www.talkcyprus.org

[brother]

Quote: It has been shown by opinion polls and subsequently confirmed by the result of the referendum that the majority of Greek Cypriots do not want the re-unification of the country. The prefer separation. The oft-used phrase, “they on their side and we on ours”, is unfortunately the view of this majority. Arguably the most paradoxical aspect of the Cyprus issue is that Greek Cypriots have come to terms with partition while the Turkish Cypriots have not.



http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=22710&cat_id=1

[Dhavlos]

Quote: It has been shown by opinion polls and subsequently confirmed by the result of the referendum that the majority of Greek Cypriots do not want the re-unification of the country. The prefer separation. The oft-used phrase, “they on their side and we on ours”, is unfortunately the view of this majority. Arguably the most paradoxical aspect of the Cyprus issue is that


This i think is not true. I would like to see the opinion polls that this idea has come from.

Just because the Greek Cypriots did not support A-plan does not mean that they are pro-separation, and that the Turkish Cypriots are pro-unification cos they voted for the A-plan.

Quote: Greek Cypriots have come to terms with partition while the Turkish Cypriots have not.

Wasnt this being said the other way round a few years ago, when Turkish Cypriots/Denktash were refusing dialogue?

I do not this this piece of writing is anyreal reflection of the Greek Cypriots imo

[brother]

Dhavlos would you mind getting the URL link for the report if you are using a PC and then lets debate through it.

[cannedmoose]

brother wrote: Dhavlos would you mind getting the URL link for the report if you are using a PC and then lets debate through it.

Bro', the url is there, I added it earlier...

[brother]

Dhavlos i have noticed from my chats with a Greek Cypriot neighbour and his family that what is being quoted is the way many are thinking, imagine my shoch when my neighbours father here to visit his first grandchild born only a few months ago when he said to me this weekend the immortal words, 'you are on your side and we are on our side and thats the way we will keep it' and his son turned and said 'dad thats not true, brother and i believe in uniting the island' and he laughed and said 'you both ahve been away from the island a long time and do not know the general feeling of the people but its safe to say that we are happy as it is'.

I spoke with him for quite a while until we was joined by more visitors who also joined the chat and they all supported the idea of what i said above.

[Liza]

I think you'd be surprised Dhavlos, many Cypriots, especially non-refugees are quite happy to keep things as they are. My feelings are mixed when it comes to this subject , the more time I spend on this forum the more I think it just might be possible to live in harmony....however like most people I'm scared of change.

[brother]

I am going to be even bolder and tell you where the discussion ended that night, and it was with us including my neighbour and i agreeing that PARTITION was the best solution.

We agreed that the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot would never fully trust one another.

We agreed that the Greek Cypriot do NOT want to share power with the Turkish Cypriot.

We agreed that at the moment the only real issue for the Greek Cypriot was their lands left in the north.

We agreed that the Turkish Cypriot could never be happy because the Greek Cypriot would never be willing to call EOKA murderers and terrorists as the Turkish Cypriot see it.

The list goes on and on, i went home dismayed and shocked at the blunt truth i was hit in the face with.

[Dhavlos]

Hmmm, maybe then im just a bit too utopian in my views of society/peoples opinion :(

Can i ask, was it the older generation who were 'pro separation' (if i can put it that way), and that the younger generation are maybe, like me, a bit more hopeful for the solution to cyprus?

Also, is it people from the diaspora who are more actively pro-unitification, and those incyprus who are not botherd by the 'status quo'
Or again, is it wishful thinking? :(

[brother]

Dhavlos wrote: Hmmm, maybe then im just a bit too utopian in my views of society/peoples opinion :(

Can i ask, was it the older generation who were 'pro separation' (if i can put it that way), and that the younger generation are maybe, like me, a bit more hopeful for the solution to cyprus?

Also, is it people from the diaspora who are more actively pro-unitification, and those incyprus who are not botherd by the 'status quo'
Or again, is it wishful thinking? :(


Dhavlos i am all for the utopian dream and have expressed it in many forums that one day all cypriots will see the light but unfortunately its people like you and i who are not seeing the light and truth.

The truth hurts me but partition is where we are heading and the majority of people living in cyprus at the moment are all for it.

[Dhavlos]

In some respects maybe separation isthe only answer, but that for me is not a sustainable solution, because it could be possiblefor Greek Cypriots to emigrate to the north(however this is arguable) and outnumber the Turkish Cypriots again, so they would become a minority in the OWN country (rather than the Republic of Cyprus' which can weconsider as 'shared' for sake of the arguement).

THis would be even more likely if the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus were to jin the EU...freedom of movement etc..

[Liza]

I have lived in London and I have seen how Greek Cypriot's and Turkish Cypriot's can be friends and live in harmony.....people that have not been abroad have been brought up with the fear and hatred of 1974 and continue to have bad feelings when it comes to the opposite side.

It's easy for people on the outside to judge those of us that live here, and therefore will have to deal with the direct effects of a unification if it turns bad.

[brother]

Dhavlos wrote: In some respects maybe separation isthe only answer, but that for me is not a sustainable solution, because it could be possiblefor Greek Cypriots to emigrate to the north(however this is arguable) and outnumber the Turkish Cypriots again, so they would become a minority in the OWN country (rather than the Republic of Cyprus' which can weconsider as 'shared' for sake of the arguement).

THis would be even more likely if the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus were to jin the EU...freedom of movement etc..


I have been championing unity for as long as i can remember but a time comes when we must accept some bitter truths and do some damage control.

I have fought many opinions but i am now hearing the same song being sung by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot and it goes 'PARTITION' but they are all using the disguise of but if you give me this then maybe we can unite, well if you make your demands so extreme how can the otherside be expected to accept but the only reason such outrageous demands are made is so they are not accepted.

[brother]

Liza wrote: I have lived in London and I have seen how Greek Cypriot's and Turkish Cypriot's can be friends and live in harmony.....people that have not been abroad have been brought up with the fear and hatred of 1974 and continue to have bad feelings when it comes to the opposite side.

It's easy for people on the outside to judge those of us that live here, and therefore will have to deal with the direct effects of a unification if it turns bad.


Thats right liza, and would you risk the safety of your current situation for the uncertainty and possible communial strife if unification was pushed upon you.

[bg_turk]

In Bulgarian there is a saying: "Risk wins, risk loses."
You never know, maybe unification might lead to intercommunal strife, but it also may lead to prosperity, peace and stability.

The question is are cypriot people risk takers, will any cypriot be willing to take a risk which might endager the future of his children?
Young people do not have children or anything to worry about, they would be more than willing to start the unification adventure, maybe that explains why they are more prounification, I guess it is older people that are a bit more careful.

[Liza]

Exactly my fear Brother, I don't want to jeopardise in anyway the safe enviroment that I have right now for my kids. There will always be bad feelings between the two communities (you did this and we did that...etc), and a small handfull of fanatics from both sides could trigger off chaos.