Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Simerini newspaper, a daily newspaper in Southern Cyprus, conducted a survey on the perception of the Greek Cypriots regarding the Cyprus problem. The survey carried out by the Insights Market Research from 5-9 November was conducted via telephone. Questions were answered by 500 Greek Cypriots ages 18 and over and results showed that 4 of 10 people want division, 32% want federation and lastly 17% want a "united Cyprus'. Regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem, 72% of Greek Cypriots said "no' to a rotating Presidency whýle only 27% of Greek Cypriots said "yes'. A Rotating presidency means the presidency would rotate between both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot.
32% of Greek Cypriots support the solution formula defended by Dimitris Christofias, President of the Republic of Cyprus, based on bi-communal, bi-zonal federation. 17% of the Greek Cypriots are supporting a "united Cyprus'.
According to the survey results, the solution formula for most of the Greek Cypriots between 18 and 29 years is "division' with 60% of respondents favouring this option. In addition to that, 49% of the Greek Cypriots ages45-64 are supporting the "federation' option for the settlement in Cyprus.
54% of the survey participants see the efforts of President Christofias to find a solution to the Cyprus problems as "positive' while %46 of the participants see it as "negative'. On the other hand, 67% of the Greek Cypriot youths view Christofias efforts as "negative' and 38% of Greek Cypriot university students viewing these efforts as 'possitive'.
Survey results showed Russia by winning %44 of the votes is the most supportive country of the Greek Cypriots with for the solution of Cyprus problem. France followed Russia with 18% while the UK got 11%, China and USA got 7% and finally Germany got 5%.
The survey results stated the public opinion towards Alexander Downer, the United Nations special envoy in Cyprus, is negative.
For the question of "to what degree, do you believe that Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat can make decisions without the approval of Turkey for the solution of Cyprus?', 50% of Greek Cypriots said "no, by no means', 18% said "we believe strongly' and %32 replied as "we believe a little bit'.
Survey participants also expressed the idea that President Christofias is giving "dangerous concessions' to the Turkish side in the negotiations while 44% of participant did not agree with that idea.
Negotiations between Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Mehmet Ali Talat and Republic of Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias are have continued since 21 March 2008 and they last met for the 52nd times on 17 November 2009. The negotiation process to find a comprehensive solution to Cyprus problem plays an important role for the future of the Republic of Cyprus in the EU and Turkey's membership of the EU.
USAK/ISRO researcher Fatma Y. Elmas made comments about the Simerini's survey results. She said 60% division idea shows that both communities (Turkish and Greek Cypriots) still far away from understanding each other. The philosophy behind the division demand can be Greek Cypriots ability to stand on its own after EU membership and North Cyprus economy is weak comparing to South Cyprus hence; Greek Cypriots don't want to take the responsibility of that weak North Cyprus economy.
In her comments, Mrs. Y. Elmas mentioned it is sure that political disputes (such as Dimitris Christofias' negative messages that he gives after negotiations with TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat) are affecting communities' faith towards possible unification negatively.
By Atif Muezzinler (JTW)
