Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

Unlike the Turkish Cypriots, the Greek-Cypriot community does not
have a history of oppression by the other side. They don’t talk about
a time when life was bad with the Turkish Cypriots, and they don’t
feel relieved that the past is behind them. Most of the images that
Greek Cypriots hold of the other side are based on the 1974 events.
And even then the negative feelings are directed primarily toward
Turkey rather than toward the Turkish Cypriots. For the most part,
the Greek Cypriots remember the time before 1974 as a period of
peaceful harmony, with the two communities living together in
mixed villages, attending each other’s weddings, and working
together in the fields. Of course, the reality was different, and as
described earlier, the Turkish-Cypriot memory of this period is poles
apart from the Greek-Cypriot version. Nevertheless, there are a
variety of images prevalent within Greek-Cypriot society about the
Turkish Cypriots.
Some of the more commonly held beliefs about the Turkish
Cypriots include the following:
■ ‘Turkish Cypriots are pawns of Turkey. They have no say about
Cyprus - they are powerless about developments on the island. They
are used by Turkey, which does not really care about them except for
its own strategic interests. Even though they are ‘protected’ by the Turkish army, they are also oppressed by them, having no voice of
their own. They are passive, afraid to speak up, even though we
know the Turks do not care about them.'
■ ‘The agenda of the Turkish Cypriots is to divide the island. They do
not really want a solution. They already have what they were seeking,
and in the negotiations they simply stall for time, always finding a
way to block progress. Their intransigence makes it impossible for us
to hope for a settlement.'
■ ‘Turkish Cypriots’ demands are disproportionate to their size. At less
than 20% of the population (and decreasing every day as they leave
and are replaced by Turkish settlers), they want 50% of the power.
And they are interested in sharing power only in the south – in the
north they want to be masters. They have nearly 40% of our land,
and they don’t want to give any of it back. They have our houses, our
hotels, our beaches, our farmland, our orchards, and they don’t
know how to manage or take care of any of it. And to make matters
worse they have the most beautiful part of Cyprus, including our
jewel, Kyrenia, our lovely mountains, the Pentedactylos, and the
wonderful beaches of Famagusta. Panayia mou!'
■ ‘Turkish Cypriots do not respect international law. No nation has the
right to invade and occupy another sovereign country. The United
Nations, the United States, and the European Union, along with the
entire world community has condemned the Turkish invasion and
called for the removal of Turkish troops. Resolution after resolution
in the U.N. has been ignored by the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey.
They complain that we imposed an embargo on them, but it is the
international community that refuses to trade with them. The only
reason they can get by with their blatant disregard for the law is the
military strength of Turkey standing behind them.'
■ ‘Turkish Cypriots are favoured by the international community.
Despite their intransigence, their illegal status, their violation of
international law, their refusal to negotiate seriously, the Turkish
Cypriots have not been pressured by the international community to
make concessions. We are asked to give and give, and we never see anything in return. It is because the West supports Turkey. They
think they need her as an ally, but they don’t realize how
untrustworthy she is.'
■ ‘Turkish Cypriots are not economically and culturally advanced.
Their economy is so depressed that they have to rely completely on
Turkey for their survival. In the case of a solution, they will pose an
economic burden for Greek Cypriots. And they have not contributed
much to our civilization – no beautiful art, great literature,
architectural masterpieces, or democratic ideals. In Cyprus we have
a rich legacy of over 8000 years, and the Turkish Cypriots have been
here only a short while. All they’ve been able to do is take our
churches and add minarets.'
■ ‘Turkish Cypriots have a place in Cyprus. We never had any
trouble getting along with the Turkish Cypriots, before the Turks set
their sights on Cyprus. We have a lot in common with them, certainly
more than with the Turks anyway, and we have many shared
interests related to the European Union. They will be our enemies as
long as they occupy our properties, but we used to be neighbours.
We are not sure we can live together again, after all that has
happened. We’re sure that if Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots
were left alone they would find their way forward.'

SOURCE:BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS THE GREEN LINE

[Sotos]

Unlike the Turkish Cypriots, the Greek-Cypriot community does not
have a history of oppression by the other side.

1974-1974 is 33 years and 1571-1878 is another 307 years. 440 years is enough of oppression history i believe

[rawk]

Sotos

Do you mean 1974 - 2007?

If so, who has been oppressing who?

Rawk

[zan]

DOH!!!!

[Nikephoros]

Turkish Cypriots are backstabbers who through the New Cyprus Association( http://www.newcyprusassociation.org.cy/ )and its activities of propaganda are made to be compatriots. The New Cyprus Association and its false identity holders need to be dealt with so Greek Cypriots can learn there are no such thing as Cypriot Cypriots and that Turkish Cypriot will never be their brothers.

[miltiades]

What the hell do you you mean there are no Cypriots ?

[Piratis]

Turkish Cypriots are backstabbers who through the New Cyprus Association( http://www.newcyprusassociation.org.cy/ )and its activities of propaganda are made to be compatriots. The New Cyprus Association and its false identity holders need to be dealt with so Greek Cypriots can learn there are no such thing as Cypriot Cypriots and that Turkish Cypriot will never be their brothers.

Are you employed by those that employee Viewpoint? You seem to be serving the same interests.

[DT.]

Turkish Cypriots are backstabbers who through the New Cyprus Association( http://www.newcyprusassociation.org.cy/ )and its activities of propaganda are made to be compatriots. The New Cyprus Association and its false identity holders need to be dealt with so Greek Cypriots can learn there are no such thing as Cypriot Cypriots and that Turkish Cypriot will never be their brothers.

every circus has its clowns. I guess this ones ours.

[Nikephoros]

You guys are idiots. The New Cyprus Association to which website I linked invented the false Cypriot Cypriot ethnicity many of the bigger fools of this forum adhere to.

[Get Real!]

You guys are idiots. The New Cyprus Association to which website I linked invented the false Cypriot Cypriot ethnicity many of the bigger fools of this forum adhere to.

Cypriots occupied Cyprus for over 5,000 years before the very first Greek showed up. It looks something like this...

Cypriots (Cypriots) 7000 BC
+5,500 years
Greeks (Myceneans) 1500 BC
+3,070 years
Turks (Ottomans) 1570 AD


It's the Greek and Turkish ethnicities that I'm beginning to worry about...