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[brother]

Comment - Partition is the solution we deserve
By Loucas Charalambous


IN AN ARTICLE published in Athens newspaper Ta Nea, Alexis Heraclides, a lecturer at Greece’s Pantion University, arrives at the following conclusion:

“The Cyprus problem cannot be solved – and will not be solved – as long as the majority of Greek Cypriots are not in a position to comprehend the level of their responsibility for the situation in Cyprus up to the fait accompli of 1974. And this is, I would say, the deeper meaning of the ‘resounding no’ of April 24, 2004 – they said no because they cannot yet face up to their guilt for that period.”

I disagree that this was the reason we rejected the settlement last April, but I will agree with Heraclides’ point that Greek Cypriots are in no position to comprehend their responsibilities – the responsibilities of their leadership, to be more precise – for the situation before 1974. When they discuss the Cyprus problem, they always start from the premise that the Turks are to blame for everything. Our guys are the innocent virgins.

This column has on countless occasions pointed out the horrific responsibilities of our leadership. These responsibilities can be seen in the violent dissolution of the state established by the Zurich agreement three years earlier, with the aim of terminating the participation of the Turkish Cypriots.

That Tassos Papadopoulos – one of the protagonists of this depressing story, which led to all the misfortunes that have followed since then – is today the president of the Republic, thanks to the vote of the Greek Cypriots, is the most conclusive proof of their inability to recognise the responsibilities that Heraclides correctly talks about.

In a country with a politically mature people, Papadopoulos and the other instigators of the bloody events of 1963 would have been finished as politicians. No mature people would have elected as their president, with the main responsibility of solving the national problem, one of the men who had been instrumental in creating it.

The uproar, which was sparked the previous week by the views expressed by the General Secretary of the United Democrats, Costas Themistocleous, about the absurd term, ‘pseudo-state’, which the politicians and media insist on using, perfectly illustrates our political immaturity. Themistocleous had said he disagreed with the use of the prefix ‘pseudo’ for everything relating to the occupation regime, and preferred the terms ‘illegal regime’ or ‘unrecognised regime’, provoking a storm of protest.

These idiotic word-games betray the politicians’ inability to approach the problem with any seriousness. Paranoia has taken grip – placing the ‘pseudo’ prefix in front of every word relating to the Turkish Cypriots and their regime has come to be considered national policy. And we are under the illusion that this pitiful practice is an adequate way of tackling the national problem.

I would take Heraclides’ views a step further, to their logical conclusion. The Cyprus problem has already been solved. A gullible population, thanks to the guidance of Papadopoulos and Christofias, supported by the political lightweights governing Greece since last March, has already chosen partition. This will inexorably lead to the creation of two states, along today’s dividing line.

No matter how repugnant, I personally consider that, in the end, such a solution is the one that our behaviour deserves. And it will prove our just punishment.

[insan]

I disagree that this was the reason we rejected the settlement last April, but I will agree with Heraclides’ point that Greek Cypriots are in no position to comprehend their responsibilities – the responsibilities of their leadership, to be more precise – for the situation before 1974. When they discuss the Cyprus problem, they always start from the premise that the Turks are to blame for everything. Our guys are the innocent virgins.

This is also the impression I got from most of my GC comatriots points of views.

[Piratis]

Sure. After 30 years of occupation, 200.000 refuges and 6000 dead, lets go punish the GCs again.

So Turkey, which committed 100 times worst crimes in Cyprus should be reworded, while GCs should be punished even more!!

Sorry, but this will not be accepted no matter how much some people want it. The Americans have enough money to buy some traitors, but not enough to buy what they want in Cyprus.

[-mikkie2-]

I have to disagree with much of the content of this article.

I for one do not agree that 'we blame everything on the Turks'.

You talk to most Greek Cypriots and the prevailing view is that much of the blame lays with the Greek Junta and the minority of idiots that supported them. There is also the international aspect of the problem - divide and rule policy of the British - that is also blamed, and yes, Turkey was also blamed.

Now our problem is with Turkey because she is the occupying power and for most Greek Cypriots, the problem is AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, Turkey. You have to look at recent events to see why this is so and will continue to be so. The fate of the missing is one such example which simply enhances the hatred of the Turks (but not TC's) in the eyes of the GC's.

[brother]

What grabbed my interest on this article is it seems to be completely opposite to the majority opinion, but still a worthy article as the writer pulls back no punches and states what he see's the situation at.

[Alexandros Lordos]

What grabbed my interest on this article is it seems to be completely opposite to the majority opinion

You'd be surpised to know how aware most GCs are about the 1960 events ... they know that we messed things up also, but they don't like to talk about it much (it's not the kind of thing one brags about).

It's sort of similar to the guilt many TCs feel, knowing that they live in homes that do not really belong to them, but again, such guilt is not expressed in public.

From both my surveys, I noticed that the majorities of each side are willing to make substantial compromises precisely on those issues in which they hurt the other side most. For instance, the majority of GCs is willing to accept the TC demands about political equality, despite the fact that it will be inconvenient for them. And similarly, the majority of TCs are willing to accept that much more property should be returned to the GCs, despite the fact that it will be inconvenient for them.

To me, this is proof of a "silent recognition of wrongs" within the hearts of both communities ... We both know what we did wrong, but we are just too proud to come out and openly admit it ...

[Saint Jimmy]

The Americans have enough money to buy some traitors

Dude, you are entitled to your own opinions, granted. You are not entitled to call other people anything. Please clear it up: who are you referring to? People who voted for the plan (of which I am one) did so not because they were paid or rewarded or whatever else one may think of, but because they believed a few things that you obviously don't.

I happen to know my share of curses, just like any other Cypriot, and it wouldn't be too hard for me to demonstrate my knowledge.

Just that.

P.S.: disregard this post if I got you wrong.

[Saint Jimmy]

Brother, you wouldn't believe this, man...

I saw this article the other day and I was looking for the english version so I could post it in here, and I couldn't get it, so I just left it alone...

Nice going

[Bananiot]

Loucas Charalambous is a columnist of Politis newspaper (Sunday) and the same article also appears translated in the Sunday Mail, for me the most serious newspaper in the south. Loucas is an ardent critic of Papadopoulos and sure enough he does not mince his words.

[brother]

Exactley what we need, a real man who says it as it is and not one that goes well but you done this(sounds like piratis )

I wish there was hundreds more like him on both sides we would all be living in paradise with no cyprus problem.