Cyprus-Forum.com

[Nickp]

Turkish Cypriot views on Turkish settlers?

I’d be interested to hear how Turkish Cypriot view the Turkish settlers?

I say this because as mentioned in some of my previous posts the attitude of Greek Cypriots in England seems to be quite positive towards Turkish Cypriots. However, in terms of Turkey, the Turkish army and the settlers it’s extremely negative.

The GC’s main resentment comes from that mainland settlers have been brought over and settled in their homes that they have been denied the right to return to. Furthermore, the settlers appear to be really poor and have appearances that are more alien to Greek Cypriots in comparison to their Turkish Cypriots partners.

I’ve read that the population is the north consists of 80,000 Turkish Cypriots and 115,000 settlers. I’ve also read that the low population figures of the Turkish Cypriots has been due to immigration from the isolated north to seek a more prosperous life.

If these figures are accurate, it would mean that the TC’s are now a minority within their own country. However, I’d be interested to hear how Turkish Cypriots view the settlers.

I only bring this matter up because if the situation were reversed, meaning Greeks from mainland Greece made up the majority in the Greek Cypriot side it would not be viewed in a positive light.

This is mainly because even though Greeks and Greek Cypriots are the same race, the Greek Cypriots are a different breed as they have a distinct character with a different dialect, foods, physical look and different names. There are numerous other factors that separate us further and this is embedded in our consciousness. Hence Greek Cypriots, view mainland Greeks in a belittling perspective.

Even Greek Cypriots who live in UK, USA, America and Australia differentiate themselves to mainland Greeks. They always describe themselves as Cypriot to mainland Greeks.

In a circumstance where mainland Greeks would make up the majority of the population in the Greek Cypriot side of Cyprus I don’t think they would view it favourably. However, now that the south of the island is in the EU there’s not much they could do if the entire population of any EU member decided to transport over.

Bearing this in mind, I’m interested to know how the Turkish Cypriots view the settlers.

Note on the solution of settlers?

Like I’ve said in a past post, even though most of the Greek Cypriots really want the settlers to go. I feel this may be too unethical as it’s a type of “soft ethnic” cleansing. .
In my personnel opinion, I think the only compassionate thing to do is to let the settlers stay as long as Turkey builds them alternative housing so that the GC’s can return to their homes.

[brother]

Many tc view the turks as saviours who never left and then grew and grew until they swallow us whole, anothern 30 years there will be no tc.

[PEACE]

Settelers from Turkey are completly different from us.Their culture and behaviour among society is so different.Also most of them are not harmonious,they are same like the day they came to Cyprus.So personally i don't like them.The ones that changed and feels,behaves like a cypriot are ok.The ones that are in this group are mostly here for a long time.

Even Greek Cypriots who live in UK, USA, America and Australia differentiate themselves to mainland Greeks. They always describe themselves as Cypriot to mainland Greeks.

We are same.We think that we are different from people from Turkey.
Also i personally refuse that Turkey is my mainland.She is just a quarantor.

[Nickp]

I think i read in an article that there are about 80,000 Turkish Cypriots in London. When a solution is found, do you think a certain amount will want to immigrate back? It would be nice to boost the Turkish Cypriot population under such circumstances. Generally, with alot of GC's in the UK, they marry their kids off and move back to Cyprus to retire.

Also, one of the main themes we hear in the Cyprus problem is Greek Cypriots wanting to return to their homes. However, i dont hear much about Turkish Cypriots wanting to move back to the south. As i generally see the mosques in certain places like in the old part of Larnaca on the palm beach. Also, there are villages where mosques have been adequetly maintained like Kophinou. However, i doubt very much Rauf Denktash will want to move back to paphos.

[brother]

TC are a forgiving people but many that i have spoken too are still very much paranoid and still remember the past but if a solution comes and safety is assured many would return to cyprus.
Would they move back to the south is a good question but my answer is a few would but not enough to make an impact.