De-militarize Cyprus. Then solution is easy.

[Nireus]

I think that as long as we identify ourselves as "Greek Cypriots" and "Turkish Cypriots", Cyprus will not truly be united.

Imagine if we all just called ourselves just "Cypriots" and addressed the issues that concern our country. EU, jobs, lack of enough water, taxation, education, drug use ... etc. Just what is best for the whole country. For all its people. Not negotiating about all these while trying to secure the best for 'our' side.

Imagine if you could read an article here and you cannot make out if the writer is Greek Cypriot or Turkish Cypriot.

I know it sounds unimaginable to some. But if we truly love our country, Cyprus, and want to see it and all its people united and prosperous, then we should give it a try.

This article I wrote here can be an example. Except for my nickname being greek, just reading the subject matter I wrote about, you cannot tell if it was written by a Greek Cypriot or Turkish Cypriot. Or at least I tried.

As an example, why is it an issue if who we vote for EU MP is greek or turkish ? We should judge on the ability of the candidate to do the best for all of Cyprus. We shouldn't base our judgment on his/her ethnic background or religion. Point is 'who is best capable to serve our country. ? '

I know it sounds outlandish. I also know it is going to be a very very long time before our country and its people are truly united. We cannot go forward while we are looking backwards. Its like driving a car and looking in the rear view mirror to figure out where you are going. It is not easy for the old wounds to heal. Maybe a few generations down the road. Maybe our grandchildren or our great-grandchildren will have a chance to see our country united.

As of today our political leaders on both sides are no better than the Hutu and Tutsi leaders in Africa. We are not far from Africa anyway. I hope I live to see the day that our leaders on both sides are more like the leaders of the italians, french and germans in Switzerland.

High hopes. Like a dream. But unless we have a vision to aspire to, we will not make progress forward.

The only ones who benefit out of a divided Cyprus are those outside Cyprus. No need to mention who. At the same time the only ones who suffer out of a divided Cyprus is the people who live in Cyprus.

Cypriots lived together for hundreds of years. We have been divided the last 35 years. What a shame.

Cyprus should be de-militarized. It’s the only way. On both sides. No army on either side. No National Guard on the greek side, no turkish army on the other side. Even the British should go back where they came from. All weapons should be removed from our country. That can save us all lots of money and aggravation. That would also bring more prosperity for all. Standing guard with a machine-gun on hand is not a productive activity. It neither produces food, nor does it add to the standard of living. In economic terms, maintaining the armies is a ‘non-value adding activity’, for the people that is. It only makes the weapon producers and dealers richer. We no longer believe in war should become our belief. It should become the message we send to our political leaders. On both sides.

Until we wake up to this idea of a de-militarized Cyprus and equality for all Cypriots we will not see our country united. Equality for all Cypriots irrespective of percentages of population. However I am pragmatic and I understand that it is not easy to get out of this mess we are in.

We can start working on this idea though. A few peaceful and easy steps that each Cypriot can do are:

1.) Stop voting for fanatic political parties, which fan the flames of ethnic hatred, on both sides.
2.) Stop buying any newspapers which do the same. Again on both sides
3.) Don’t join any group or organization on either side which promotes ethnic hatred, or re-hashing of the past.
4.) Stop attending military parades on both sides.
5.) Stop listening and politely walk away from anybody promoting division and hatred amongst the Cypriots. Socially totally isolate them.

The idea is to achieve the goal of uniting our country by “NOT DOING certain activities”. This is a peaceful way. Not ‘BY DOING’ something like violent demonstrations etc. That would provoke a violent reaction and identification of those DOING such things.

In due time those who promote the infighting and division of our country will go out of business. Be they political leaders or parties of newspapers or groups or organizations. Then the ground will be fertile to move towards re-unifying our country.

It takes trust though. Trust between the two communities. And that’s exactly what’s missing from the equation for the solution of the problem of Cyprus. Because if one community moves in the direction outlined above and the other does not, well, then its back to square one.

If we love our country, if we want the best for Cyprus, our children and grandchildren, then we should realize that divided and armies standing by, it cannot be achieved.

The road to solving our country’s problem, uniting Cyprus and bringing prosperity to all Cypriots passes through the domain of ‘de-militarization’ of our island. We have seen enough of the results of war. We all suffered enough. On both sides. Let’s join the rest of the civilized world like Europe etc, and lets make armies and wars an old memory of barbarities of centuries past.

OUR COUNTRY IS CYPRUS. THERE ARE ONLY CYPRIOTS. NOT GREEK/CYPRIOTS AND TURKISH/CYPRIOTS. EACH ONES ETHNIC BACKGROUND AND RELIGION IS THEIR OWN PERSONAL BUSINESS. MAYBE WE CAN PROVE TO THE WORLD THAT CHRISTIANS AND MOSLEMS CAN CO-EXIST PEACEFULLY UNDER ONE FLAG IN A UNITED COUNTRY.

It is a worthwhile vision. It should not remain a dream. Lets move along with the rest of the civilized world in this direction.

[erolz]

Thanks Nirus for your post, both for the time it took and for the hope it expresses.

Over all I think your vision is a fine one.

I do think that the issue of trust is vital though and that we can not realisticaly expect to just jump from where we are now straight to the end goal but have to map a route out, that includes going via a federal structure onto a unitary cyprus , with full demilatrising as a part of this 'journey' but not eh only need element to it.

Again though thanks for your effort and your hope inspiring post.

[repulsewarrior]

welcome Nirus!; very much support your thinking,

would you read my manifesto and the other two links and tell me what you think....

http://www.talkcyprus.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5927

http://www.talkcyprus.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5990

http://www.talkcyprus.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2484

i too believe that our noble experiment should support the principal of bicommunality. that is to say an identity as an individual: where we are Cypriots... as well as persons: having a community where we sustain its distinction.

cheers!

[Nireus]

thank you for your comment my friend RepulseWarrior.

I did read your manifesto and the other two links. I will post comments in the next few days when I have the time.

Nireus

[Crash Test Dummy]

[erolz]

Hi crash and welcome back.

[brother]

Welcome and good post Nireus

Overall i feel that at the moment there is a lot of nationalism occuring on both sides which became more evident when a Greek Cypriot soilder crossed over to the North and stole the Turkish flag, a bullet proof vest and a helmet from a unmanned Turkish millitary post.... while the actions of this one young fool does not represent the entire Greek Cypriot community it has given fuel to an already burning fire of mistrust and has given the nationalist lots to beat the reunification camp with

IMO the main issue is dealing with what the education establishments are teaching and that of what the millitary is also teaching and filling heads with which result in reckless actions like this and until we change what our youngsters are taught the mistrust will always continue.

[city]

[repulsewarrior]

...couldn't agree more city.

but dialog is now at its advent and so i remain hopeful that Cypriots as one voice, as members of a bigger family of man, will demonstrate new thinking that is a betterment to the condition of living.

our demand for perfection has the cost of this long impasse, but it will be worth it if we find that we can agree as Individuals, and as Persons. in this case, our governance, having turkey's approval is an acid test which would be a testament to its beauty.

[stavrizatz]

Hey Bro, glad you are back.