Cyprus's renewed efforts for peace - 5 Mar 09

[Sfaknak]

mieroth, the point you put across is 100% correct. The 'motherland' flags represent a form or divisive nationalism. The beat your chest variety. I feel though, that once the island is reunified, yes I am optimistic, the 'motherland' flags will disappear and be a part of history not the future.

[hoplitespao]

NO reunification I prefer to see 2 countries.

[mieroth]

Step one is getting rid of the Turkish and Greek flags. I mean, wtf? Is this Cyprus or not?

[petcalledros]

I agree with you 100%. Cyprus (the Island) should only have 3 flags: the EU flag, the flag of the Republic of Cyprus and the flag of the TRNC however, the constitution of 1960 clearly states that the Greek Cypriot community has the right to display the Greek flag and the Turkish Cypriot Community have the right to display the Turkish flag

[cypriotenglish]

we meet again mieroth lol, and this time i could not agree with you anymore! the longer cypriots cling onto their motherlands flags and culture and history the harder and longer the peace process! if cyprus is a sovereign state it should be only obliged to her peoples and flags not turkey or greece's! thanks

[themengsk176]

the greeks wanted cyprus, an island with several thousand years of greek history and habitation, to join with greece.

the turks, who had previously owned cyprus for a period of time, and who wanted to keep greece from having a tactical advantage on their southern border, and who wanted to protect the interests of a turkish minority in cyprus, invaded the island.

let the cypriots do what they want. if they vote to rejoin with greece, let them do it. if they want independance, let them do it.

[petcalledros]

I am a Cypriot living in the south. I went to an English private school all my life so i didn't learn anything about Cypriot history, so i learned everything from the Internet, and i now knoow both sides. Judging from the middle, i have learned that Turkey had a reason for invading and not like the greek community says "just wanted to take our land." If someone says i am greek, i say no i am a cypriot. It's the poor education that holds the island back from reuniting. I wish for the best.

[covertcovenant]

That is a very tolerant and understanding statement you made, and I applaud you for it. I have been to Cyprus, the "Greek" side, and it is beautiful place, but this hatred between the different cultures and peoples has to be extinguished through education and tolerance, Cyrpus's future could be much greater as a unified country. Hopefully all inhabitants will come to that conclusion rather sooner than later.

[1TuBe1983]

petcalledros, you make a valid point; but why should the GC civilians suffer? Had Turkey invaded to get rid of the coup (and only the coup), then I'd understand. Invading a land and claiming it's to protect TCs by killing and excluding GC civilians from their homes makes no sense - they had nothing to do with the coup. Sending in settlers to take their houses and do as they wish i.e. sell them to Brits; turn them into hotels, villas etc shows they had other intentions, other than to protect TCs.

[1TuBe1983]

This would be no different if the Israeli army kicked Palestinians from their homes, due to Hamas shooting rockets in their territory. Mr Erdogan clearly (and rightfully) opposed against these actions, knowing the civilians had nothing to do with Hamas, yet he excludes the fact that Cyprus is a very similar case.

[petcalledros]

You are correct 1Tube and i agree with you. However there is a policy that if a Turkish Cypriot lost land in South Cyprus they will get that land back in N. Cyprus however the rest have no excuse for having land illegally there.

[Spartan307]

@petcalledros you write on your profile that you are :

50% Cypriot

37.5% Russian

12.5% Armenian

truth is, you are just a gios tis poutanas.

amesh apelash gamw tin ratsa sou shillotourko.