Ambitious post-solution development plan for sensitive areas

A pro-federation group says areas such as the buffer zone should house model universities, university hospitals and include green development centres

By a Staff Reporter

The ‘New Wave–The Other Cyprus’ group has proposed the setting up of a ‘Federal Development Area’ in places such as the present buffer zone as part of a federal settlement.

This Federal Development Area (FDA), which would be run by the central government, would cover 10 per cent of territory and would include areas that were under discussion in previous settlement talks.

It would include the buffer zone, the whole Morphou area, the buffer zone within the walled part of Nicosia, the walled section of Famagusta, the four large villages of the Karpas that were to be returned according to some solution proposals (Rizokarpaso, Yialousa, Ayia Triada, Ayios Andronikos), the four Maronite villages (Asomatos, Kormakitis, Ayia Marina, Karpasha) and Kokkina. It could also include the part of the British base of Dhekelia that would be returned in the event of a settlement.

The idea is included in a text produced by the group, titled ‘The Cyprus issue in view of geopolitical developments in the Eastern Mediterranean’. The text “aims to provide the basis for discussion and fruitful reflection among members and friends of the New Wave, as well as society in general”. The group describes it as “an attempt to overcome the cliched and superficial debate surrounding the subject over the last 60 years”.

While noting Turkey’s aggressive and provocative behaviour, it also accuses the Cyprus leadership of having “failed to contribute towards any improvement in the situation over last 60 or so years”, and of appearing “weak and uncommitted to finding a solution”.

It goes through all the possible options being discussed (unitary state, maintenance of status quo, two states, confederation, annexation of north by Turkey, federation) and rules out all of them apart from a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF). The group believes the “the only way forward is a true federation that will also give a sense of unity of space, the state and its people.”

As the regards the FDA, the New Wave would like it to house leading organisations such as federal model universities, university hospitals, research centres and federal courts as well as the facilities of all national sports teams. It could also include green development centres such as large solar parks and bio-organic crop plantations.

Such activities, “with green development planning, are fully compatible with the EU Green Deal, from which we could seek generous funding as a reward for a solution”, said the proposal, which also raised the prospect of the FDA becoming a “habitat for startups” and offering incentives to attract specialised industries.

“This area could be transformed into a new educational and entrepreneurial centre and a large European technological and scientific park, contributing to joint Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot activities, especially of the younger generation.” Federal areas exist in federal states and it cites Brussels in Belgium, Washington in the USA and Ottawa in Canada.

The New Wave also offers two alternatives to the rotating presidency, which even with a weighted vote that was on the negotiating table, “creates conditions for a large proportion of citizens to reject the draft settlement from the start”. It proposes two options, the first of which is based on the presidential council of the Annan Plan.

The presidential council, it said, should be made up of 15 members, 10 Greek Cypriots and five Turkish Cypriots, “directly elected by each community by simple proportionality so as to represent all ideological currents”. The term of office would be four-and-a-half years – the first six individuals elected by the Greek Cypriot community and the first three by the Turkish Cypriot community will hold the presidency of the council for six months each. For any decision at least one positive vote from each community would be required. The council would also administer the FDA.

An alternative would be to have presidential elections with double nominations as is the case in the US, the president and vice-president elected simultaneously as they would be on the same ballot. All Cypriots would vote and choose their leaders together. The Greek Cypriot will hold the presidency for three-and-a-half years and the Turkish Cypriot for one-and-a-half. New Wave prefers the presidential council which is based on the Swiss model.

It ends the text on an optimistic note. “The Cyprus issue will be resolved, our land will be reunited and the Turkish occupation will end only if all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike, join forces for a common and hopeful vision for their common homeland.”

New Wave–The Other Cyprus describes itself as “socio-political startup which listens to the needs of society for change and modernization”.

It was formed by “independent, free-thinking citizens from a wide social spectrum” and they “envision a strong state value system based on democratic principles and moral values”.

The full text of the New Wave proposal can be viewed here