Cyprus News | Hardening of Turkish Cypriot Settlement Attitudes

Halkin Sesi newspaper (26/1/15) reported on the findings of a survey of 600 Turkish Cypriot voters showing that their views have changed considerably since 2004 when there was the possibility of a successful Annan Plan referendum. Some of the results are :

• 41.2%  said a UN-led solution to the Cyprus problem was “not at all likely” – and 18.9% “not likely”;
• 29.3% said they “don’t want such a solution” but 52.7% said they do;
• Over 90% thought a settlement to the Cyprus problem without prior approval by Turkey was “not likely”;
• 63.1% think the original guarantee provisions from 1960 should be kept intact;
• 57.5% said a “strong force” should remain on the island post-solution and 23.1% think a “small force” should remain;
• Only 10.3 per cent believe Famagusta should be returned to Greek Cypriots under UN administration, 29.4% think Greek Cypriots should be allowed to return under Turkish Cypriot management, and 51% think the decision should be part of a comprehensive settlement;
• Only 42.7% said they would vote for an Annan-plan style settlement;
• 48.9% said they consider themselves “Turkish Cypriots” and 18.5% said “Cypriots”;
• 28.4% considered the whole of Cyprus as their homeland, while 44% said they feel this way for the north only, whereas 25.5% considered both Turkey and the north as their homeland;
• 43.9% considered Greek Cypriots as their “historical enemy”, 20.6% as “neighbours”, and 30.6% as “Cypriots who speak differently”;
• 60.1% favoured a gas resources sharing arrangement while only 9% approved of Greek Cypriots’ actions on the issue.

This survey shows the hardening of Turkish Cypriot attitudes and confirms that the failed 2004 referendum was probably the last opportunity for a settlement.

Source: Cyprus Mail