Turkish Foreign Minister presents map showing Turkish continental shelf reaching Crete

[Aexodus]

They would have to accept a something like a 5 thousand Turkish force while all the Greek force is expelled.

Umm what now? That doesn’t exactly sound fair.

To my knowledge on the subject, one of the reasons why the Cypriots don’t want a federation is because of the settlers that came from mainland Turkey who are still living in the North.

[Kyriakos]

If countries pay a price for having coups, what will Turkey pay for having more than the next 100 countries combined
There won't be a federation the way the island was settled by non-cypriots from Anatolia. And if the "old settlement" is null and void then so is Turkey's position as a guaranteeing power (read: invading power ). At the same time, north Cyprus is a pariah not recognized by anyone serious - in fact only recognized by the country that occupies it. Occupied territory has no economic zone, so once again there is no argument for Turkey's rogue-state actions.
But sure, we can read more of how "I think it is true, so it is" sentiments, or just choose to not give a crap and wait for the only possible end to this through balance of power - """superpower""" Turkey against Greece, Israel and french companies will not exactly be a match.

[PointOfViewGun]

Umm what now? That doesn’t exactly sound fair.

It is given the context of the island though the exact number could be negotiated.

To my knowledge on the subject, one of the reasons why the Cypriots don’t want a federation is because of the settlers that came from mainland Turkey who are still living in the North.

The settlers idea that you likely heard is largely a creation of the Greeks. They try to count any seasonal workers, foreign students and Turkish military personnel as settlers. In reality, any solution will only include citizens of Northern and Southern Cyprus. In 2015, there were 69 thousand students from foreign countries with students from Turkey making up a large portion. When they graduate the vast majority goes back, unless a few finds work in Northern Cyprus. Then there is the seasonal workers which is quite volatile. As Northern Cyprus houses a lot of hotels/casinos tourism industry is quite large. There are tens of thousands of foreign workers from Turkey and some other countries as well.

With that context in mind, the demographics make up of the island is largely the same since 1974. If Turkey somehow forced hundreds of thousands of Turks to settle on the island you'd need four times more Greeks from Greece to keep the balance. Hence, if there are Turkish settlers on the island then there are also Greek settlers as well. Except the Greek part would require a hell of a lot more mobilization. This "settlers" idea is nothing more than an excuse.

[alhoon]

To be fair, even Turkish Cypriots acknowledge there are settlers from Turkey. And since a lot of Turkish Cypriots left the economically doomed occupied part for greener pastures, for the demographics to remain the same there needs to be some "injection" from Turkey else the occupied part would be 15% instead of 20%.

[PointOfViewGun]

To be fair, even Turkish Cypriots acknowledge there are settlers from Turkey. And since a lot of Turkish Cypriots left the economically doomed occupied part for greener pastures, for the demographics to remain the same there needs to be some "injection" from Turkey else the occupied part would be 15% instead of 20%.

The same goes for the Greek part as well. Many Greeks left. There is a big Greek and Turkish Cypriot community in UK and in Greece and Turkey respectively. Both sides had emigration due to the conflict as well as economic situation of the island. Its not like the island ever experienced an economic boom. Most Turkish Cypriots are likely referring to seasonal workers that exist on the island in high numbers. Are you implying that the Greeks are pissed because their ethnic cleansing attempts did not succeed the way they wanted?

[Kyriakos]

Comparing the economic or immigration state of Cyprus to the occupied territory was another laughable point, thanks

[PointOfViewGun]

Comparing the economic or immigration state of Cyprus to the occupied territory was another laughable point, thanks

When you're forced to use double standards to stick to a pre-conceived conclusion, sure, I understand why you'd think so.

[ioannis76]

When you're forced to use double standards to stick to a pre-conceived conclusion, sure, I understand why you'd think so.

Did the Greeks who immigrated go to live in houses whose previous occupants had been murdered by the Greek military in the name of a "peace keeping operation"?

[alhoon]

Did the Greeks who immigrated go to live in houses whose previous occupants had been murdered by the Greek military in the name of a "peace keeping operation"?

Ahem, yes, they did. In smaller numbers for sure but the targeted attacks in the 60s and 70s were not solely out of patriotism. Some were motivated partially (or completely) by greed. Driving out the muslims... and taking over their business or buying up their homes and fields for a pittance instead the real value etc.

Two wrongs don't make a right though.

[PointOfViewGun]

Did the Greeks who immigrated go to live in houses whose previous occupants had been murdered by the Greek military in the name of a "peace keeping operation"?

Pretty much, yeah. Probably not all though.

[ioannis76]

Such comments are a sign of good will:

New threats from Turkish Defence Minister: “We will not hesitate to repeat what we did in 1974”

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar threatened Greece and Cyprus once again on Thursday as he stated that Turkey would not hesitate to exercise its right to intervene, as it did in 1974.

https://defence-point.com/2019/08/02...e-did-in-1974/


And such actions build good relations:

Athens is observing with concern as Turkey continues to plan to prospect for hydrocarbons south of the Greek island of Kastellorizo despite warnings from the European Union of sanctions over its drilling off Cyprus.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/243057/a...f-kastellorizo

But of course, for Turkey Kastelorizzo doesn't count (because it's not turkish):

http://www.ekathimerini.com/243329/a...key-in-eez-map

Kastellorizo ignored by Turkey in EEZ map

Yeah, if you ignore Kastelorizzo, you could have the EEZ map that Turkey dreams of. But the island is there, so you can't have that map. Tough luck.

[ioannis76]

The map in the background represents Turkey's dreams:



Since when don't the eastern Aegean islands "don't count" in the EEZ?

[ioannis76]

With a laid back attitude, the US ambassador in Greece advises the Greeks not to worry too much about the maps, referring to the map of President Erdogan:

http://en.protothema.gr/us-ambassado...bout-the-maps/

Of course, if we were to combine that map with the number of violations of air space, war threats, insults etc that the turkish leadership is hurling at us on an almost daily basis, that would paint an interesting picture.