Cypriots ponder possible unification - 20 Mar 08

[Rhodesian1965]

Yes, but the Turkish- Cypriots did not invade, nor ask for it. Turkey has used them and their issues to press an imperial claim on Cyprus just like EOKA B, Samson and Ionidis did on 15th July 1974 when they overthrew Makarios for his support for Cyprus independence.

Cyprus is NOT GREECE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take down the Greek Flag, change the national anthem, and use the Cypriot flag designed by Cypriot patriot Izmet Gunay.

Luke Spyropoulos

[TuncerWolf]

I dont think there should be a unification due to both nations safety from each other.

[danlfc1983]

Now before you state that I'm British and I know nothing. Let me set you straight, I've read a lot on this dispute. I'm in the opinion that the 1974 Turkish invasion is ILLEGAL. I also think that the Turkish Military occupation of NC is also ILLEGAL. Don't act as if the Turkish Cypriots are the innocents in all of this, because they ain't. Both GC's and TC's are the innocent people. Cyprus should be unified.

[2468Shock]

Turkey invaded Cyprus because Greece Greek regime sponsored a coup d'etat in Nicosia to kill President Makarios but he fled. So for this Greece & Sampson Breached the 1960 Guarrantor Treaty & also Eoka-B were killing G/C Communist Party Members this is also a Breach for the Stability of Cyprus so do you get it now.

[danlfc1983]

Okay but there is two sides to every story.

[danlfc1983]

Unify the Island.

Cyprus belongs to the Cypriots, whether its Greek or Turkish Cypriots.

[muhurgozluk]

Now you are making some sense

[danlfc1983]

There is still Turkish Military in Cyprus. Which explains my PISS OFF OUT CYPRUS YOU BARBARIC TURKS.

[muhurgozluk]

What will happen if Turkish military leaves huh? Will you kill rest of the Turks? How can they trust you as long as you run away from the negotiation table?

[danlfc1983]

Turkish Military leaving is the only way the island will unify.

[muhurgozluk]

Blaiming Turkish military is not just; they rescued innocent people's lives. That's why families from both sides had to be relocated. Prime minister of Turkey at the time, tried to solve the problems through negotiations first, England and Greece required Turkey wait and do nothing. That was illegal. They let Makarios' men kill innocent men, women, babies, and elderly... Put yourself in Turkey's shoes... what would you do? Would you wait?

[danlfc1983]

That's what Turkish Military did to innocent GC's in the north. So don't act like the GC's only killed innocent people.

[2468Shock]

It was not Makarios's men anymore. On July 15, 1974 the Greek regime sponsored a coup d'etat in Nicosia. Makarios fled and was replaced by Nikos Sampson, a Cypriot newspaper editor and politician.

[danlfc1983]

Let me make this crystal clear. TURKISH MILITARY OCCUPATION IN CYRPUS IS ILLEGAL.

[muhurgozluk]

it is illegal to you guys. Please respond to my question above. Tell me... how can the Greek side ensure that Turkish population will be sound and secure if Turkish military leaves the island? We all know what EOKA did.

[KwaiLeo]

I totally agree with chypre77... not because I am a greek cypriot myself, but because that's the way it is. I hope the future will be better. I am not against the turkish cypriots. I am against the turkish in Turkey. As greek cypriots were kicked out of their homes, so were turkish cypriots. there are many, many turkish village in the free side. only that fact makes u think... who is the real enemy?

[chypre77]

T-C and G-C hurt each other many times in the past. Ethnicism and nationalism led them to violense. Now all of us are more mature and we understand that we deserve a united country. We should both apologise for the crimes we ALL did. As a greek-cypriot i ask for forgiveness from T-Cypriots for all the crimes my people did, and at the same time i demand an apology from them too for the same reasons. We should not be contastants, we should work together for the good of our country! IRINI - BARIS

[fairness555]

Greek and Turkish Cypriots must work on a solution based on the 8th of July agreement, NOT the Annan plan..Annan plan was rejected by Greek Cypriots, so Turkish Cypriots must respect that..The aim of the reunification of Cyprus should be the continuance of the Republic of Cyprus, and not the parthenogenesis of a new country!! We are talking about INVASION and OCCUPATION here, and not about 2 different countries trying to unite..Its not North and South Cyprus, its Free Cyprus and Occupied Cyprus.

[fairness555]

Greek and Turkish Cypriots must work on a solution based on the 8th of July agreement, NOT the Annan plan..Annan plan was rejected by Greek Cypriots, so Turkish Cypriots must respect that..The aim of the reunification of Cyprus should be the continuance of the Republic of Cyprus, and not the parthenogenesis of a new country!! We are talking about INVASION and OCCUPATION here, and not about 2 different countries trying to unite..Its not North and South Cyprus, its Free Cyprus and Occupied Cyprus.

[fairness555]

Greek and Turkish Cypriots must work on a solution based on the 8th of July agreement, NOT the Annan plan..Annan plan was rejected by Greek Cypriots, so Turkish Cypriots must respect that..The aim of the reunification of Cyprus should be the continuance of the Republic of Cyprus, and not the parthenogenesis of a new country!! We are talking about INVASION and OCCUPATION here, and not about 2 different countries trying to unite..Its not North and South Cyprus, its Free Cyprus and Occupied Cyprus.

[Cypr1otSensation]

It WAS an INVASION. There's is quote and end guote. This isnt the 18th Century. Turkey ILLEGALY invaded a country.

[beardybollox]

Thank God they did,ethnic cleansing was well reported and should be tolerated nowhere in the world

[Mozgor]

@Cypr1otSensation - No she didn't, she had every right to intervene as a guarantor, the only issue is that she is still there, but from most TCs point of view understandable.

[muhurgozluk]

Invasion was a must in 1974. Now things are getting better. I hope that Greek side will agree on restarting the negotiations and discussing the Annan Plan. What we need is a unified, in-peace Cyprus... NO MORE BLOODSHED.

One more thing... If British had'nt supported (by doing nothing against)then-Greek government's racist and fundamentalist policies, that problem probably wouldn't have occurred.

[muhurgozluk]

Edit: the word invasion should have been in quote & quote ("")

[danlfc1983]

No, Invasion caused hell for GC's in the north who had flee from their homes you idiot. It wasn't a must.

BARBARIC TURKS SHOULD PISS OFF OUT OF CYPRUS.

[muhurgozluk]

C'mon... u moron... you were killing innocent Turkish men and women; what would you expect? Ofcourse it was a must for the mainland to protect Turks. You son of a murderer. Greeks had to flee from their homes, because they were killing their neighbors. Everyone knows that. Do some reading on Makarios, ENOSIS and EOKA; then... talk

[danlfc1983]

I have never killed a Turk in my life, neither has my family. You are mistaken me for a Greek Cypriot.

[muhurgozluk]

You (or your ancestors) may be innocent individuals. You know that there are some groups in GC looking for an opportunity to start murders again.

[danlfc1983]

I'm sure there is people in thw TC looking to murder again too.

Don't act like the Turkish are the innocents, because you ain't.

[danlfc1983]

Again you're speaking as if me and my ancestors are Greek Cypriots, when we ain't. I'm British.

[dancehallreggae]

finally we will not have to send to money north cyprus,they can unify and we can spend our money on our people not for north cypriots.we will see what we will happen after they unify ((::

[Kavak]

unity = only solution

nothing less is acceptable

it is time to end all of this stupid bullshit and come together

[getveryreal]

There is no such place in Cyprus as the "Turkish North" but there is the Turkish OCCUPIED north as a result of the Turkish invasion of July 1974. Factual accuracy is a MUST if AlJazeera is to have any journalistic credibility.

[Kayakiran1]

Let's be oprimistic. Turkey did not just intervene for the sake of conquest. Turks were being killed. Remember Akritas plan? eoka? Remember enosis? Lastly, Cyprus is a stones throw away from Turkish borders.

Anyway..I hope that they find a way to solve their problems.

[Neil264Hoskins]

@Inkan1969: I happen to agree with you.  Unfortunately, nobody will accept the existence of TRNC except Turkey. It's a place that doesn't officially exist. Everybody has decided that a unified, independent Cyprus is what we shall have, so we have to accept that and work towards it.

[Inkan1969]

Actually, I was asking if a majority of the TRNC population (as well as the Greek population) really wanted unification over TRNC independence. Didn't the TRNC population approved the last unification plan? I guess they do want that more than a separate state.

[Inkan1969]

Do both Greek and Turkish majorities favor reunification? I was thinking that if pro-unification majorities do NOT exist, then maybe the Cyprus halves should remain separate states.

[Ayeere]

I think that is one of the issues, that the "halves" dont represent the population distribution.

[Neil264Hoskins]

One interesting thing whenever this issue is discussed, is the way people think they can summarise everything in one 'comment' or even one sentence. If only things were that simple. Ignorance of history and such firmly-entrenched views will achieve nothing. My wife's family lived in Famagusta and were caught-up in the events of 1974. As British, it is tempting to think, "A plague on both your houses". But instead of that, I find myself wishing both sides wisdom, forgiveness and flexibility.

[Ayeere]

I wanna see how they settle the "right to return"

[PauloGVieira]

Its refreshing to see both sides desperately searching for deep and legitimate common ground despite obvious differences - the civility between both women clearly displays a popular sentiment and push for peace that is very close to settlement.

[jerkinp]

Turkey invaded Cyprus to prevent it from joining Greece. Many of the Turks there are from mainland Turkey who were promoted to migrate to the island after the invasion. I wonder how they will deal with figuring out who is an authentic Turk Cypriot and ones who migrated from Turkey.

[cooltrk]

fucking idot there is no turkish invasion