Nghupy; ntd;wtHfs; Gjpa vy;iyfisf; fPWk; cupikiag; ngWfpwhHfs;! 

ef;fPud;

gy khjq;fshfj; js;spg;Nghl;L te;j nfhNrhNthtpd; xUjiyg; gl;rj; Rje;jpug; gpufldk; xUthW mwptpj;jhfptpl;lJ.

fle;j ngg;utup khjk; 17 Mk; ehs; nfhNrhNth ehlhSkd;wk; $baNghJ me;j ehl;bd; jiyik mikr;rH `h\pk; jhrp (Hashim Thaci) Rje;jpug; gpufldj;ij thrpj;jhH. me;jg; gpufldk; kpfTk; Kf;fpakhdJ.

“nfhNrhNthit ehq;fs; xU tpLjiy ngw;w Rje;jpu ehlhfg; gpufldg; gLj;JfpNwhk;. nfhNrhNthtpy; thOk; vy;yh r%fj;jpduJk; cupikfs; Rje;jpuq;fs; Mfpatw;iwg; Ngzpg;ghJfhf;fTk; mtHfs; Ml;rpapy; gq;F nfhs;Sk; cupikiaAk;  cWjp nra;fpNwhk;. rpWghd;ik kf;fsJ cupikfs; gw;wpf; Fwpg;gpLk; jpl;lj;jpd; ,izg;G 12 ia Kw;whfg; gpd;gw;WNthk; vd cWjp $WfpNwhk;...”

NrgpauJ ngUk;ghd;ik murpd; mlf;FKiw> ,dr; Rj;jpfupg;G Nghd;wtw;wpy; ,Ue;J tpLgl;l nfhNrhNth jdJ ehl;by; ,Uf;Fk; Vida rpWghd;ik kf;fsJ cupikfs;> Rje;jpuq;fis cWjp nra;a Kd;te;jjpy; tpag;gpy;iy. mg;gb cWjpnra;a Kd;tuhtpl;lhy; nfhLq;Nfhy; nrYj;jpa NrgpauJ Ml;rpf;Fk; nfhNrhtpauJ Ml;rpf;Fk; NtWghL ,y;yhJ Ngha;tpLk;.

,UgJ ,yf;fk; kf;fs; thOk; nfhNrhNththtpy; 120>000 Mapuk; NrgpaHfs; nfhNrhNthtpd; tl gFjpapy; tho;fpwhHfs;. ,tHfisg; gpujpepj;Jtg; gLj;Jk; ehlhSkd;w cWg;gpdHfs; Rje;jpug; gpufldk; nra;ag;gl;l NghJ mitapy; ,Uf;ftpy;iy. ehlhSkd;w mkHit mtHfs; Gwf;fzpj;J tpl;lhHfs;.

nfhNrhNthtpd; Rfg; Ngw;Wf;F cjtpahf ma;Nuhg;gpa xd;wpak; fhty;Jiw> ePjpj;Jiw kw;Wk; epUthfj;Jiwiar; NrHe;j 2>000 mjpfhupfis mDg;gp itj;Js;sJ. Nel;Nlh gilfs; mq;F mikjpiaj; njhlHe;J epiyehl;Lk;.

NfhNrhNthtpd; jiyefH gpwp];updhtpy; (Pristina) Rje;jpu ehis kf;fs; my;Ngdpa> mnkupf;f> gpupj;jhdpa Njrpaf; nfhbfis mirj;J Mbg; ghbf; nfhz;lhb  kfpo;e;jhHfs;. mNj Neuj;jpy; NrHgpahtpd; jiyefH ngy;fpNwl;by; nfhNrhNthtpd; Rje;jpuj;Jf;F vjpuhf MHg;ghl;lq;fs; ele;Js;sd. ,jid vOjpf; nfhz;bUf;Fk; NghJ (tpahof;fpoik) ngy;fpNwl;by; mnkupf;fhtpw;F vjpuhd ghupa vjpHg;G MHg;ghl;lk; eilngw;Ws;sJ. mnkupf;fhtpd; Jhjufj;Jf;Fj;  jP itf;fg;gl;Ls;sJ.

Kd;dhs; A+NfhrpNyhtpf;fpa FbauR nfhNrhNth ehl;NlhL NrHj;J ,g;NghJ vl;L  ehLfshfg; gpupf;fg;gl;Ltpl;ld. NrHgpah> my;Ngdpah> FNuhrpah> nkhd;uePf;Nwh> ];NyhNtdpah> ngh];dpah – N`H];nfhtpdh> krpNlhdpah kw;Wk; nfhNrhNth  MfpaitNa me;j vl;L ehLfshFk;.

nfhNrhNthtpd; jd;dpr;irahd Rje;jpug; gpufldk; cyfk; KOJk; vjpHtiyfisAk;  vjpHg;giyfisAk; Vw;gLj;jpAs;sd.

NrHgpah> cUrpah Nghd;w ehLfs; nfhNrhNthtpd; Rje;jpug; gpufldj;ij vjpHf;fpd;wd. nfhNrhNthit “ngha;ahd muR” (false state) vd tUzpj;Js;sd.

mnkupf;fh> n[Hkdp> ,j;jhyp> gpupj;jhdpah> Mg;fdp];jhd; Nghd;w ehLfs; Gjpa ehl;il mq;fPfupj;Js;sd. ma;Nuhg;gpa xd;wpaj;jpy; cs;s 27 ehLfspy; ];ngapd;> fpwP];> cNuhkNdah> irg;u];> ];NyhNtdpah> irg;u]; ePq;fyhf Vida ehLfs; nfhNrhNthit mq;fPfupj;Js;sd.

nfhNrhNthtpd; jd;dpr;irahd Rje;jpug; gpufldj;ij mq;fPfupj;jjpd; %yk; mnkupf;fh xU ty;yuRf;F cupa jdJ murpay; kw;Wk; gil gyj;ij vz;gp;j;Js;sJ. cyfpy; ,d;W mnkupf;fh itj;jJjhd; rl;lk;. mij ahUk; ,Nyrpy; kPwptpl KbahJ.

,d;W nfhNrhNthtpd; jiyik mikr;ruhf ,Ug;gtH Kd;dhs; nfhNrhNth tpLjiyg; gilapd; (Kosovo Liberation Army) jsgjp. nfhNrhNth tpLjiyg; gil njhlf;fj;jpy; mnkupf;fhthy; gaq;futhj ,af;fk; vd Kj;jpiu Fj;jg;gl;l ,af;fk;. `h\pk; jhrp gaq;futhjp vdj; Njlg;gl;ltH. Mdhy; 1997 ,y; mnkupf;fh nfhNrhNth tpLjiyg; gilia gaq;futhjg; gl;baypy; ,Ue;J ePf;fptpl;lJ. ,jpypUe;J vd;d njupfpwJ?

mnkupf;fh xU tpLjiy ,af;fj;ijg; gaq;futhj ,af;fk; vd miof;Fk;. gpwpnjhU fhyj;jpy; mjid tpLjiy ,af;fk; vd miof;Fk;. vy;yhk; me;j ehl;bd; murpay; -Gtpapay; eyd;fisg; nghWj;jJ. gaq;futhjp ahH> tpLjiyg; Nghuhsp ahH vd;gijAk; mnkupf;fhjhd; jPHkhdpf;fpwJ. Vd; ma;f;fpa ehLfs; mit$l mnkupf;fhtpw;F mlf;fk; vd;gij <uhf; kPJ xUjiyg; gl;rkhf – ma;f;fpa ehLfs; mitapd; mDkjpapd;wp -  gilnaLj;j NghJ fhz Kbe;jJ.

cyfpy; vj;jidNah ehLfspy; vz;zpf;ifapy; Fiwthd Njrpa ,dq;fs; ,dg;gLnfhiy> ,dr; Rj;jpfupg;G> mlf;FKiw Nghd;wtw;Wf;F vjpuhfg; NghuhLfpd;wd. ,Ue;Jk; xU K];ypk; ehlhd nfhNrhNth kPJ mnkupf;fhtpw;F kl;Lk;  Vd; ,e;j mjPj mf;fiw? Nrhopad; FLkp Rk;khth MbaJ?

nfhNrhNth my;Ngdpa K];ypk;fspd; Rje;jpug; Nghuhl;lj;ijg; gad;gLj;jp my; nfha;jh rf;jpfs; ma;Nuhg;ghtpy; Eioe;Jtplf; $lhJ vd;gJ xU fhuzk;. kw;wJ ma;Nuhg;ghtpy; mnkupf;fh jdJ ,uz;L fhiyAk; rpf;fhuhf Cd;w xU tha;g;G.   

ma;f;fpa ehLfspd; 1999 Mk; Mz;L vz; 1>244 jPHkhdj;jpd; gb nfhNrhNth NrHgpa ehl;bd; ,iwahz;ikf;F cl;gl;l ma;f;fpa ehLfspd; ghJfhg;gpy;  cs;s ehL. Mdhy; mjid kPwp mnkupf;fhtpd; MjuNthL nfhNrhNth jd;dpr;irahd Rje;jpug; gpufldj;ijr; nra;Js;sJ. mjid ma;f;fpa ehLfs; mit fz;Lnfhs;stpy;iy.

NrHgpahtpd; xNu el;G ehlhd cUrpah $l nfhNrhNthtpd; jd;dpr;irahd Rje;jpug; gpufldj;Jf;F vjpuhf mwpf;if tpl;L tpl;L mlq;fpg; Ngha;tpl;lJ. ];lhypd; fhyj;J cUrpah vd;why; fij NtW. ,d;Ws;s cUrpah ty;yuR vd;w gl;lj;ij ,oe;Jtpl;l ehL. vjpHj;Jf; Fuy; nfhLf;fj;jhd; KbANk jtpu mnkupf;fhNthL Nkhj KbahJ.

nfhNrhNthtpd; xU jiyg;gl;r Rje;jpug; gpufldj;ij vjpHf;Fk; ehLfisg; ghHj;jhy; mit xt;nthd;Wf;Fk; KJfpy; Gz; ,Uf;Fk; cz;ik Gyg;gLk;. cUrpah> ];ngapd;> ,e;jpah> rPdh> =yq;fh Nghd;w ehLfspy; Rje;jpuk; Nfl;L rpWghd;ik Njrpa ,dq;fs; Nghuhb tUfpd;wd. me;j ehLfSf;F KJfpy; Gz; ,Ug;gjhy; nfhNrhNthit mq;fPfupf;f kWf;fpd;wd.

jpngj; ehL mfpk;ir topapy; rPdhtpd; Nkyhz;ik kw;Wk; mlf;FKiwf;F vjpuhff;  fle;j 58 Mz;Lfshf jyha; yhkh jiyikapy; Nghuhb tUfpwJ. . rPdhtpd; mlf;F Kiwf;F xU ,yf;fk; kf;fs; gypahfpAs;shHfs;. jpngj; kf;fsJ  ehfupfk;> gz;ghL> nkhop rpijf;fg;gl;Ls;sd. Mdhy; jyha; yhkhTf;F mnkupf;fh khiy kupahij nra;fpwNjnahopaj; jpngj;ij rPdhtplk; ,Ue;J kPl;Lf; nfhLg;gJ gw;wpg; Ngr;Nr ,y;iy. vd;d fhuzk;? jpNgj;ij tpLtpg;gjpy; mnkupf;fhtpw;F ve;jg; murpay; - Gtpapay; ed;ikAk; ,y;iy. kw;wJ rPdhTk; ,d;W xU cyf rz;bad; vd;w ,lj;jpy; ,Uf;fpwJ.  me;j ehl;NlhL Nkhj mnkupf;fh mzpakha; ,y;iy.

nfhNrhNthtpd; xU jiyg;gl;r Rje;jpug; gpufldj;ij vjpHj;J Kjypy; mwpf;iftpl;l ehLfspy; =yq;fhTk; xd;W.

=yq;fh jkpo;kf;fSf;F vjpuhd gilnaLg;ig epahag;gLj;j - ,dg; gLnfhiyia epahag;gLj;j -  jdf;Fs;s ,iwahz;ik kw;Wk; Ml;Gy xUikg;ghl;ilf; fhuzk; fhl;LfpwJ. mjhtJ xU Rje;jpu ehl;Lf;F jdJ ,iwahz;ik kw;Wk; Ml;Gy xUikg;ghl;ilf; fhg;ghw;w vijAk; nra;a cupik ,Ug;gjhf thjhLfpwJ.

Mdhy; ,e;jf; Nfhl;ghl;il NrHgpahitg; nghWj;jstpy; mnkupf;fh Vw;Wf; nfhs;stpy;iy. NrHgpahtpd; xU gFjpia ma;f;fpa ehLfsJ jPHkhdj;ij kPwp nfhNrhNth kf;fSf;Fg; gpupj;Jf; nfhLj;Jtpl;lJ.

nfhNrhNth kf;fSf;F ehl;ilg; gpupj;Jf; nfhLj;j mnkupf;fh – me;j ehl;bd; tpLjiyf;F MAjk; Ve;jpg; Nghuhba nfhNrhNth tpLjiyg; gilia gaq;futhjg; gl;baypy; ,Ue;J vLj;j  mnkupf;fh – me;jg; gilapd; jsgjpahf ,Ue;jtiu gaq;futhjp vd Kj;jpiu Fj;jpaij ePf;fpa  mnkupf;fh – jkpoPoj;ijAk; gpupj;Jf; nfhLf;f Kd;tuyhk;jhNd? vdg; gyH Nfl;fpwhHfs;.

,e;jf; Nfs;tp epahakhdJ. Mdhy; ,d;iwa cyf xOq;fpy; ePjp> epahaj;Jf;F .,lkpy;iy. MAj gyk; ,Uf;fpwjh? Ms;> MAj gyk; cs;s ehL itj;jJjhd; ,d;W rl;lk;! ty;yhd; ntl;baNj tha;f;fhy;!

NrHgpah – nfhNrhNth xU Gwk;. kWGwk; =yq;fh - jkpoPok;. ,it ,uz;Lf;Fk; ,ilapy; epiwa xw;Wik cz;L.

Nkw; $wg;gl;l xw;Wikfistpl xU gyj;j NtWghL nfhNrhNth jkpoPok; ,uz;Lf;Fk; ,ilapy; ,Uf;fpwJ. nfhNrhNth ma;Nuhg;ghtpd; nfhy;iyg; Gwj;jpy; ,Uf;fpwJ. =yq;fh njw;fhrpahtpy; ,Uf;fpwJ.

njw;fhrpahtpd; gpuNjr ty;yuR ,e;jpah vd;gJ mnkupf;fh cl;gl vy;NyhuhYk; Vw;Wf;nfhs;sg;gl;l eilKiwf; Nfhl;ghL.   

xU ehL Rje;jpu ehlhf mq;fPfupf;fg; glNtz;Lk; vd;why; me;j ehl;Lf;F %d;W jFjpfs; ,Uf;f Ntz;Lk; vd;W ,e;jpahtpd; ntspAwT mikr;R $WfpwJ.

“India’s Ministry of External Affairs has issued a statement  noting that as Kosovo does not meet all three conditions for recognition, namely “a defined territory, a duly constituted government in charge which is accepted by the people and which has effective control over an area of governance,” India is not offering recognition and would prefer the issue to be “resolved through peaceful means and through consultation and dialogue.”

“nfhNrhNth mq;fPfhuj;Jf;F Ntz;ba %d;W epge;jidfis epiwT nra;aj; jtwpAs;sJ. mjhtJ “tiuaiw nra;ag;gl;l epyg;gug;G> me;j epyg;gug;gpd; kPJ kf;fshy; Vw;Wf; nfhs;sg;gl;l murpd; Ml;rp> Ml;rp nra;ag;gLk; epyg;gug;gpd; kPJ  nraw;jpwDs;s (mjpfhu) fl;Lg;ghL” Mfpad. vdNt ,e;jpah mq;fPfhuk; mspf;f Kd;tuhJ. mNj Neuk; ,e;jr; rpf;fy; mikjp topapy; vy;NyhUk; fye;J Ngrp Ngr;RthHj;ij %yk; jPHf;fg;gl Ntz;Lk; vd tpUk;GfpwJ.

vdNt nfhNrhNth Rje;jpuj;Jf;F ,e;jpah tpjpf;Fk; epge;jidfis jkpoPok; epiwNtwpdhy; ,e;jpah jkpoPoj;ij mq;fPfupf;ff; $Lk;.

Nghuhl;lf; fsj;jpy; ntw;wp <l;Ltjd; %yNk ,e;jpah tpjpf;Fk; epge;jidfis epiwT nra;ayhk;.

It is useful to remember the axiom of statehood that “war is what dictates borders and winners get the right to draw the new lines.”

muRupikf;F xU ntspg;gilahd rpj;jhe;jk; ,Ug;gij epidtpy; itj;Jf;nfhs;tJ gaDilaJ.  “NghNu xU ehl;bd; vy;iyfis epUzapf;fpwJ. Nghupy; ntd;wtHfs; Gjpa vy;iyfis tiuAk; cupikiag; ngWfpwhHfs;!” 

Cyprus – One Island Two States

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sicily and Sardinia, with an area of  9.251 sq. kms (3.572 sq. miles). It is situated at the North-eastern corner of the Mediterranean at a distance of 300 km north of Egypt, 90 km west of Syria, and 60 km south of Turkey. Greece lies 360 km north-west (Rhodes - Crete). Cyprus lies at a latitude of 34 33'-35 34' North and longitude 32 -16'-34 37' East. The 35th latitudinal parallel traverses it.

The country has two mountain ranges: the Pentadaktylos range which runs along almost the entire northern coast, and the Troodos massif in the central and south-western parts of the island. Cyprus' coastal line is indented and rocky in the north with long sandy beaches in numerous coves in the south.

The north coastal plain, covered with olive and carob trees, is backed by the steep and narrow Pentadaktylos mountain range of limestone, rising to a height of 1.042 m. In the south the extensive mountain massif of Troodos, covered with pine, dwarf oak, cypress and cedar, culminates in the peak of Mount Olympus, 1.953 m above sea level. Between the two ranges lies the fertile plain of Messaoria.

Cyprus has a Mediterranean climate, with its typical seasonal rhythm strongly marked in respect of temperature, rainfall and weather generally. Hot, dry summers from June to September and changeable winters from November to March are separated by short Autumn and Spring seasons of rapid change in weather patterns in October, April and May. Summer is a season of high temperatures and cloudless skies.

Snow hardly falls in the lowlands and on the Northern range, but is a frequent feature every winter on ground above 1.000 metres in the Troodos range. From December till April snow is usually in evidence there, but hardly continuous. Yet during the coldest months it lies in considerable depth for several weeks, attracting skiers.

Cyprus has long been a crossing point between Europe, Asia and Africa and still has many traces of successive civilizations – Roman theatres and villas, Byzantine churches and monasteries, Crusader castles and pre-historic habitats. Because of its geographical position - attracting foreign invaders and colonizers throughout its history that can be traced back to the sixth millennium B.C. But it was not destined to be the last act.

Cyprus is well known as the island of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, who, according to legend, was born there. Cyprus in Greek language means “gypsum” which is one of the major exports of Cyprus.

The island’s main economic activities are tourism, clothing and craft exports and merchant shipping. Traditional crafts include embroidery, pottery and copper-work. 

The Republic of Cyprus gained its independence in 1960 when Britain relinquished her colonial rule.  It was admitted as a member of the UNO in the same year.

In 1960, the newly formed Government of Cyprus inherited an economy which exhibited most of the symptoms of underdevelopment. The productive base of the country was inadequate and economic activity was dependent upon unstable factors. Agriculture was the dominant sector in economic activity and accounted for 16% of GDP and 45% of gainful employment; manufacturing activity was essentially restricted to the processing of locally produced agricultural raw materials; tourism had not yet taken off; exports had the characteristic structure of underdeveloped countries, with primary commodities, such as minerals (53% of the total) and agricultural products (32%), dominating; unemployment was high, underemployment was widespread and mass emigration was taking place; financial capital was flowing out of the country, a clear indication of the existing uncertainty.

In view of the structural weaknesses of the economy, the Cyprus government adopted the basic principles of indicative planning, according to which private initiative is the basic motive force of the economy and the role of the state is to create the necessary physical and social infrastructure, create a stable and favourable economic environment, guide the private sector towards desired directions and administer social policy. The development strategy and the economic policies of the government were embodied in Five-Year Development Plans.

The years between independence and the Turkish invasion are characterised by sustained growth, accompanied by conditions of economic stability. GDP grew at an average annual rate of about 7% in real terms and that of per capita national income by almost 10% per annum. Agricultural production doubled, while industrial production and exports of goods and services more than trebled. Tourism became the largest single foreign exchange earner. Unemployment was very low and conditions of full employment were the characteristic of the early 70's. Earnings of employees more than doubled in real terms. Investment in infrastructural projects like dams, roads, ports, airports, communications, etc., reached a very satisfactory level. The rate of inflation was contained to 2,4% on average per annum and the current account of the Balance of Payments was mostly kept in surplus. As a consequence, accumulated foreign debt by 1973 was low, at a level equivalent to 7,5% of GDP.

As a result of the economic dislocation, GDP dropped sharply and in 1975 it was 33% below the level of 1973 in real terms, despite the partial reactivation which took place in the meantime. The size of the economic catastrophe was reflected in the unemployment figure, which during the latter part of 1974 averaged 30% of the economically active population and led to conditions of poverty and increased dependence on the state, at a time when state revenues declined sharply. A small country, which even under normal circumstances was poor in natural resources was deprived of some of its most valuable ones. The dependence of the country on foreign sources for raw materials, consumer goods as well as financing increased. Shortages appeared in all sectors particularly in housing. A climate of political and economic uncertainty was created.

In 1974 the dictators who then ruled Greece staged an abortive coup against Archbishop Makarios, then President of Cyprus, and Turkey launched an invasion "to protect the Turkish population and restore constitutional order".

The favourable results of 13 years of planned development were utterly disrupted by the Turkish invasion of 1974, when the Turkish army occupied about a third of the territory of the country and a third of the population became refugees. The displacement of such a large number of people and the seizure of their property and the country's assets inevitably shattered the economy. Moreover, the area under occupation was the most productive and developed part of Cyprus, since it produced the bulk of citrus, the main export item at that time, was rich in mineral and quarrying materials, attracted a heavy concentration of tourist facilities (66% of the total) and included the only deep water port of Famagusta, which handled more than 80% of general cargo. The closure of Nicosia International Airport, now in the buffer zone, was an additional blow.

The Cyprus Republic of Northern 37% of the island is occupied by  Turkish occupation in defiance of United Nations Resolutions of unequivocal substance. Only Turkey has recognized the Cyprus Turkey part of Cyprus.

Since Turkey occupied the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus  in 1974, the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities have been separated by the so-called Green Line. And the Cyprus Problem has become a major dispute in the sensitive Middle East.

The  separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963. This separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974 that followed a Greek junta-supported coup attempt gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the North; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government.

On 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC). Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are only recognized by Turkey.

Cyprus is an independent sovereign Republic with a presidential system of government. Under the 1960 Constitution, executive power is exercised by the President of the Republic, elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term of office. The President exercises executive power through a Council of Ministers appointed by him. Ministers may be chosen from outside the House of Representatives.  The current President of the Republic is Mr. Glafkos Clerides 

Cyprus at a glance

Name                                   -    The Republic of Cyprus

            Independence:                     -    16 August 1960 (from UK

            Capital city                          -     Nicosia

Total area                  -            9,251 Sq.kms (North Cyprus -3,396 Sq.kms)

Area – comparative  -           Half the area of Northeast province ( 18,354 sq. km) or
                                                              about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

             Religions                       -          Greek Orthodox 77%, Muslim 18%, other (includes
                                                              Maronite and Armenian Apostolic) 5%

            Language                     -           Greek, Turkish, English

Population                    - 841,000 (2004)  (Turkish Republic of                                                                  Northern Cyprus  - 280, 200)        

              Life expectancy at birth       -   77.98 years

           Ethnic groups             - Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5%                                                                       (estimate 2007)

============================================================                       

Following the withdrawal of the Turkish Cypriot members the House has been functioning only with the Greek Cypriot members. The Maronite, Armenian and Latin minorities also elect representatives who attend meetings without a right of participation in the deliberations. They are consulted in matters concerning particular affairs of their respective religious groups.

Talks held in 2002 by UN with Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots for the unification of the island failed. In 2002 Cyprus was admitted as a member of the European Union. 

At the presidential elections held in February 2008, Communist Party candidate Dimitris Chrstofias was elected  by winning   53.4 %  votes cast. He has vowed to unite the divided country.

Will Kosovo’s  UDI   Have A Domino effect?

V.Thangavelu

In an emergency session  last  Sunday (November 17th), Kosovo's parliament unanimously endorsed a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) from Serbia. "We, the leaders of the institutions of Kosovo, declare Kosovo a free and independent country. We express the will of the institutions and we express our commitment to protect and promote the rights and freedoms of all the communities in Kosovo and their participation in decision making" states the document  which was read to parliament by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci. "We will abide by the obligations in Ahtisaari's plan and we will fulfill these obligations in the future -- especially Annex 12 of his plan, the one that deals with the rights of ethnic communities."

The declaration also welcomed a contingent of 2,000 strong  EU judicial and police mission in Kosovo and urged NATO to continue with its current peacekeeping mission. It pledged that Kosovo will contribute to reconciliation in the Balkans and expresses a wish for "good relations with all our neighbours, especially Serbia".

Celebrations were  under way  from Saturday in Pristina as people took to the streets to dance and wave US. British, German and Albanian national flags. Kosovo imported  80 tons of firecrackers for the  occasion. While  fireworks lit the sky in Pristina,  there was protest in  Belgrade by  hundreds of Serb nationalists against independence. As I write about 300,000  people gathered today (Thursday) to protest Kosovo's UDI  in front of the US  embassy in Belgrade. The  Serbian government backed  protesters has set fire to the US embassy.  

Shortly after the vote in Pristina,  an angry but pro-west Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica  denounced Kosovo as a “false state”  on national TV. He called on Serbian citizens "to come together and show the whole world that we do not acknowledge the creation of a false state on our territory".

Kosovo’s UDI ended a long chapter in the bloody break-up Yugoslavia. With Kosovo,  eight states have been carved out of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.  They are Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina,  Macedonia and Kosovo.  Under authoritarian communist leader Josip Broz Tito the lid was kept on ethnic tensions. The federation lasted for over 10 years after his death in 1980, but under Serbian nationalist leader Slobodan Milosevic it fell apart in bloodshed through the 1990s. NATO forces launched a bombing campaign against Serbia’s ethnic cleansing in Kosovo from March 24 to June 11, 1999 till Belgrade agreed to pull its forces from Kosovo. Kosovo was first a region and then a province within Serbia along with  the province of Vojvodina with Novi Sad as its capital. Kosovo enjoyed near autonomy until Slobodan Milosevic responded by stripping Kosovo of its political autonomy, and leaving it only a nebulous territorial autonomy.

On May 24, 1992, the ‘Kosovo Albanian Republic’ elected Rugova its President.  He  responded by ‘withdrawing peacefully’ from the Yugoslav federation and setting up a de facto state within the Yugoslav state. The Kosovo Albanians withdrew their children from government schools, stopped paying taxes, set up their own administration and to finance it  collected taxes from 600,000 ethnic Albanians living and working in Europe and America. A part of the funds went for purchase of arms. When Kosovo was left out of the Dayton agreement signed in 1997,  Rugova began losing ground to KLA. After 1995 the inflow of arms swelled rapidly and  KLA  grew by leaps and bounds.  All through 1997, the KLA followed textbook methods of fomenting insurgency which claimed more than 15,000 casualties.

President  Slobodan  Milosovic stripped  Kosovo of its autonomy to counter threat of separation. In February 1998 he despatched the Serbian army to crack down on the KLA and to ethnically cleanse Kosovo. “The Serb army rather than hunt down armed groups, blasted villages into rubble with 20-millimeter cannon, grenade launchers and .50-caliber machine guns. Those trapped in the houses died and many of those who fled were gunned down, according to witnesses. Many bodies, laid out at mass funerals, bore signs of mutilation and summary execution”. (New York Times)

An estimated 800,000 Albanian Muslims fled their homes and sought asylum in neighboring Albania.  The KLA was declared a  terrorist organization and its leader Hashim Thaci a wanted terrorist!

Legality of a UDI is often the subject of  intense debate and Kosovo is no exception.  UDI poses, at the very least, awkward questions in international law. Kosovo, under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999, is an international protectorate within a sovereign state, namely Serbia, and the UDI has been made without formal U.N. authorisation.

Unlike Kosovo,  East Timor became the first new sovereign state of the twenty-first century on May 20, 2002 with the blessings of United Nations. In 1999, following UN sponsored act of self-determination, Indonesia relinquished control of the territory.  

Kosovo’s UDI was in the offing for some time now, but the announcement has thrown the fragile Balkan peace into question.  Beneath the various diplomatic utterances, there is real cause for concern. The creation of an independent Kosovo has led to the emergence of three Islamic states (Other two being Bosnia and Albania) in the heart of Europe. 

President George W Bush was one of the first to recognise Kosovo.  “The Kosovans are now independent” he said, but that provoked Serbia to immediately withdraw its Ambassador from Washington. The EU, the world’s most powerful trading bloc is divided over recognition.  Out of the 27 EU countries 22, including UK. Germany, Italy and France, have recognized. Smaller states like Greece, Spain. Romania, Cyprus and Slovenia oppose recognition.  Russia, for its part, is very angry and will resist Kosovan accession to the United Nations.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has issued a statement  noting that as Kosovo does not meet all three conditions for recognition, namely “a defined territory, a duly constituted government in charge which is accepted by the people and which has effective control over an area of governance,” India is not offering recognition and would prefer the issue to be “resolved through peaceful means and through consultation and dialogue.”

As for Canada it is sitting on the fence not knowing whether to recognize or not  the newly minted state of Kosovo. Quebec  separation must be weighing  heavily at the back of the minds of Canadian policy makers and strategists.

There is a common denominator among countries that are opposing recognition. The precedent set and the implications arising out of Kosovo’s UDI for various multi-ethnic countries are enormous.  Russia to Sri Lanka all have wounds in their backs and hands full with liberation wars.

Russia faces separatism in Chechnya and Georgia. China has occupied Tibet illegally using military force and threatens bombing Taiwan if the latter declared UDI. Spain is grabbling with Basque separatists. India is fighting insurgency in Kashmir, Nagaland and Assam.  And Sri Lanka is  waging a costly war to prevent the emergence of an independent Thamil Eelam. 

The urge to declare UDI may not  stop with Kosovo. Instead, it will have a domino effect in all  parts of the world where national minorities are fighting  repressive majoritarian  regimes  for independence.  A successful and internationally supported Kosovo UDI will be seen as an inspiration and a precedent by liberation organizations fighting for independence.  

Kosovo’s UDI has triggered Russian majority provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia  to ask for recognition. The  break-away Georgian regions  are  planning to ask Russia and the UN to recognise their independence. President Eduard Kokoity of South Ossetian has said, his country has more political and legal jurisdiction than Kosovo to declare independence. It is thought that he may put his words into action.

Even Serb-dominated region north of Kosovo may secede to join Serbia! If it does so, it will be a supreme irony for Kosovo to deny Serbians their right to self-determination!

The 11 Kosovo’s Serb and other ethnic-minority members boycotted Monday’s vote, and, if Prime Minister Hashim Thaci’s promise of strong protection for ethnic minorities is not fully honoured, it is likely that the ancient ethnic and other hatreds will result in  repeat ethnic cleansing and war.

Kosovo’s UDI has predictably  sent a shiver down the spine of every nation battling liberation wars. Sri Lanka lost no time in rejecting Kosovo’s independence as a “violation of the Charter of the United Nations and grave threat to international peace and security.  The UDI by Kosovo could set an unmanageable precedent in the conduct of international relations, the established global order of sovereign States and could thus pose a grave threat to international peace and security.”

Sri Lanka has every reason to feel insecure and threatened by the example set by Kosovo,  since the parallel between Kosovo – Serbia and Thamil Eelam – Sri Lanka is very obvious.  President Rajapakse has unleashed an unprecedented war against the LTTE.  He has spurned appeals by the international community to put a stop to the horrendous human rights violations and the culture of impunity and to seek a viable political solution that will address the aspirations of the Thamil people.  Instead,  he has increased defence expenditure by nearly 20% to 166.4bn rupees ($1.48bn) from 139.6bn in 2007. Politically he is now held hostage by  hard-line Sinhala – Bhuddist chauvinistic parties like the JVP and JHU.  

Kosovo is a country with an area of 10,912 sq km (4,213 sq. miles) with a population of 2 million. Thamil Eelam has an area of 18,880 sq.kms (7,290 sq. miles) with a population of 3.2 million. A majority of Kosovans (90%) are Muslims while majority of Thamils (85%) are Hindus.

Serbia, including Montenegro is 102,350 sq. km (39,517 sq. miles) in area with a population of 10.8 million of which 65% are Orthodox Christians and 19% Muslims. Sri Lanka,  including Thamil Eelam is 65,610 sq.kms (25,332 sq.miles) of which 70 % are Buddhists.

With so much similarity could  Thamil Eelam follow the example of Kosovo? Unlike Thamil Eelam, Kosovo is a Balkan   problem although the former  has  a better and stronger case than Kosovo.</