![[Cyprus rejected flag]](../images/c/cy!2004.gif)
by Željko Heimer
Last modified: 2005-02-19 by ivan sache
Keywords: proposal | competition | united cyprus republic |
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by Željko Heimer
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The result of the referendum on the United Cyprus Republic, hold on 24 April 2004, is the following:
Therefore, the proposal of a United Cyprus Republic (including the proposed new flag of Cyprus) is withdrawn.
Panayiotis Panayiotou, 26 April 2004
The above flag was chosen by a committee of Greek and Turkish Cypriots in early March 2004. They chose from several hundred entries sent in to an international competition organized by the UN in early 2003. The stipulation was for a flag of 2:3 proportion and for a proper explanation of what the design meant. This flag will be adopted as the flag for the newly constituted federation called United Cyprus Republic if both sides approve a referendum on reunification of the island on 20 April 2004.
The blue and red stripes represent the two predominant ethnic communities on Cyprus (Greek and Turkish), but the shades of red and blue to be used do not match with the shades of blue and red used in the Greek and Turkish national flags. The orange-yellow central stripe represents Copper, from which Cyprus gets its name (Isle of Copper). The white fimbriation is not explained, but it is almost certain that it represents peace between the two communities.
The two new states in the federation are called Greek Cypriot State and Turkish Cypriot State. The current flag of the (unrecognized) Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus would be used as the flag for Turkish Cypriot State.No design so far is forthcoming for Greek Cypriot State.
Dean Thomas 30 March 2004
The United Nations Secretary General has proposed a "Basis for an Agreement on a Comprehensive Settlement of the Cyprus Problem" to the governments of Greece, Turkey, the Republic of Cyprus, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Greece and the Republic of Cyprus have agreed to the document, as has Turkey.
The whole text of the proposal can be read on the Info-Grece website. Only the flag relevant parts of the proposals are given below. Note that all the bits in betweenbrace brackets {} are provisional and may change.
BASIS FOR AGREEMENT ON A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM
Appendices to the Comprehensive Settlement of The Cyprus Problem:
APPENDIX A: FOUNDATION AGREEMENT
Article 13. Entry into force and implementation
2. Upon entry into force of this Agreement, there shall be ceremonies throughout the island at which all flags other than those prescribed in the Constitution are lowered, the flags of Cyprus and of the{component states} raised in accordance with the Constitution and relevant legislation, and the anthems of Cyprus and of the {component states} played.
3. Upon entry into force of this Agreement, the Co-Presidents shall inform the United Nations that henceforth the membership rights and obligations of Cyprus in the United Nations shall be exercised in accordance with the new state of affairs. The agreed flag of Cyprus shall be raised at United Nations Headquarters.
Article 14. Annexes
Draft Annex I: Constitution of Cyprus
Part I: GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1 The State of Cyprus
4. The flag of Cyprus shall be [insert description of agreed flag], as attached to this Constitution. The flag of Cyprus shall be flown alone or together with the flag of the European Union on {common state} government buildings.
5. The anthem of Cyprus shall be [insert name of agreed anthem], as attached to this Constitution.
Article 2 The {component states}
4. The {component states} shall have their own anthems and flags. The{component state} flag shall be flown on {component state} government buildings, along with and in the same manner as the flag of Cyprus and, if {component state} law so provides, that of the European Union. No other flags shall be flown on {component state} government buildings or public property.
ATTACHMENT 2: FLAG OF CYPRUS
[insert image of agreed flag]
ATTACHMENT 3: ANTHEM OF CYPRUS
[insert agreed anthem]
Draft annex III: {common state} legislation upon entry into force of the foundation agreement
The attachments to this Annex shall be {common state} legislation upon entry into force of the Foundation Agreement, able to be amended in accordance with the Constitution.
ATTACHMENT 1: LAW ON THE ANTHEM, FLAG, INSIGNIA AND HONOURS OF CYPRUS (AND THEIR USE)
[insert text]
Draft annex IX: coming into being of the new state of affairs
Article 3 Flag-raising ceremonies
Upon entry into force of the Foundation Agreement, there shall be ceremonies throughout the island at which all flags other than those prescribed in the Constitution shall be lowered, the flags of Cyprus and of the {component states} shall be raised in accordance with the Constitution of Cyprus and relevant legislation, and the anthems of Cyprus and of the {component states} shall be played.
Article 4 The United Nations
Upon entry into force of the Foundation Agreement, the Co-Presidents shall inform the United Nations that henceforth the membership rights and obligations of Cyprus in the United Nations shall be exercised in accordance with the new state of affairs. The agreed flag of Cyprus shall be raised at United NationsHeadquarters.
APPENDIX B: MEASURES TO ACCOMPANY AND FACILITATE THE FINALIZATION PROCESS
During the period between the signature of the Comprehensive Settlement and the separate simultaneous referenda to approve the Foundation Agreement, the following provisions shall be applied:
Article 3 Flag and anthem competition
A competition shall be conducted to conceive a flag and anthem for Cyprus, and a bilateral committee, chaired by the United Nations, shall make recommendations by consensus to the two leaders from among entries received.
Forwarded by Pascal Vagnat, 4 December 2002
According to the new revised UN plan for establishment of the united state of Cyprus, it seems that the name "United Cyprus Republic" is proposed.
The deadline for accepting the plan has been postponed to 10 March 2003.
Jan Zrzavy, 28 February 2003
From the UN News Centre
UN authorized to seek submissions on flag and anthem for Cyprus
23 January 2003 - The United Nations has been authorized by Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader, and Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, to seek submissions on a flag and anthem for Cyprus through open public competition as foreseen in the proposal for a comprehensive settlement put to them by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
The parties agreed at their meeting yesterday that this procedure needed to be set in motion if a flag and anthem were to be ready to be included in a completed agreement by 28 February, so as to enable the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots to decide on the settlement in separate referenda on 30 March.
"It is understood that the flag and anthem would only be adopted as part of a comprehensive settlement if the entire plan is approved in the separate referenda and a new state of affairs comes into being," the UN said a statement issued in Cyprus. "This decision reflects a shared commitment to ensure that all preparations are made for a completed agreement in accordance with the timeframe proposed by the Secretary-General. It should not be taken as an indication of the state of play in the ongoing negotiations."
Forwarded by Phil Nelson, 23 January 2003
From the Cyprus News Agency
Nicosia, 27 January 2003 - With full page ads in the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot press, the United Nations announced today the competitions"for the design of a flag and the composition of an anthem for Cyprus, which will be part of a comprehensive settlement".
The UN announcement said the two competitions are "open to all
people" and artists should work for free but will receive recognition
through public announcement.
It said "joint entries from Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots are
particularly welcome" while entrants should bear in mind that both
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, "as equal partners in a new
state of affairs, should be able to identify with their flag and
anthem".
Accordingly, it added, "the flag and anthem should reflect commitment
to a common future in a spirit of mutual respect, tolerance and
reconciliation in an independent and united Cyprus".
It said "H.E. Mr. Glafcos Clerides and H.E. Mr. Rauf Denktash,
have together asked the UN to seek submissions through open public
competition for the design of a flag and the composition of an anthem
for Cyprus".
"It is envisaged that the flag and anthem would be part of a
comprehensive settlement to be submitted to separate referenda", the
announcement said.
The guidelines for the flag competition are that the design should
be striking, easily recognizable, pleasing to the eye and simple
enough for a child to draw, the flag should be rectangular, sized 2:3
and lettering should be avoided.
Flag designs should be accompanied by a brief description of the
rationale behind the concept while the publication or use of design
in a public place is prohibited until after the competition has been
finalised and a flag selected.
[...]
The announcement said bilateral committees comprising an equal
number of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and chaired by the UN
will examine the flag designs and anthem scores entered and will make
recommendations by consensus to the two leaders for their
consideration from among the entries received.
Entrants whose flag design or anthem composition are ultimately
selected for inclusion in the comprehensive settlement will be
advised by registered mail and will receive recognition through
public announcement but will not receive any financial remuneration
from the competition organisers.
Competition entries should be received between January 27 and 17 February.
Forwarded by Mark Sensen, 27 January 2003
From the UN News Centre
18 February 2003 The United Nations today said it has so far registered upwards of 1,000 entries for the competition of a new Cyprus flag and anthem.
A spokesperson in New York said the UN expected to register more entries, as submissions are expected to continue to arrive by mail over the next two days. The deadline was yesterday.
According to the UN mission in Cyprus, most contestants -
individuals, schools and commercial graphic design firms - submitted
multiple entries of very high professional standards. [...]
One flag design was submitted by the Greek Cypriot father and Turkish
Cypriot mother of a talented three-year-old. Entries were sent from
Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, and from as far a field as Japan, Australia,
New Zealand, Canada and the United States. Others came from the
United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium and Norway.
Forwarded by Jan Zrzavy, 27 February 2003
From Cypria.com
19 February 2003. [...] A winner however will not be announced until such time as an agreement is reached and signed on the Cyprus problem.
Forwarded by Željko Heimer, 28 February 2003
Turkish Hurriyet newspaper says that according to Alvaro De Soto, Annan's representative, more than 2,000 flag proposals accumulated so far and there will be a competition among these. A commitee of Turkish and Greek Cypriot officers will evaluate these proposals and present the selected ones to the leaders of the two communities. If the leaders cannot agree on a flag, Kofi Annan will select one.
Onur Özgün, 16 February 2004