a big NO.

I speak to my fellow T/C compatriots:
“It’s now 50  years that you are in isolation. Maybe in 1974 you found the opportunity to take revenge and to capture half of the island and keep it with the force of the arms. Now, though, it’s not 1963 0r 1967 or 1974. Now it’s 2015. If you really want to be part of the international community, if you really want to go out of the isolation, if you really want to have real and lasting peace, you have to accept that you have to return land. And a lot of it.  Keep your ears shut to the sound of the fanatics who shout “…what was conquered with blood cannot be given back…” The return of land is a one way action.”

I speak to my fellow G/C compatriots:

“Gone is the time when the Republic of Cyprus was a GreekCypriot republic. If we want a solution to the Cyprus problem, if we really want real peace and security, we must accept it. We will have T/C partners. Finished! Within the Government and within the Parliament. They will have their shops, they will live amongst us, they will walk between us. We have to finally accept this. Close your ears to the fanatics who shout “They separate to the North, and we , separate to the South”. This kind of separation will bring the total absorption of the island by Turkey a step closer.”

My friends, lasting Peace needs mutual compromises and sacrifices. Already we are very near in achieving this goal. The two communities should do now the extra mile that is needed, for the creation of a new country, for our children and for our grandchildren. A new land, peaceful, without armies with all the inhabitants living together happily.

Andreas Soudjis – Electronics Engineer

Limassol 14/8/2015

www.andreassoudjis.blogspot.com