www.talkcyprus.org

[Dhavlos]

Hey, this is an amazing article that i found randomly, and i think it is a very good resource that everyone should read.

it is historically balanced (although i can see that it misses out some bits that Turkish Cypriots say happened), and he writes for all cypriots. I praise his analysis of the conflict and what can be addressed. Gives hope for us all.

Also includes a lovely story in the intro of his experiances.

http://www.total.net/~asolomos/cyprus.htm

Quote: On the way to this house, my father spoke fondly of his friendship to Mr. and Mrs. Adali and their children who were much older than I. His words were filled with praise; his comments were positive and clear. His dedication to his own Christian faith and his values were not compromised by being a close and true friend to this family of Turkish Cypriot Muslims. Many Greek and Turkish Cypriots in the area had similar friendly ties.

While I was playing in the front yard of their home, Mr. and Mrs. Adali were busy showering my father with presents, such as fresh coat cheese and eggs. To show his appreciation and return the favours, my father planted in their yard the little fruit trees he had brought along.

I urge everyone to read it...especially the section : ETHNICITY, ETHNOCENTRICITY AND CULTURES - THE GREEK AND TURKISH CYPRIOTS ...it is very informative.

Any comments?[/quote]

[erolz]

Dhavlos wrote: it is historically balanced (although i can see that it misses out some bits that Turkish Cypriots say happened),

I have to say Dhavlos that to me his descriptions are far from historicaly balanced. To me the overriding 'omission' is any, not even a single, reference to the desire and persuit of Enosis by the Greek Cypriot community , instead always and only talking about Greek Cypriot desires for independance. In turn then he lays blame on the 'unfair' blanances placed within the 60's consitution, yet without an understanding or description of Enosis - and its inherently devisive nature and anti cypriot nature, one has no ability to understand WHY such a consitution and balance within it was necessary.

For me no history of Cyprus that omits the role of enosis but instead replaces it with indpendance can be considered balanced.

[Lewis Gerolemou]

You really don't understand this ENOSIS business do you Erolz. To many Greek Cypriots it was a rallying cry and their leaders used it to keep their people together. Some really believed it could be achieved, many did not but it kept the people together in their struugle for self - determination. I clearly remember my cousins from Cyprus telling me in the 1960s that they used the slogan to kick the British out and they did not see any advantage in joining Greece and were against the idea. Not all Greek Cypriots wanted or were in favour of ENOSIS.

No doubt I will now be subjected to reams of text dissecting the minutiae of every word in this post as is your usual practice. This forum is not a court of law but you argue details in posters' views as if you were a QC.

Lighten up a little. The Cyprus problem is a serious matter but unfortunately it won't be solved on this forum and I hate to say it but your over - zealous reactions are putting me off this site.

PS I hope you mother got to the airport in time

[erolz]

Lewis Gerolemou wrote:
PS I hope you mother got to the airport in time

Yes thanks.

Lewis Gerolemou wrote: Lighten up a little. The Cyprus problem is a serious matter but unfortunately it won't be solved on this forum and I hate to say it but your over - zealous reactions are putting me off this site.

Well what can I say? No the Cyprus problem will not be solved on this forum. Neither will it be solved by each side downplaying , ignoring, misrepresnting, distorting and rewriting history and the role and mistkes made by their community.

Pointing out that a history of the Cyprus problem that fails to mention ENOSIS even once is not one that can be considered 'balanced' is in your view 'over zealous'? To me it pretty much stating the obvious.

If a Turkish Cypriot suggests that ENOSIS and persuit of it rather than independance of Cyprus played a major and damaging role in the mess Cyprus is in today - the reply is so often 'ah but we didnt really mean ENOSIS when we said ENOSIS'. For me I will see much greater hope when Greek Cypriot in general can just say 'yes the persuit of ENOSIS rather than indpendance was hugely damaging to Cyprus' - rather than try anc convince me, others, themselves that actually it was not because the Greek Cypriot community that stated the aim of ENOSIS for over 100 years actully never really meant it but instead really meant independance.

How can we correct the mistakes of the past when we can not even admit them ?

[cannedmoose]

Lewis Gerolemou wrote: No doubt I will now be subjected to reams of text dissecting the minutiae of every word in this post as is your usual practice. This forum is not a court of law but you argue details in posters' views as if you were a QC.

Lighten up a little. The Cyprus problem is a serious matter but unfortunately it won't be solved on this forum and I hate to say it but your over - zealous reactions are putting me off this site.

Lewis, I have to say that these comments were uncalled for. There are a number of other posters on this forum who dissect posts in equal measure to Erol, including some Greek Cypriot posters who are even more barrister-like in their analysis. If you're looking for glib responses, I'm sure you'll find them elsewhere, but don't criticise people for responding in detail. You're right, the Cyprob is a serious issue and you should be calling for detailed discussion, not attempting to discourage it. For the record, I found your remarks unbalanced and offensive.

[The Cypriot]

erolz wrote: For me I will see much greater hope when Greek Cypriot in general can just say 'yes the persuit of ENOSIS rather than indpendance was hugely damaging to Cyprus'

Yes, the pursuit of ENOSIS rather than independence was hugely damaging to Cyprus. In fact, I'd go further: it was treacherous and detrimental to the cause of national freedom.

However, I believe describing myself as 'Greek Cypriot' is similarly treacherous and detrimental to the cause of national freedom - so I don't suppose this admission counts for much.

[erolz]

The Cypriot wrote: Yes, the pursuit of ENOSIS rather than independence was hugely damaging to Cyprus. In fact, I'd go further: it was treacherous and detrimental to the cause of national freedom.

However, I believe describing myself as 'Greek Cypriot' is similarly treacherous and detrimental to the cause of national freedom - so I don't suppose this admission counts for much.

Thank you - you do give me hope. I understand what you mean re the lables Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot. For me though I do not believe that such idenities per se are a or the problem. For me they are a problem when they are placed above and before or instead of the notion of a generic Cypriotism.

[depurple]

I have said it many time about ENOSIS but no one listens: It was promised to the Greeks BY Britain IF they entered the First World War on the side of England and France:
In other words they were going to give Cyprus to Greece as a reward like they did with the Dodecanisa in the Second world war: Gave it to Greece:
BUT Greece didnt enter the first world war (What a BIG F***ING MISTAKE): Then that ENOSIS bullshit stayed in the minds of Greece and a few Cyprus:
BUT Britain changed its mind because of Egypt and the Suez and the other problems with Communists in Greece and Cyprus and also Israel wanted protection for its new country:
So boys we were screwed:
So LET me say it again:
Greece is happy:
Turkey is happy:
Britain is Happy:
And all the Greek & Turkish Cypriots are Happy:
It is only the poor bastards who are only Cypriots who are crying for justice that are NOT happy:
cheers: PS Good article:
Maybe I should write one when I went to Kyrenia in 1978, 1983, 1991 and 2000:
When people said that I would never visit Kyrenia again:
I have been 20 times:
cheers:
PS Again: Don't forget Turkey was waiting for the Greek Cypriots to make a mistake and the DID!

[The Cypriot]

Erolz, Cypriotism must be promoted with the same passion as enosis and taksim once were. After all, Cypriotism is an irresistable proposition for all, resulting in unity and freedom.

I'm not sure you can genuinely promote Cypriotism without being uncompromising to those who insist on clinging on to labels that are ethnically, historically and politically incorrect. Labels that are as foolish as the desire for enosis and taksim - and just as damaging (in my view) as they perpetuate the Cyprus problem.

I am not a Cypriot first and a prefix-Cypriot second. I am a Cypriot - nothing less. For nothing less will do.