Cyprus-Forum.com

[denizaksulu]

Concrete proof of our tragic mistakes
By Loucas Charalambous

THE TURKISH press last week carried stories about the opening of the much-publicised hotel Artemis complex in Vokolida in the Karpass peninsula (take note of the name – the Turks do not feel any less patriotic in using names from Greek history or mythology).

I happened to see the complex, which has been labelled the ‘giant hotel’, and I must admit my surprise, despite visiting the north frequently and being familiar with the amazing extent of the construction boom. This is set to be the biggest hotel complex in Cyprus, boasting a capacity of 2,500 people. I was astonished by the massive scale of the complex, as well as by the beauty of the setting, particularly the sandy beach at Vokolida, which is probably the longest stretch of sandy beach in all Cyprus.

This complex, which cost £40 million, offers conclusive proof about the incredible change that has taken place in the north over the last three years, a change that our political leaders happily choose to ignore. Yet we are talking about a real change that drastically affects the two most basic aspects of the Cyprus problem – property and the population make-up.

It is very easy to understand how the population make-up will be affected. For the staffing of the hotel complex, hundreds of families will have to be moved to Cyprus from Turkey, the country which can provide workers.

Speaking to foreign ambassadors on May 6, President Papadopoulos accused Turkey of importing settlers to Cyprus, stating that the settlers now numbered 160,000, twice as many as the Turkish Cypriots. Needless to say, he was chiefly responsible for this. The 40,000 settlers from Turkey who would have stayed in Cyprus under the Annan plan were too many for Papadopoulos, who used this as one of the arguments for rejecting the settlement. Three years later, their number has quadrupled. Those of us who had supported the plan had warned this would happen, but it obviously did not cross our president’s mind.

As for the property issue, little needs to be said. I recently read a letter by our Mayor of Morphou, in which he angrily protested about something Alithia columnist Alecos Constantinides had written. He had ridiculed some anti-occupation event organised by Morphou refugees, saying that if the mayor and the refugees had voted in favour of a settlement they would have been in Morphou by now. In his angry letter, the mayor informed us that the vote against a settlement was patriotic. Should we laugh or should we cry? Thanks to their boundless patriotism, the Morphou mayor and refugees lost their town for good. And they are now in mourning because the Turkish Cypriots are ‘cementing and selling off Morphou’, according to the most patriotic paper, Phileleftheros.

The huge complex at Vokolida, which expects to play host to thousands of guests this year, also illustrates the dynamic of tourist development in the north. It suffices to say that in the same area are another nine hotels are to be built. While our tourism industry is in decline and hotels are being turned into apartment blocks, the north’s is developing at a dizzying pace. Our hoteliers are warning about their impending doom, while our political leadership remains stuck to its myths, its slogans and its empty rhetoric.

These are unfortunately the results of our narrow-minded and short-sighted behaviour, and things will only get worse with the passing of time. I would like suggest to our political leaders that they should pay a visit to Vokolida, in the hope they might wake up to reality and understand where the policy of non-settlement is leading. Then again, I suspect that now nothing, not even the giant Artemis complex, can wake them up.



Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2007
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[Jerry]

Ah that's why they won't return Varosha!

[denizaksulu]

Varosha was yours for the taking. But you like to say OXI.

[Jerry]

Come on Deniz, it is ours, we should not have to negotiate for something that you don't want. Its pure bloody mindedness and punishment.

[denizaksulu]

Ofcourse its yours. I do not doubt that anybody disagrees with you. Unfortunately its used as a trump card and you are not "playing". Personally I think it should be given back. It would be a good step forward, but what would have been a GC response? But who am I?. Its the b..... politicians.

[Jerry]

Quote: but what would have been a GC response? But who am I?. Its the b..... politicians.

More free electricity?

[denizaksulu]

There is no more free leccy Jerry. That was once when we shared the same rid. Your statement (to the best of my knowledge is out of date)