Independent In-depth Paragraph by Paragraph Analysis of the Implications of the Annan Plan

Foundation Agreement

Article 3 Citizenship

2. All Cypriot citizens shall also enjoy internal constituent state citizenship status. Like the citizenship status of the European Union, this status shall complement and not replace Cypriot citizenship.

Comments

The principle of so-called constituent state citizenship is totally incompatible with the idea of a Federation. A federal state does not vest the constituent states with the right to grant citizenship.  As a resident of California for example, as person is a California resident and not a California citizen. The comparison of Residency to EU citizenship is inappropriate, since there is a hierarchy in which EU citizenship comes at the top of the ladder followed by state citizenship which is then devolved into Residency.

The above paragraph also fails to take any notice or make any mention of community affiliation and by doing so violates the reason for creating a federal system in the first place. Like the Belgians constitution each Cypriot citizen should hold a community affiliation of his own choose and residency of a constitute state of his own choice.

Article 3. 2 must be amended as follows

Amendment Required

2. All Cypriot citizens shall also enjoy internal canton residency status and hold a community affiliation of their own choice should they desire to affiliate themselves to a specific community. Canton residency status shall not be equated with citizenship and shall not complement or replace Cypriot citizenship or EU citizensip.

Clarification Required

revised 05/03/04