Turkish Cypriots should say ‘YES’

If a "NO" vote comes out of today’s referendum, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) will sink even deeper into the swamp it has been trying to survive in for years and will eventually be very disappointed.

The status quo will win and those supporting change will lose out.

Conservatives and those who live on state wages by hanging on to them will guard their lifestyles and the hopes and dreams of the young will be destroyed.

If the Turkish side says "NO," it will make the same mistake Greek Cypriots are doing and will be handing over Cyprus to Greek Cypriot leadership.

Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos will have won an unexpected victory and have the opportunity to win back all the points it has lost over the recent months.

If it votes "NO," the Turkish Cypriot community will erode over the next decade and only the Turkish troops and those who settled there from mainland Turkey will remain.

If the plan is refused, Turkish settlers will lose the chance to become EU citizens, granted by the Annan plan.
What will change if there is a ‘YES’ vote?

Those who say, "Greek Cypriots will vote against the plan anyway. So why should I take the risk by saying "YES?" I will vote "NO" too," are deceiving themselves.

They should do the opposite. Even those who are getting ready to say "NO" should vote for the plan in the referenda, because Greek Cypriots will reject it anyway.

The KKTC will benefit more if the "YES" vote is very large. The only answer to a Greek Cypriot "NO," is a "YES" vote by Turks.

No one should ignore the advantages of a "YES" vote for the KKTC.

* The EU, even if it doesn’t want to, will have to formulate links with the KKTC. It will have to lift the embargoes.
* The U.S. will have to relax its policy until now and will stop preventing other countries from recognizing the KKTC.
* Investment in KKTC will increase and economic improvement will reach unprecedented levels.

In other words, the "YES" vote will brings many benefits no matter what.

By voting "YES," Turks will take control of their future and provide a lesson for those who think like Papadopoulos.

They have to end the play we have been watching for many years.

If not, they will have nothing to complain about. If they vote "NO," they will have no right to come to Turkey and ask for more money.
Athens says it can’t get involved, but the plan should be accepted

All of Greece has concentrated on Cyprus.

Just like us.

The people are sick and tired of the issue. They want it solved and out of their way. However, when asked, "Should the solution be based on the Annan plan?" they get nervous.

"Shouldn’t we discuss it a little more?"

"Turks benefit too much."

"What if things don’t turn out the way it is outlined in the plan?"

There are many people, just like in Turkey, who are frightened of the unknown. There are so used to the status quo that such a great change frightens them. They both want an end to the problem and cannot make up their minds. If someone came out and said, "Don’t worry. I will guarantee everything will be O.K.," everybody will be relieved. They will immediately support the plan.

Greeks are also very cautious towards the plan.
Greek government is even more nervous

The Kostas Karamanlis government in Greece faces a different situation. When speaking among themselves, they say, "God, please end this Cyprus issue, so that we can concentrate on the business at hand." However, no one comes out and says, "Vote ‘YES’ in the referendum."

They are frightened.

Former Greek governments interfered so much in Cyprus that they played an important role in the affair deteriorating so far. Karamanlis does not want to get involved. They are scared of being accused by Greek Cypriots in the future, if things don’t turn out as expected. That’s why they are silent, while praying for a "YES" vote.
Erdogan ruined Greek Cypriot hopes

I was faced with a very strange stance when I went to Greek Cyprus. An important portion of Greek Cypriots, especially the youth, want things to remain as they are. Whenever I went there in the past, I would return with the same impression. However, I was surprised to see the increase in the number of those who supported the status quo.

"Lets live apart from the Turks, but the properties we lost should either be returned or compensated."

This is the solution they most want.

When you try to delve deeper into this line of thought, you realize that Greek Cypriot people were deceived by their leaders.

So why did the Greek government behave this way?

"The biggest disappointment was Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. More appropriately, Erdogan ruined Papadopoulos’s game plan," said a Greek Cypriot commentator. He said even if the plan is rejected in today’s referendum, eventually it will be accepted.

Even children know that the strategy of the Papadopoulos government was, "Erdogan will be stopped by the military anyway. We won’t have to accept any solution and will become EU members. We will force the Turks’ hand in the future."

Papadopoulos’s downfall was Erdogan sticking to his guns in the face of significant pressure exerted by the conservatives in Turkey. A Greek Cypriot deputy said, "That was unexpected. We always saw Turkey from the same perspective. We thought if the military said something, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) would cave in. When that did not come about, we were surprised."
Two surprises for Athens

Two incidents that surprised Greek Prime Minister Karamanlis is talked about in Greece.

One was Papadopoulos’s speech being very emotional and ending his speech in tears.

The second was communist AKEL party deciding to vote against the plan.

The Greek government was surprised to see AKEL leader Hristofyas changing his stance all of a sudden when all his and his party’s actions in the past pointed towards a "YES" vote. Karamanlis talks about this openly with his colleagues, but does not share it with the media.

His biggest fear is that small, but fanatical nationalist parties, greatly increasing their votes in the coming European Parliament elections.
Cyprus will again be the victim of short-term politics

If Greek Cypriots vote "NO" in today’s referendum, which is almost certain, we can come to the conclusion that Cyprus, once again, will be the victim of politics based on short-term goals.

These goals are not the welfare of the younger generation or even regional stability.

The only thing that matters is how it will affect the standing of the government or opposition.

"They should not see me siding with those who support the Annan plan."

"The government is saying "NO." I should also do so, in order not to suffer in the future.

"Let these Cypriots do whatever they want. The only thing I want is for them to let me be."

This is the general attitude of Greek/Greek Cypriot politicians.

Isn’t it sad?

But this is the truth.