The panel on “Federalism in the Light of Cyprus Problem” was organized by European University of Lefke (EUL) Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Department of Public Administration. The panel which was realized in EUL Cinema Hall under the moderator of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bülent Evre, with presentations of Assist. Prof. Dr. İlksoy Aslım and Assist. Prof. Dr. Salih Egemen, were held.

Stating that there are many definitions in the literature when federalism is mentioned, Evre described the federation as a state structure based on the fundamental sharing of the power of state power and a belief in diversity within the union. Reminding that Turks and Greeks established a common republic in 1960 and that the republic was demolished in 1963, Evre said that since 1963 the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey have defended the federation as a solution to the settlement of the Cyprus problem. The federation presented as a solution proposal until after the 1974 period was not supported by Greek Cypriots and international community but today they expressed that they continue negotiations within the two-zone federation.

Aslım: There are federal and multiple member states under Federation

In the presentation titled “Federalism in the Light of Cyprus Problem,” Aslım described the state as: the single state in terms of the conditions of existence of the state, the single nation, and a single political and legal organization. Aslım explains the differences between the federation and the unitary state, and stresses that unitary state has only single state as a federation consists of a federal state and multiple other member states. Also a unitary state consists of singe constitution but contrarily a federal state has its own constitution and each its member states also have a constitution each.  Aslım, as for the continuation of the presentation provided information on federalism, talked about the fundamental principles of federalism, the legal requirements of the federation, the confederations, the confederations of the federation, the federations in the world, the sharing of sovereignty in federations, the form of sharing of domination and determination of the rule, federal and federal relations. Aslım stated that, the foundation of the Turkish Cypriot federal state in 1975 and the negotiations between the two societies began immediately, stating the final point reached today in the negotiation process, giving an overview of the federation models of the participatory negotiation process.

Egemen: Federation consists of a main state

Egemen informed about the way the Federation was handled in the two communal negotiations, and on December 21, 1963, Egemen stated that the contemporary Cyprus problem had begun. Egemen said that there are unitary states which have only one state legislature, executive and judiciary, and states that are divided into two as federation and confederation within the unified structure. Egemen stressed that in federation state there is a main state and that the state gave the example of the United States which consisted of 50 member states under a federal structure.