Northern Cyprus president calls for rotational presidency

By Isaac Omoding, in Northern Cyprus

If you think Migingo Island on Lake Victoria is the only contentious piece of land in this world then you are mistaken. Cyprus is one those Islands with political sharing problems.  

North Cyprus is at the crossroads of Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Central position over the Suez Canal that connects the maritime lines of the Gulf, Middle East and Europa. It has a population of about 300,000 inhabitants and has 3,355 km2 land area.

The Cyprus dispute or Cyprus issue is an ongoing issue centred on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus and dating back to at least the end of the 19th century. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded the north in response to a military coup on the island which was backed by the Athens government.

As a result of the dispute, Cyprus was partitioned with the northern third inhabited by Turkish Cypriots and the southern two-thirds by Greek Cypriots. United Nations troops patrol the "Green Line" dividing the two parts. Reunification talks have proceeded slowly.

However, during the July 20 Peace and Freedom Day Anniversary celebrations in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, President t Mustafa Akıncı stated that: "The goal is a new federal state based on equality, freedom and security".  Akıncı indicated that the reasonable solution that could be accepted by both communities in Cyprus is bizonal and bicommunal settlement based on political equality.

He stated that the probability of a confederal or unitary settlement to be accepted mutually by the two sides is out of question. "Our goal is to reach a bizonal, bicommunal new federal state based on the political equality of the two communities," the President said.

 Republic of Cyprus has a population 1.1 million (combined) with a land area of 9,251sq km (3,572 sq miles) (combined). Major languages spoken are Greek and Turkish and the major religions are Christianity and Islam. Life expectancy is 78 years (men), 82 years (women). The currency used is euro and also Turkish lira in the north.
 

 Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, President t Mustafa Akıncı greeting journalist who had visited him in office

Economic outlook: The North Cyprus economy
According to Fikri Toros, the president of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, North Cyrus achieved very high growth rates between the years 2002 and 2007, mainly due to the positive effect if expectations on the solution of the Cyprus problem and EU perspective framework. In this period, the real growth rate if GNP progressed between 11.4% and 15.4%. Because of the positive effect of the expectations and increase in foreign demand, construction sector showed a boom during 2005-2007. Since it influences many sub sectors, its impact in the economy was very broad.

Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce president, Fikri Toros (right) with another officer addressing media in their offices in July 21, 2016

Toros said that North Cyprus economy shows a significant declined growth rate for 2007 compared to expanding rates of previous period. Specifically, the growth rate dropped to 2.8 percent for 2007. After that, it experienced negative growth rates in 2008 and 2009. This was mainly due to the negative growth rates in the activities of construction and some other services sectors.

He said that currently Cyprus has $13,118 per capita income; $3520m GDP; Growth rate of 4.9%; inflation rate (2015%) of 4.2%; unemployment rate of 7.8% and labor force of 105,770.

Like other small island economies, the economic structure is less diverse and the service sector is the back bone of the economy. Services sector is a basic priority sector for the economic development and it is one of the main generators of income for North Cyprus which accounts more than 70 % of the GDP. Among the service sector, tourism and higher education are the leading sectors.Net revenues from tourism and higher education sectors are the two main sources of revenue and a major component of Northern Cyprus's Current Accounts in Balance of Payments. Besides tourism and higher education sectors, the influence of trade and construction sector in the economy are very broad.

Norhern Cyprus imports include vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery, pharmaceutical products. Exports include Citrus, dairy, potatoes, textiles, scraps, raki (alcholic drink)

Recognition:

Northern Cyprus as a separate entity is recognised only by Turkey.

During his meeting with the foreign parliamentarians and journalists who came to the TRNC within the framework of July 20, Peace and Freedom Day, President Akıncı emphasised that conducted negotiations are the last possibility for a federal solution in Cyprus and in response to the question of "what will happen if they do not succeed to reach a settlement until the end of the year", he said "There is no full stop in the course of diplomacy. We will put a comma and continue. The important thing is how to continue after the comma. If a federal solution is not possible until the end of 2016, then we will put a comma there. After that, instead of uniting Cyprus under a federal roof, the probability of starting a process which would deepen division is high."

Isaac Musumba (Minister of State for Urban Development); Persis Namuganza (Minister of State for Lands); Anita Among (Woman MP for Bukedea District) and Isaac Omoding at the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on July 20 for the Anniversay celebrations

 "We are spending efforts to create the framework of a rational solution acceptable for both sides, which is a new, bi-zonal, bi-communal federal structure in Cyprus based on political equality of the two Constituent States where sovereignty will emanate equally from both communities. In such a structure, bi-zonality, equality and security are of vital importance for us. We tirelessly explain this not only to our interlocutors but also to the UN officials and the other third parties we are in contact with adding that: We are aware that the efforts we are spending may be the last attempt of our generation and the last chance for a federal solution.

We certainly do not want these efforts to fail. We are aware that a solution will create positive results and new opportunities for cooperation not only for the two communities but for our island and our region as well. Undoubtedly, it is not an easy task to establish such a structure and put it in a frame acceptable to both sides. This requires a balanced approach fully protecting our social rights but, at the same time, not ignoring the legitimate rights of the other community. It is not enough that only one of the parties adopts such an approach. Such an approach can lead us to a conclusion provided that it is mutual," President Akıncı said.

Foreign visitors for the celebrations included Uganda's three representatives: Ministers Isaac Musumba, and Persis Namuganza and Anita Annet Among, the Woman Member of Parliament for Bukedea district. Other foreign dignitaries were the Secretary-General of Macedonia and Deputy Enes İbrahim, Deputy of Sudan Osama Faisal Elsayed, Deputy of Pakistan Shaza Fatima, Deputy of Hungary Marton Gyöngyösi, Lord Northbrook, Deputy of European Parliament from Bulgaria İlhan Küçük and Deputy of Azerbaijan Ganire Paşayeva.

The media representatives were from Belgium, Moldova, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Serbia, Italy, Kosovo, Uganda, Tanzania, Nepal, Qatar, Malaysia and Kuwait.