I only visited Cyprus once. That was in the old navy days and the Greeks and Turks were at each others throats, as they have been since times immemorial, and still are today. These races just despise one another and we can’t change that.

Cyprus, though, was exceedingly gorgeous back then. Lovely, deserted beaches with a warm, tame sea lapping on the wide sands. Inland, oranges and other citrus fruits grew wild for anyone to get free refreshment. The island rose - and rose to the mighty Mount Olympus and crazed bus drivers made the ascent, and worse, the descent around tight, hairpin curves with a precipice on one side and a rock wall on the other. As is common with the defenders and slaves of the British establishment, the Army had the best place on the island, their base spread all over the summit of Olympus, (at 6402 feet, the highest peak in the Trodos Massive Range), like a tropical, Butlins holiday camp. We sailors, in our tight uniforms and uncomfortable living conditions on that tiny dot far below, the Cruiser HMS Sheffield, gazed around this military paradise in envy of our ’Pongo cousins as they invited us to lunch. (“pongo” navy slang for soldiers…marines were “boot necks...all officers were "pigs").

We took trips across the island, stopping in rural hamlets where pigs (four-legged ones) and chickens scattered at our coming and found simple restaurants under shade trees. One I remember was actually built up a tree and we ate snacks while birds watched us from branches. We couldn’t really relax, though, Suez was still being fought or just concluded and many towns were off limits, although Cyprus wasn’t directly involved.

Now an uneasy truce exists in Cyprus with Greece holding the lion’s share and the Turks occupying the ill famed TRNC, with roughly 1/3 rd. of the land. This, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, hasn’t been recognized by Britain and any other nations. Despite this, or possibly because of it, the British have been buying land and homes here for years. Many of these people have been ripped-off by crooks, such as Britain’s Gary Robb, presently in an English prison, and others in collusion with bent lawyers and representatives of the TRNC Government.

The Modern TRNC

This is sourced from The Library of Congress, Country Studies. CIA World Fact-Book. (Correct as of 1991)

The institutional framework for the "TRNC" was set out in the 1985 constitution, drafted by the Constitutional Commission and approved by the Constituent Assembly in March 1985 and by a national referendum in May 1985. The constitution was approved by 70.2 percent of the votes cast; opposition to it cantered on its retention of capital punishment and certain other provisions deemed too politically restrictive.

Although based on the 1975 document that established the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," the new constitution provided for an unfettered independent republic. It made no reference to a federal republic, but Turkish Cypriot authorities consistently pointed to a March 1985 Constituent Assembly vote declaring that the new constitution will not hinder establishment of a federal republic.

The constitution establishes a secular republic based on principles of democracy, social justice, and the supremacy of law. The balance of powers among the governmental branches is flexible, not fixed; the president and the Legislative Assembly both participate in the Council of Judicature, which names, promotes, and oversees the judicial branch. The president and the legislature also share the power to declare war and commit armed forces overseas.

The president, elected for five years, is required to be of Cypriot parentage and have resided in Cyprus for five years. He is the head of state and commander in chief, although the security forces are the responsibility of the prime minister. The president could preside over meetings of the cabinet, the Council of Ministers, but did not have a vote. He also named the prime minister from those elected to parliament, and appointed, in consultation with the prime minister, other ministers, who need not be elected members. The number of ministries was limited by the constitution to ten. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the president, the president of the Legislative Assembly would become acting president.

The Legislative Assembly is a unicameral body of fifty members elected for five-year terms. It enacts laws, exercises control over the Council of Ministers, approves the budget, has authority to give general and special amnesty, decides whether to carry out death penalties imposed by the courts, and ratifies international agreements. Upon an absolute majority vote, the Legislative Assembly could dissolve itself and call for new elections. Under certain circumstances, the president could also dissolve the body.

The judicial system established by the 1985 constitution rough by corresponds in several features to the provisions of the 1960 constitution of the Republic of Cyprus. The Supreme Court consists of a president and seven judges, and has jurisdiction to sit as the Supreme Constitutional Court, the Court of Appeal, and the High Administrative Court. As the Constitutional Court it is composed of five justices, and as a Court of Appeal, three. The "TRNC," drawing on the 1960 constitution and on the Turkish and United States systems, provides for challenges to the constitutionality of legislation. The Supreme Court, in its role as High Administrative Court, fulfils the same functions as described in article 146 of the 1960 constitution. The Supreme Council of Judicature, consisting of the Supreme Court, the attorney general, and several other officials, is the exclusive authority for appointments, promotions, disciplinary control, and all other matters relating to the judges of the courts.

There are three categories of lower courts. Assize courts, in the capitals of the three districts of the "TRNC," sit three times a year to try persons convicted of indictable offences. These courts have unlimited jurisdiction in criminal matters. District courts, also located in the district capitals, have jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters. Family courts, each composed of a single judge, hear and determine actions relating to personal status and religious matters.

For administrative purposes the "TRNC" is divided into three districts, Nicosia (Lefkosa), Famagusta (Gazimagusa), and Kyrenia (Girne), each headed by a district officer (kaymakam), the representative of the central government and subordinate to the minister of the interior. There are twenty-six municipalities, consisting of towns and large villages, each governed by a municipal council and its head, the mayor. Council members and the mayor won their posts in municipal elections, usually held every four years. Candidates in these elections could run as independents or be affiliated with a party. Villages, of which there were about 150, were each governed by a village commission consisting of a mayor (muhtar) and assistants (aza; pl., azalar), also elected for four-year terms. Municipalities usually dealt with the relevant ministry when approaching the national government. Villages usually contacted the district kaymakam when they wished the services of the central government.

End of CIA report.

Cyprus has been settled from about 8500 BC. It was ceded to, and finally annexed by, the UK in 1913, attaining its independence in 1960, only to have the hastily formed Greek/Turkish coalition government collapse in 1963. In 1983, the Turks declared independence for the north and all three governments, the UK being still involved, produced the Annam Plan to unite the island again. This was voted on and agreed to by majority of the Turks, the Greeks voting against by 74% of the vote. The only country to recognise the TRNC is, unsurprisingly, Turkey. This country keep a 45,000 man army here, including 5,000 from the TRNC military. When you think the UK has a fraction of this amount of troops in Afghanistan to achieve its objectives, you realize what a significant strength Turkey is employing and how much it values its interests.

Britain, and the rest of the EU and others, recognise only the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus over the island and view the Turkish troops as an illegal occupation force. (Although some of the resolutions of the TRNC are considered legally valid by the EU).

Just a glance at Google will show you how many unhappy land buyers have been defrauded over property purchase. This includes unsuitable land being sold, land with no clear title, money taken and no construction done, homes unfinished, and even land and homes being sold more than once. People have arrived to take up residence only to find someone else in their property unwilling to leave. People have been mired in court cases in which favourable judgements have never been enforced. The government makes excuse after excuse, blaming this and that; this lawyer or minor functionary, and the other. And none of the victims gets their money back or their homes finished. Not all purchases have ended like this, of course, but a far too significant number have for the problem to be pushed under anyone’s carpet.

Cyprus may not be the ideal geographical location in today’s world. It lies 75 km south of Turkey, 105 km west of Syria and 380 kms from Egypt. But few places in range of Britain and Northern Europe have 300 days of sunshine per year. (But winters are short, cold and rainy Dec. to Feb.). Nor are many as sylvan, full of flowers and birds - even wild donkeys!

I am told he average Turkish Cypriot is a friendly, laid-back individual; many try to get to the UK by forming attachments to British women, as work is hard to get and badly paid. I hope to get over there shortly to see how much the island has changed since my last visit many years ago