Security in daily life A considerable proportion of the Turkish Cypriot stakeholders were concerned that the economic and structural discrepancies, property and relocation issues, or governance problems could lead to tensions between members of two communities. Greek Cypriot stakeholders and focus group participants also express similar fears, namely that relatively trivial problems in society could be blown out of proportion and escalated into large scale violence. Focus group participants from both communities also explained that to them a feeling of security or insecurity also relates to crime, the role of the police, immigration, road safety, illicit drugs, and the like. Greek Cypriot displaced persons also placed significant importance on a sense of post-settlement security should they return to their original homes and villages. In fact, a feeling of security in daily life is a prerequisite for return. The participants said that they would like to see Greek speaking Cypriots in the local police forces and local municipalities, just to feel like there will be someone there who can understand what they are saying and ‘will be on their side’ in case of any trouble. Whereas some participants mentioned that living among other Greek Cypriots in the Turkish Cypriot constituent state would make them feel more secure, while others dismissed this idea as it was supposedly reminiscent of ‘living in a ghetto.’
«Can you imagine a Turkish Cypriot animal product not being able to be sold in the Greek Cypriot market? We cannot convince anybody that this is because of hygienic regulations of the EU. The farmer will believe that the Greek Cypriots do not want his/her produce. This will lead to tensions between the two communities». Turkish Cypriot stakeholder panel participant
Security and intercommunal trust There was consensus in the stakeholder panel meeting on security that more trust is needed between the two communities for a solution to be sustainable. One panel participant argued that only through the development of inter-communal trust could future external interventions be averted. By contrast, an annulment of the Treaty of Guarantee would not effectively deter intervention. Intervention, he argued, can only be averted if intercommunal trust and relations are cultivated.
«Ιs there ever any real guarantee that another country cannot intervene in Cyprus? So can we solve this by cancelling the guarantee treaty? Like then we are going to be secure from Turkey? Why? Does the EU have its own army? The main issue is that we need to build the trust between the people. We cannot prevent a war and we cannot prevent armed conflict from Turkey by bringing more arms to Cyprus. We can only solve it by developing trust between the communities, the people. Other than that you cannot guarantee anything for anybody».
«I want a country where Cypriots live as closely as possible and exist in harmony». Greek Cypriot stakeholder panel participant
Τurkish Cypriot stakeholder panel participant SOLVING THE CYPRUS PROBLEM: HOPES AND FEARS Ι Cyprus 2015
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