excellent artical well put. would you take on the job as head of goverment.

Very good article, however the only way any of the points you raised will come into play is when Turkey decide that they will give no more free diners, why should they keep bailing TRNC out when they themselves are having to reduce costs and suffer the consequences.

Speaking as Turkish Cypriot diaspora from Australian I'm disgusted by the article. It is nothing more than a short sighted sell-out. Especially where you refer to your "Greek Cypriot cousins"..not sure what happened in your family but no Greek is a cousin of mine. Let's get one thing straight the vast majority of the Turkish Cypriot Diaspora are anti-Greek and anti-reunification..since you long to be with your "Greek cousins" why don't you move to the South you traitor ? How quickly you forget the atrocities and murderous EOKA..the only reason we survived is because of Turkey. You put your faith in Europe just like the 8000 people in Srebrenica did.

Dear Metin, I read with great interest your article, and I share a lot of your feelings, and aspirations. How ever there is only one indicator that you need to move such an issue, is history, and the feeling of belonging. Most of the residents in Turkish Cyprus are imported, lets not hide behind our figures, will Turks in Germany become German, NO, NO , No the same with the imported Turks, they will never become Cypriots. We have more in common with our Greek Cypriots brothers than we have with them, look around you, go out look at the culture, values, you can not be blind, unless u see only what you want. Then only we can be united share common values, and leave the past behind for the sake of our children, and the future generations. We had many choices in the past; we were lead by non leaders who drove us in a dead-end. On the other hand we need our security and our economic independence, in my opinion we can achieve a lot more in working with the rest of the Cypriot, nation (we need to accept yes we won a war? at what cost? the sooner we the new generations can breach the gap then we have a future, what ever we do the Greek Cypriots will be the majority and that we are not as yet prepared to accept? are you? because the GDP gap statistically it is impossible. Unless you have a formula that economists have overlooked? We need first to be recognised and we are not and it seems we it is not going to happen either, even then survival without of the rest of eh Cypriot Nation is not possible? But not impossible either we have a choice? Remember what makes a nation is its history, its past, and how you bring all those values to your children and through the generations (and I do not mean that you do not, I think you have many valid points- but all mixed up) and I also understand your anger. And you are not the only one? It is difficult to say to some one born in Cyprus after 35 years you do not belong here any more…but ask him does he feel Cypriot, Turkish, Greek, Armenian, Maronite, Jewish, Muslim, but Cypriot? I think that is where we have the real problem?

I have never heard such good sense spoken by a Turkish Cypriot before, I agree with everthing Murat says The part about there being too many employees is very accurate.

This is an excellent article, just to add two things to it. Keep TRNC CLEAN campaign must start as urgency. This should start immediately through out the country schools and colleges. But most important of all, people who govern us MUST be accountable for their actions.

Are the Greek Cypriots not helping their cousins in the North already? Can you not obtain a Cypriot passport? Can you not work in the South? Do you not have access to health care in the South? Does the South not supply electricity to the North? What has the North done? A simple gesture, like removing the Turkish flag from the mountain side would go along way to improving the lives of the Turkish Cypriots.

Lots of good points here by Metin. The TRNC should look to Full employment for all this could be achieved not by joining the Euro. Keeping your own independence. What make you think the Greek Cypriots would help you,? would they not help themselfs and their own? Build relationships with the Middle East countries these are your natural partners not the Greeks.

Buisness training at university level, Tax breaks for start-up buisness's free up land for the building of small manufacturing factories, produce good's which could be marketed in the Middle East this is the natural market for the TRNC. (DO NOT JOIN THE EURO.) Southern Cyprus is in a mess do not look to them for examples as they along with Greece had to be bailed out by the EU and are on the brink of bankruptcy.

Metin-Agreed ! How and whom should take on the task of Educating old heads? Most young Professionals are leaving TRNC to study and ultimately live abroad.So the first thing to do is make it attractive for them to stay or return and help their country and people to make the changes that we all hope will happen one day.

You have hit the nail on the head. especially the points about cleaning the North of the island up, its a disgrace, especially beaches like Alegady.

Good article, however theory is one thing, practice is another. Unification will sort out a lot of the points raised. The Turkish Cypriots need that exposure, the sooner the better!

Mr Balalan, I am a turkish cypriot young person who has been drawn out of the country for several reasons that has created by the unfair system which is a dominant power over our community.I would like to congratulate you for your article addressing the real issues Turkish Cypriots are facing currently.

as a greek cypriot i agree with almost all of your comments and you make alot of sense but i think the turkish cypriots are a minority in the north and as time goes along the turkish cypriots will become" extinct" by the turks.the culture and way of life will be gone.

I hope north cypurs is never united with the Greeks did you forget your history it's people like you that should go from this island

Did a Greek write this I'm not sure

Turkey should have more say in he running of Northern Cyprus as it seems it is very managed

Metin that is a very good letter and you make lots of sensible points. I agree that it is never too late make good the wrongs of our land, but one of the real major hurdles to overcome is this - is there a genuine will to enact a positive change? At the moment the evidence suggest not. I would like

Very succinctly put. I've been saying the same thing for years. We want to free ourselves of the embargoes and compete internationally, but how can we in this kind of environment? Turkish Cypriots have always been the underdogs, and as such, we have to be better, more professional, have higher goals

Amazing analysis. Exactly how many of us feel. I hope there is enough people in the right position's reading this article. Our so called leaders have failed us all, its time for a massive overhaul.Well done Metin, keep it up

I would add one more item to your list. Stop spitting on the people who come to live amongst us. Many with a life time of experience and who are willing to share it with us for free.

I agree, an excellent article. Professionalism seems to be a word absent from the Turkish Cypriot dictionary and 'making do' will not 'do' anymore. But those of us who live abroad, who can come to the aid of our motherland, are regarded as being ignorant of the facts and interfering. What needs to

the turkish cypriots are doomed mate. i dont say that with glee. but they're too greedy, too short sighted, too selfish too succeed in the long term. they have not been educated to the point where they know what a "good government" is. they avoid efficiency like its the plague and they have been rai

This column is the only intelligent thing I've read on the TRNC for a long time. Congratulations.

Your article raises a large number of interesting questions, the answer to many of which is that a population this small cannot hope to generate all the talent it needs to manage things properly. .Turkey should send expertise, to protect its "investment". What I can tell you is that your

Thank you Metin for such an exceptional article. Very concise and complete. I hope that all your fellow Turkish Cypriots read this and talk to their members of the government who represent them. It really is time for a change. Erwin, Bahceli and Chester

I hope every Turkish Cypriot reads this. It should not too late for a change.