www.talkcyprus.org

[sophisticatedbeggar]

The Bulgarian province Macedonia was cut from the main land according to Berlin treaty 1878 and follows endlessly denationalization and alienation. Will justice rise in this so long suffering land?

Bulgaria and Macedonia forced alienation like a father from a child

Bulgaria is silent witness of everything what happen behind Osogovo. Reelection campaign, fighting for power after election, choosing the coalition, selecting the cabinet members – all this blunt the foggy look of the official Bulgaria towards the interest of our state in Macedonia. And now when we know who will determine the foreign policy we understand that the strategy with regard of our brother land remain the same – unwillingness, ignorance, fear from Bulgaria the play more active role in Macedonia?

Since Berlin Congress (1878) till today all wars, in Balkan independent form the goals or results, had the same consequences for Bulgaria and Macedonia drift away from each other. This tendency was broken 3 times in the past 123 years – 1915-1918, 1941-1944 and 1999.

After first to cases follows international conferences, which turn over the Bulgarians from Aegean and Vardar part of Macedonia to the brutal and inhumane denationalization. An attempt to reject the crust of assimilation and forced education of hatred towards Bulgaria in several macedonized generation behind Gueshevo was done in the official visit of the Macedonian leader Lubcho Georgievski on 22. February 1999.

Exact on this time protesting the favorite neighbors taking advantage from Versailles peace treaty dictate, because for them was perfectly fine to stay the pharisaical blessed status quo of the alienation of Macedonia from Bulgaria.

The last war in Macedonia around Kumanovo and Tetovo is a big iceberg, which tip are the demands of the Albanian terrorist. This war was a war against Bulgaria as well. If the new Bulgarian diplomacy have to learn new lesson, is the need to loose her fear, unwillingness, amateurishness of the humiliating status quo, of the alienation of Macedonia from Bulgaria. Bulgaria is obligated to say the last word in the battle for Macedonia. Will this happen and how will is the test for the cabinet of Simeon II.

Otherwise the alienation of the two brother country will continue endlessly.

Newspaper Macedonia 25.11.2001

[sophisticatedbeggar]

You see bg_turk two can play this game (=propaganda)...

I would never get in the trouble to post this if you were not so prejudiced and negative about Greece...

I told you before that Greece is not the perfect country (just like 99% of the countries out there) but to claim that ONLY Greece has made mistakes in its course of history is totally absurd...

You keep saying that Greeks have a superiority complex in the Balkans. I politely mentioned that this is not accurate for a big percentage of the population (starting from me -I am sure you remember our conversation) but after all I get the impression that you have a complex against us. You really do think we are all monsters, don't you?

At the same time you have a habit of neglecting/failing to mention anything negative about Bulgaria. Are you working for the Bulgarian Travel and Tourism Organisation perhaps and try to convince Westerners that Bulgaria is paradise on earth? No injustice, no racism, no fraud, no corruption, no crime, no eyeing up a small neighbour country claiming that this small country is Bulgaria territory?

[bg_turk]

Thank you for posting. I appreciate the trouble you went through to do that.

The reasons why I am so negative about Greece are not only related to Macedonia. They have to do with the overall behaviour of the country recently:

- Blind support for Serbia in its ethnic cleansing campaing in Bosnia and Kosovo
- Support for Bulgaria during the Revival Process when the communist regime change my name
- Greek customs officers treat people like shit, which I have experienced while visiting Greece
- One Greek customs officer kept a friend of mine for half an hour because he called Thessaloniki Solun and lectured him about history about the hellenic nature of the city
- Greece keeps protracting the opening of the Makaza border control point near my town and I cannot go visit thrace, or swim in the aegean even though the sea can literally be seen from the higher mountain tops around my town, I have to go all the way to the black see
- Greek firms exploit poor workers in my region, and they work literally for nothing, far below any EU standards.
- Greece comitted massacres against slavs and turks in the northern part of the country. My grandfather told me stories how before the balkan wars they could go to the south to visit his relatives. They were very proud tobacco growers, produced one of the best tobacco in the world. But when Greece occupied those territories, our links to the south were completely shattered, and the whole culture of my relatives was erased.
- Greeks treat albanians, slavs and turks like second class citizens.

I do not try to spread Bulgarian or Turkish propaganda. In fact I am a champion of kurdish rights in Turkey, and I constantly have arguments with some of my cousins in Turkey. I do not adore bulgaria either, aftore all the country changed my name when I was a young kid, but this happened during the communist times, and I think Bulgaria at the moment has a pretty constructive policy in the Balkans with all of its neighbours, unlike Greece.

No matter how you look at it, Greece is the bad boy. Bulgaria has lost many wars and territories to Greece, and from a historical perspective Greece is viewed as an agressor, not only in Bulgaria, but Macedonia and Albania as well.

I talked to a greek thracian recently about his views of the Bulgarian occupation of Northern Greece during WW2, and he said it was pretty bad, he hated the bulgarian army, but Bulgaria never started a campaign of ethnic cleansing against these territories like Greece did. In fact bulgarians are relatively tolerant to ethnic minorities, and the existence of my community in bulgaria is a testament to that.

Can you say the same about turks in greece. They are marginalized, oppressed, and economically disadvantaged.

Ok, I might sound a bit biased, since I constantly criticize greece, but my blood really boils when I hear some greeks call turks barbarians, especially in light of crimes Greece comitted in the Balkans.

[sophisticatedbeggar]

bg_turk wrote: Thank you for posting. I appreciate the trouble you went through to do that.

***You're welcome but your whole mail (the generalisations) only proves what I'm saying, that you are a racist who specifically dislikes Greece and Greeks...

They have to do with the overall behaviour of the country recently:
- Blind support for Serbia in its ethnic cleansing campaing in Bosnia and Kosovo

***I don't hear you complain about the Croatian "treatment" towards Bosnians too (half truth doesn't equal truth)...

- Support for Bulgaria during the Revival Process when the communist regime change my name

***Sorry, I don't understand what you mean here, please elaborate. Unless you mean that the Greek State didn't react when Bulgaria was under the commies and mistreating the various minorities (Turks in your case)... If this is what you mean I'm wondering what you think of Sweden (eg) which I am sure didn't react either...

- Greek customs officers treat people like shit, which I have experienced while visiting Greece

***You fail to understand (I don't blame you as you do not live in Greece) that these Greek customs officers would treat me like shit too. It's not a question of ethnicity it's a question of class, power, financial status and your position to society... In other words these customs officers got the job through connections and their only concern is to get rich as quickly as possible. They wouldn't mind screwing anyone (me, you and anyone without connections or power -financial or political) if this would bring them money... They also treat like shit Serbs who cross the borders (=our brothers as you would say)... No discrimination there...

- One Greek customs officer kept a friend of mine for half an hour because he called Thessaloniki Solun and lectured him about history about the hellenic nature of the city

***Again, this officer is a scum who didn't get the job because of his qualifications but rather through his political connections... He regards people like me and you as shit...

- Greece keeps protracting the opening of the Makaza border control point near my town and I cannot go visit thrace, or swim in the aegean even though the sea can literally be seen from the higher mountain tops around my town, I have to go all the way to the black see

***I am not aware of this and cannot comment. In fact I do not know where this crossing is so please direct me to a map... Is Makaza border from our side?

- Greek firms exploit poor workers in my region, and they work literally for nothing, far below any EU standards.

***Well, this really cracks me up mate. Have you got any idea what is the lowest average salary in the wealthy EU countries? It's about 1000 Euro... You know how much I get for working 6 days per week? 750 Euro. Should I hate England cause my salary is shite?
Regarding the Greek scumbags that exploit your compatriots. On my turn I can tell you that these Greek "entrepreneurs" were all having factories in northern Greece and were paying 500 /600 Euro Greek poor workers. But when they realised that it's easier to transfer their business to Macedonia and Bulgaria cause over there the average salary is 5 times lower they didn't lose a second. So as a result of this "open market" there is hardly any factory left in Northern Greece, there are areas where the unemployment hits 60% of the population, Greek workers are getting poorer and poorer, Bulgarian workers are being exploited for peanuts (still they have a job, while my compatriots are on the dole with no chance of EVER getting their jobs back)...

- Greece comitted massacres against slavs and turks in the northern part of the country. My grandfather told me stories how before the balkan wars they could go to the south to visit his relatives. They were very proud tobacco growers, produced one of the best tobacco in the world. But when Greece occupied those territories, our links to the south were completely shattered, and the whole culture of my relatives was erased.

***No need to mention again my grandfather's story I suppose?

- Greeks treat albanians, slavs and turks like second class citizens.

***You fail to understand that Greece currently has the highest immigration rate in the whole EU. We are a country of about 9.500.000 Greeks and almost two million immigrants that arrived the last 15 years (ALONE). Also, we are the poorest EU country among the 15 (hopefully not among the 25) and also have the highest unemployment rate among the 15... Can you understand the cultural and financial shock for a country like Greece? We were not prepared for this wave of immigrants and the conditions are not perfect for us, Greeks, either... You cannot find a job unless you know someone who knows someone, you are paid very low wages and you can't say a word... Sounds familiar?

I do not try to spread Bulgarian or Turkish propaganda. In fact I am a champion of kurdish rights in Turkey, and I constantly have arguments with some of my cousins in Turkey. I do not adore bulgaria either, aftore all the country changed my name when I was a young kid, but this happened during the communist times, and I think Bulgaria at the moment has a pretty constructive policy in the Balkans with all of its neighbours, unlike Greece.

***So you are ready to excuse Commies in times of peace for completely "erasing" your identity but you cannot "forgive" Greece for obliging your grand father to leave the country in times of war??!?! This is racism mate...

No matter how you look at it, Greece is the bad boy. Bulgaria has lost many wars and territories to Greece, and from a historical perspective Greece is viewed as an agressor, not only in Bulgaria, but Macedonia and Albania as well.

***Albania is occupying Greek territory (southern Albania)... Macedonia is a well known fact that it was a made up country by Tito, so I suppose you mean that we occupy Yugoslavian territory?

I talked to a greek thracian recently about his views of the Bulgarian occupation of Northern Greece during WW2, and he said it was pretty bad, he hated the bulgarian army, but Bulgaria never started a campaign of ethnic cleansing against these territories like Greece did. In fact bulgarians are relatively tolerant to ethnic minorities, and the existence of my community in bulgaria is a testament to that.

***You said above that Bulgaria made you deny your Turkish identity... Make up your mind pal... Bottom line is were you able to perform your spiritual duties during the communist years? Were the Christians allowed to? Thats the main point, so please stop beating round the bush...

Can you say the same about turks in greece. They are marginalized, oppressed, and economically disadvantaged.

***Yes, I can tell you that the Turks are not oppressed. In fact they must be doing really well otherwise they wouldn't outnumber Greeks in some areas. I have a friend who works as a teacher in Thrace and he tells me that Turks in these areas have their "own rules"... The girls go to school wearing hijabs which imo should not be accepted but I don't make the school rules. The women also live just like they would live in deep Turkey, another thing which shouldn't be allowed on Greek territory (women's oppression that is). Fixed marriages amongst muslims in these areas also thrive. They are fully allowed to perform their spiritual duties and all of them are in direct contact with motherland (have sattelite dishes, speak Turkish etc etc).. So, why are they oppressed? Because they do not live in Turkey? All this proves proves that the whole oppression thing is underfired by Turkey to create "hate" against us, Christians and possibly gain something (Western Thrace perhaps?)... Also, again you are mixing things up... Oppresion is not an ethnic issue in Greece, it's a class issue... But if we stick to ethnicity the same goes for the very few (extremely few for Turkey's sake) Greeks who bravely remain in Turkey... You see Greece didn't act like Turkey (that threw out every single Greek) and as a result has no minority problem...

Ok, I might sound a bit biased, since I constantly criticize greece, but my blood really boils when I hear some greeks call turks barbarians, especially in light of crimes Greece comitted in the Balkans.

***And I'm sure that for every Greek there is that calls Turks barbarians there is a Turk that does the exact same for Greeks... This is a kid's excuse mate...

All in all it's a free world, you may hate whoever you like but do not be offended when you are called a racist as a result of your attitude... And if you are proud of being called a racist then there is no point in continuing this discussion really as personally I do not discriminate against ethnic minorities or judge people by the way they look or based on their nationality while you do... Very immature imo but then again it's a democracy (we invented it btw ;O)...

[sophisticatedbeggar]

bg_turk>Thank you for posting. I appreciate the trouble you went through to do that.

***You're welcome but your whole mail (the generalisations) only proves what I'm saying, that you are a racist who specifically dislikes Greece and Greeks...

They have to do with the overall behaviour of the country recently:
- Blind support for Serbia in its ethnic cleansing campaing in Bosnia and Kosovo

***I don't hear you complain about the Croatian "treatment" towards Bosnians too (half truth doesn't equal truth)...

- Support for Bulgaria during the Revival Process when the communist regime change my name

***Sorry, I don't understand what you mean here, please elaborate. Unless you mean that the Greek State didn't react when Bulgaria was under the commies and mistreating the various minorities (Turks in your case)... If this is what you mean I'm wondering what you think of Sweden (eg) which I am sure didn't react either...

- Greek customs officers treat people like shit, which I have experienced while visiting Greece

***You fail to understand (I don't blame you as you do not live in Greece) that these Greek customs officers would treat me like shit too. It's not a question of ethnicity it's a question of class, power, financial status and your position to society... In other words these customs officers got the job through connections and their only concern is to get rich as quickly as possible. They wouldn't mind screwing anyone (me, you and anyone without connections or power -financial or political) if this would bring them money... They also treat like shit Serbs who cross the borders (=our brothers as you would say)... No discrimination there...

- One Greek customs officer kept a friend of mine for half an hour because he called Thessaloniki Solun and lectured him about history about the hellenic nature of the city

***Again, this officer is a scum who didn't get the job because of his qualifications but rather through his political connections... He regards people like me and you as shit...

- Greece keeps protracting the opening of the Makaza border control point near my town and I cannot go visit thrace, or swim in the aegean even though the sea can literally be seen from the higher mountain tops around my town, I have to go all the way to the black see

***I am not aware of this and cannot comment. In fact I do not know where this crossing is so please direct me to a map... Is Makaza border from our side?

- Greek firms exploit poor workers in my region, and they work literally for nothing, far below any EU standards.

***Well, this really cracks me up mate. Have you got any idea what is the lowest average salary in the wealthy EU countries? It's about 1000 Euro... You know how much I get for working 6 days per week? 750 Euro. Should I hate England cause my salary is shite?
Regarding the Greek scumbags that exploit your compatriots. On my turn I can tell you that these Greek "entrepreneurs" were all having factories in northern Greece and were paying 500 /600 Euro Greek poor workers. But when they realised that it's easier to transfer their business to Macedonia and Bulgaria cause over there the average salary is 5 times lower they didn't lose a second. So as a result of this "open market" there is hardly any factory left in Northern Greece, there are areas where the unemployment hits 60% of the population, Greek workers are getting poorer and poorer, Bulgarian workers are being exploited for peanuts (still they have a job, while my compatriots are on the dole with no chance of EVER getting their jobs back)...

- Greece comitted massacres against slavs and turks in the northern part of the country. My grandfather told me stories how before the balkan wars they could go to the south to visit his relatives. They were very proud tobacco growers, produced one of the best tobacco in the world. But when Greece occupied those territories, our links to the south were completely shattered, and the whole culture of my relatives was erased.

***No need to mention again my grandfather's story I suppose?

- Greeks treat albanians, slavs and turks like second class citizens.

***You fail to understand that Greece currently has the highest immigration rate in the whole EU. We are a country of about 9.500.000 Greeks and almost two million immigrants that arrived the last 15 years (ALONE). Also, we are the poorest EU country among the 15 (hopefully not among the 25) and also have the highest unemployment rate among the 15... Can you understand the cultural and financial shock for a country like Greece? We were not prepared for this wave of immigrants and the conditions are not perfect for us, Greeks, either... You cannot find a job unless you know someone who knows someone, you are paid very low wages and you can't say a word... Sounds familiar?

I do not try to spread Bulgarian or Turkish propaganda. In fact I am a champion of kurdish rights in Turkey, and I constantly have arguments with some of my cousins in Turkey. I do not adore bulgaria either, aftore all the country changed my name when I was a young kid, but this happened during the communist times, and I think Bulgaria at the moment has a pretty constructive policy in the Balkans with all of its neighbours, unlike Greece.

***So you are ready to excuse Commies in times of peace for completely "erasing" your identity but you cannot "forgive" Greece for obliging your grand father to leave the country in times of war??!?! This is racism mate...

No matter how you look at it, Greece is the bad boy. Bulgaria has lost many wars and territories to Greece, and from a historical perspective Greece is viewed as an agressor, not only in Bulgaria, but Macedonia and Albania as well.

***Albania is occupying Greek territory (southern Albania)... Macedonia is a well known fact that it was a made up country by Tito, so I suppose you mean that we occupy Yugoslavian territory?

I talked to a greek thracian recently about his views of the Bulgarian occupation of Northern Greece during WW2, and he said it was pretty bad, he hated the bulgarian army, but Bulgaria never started a campaign of ethnic cleansing against these territories like Greece did. In fact bulgarians are relatively tolerant to ethnic minorities, and the existence of my community in bulgaria is a testament to that.

***You said above that Bulgaria made you deny your Turkish identity... Make up your mind pal... Bottom line is were you able to perform your spiritual duties during the communist years? Were the Christians allowed to? Thats the main point, so please stop beating round the bush...

Can you say the same about turks in greece. They are marginalized, oppressed, and economically disadvantaged.

***Yes, I can tell you that the Turks are not oppressed. In fact they must be doing really well otherwise they wouldn't outnumber Greeks in some areas. I have a friend who works as a teacher in Thrace and he tells me that Turks in these areas have their "own rules"... The girls go to school wearing hijabs which imo should not be accepted but I don't make the school rules. The women also live just like they would live in deep Turkey, another thing which shouldn't be allowed on Greek territory (women's oppression that is). Fixed marriages amongst muslims in these areas also thrive. They are fully allowed to perform their spiritual duties and all of them are in direct contact with motherland (have sattelite dishes, speak Turkish etc etc).. So, why are they oppressed? Because they do not live in Turkey? All this proves proves that the whole oppression thing is underfired by Turkey to create "hate" against us, Christians and possibly gain something (Western Thrace perhaps?)... Also, again you are mixing things up... Oppresion is not an ethnic issue in Greece, it's a class issue... But if we stick to ethnicity the same goes for the very few (extremely few for Turkey's sake) Greeks who bravely remain in Turkey... You see Greece didn't act like Turkey (that threw out every single Greek) and as a result has no minority problem...

Ok, I might sound a bit biased, since I constantly criticize greece, but my blood really boils when I hear some greeks call turks barbarians, especially in light of crimes Greece comitted in the Balkans.[/quote]

***And I'm sure that for every Greek there is that calls Turks barbarians there is a Turk that does the exact same for Greeks... This is a kid's excuse mate...

All in all it's a free world, you may hate whoever you like but do not be offended when you are called a racist as a result of your attitude... And if you are proud of being called a racist then there is no point in continuing this discussion really as personally I do not discriminate against ethnic minorities or judge people by the way they look or based on their nationality while you do... Very immature imo but then again it's a democracy (we invented it btw ;O)...

[sophisticatedbeggar]

to the attention of bg_turk: In case you decide to reply; please ignore the first reply, the second time it went through properly...

[Bullika]

Quote: Greek customs officers treat people like shit, which I have experienced while visiting Greece


Customs officials in Turkey do this too, even to Turkish Cypriots, one guy said to my cousin when inspecting his passport (he has a Turkish name but has dark blondish hair) "Turk degilsin, Sen rum picisin" -You`re not a Turk, you are a Greek bastard. My friend tried to complain but the police all support each other in a country where the police can away with such blatant xenophobia. In the UK they would nevewr get away with it, and even in Northern Cyprus people dont behave this way.

when I came to Greece a few days ago I felt that everything was more familiar than Turkey. On the sreets of Thessaloniki I saw my auntie, my grand mother and my grand father they look like Turkish Cypriots, dress like us, and the food too is familiar. Except I dont think they have halloumi or golifa here in Greece. maybe they do.

[moonskin]

MEHMET_OSMAN_KKTC wrote:
I dont think they have halloumi


As a matter of fact they do. I had it in a restaurant in Thessaloniki (grilled, yami yami) and also bought some from an ordinary supermarket. Although not as much as feta, it is widely available. :wink:

[Bullika]

i noticed today they have Sheftalia too, but Afelia??

[bg_turk]

sophisticatedbeggar wrote:
Sorry, I don't understand what you mean here, please elaborate. Unless you mean that the Greek State didn't react when Bulgaria was under the commies and mistreating the various minorities (Turks in your case)... If this is what you mean I'm wondering what you think of Sweden (eg) which I am sure didn't react either...

I mean that Greece was the only country in the EC that supported the Bulgarian communist regime and its actions against us. The scandinavian countries like Sweden, Finland were actively involved in campaigning for the restoration of our human rights and all condemnded the incident. Greece on the other hand signed "friendship" agreement with the communist regime.

Quote:
I am not aware of this and cannot comment. In fact I do not know where this crossing is so please direct me to a map... Is Makaza border from our side?

I think it will be opened in 2007 when BG enters the EU.
The Greek government is keen to avoid the openning since it does not want to encourage bulgarian and greek turks to meet each other.

The crossing point is right at the bottom next to podkova.


Quote:
So you are ready to excuse Commies in times of peace for completely "erasing" your identity but you cannot "forgive" Greece for obliging your grand father to leave the country in times of war??!?! This is racism mate...

The difference is that Bulgaria fully restored our rights in 1989, and restored all the citizenship rights of all the desenfrenchized bulgairan turks that were forced to flee to turkey.
Let history be history. I can forgive Greece for the crimes as long as it keeps a more constructive attitude in the Balkans, and maybe we are gonig to begin to see the signs of this soon. Do you know there is an island in the middle of the Maritsa/Meric (how do you call it in greek) river where the boundaries of GR, TR and BG symbolizing the friendship between the three countries?

Quote:
Albania is occupying Greek territory (southern Albania)... Macedonia is a well known fact that it was a made up country by Tito, so I suppose you mean that we occupy Yugoslavian territory?

I know about the greek minority in albania, but they are treated quite well right.

Quote:
You said above that Bulgaria made you deny your Turkish identity... Make up your mind pal... Bottom line is were you able to perform your spiritual duties during the communist years? Were the Christians allowed to? Thats the main point, so please stop beating round the bush...

Noone was allowed to perform their spiritual duties during communism. Going to church was frowned upon by the communist leadership, and many of the orthodox bishops were sent to jail.

Quote: Yes, I can tell you that the Turks are not oppressed. In fact they must be doing really well otherwise they wouldn't outnumber Greeks in some areas. I have a friend who works as a teacher in Thrace and he tells me that Turks in these areas have their "own rules"... The girls go to school wearing hijabs which imo should not be accepted but I don't make the school rules. The women also live just like they would live in deep Turkey, another thing which shouldn't be allowed on Greek territory (women's oppression that is). Fixed marriages amongst muslims in these areas also thrive. They are fully allowed to perform their spiritual duties and all of them are in direct contact with motherland (have sattelite dishes, speak Turkish etc etc).. So, why are they oppressed? Because they do not live in Turkey? All this proves proves that the whole oppression thing is underfired by Turkey to create "hate" against us, Christians and possibly gain something (Western Thrace perhaps?)... Also, again you are mixing things up... Oppresion is not an ethnic issue in Greece, it's a class issue... But if we stick to ethnicity the same goes for the very few (extremely few for Turkey's sake) Greeks who bravely remain in Turkey... You see Greece didn't act like Turkey (that threw out
every single Greek) and as a result has no minority problem...

OK, I agree the Turkish attitude towards the Greeks in Fener was horrible and I do condemn it. Innocent people were killed for no other reason but being greek.
But please stop exaggerating the situation with turks in greeks. I know these people, in fact we used to belong to one single community before the border divided us, we are very similar to each other and I can assure you that rumelian turks, along with cypriot turks, are the most secular type of turks you can ever get. (In fact the secular jewel of turkey Ataturk was a macedonian from Salonique). So please check your facts, meet a few of your turkish compatriots, before making senseles claims about them following the Sharia.


Quote:
All in all it's a free world, you may hate whoever you like but do not be offended when you are called a racist as a result of your attitude... And if you are proud of being called a racist then there is no point in continuing this discussion really as personally I do not discriminate against ethnic minorities or judge people by the way they look or based on their nationality while you do... Very immature imo but then again it's a democracy (we invented it btw ;O)...
I told you many times I am not racist against greeks. IN fact in univ I work closely with greeks. I just do not like your state, and I will never trust, especially having in mind its pattern of abuse against muslims.
Democracy was a greek invasion, and your ancestors did some amazing things, but they had a pretty bad attitude towards the xeno and barbarians. Modern Greece should not act in that way any more.

[bg_turk]

MEHMET_OSMAN_KKTC wrote: Quote: Greek customs officers treat people like shit, which I have experienced while visiting Greece


Customs officials in Turkey do this too, even to Turkish Cypriots, one guy said to my cousin when inspecting his passport (he has a Turkish name but has dark blondish hair) "Turk degilsin, Sen rum picisin" -You`re not a Turk, you are a Greek bastard. My friend tried to complain but the police all support each other in a country where the police can away with such blatant xenophobia. In the UK they would nevewr get away with it, and even in Northern Cyprus people dont behave this way.

when I came to Greece a few days ago I felt that everything was more familiar than Turkey. On the sreets of Thessaloniki I saw my auntie, my grand mother and my grand father they look like Turkish Cypriots, dress like us, and the food too is familiar. Except I dont think they have halloumi or golifa here in Greece. maybe they do.

That is pretty horrible. Something similar happened to us as well.

Many bulgarian turks used to emigrate to turkey during the economic crisis for economic reasons and Turkey required visas from us if we wanted to visit.
I was part of a folk dance group these days and we were going to Yalova for some festival with a collective visa for the whole group. But unfortunately one of the girls run away and so we had to return with one person missing.
We were stopped at the customs office because our group visa was invalid without that person. Our group leader pleaded with the turkish customs officer to let us through telling him that we are all muslims and we should care about each other. The officer turned on him really badly: Saying we are all giaurs, that we eat pork and we never pray, and asking us what kind of muslims we were. We had to spend the night at border until the bulgarian counsulate came and fixed things so we were able to return home safely.
Fortunately there are no visa formalities for us anymore and i do not have to go through such things.

[Bullika]

Quote: Many bulgarian turks used to emigrate to turkey during the economic crisis for economic reasons and Turkey required visas from us if we wanted to visit.
I was part of a folk dance group these days and we were going to Yalova for some festival with a collective visa for the whole group. But unfortunately one of the girls run away and so we had to return with one person missing.
We were stopped at the customs office because our group visa was invalid without that person. Our group leader pleaded with the turkish customs officer to let us through telling him that we are all muslims and we should care about each other. The officer turned on him really badly: Saying we are all giaurs, that we eat pork and we never pray, and asking us what kind of muslims we were. We had to spend the night at border until the bulgarian counsulate came and fixed things so we were able to return home safely.
Fortunately there are no visa formalities for us anymore and i do not have to go through such things.

Thats outrageous. That kind of thing makes me so angry. What kind of people do they employ? escaped convicts???

I mean who do they think they are. If you came to Northern Cyprus BG Turk we would not require a visa from you nor would we treat you this way.