Cyprus: The Post-imperial Constitution - Video of Book Launch

Lobby for Cyprus, in association with Pluto Press, hosted a discussion on the occasion of the publication of the book:

"Cyprus: The Post-imperial Constitution"
by Vassilis K. Fouskas and Alex O. Tackie

Wednesday 25 March
London School of Economics

The book was presented by
Dr Alan Sked
Senior Lecturer in International History, London School of Economics

and

Professor Francois Nectoux
Contemporary European Politics, Kingston University


Dr Alan Sked is a Senior Lecturer in International History at the London School of Economics and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He is a world expert on the Habsburg Monarchy and his books on this subject have been translated into a number of languages including Italian and Japanese. Dr Sked has also written on British History and is currently writing the History of Post-War (Western) Europe.

Francois Nectoux, is a Professor of Contemporary European Politics at Kingston University and a member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs. He has written extensively on matters related to the politics and culture of European integration. Professor Nectoux is the author of the highly acclaimed Timber from the South Seas and co-author of Contemporary France.

Full video of this event is available for viewing online (copies can be downloaded, and the code for embedding this video into other websites can be obtained) from links at the following source page:

http://www.archive.org/details/VassilisK.FouskasandAlexO.TackieCyprus-ThePost-imperialConstitution-BookLaunch

"A provocative account placing the evolution of the Cyprus problem in the context of competing great power politics and strategic consideration in the Eastern Mediterranean"
Van Coufoudakis,. Professor Emeritus, Indiana University - Purdue University, Fort Wayne

"A magisterial synthesis, which can be grasped at one sitting."
Dr. William Mallinson, Lecturer-elect of European History, Ionian University Corfu

"A welcome contribution to an important topic: how to solve the Cyprus question on the basis of a post-imperial agenda."
Bülent Gökay, Professor of International Relations, Keele University, Stoke-on-Trent

"There is originality here both in the approach and the argument."
Dr. Marios L. Evriviades, Assistant Professor of International Politics, Panteleion University, Athens

This book provides a non-partisan approach to the Cyprus issue.

Vassilis K. Fouskas and Alex O. Tackie argue that the rise to power of two left-wing parties on both sides of the Green Line means it is time to launch a dialogue to initiate a post-imperial constitutional process. This is a feasible undertaking, not least because Cyprus is a member of the EU but not a member of NATO.

This short, accessible book aims to revive a debate in the spirit of Dervis Ali Kavatzoglou and Constantine Misiaoulis, popular symbols of a united democratic and independent Cyprus.

Vassilis K. Fouskas is Professor of International Relations at Piraeus University Greece. Alex O. Tackie is Senior Lecturer in Economics at Kingston University, UK

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http://lobbyforcyprus.org
e-mail: admin@lobbyforcyprus.org

The Apostolides v Orams Case - An Update

See January 2010 Judgement report here

ASSOCIATION FOR CYPRIOT GREEK AND TURKISH AFFAIRS

Seminar

"The Apostolides v Orams Case - An Update"
Legal Issues, Political Significance and Practical
Implications

A talk by Constantis Candounas

Chairman: Alper Riza, QC


View thumbnails

Wednesday 25 March 2009
London School of Economics
European Institute

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Details of the judgement on 28th April 2009 is visible at this blog here
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Brief Abstract:

Mr Constantis Candounas was born in Nicosia, Cyprus. He studied law at Queen Mary College, London and returned to Cyprus to practise. In 2004 he took up the case of Mr Meletios Apostolides, a Greek Cypriot architect whose family had been forced to abandon their house, orchard and land in Lapithos, north Cyprus in the wake of the Turkish military operation in 1974. The property was given by the administration in the north to a Turkish Cypriot who in due course passed it on to another Turkish Cypriot, who in turn cut off the trees of the orchard and built the skeleton of a villa. The property was eventually acquired by a British couple, David and Linda Orams who completed and further developed the villa. Mr Candounas represented Mr Apostolides in his action before the Nicosia District Court which ordered that the Orams should demolish the villa, return the land to the rightful owner and pay him damages for trespass, plus interest and legal fees. The Orams failed to comply, and Mr Candounas proceeded to register the judgment in the High Court of Justice in London in October 2005 and sought, on the basis of the European Regulation on recognition and enforcement of judgments, to enforce the decision of the Nicosia District Court.

The case made headlines in the UK as it could affect the legal claims of many Greek Cypriots against British users of their properties in the north of Cyprus. The fact that Mrs Cherie Blair, QC represented the Orams at the High Court hearing in July 2006 added to the public interest. In September 2006 Judge Rupert Jack, in a complex and controversial decision, found that Mr and Mrs Orams were indeed trespassers on Mr Apostolides's property but that the High Court had no jurisdiction to enforce the judgment of the Nicosia District Court. In 2007 the Court of Appeal declined to uphold Justice Jack's judgment but instead referred the case to the ECJ for 5 preliminary rulings on points of law. The judgment of the European Court of Justice is expected later on this year, but in the meantime, the Court's Advocate General, J. Kokot's opinion was given on 18.12.08 upholding all of Mr. Apostolides's arguments. The Advocate General's opinion, though by no means binding on the court, is deemed to bear significant importance.

The political significance and practical implications of the decision were discussed by Mr Candounas. This was followed by a Question and Answer session.

To view this item online at source, Archive dot org, to obtain the code for embedding this video in other web-pages, and to download this video for offline viewing, see links at the source page:
http://www.archive.org/details/ConstantisCandounasApostolidesvOrams-UpdateandJudgement



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THE ASSOCIATION FOR CYPRIOT, GREEK & TURKISH AFFAIRS
Dr Zenon Stavrinides
General Secretary,
8 Ganners Mount, Leeds LS13 2PE, Great Britain
Tel: 0113 256 8907 Mobile: 07790 107353
Email: Z.Stavrinides@lineone.net

Visit the ACGTA websites at
http://website.lineone.net/~acgta
and
http://www.acgta.org

Accommodating the Cyprus issue in the European Union's political and legal order

THE ASSOCIATION FOR CYPRIOT, GREEK & TURKISH AFFAIRS

Seminar
Friday 13 March 2009

London School of Economics
European Institute

Accommodating the Cyprus issue in the
European Union's political and legal order

By Nikos Skoutaris,
European University Institute, Florence, Italy
Professor Takis Tridimas in the chair




Extended Abstract:

Despite the partial normalisation of the relations between the two ethno-religious segments on the island, Cyprus’ accession to the EU neither meant its reunification nor the restoration of the human rights or the complete lift of the political and economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community. Ironically enough, the accession of the island to the EU added a new dimension to its division. According to Protocol 10 on Cyprus of the Act of Accession 2003, although the Republic of Cyprus joined the Union with its entire territory, due to the fact that its Government cannot exercise effective control over the whole island, pending a settlement, the application of the acquis is ‘suspended in those areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not have effective control.

The scope of the paper is twofold: on the one hand it provides for a concise but accurate analytical framework of the derogations to the suspension of the acquis and on the other, it assesses the pragmatic approach that the Union has adopted when dealing with issues arising from the conflict such as the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, the “settlers” etc. In other words, it provides for a critique of the seemingly depoliticised and overly technical approach of the Union with which the EU has tried to absorb some of the stresses of the partition of the island by offering a mechanism that has enhanced the lives of most of the inhabitants on the island.

The main thesis of the paper (that consists of a summary of the outcomes of my doctoral research) is that although the application of the acquis is suspended in northern Cyprus, the territorial character of the suspension and the adoption of the Green Line Regulation and the instrument of financial support have allowed a limited integration of the areas not under the effective control of the Republic within the EU. In addition and with regard to a possible future settlement of the Cyprus issue, the paper argues that the Union is ‘ready to accommodate the terms of such a settlement in line with the principles on which the EU is founded.’ In other words, despite the foreseeable existence of tensions between a solution that would be based on the principles of bi-zonality, bi-communality and political equality and the Union legal order, the EU is willing and capable of accommodating the possible derogations from the acquis that such solution could entail.

Nikos Skoutaris is a Researcher in the Department of Law of the European University Institute (Florence, Italy) and Research Assistant of the Academy of European Law. He has worked as a specialist on the Cyprus issue and has published several articles on the interrelationship of the Cyprus issue and the Union legal order in legal journals and edited volumes. His latest article is “The application of the acquis communautaire in the Areas not under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus: The Green Line Regulation” 45(3) Common Market Law Review (2008) 727



Source page for this video at Archive dot org is here

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Dr Zenon Stavrinides
General Secretary, Association for Cypriot,

Greek and Turkish Affairs
8 Ganners Mount, Leeds LS13 2PE, Great Britain
Tel: 0113 256 8907 Mobile: 07790 107353
Email: Z.Stavrinides@lineone.net

Visit the ACGTA websites at
http://website.lineone.net/~acgta
and
http://www.acgta.org

Cyprus's progress towards unity -Time for Turkey to meet its obligations on Cyprus

Cypriot Lobby at the British Parliament
Palace of Westminister
Tuesday, 3rd March 2009

Speakers:

Sir Gerald Kaufman MP
Roger Gale MP
David Burrowes MP
Alan Meale MP
Lord Dubs
Lynne Featherstone MP
Mark Francois MP
(Shadow Minister for Europe)
Theresa Villiers MP
David Lepper MP
Tom Cox - former MP
Rudy Vis MP
Simon Hughes MP
David Amess MP
Andy Love MP

in association with the

President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK
Peter Droussiotis

The National Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom
http://www.cypriotfederation.org.uk
Details: enquiries@cypriotfederation.org.uk

The full video of this event can be seen here at Archive dot org
and is embedded below:



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Supplementary Documents Supplied during the meeting:

"The Cyprus Question, A Brief Introduction"
Availabe as a PDF Document online at:
http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/All/09EB0C510F401217C2257267003781C7?OpenDocument












"Human Rights Violations in Cyprus by Turkey"
Availabe as a PDF Document online at:
http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/All/161BEF02BABC2218C22574720036E95E?OpenDocument












Other documents available online as "Aspects of the Problem":
Latest Developments on the Cyprus Problem
Turkish Invasion
Unacceptable situation
Results of Invasion
Refugees
Missing Persons
Enclaved
Turkish Colonisation
Turkish illegal restrictive measures against Cyprus and European Union shipping
Destruction of Cultural Heritage
Available online at:
http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/a_problem_en/a_problem_en?OpenDocument

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This video is also available in "clip form" (one clip per speaker)
from a Playlist at YouTube
Pressure Turkey now to meet its obligations on Cyprus



This item has also been posted to:
http://www.cyprus-forum.com/cyprus22607.html
http://www.lgr.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=92
National Federation of Cypriots in the UK Group on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14229354838
Various other Facebook locations, including a link at my own profile there