Cyprus-Forum.com

[bigOz]

TURKISH TROOPS OUT OF CYPRUS

JUSTICE FOR ALL CYPIOTS

What all TCs living in Cyprus are saying:
first, JUSTICE FOR ALL CYPIOTS
then, TURKISH TROOPS OUT OF CYPRUS...

Simple when you can get the equation right, is it not?

[EPSILON]

TURKISH TROOPS OUT OF CYPRUS

JUSTICE FOR ALL CYPIOTS

What all TCs living in Cyprus are saying:
first, JUSTICE FOR ALL CYPIOTS
then, TURKISH TROOPS OUT OF CYPRUS...

Simple when you can get the equation right, is it not?

The problem is that TCs saying above are minority even in NOC (North occupied Cyprus)- without decision and/or negotiation power .

[bigOz]

TURKISH TROOPS OUT OF CYPRUS

JUSTICE FOR ALL CYPIOTS

What all TCs living in Cyprus are saying:
first, JUSTICE FOR ALL CYPIOTS
then, TURKISH TROOPS OUT OF CYPRUS...

Simple when you can get the equation right, is it not?

The problem is that TCs saying above are minority even in NOC (North occupied Cyprus)- without decision and/or negotiation power .

How do you know that the TCs saying the above are in minority?

I think you may have just reduced that minority even further by addressing their part of the land as "North occupied Cyprus".

Why are you in denial of the name of the part of Cyprus whose people have freely chosen to live in? - although internationally not recognised.

Does it really matter if they called it "Ottoman decendants' Republic", "Coconut Republic" or whatever?

Would it have changed the truth about the physical ethnic division of the island?

Epsilon, the minute you stop letting your emotions dictate what you write, and start looking at issues from a factual perspective, the better you will see what the issue to be addressed are. You might even surprise yourself by agreeing to some of the things others say - please try!

[EPSILON]

TURKISH TROOPS OUT OF CYPRUS

JUSTICE FOR ALL CYPIOTS

What all TCs living in Cyprus are saying:
first, JUSTICE FOR ALL CYPIOTS
then, TURKISH TROOPS OUT OF CYPRUS...

Simple when you can get the equation right, is it not?

The problem is that TCs saying above are minority even in NOC (North occupied Cyprus)- without decision and/or negotiation power .

How do you know that the TCs saying the above are in minority?

I think you may have just reduced that minority even further by addressing their part of the land as "North occupied Cyprus".

Why are you in denial of the name of the part of Cyprus whose people have freely chosen to live in? - although internationally not recognised.

Does it really matter if they called it "Ottoman decendants' Republic", "Coconut Republic" or whatever?

Would it have changed the truth about the physical ethnic division of the island?

Epsilon, the minute you stop letting your emotions dictate what you write, and start looking at issues from a factual perspective, the better you will see what the issue to be addressed are. You might even surprise yourself by agreeing to some of the things others say - please try!

Replying by emotions?!!!!!!!!Can Talat say tomorrow am that he prefers Turkish occupation army to leave Cyprus and Tcs to take over the whole government of ROC? No my friend he can not. because despite what rights TCs will obtain from a solution the important is the rights of the Turkish occupation army. May be you is the side thinking by emotions. I beleive that i have a very clear picturte of what exactly Cyprus problem is and believe me that same is not including TCs or even Gcs

[Get Real!]

Why are you in denial of the name of the part of Cyprus whose people have freely chosen to live in? - although internationally not recognised.

Once again the theory of relativity does magic!

[bigOz]

TURKISH TROOPS OUT OF CYPRUS

JUSTICE FOR ALL CYPIOTS

What all TCs living in Cyprus are saying:
first, JUSTICE FOR ALL CYPIOTS
then, TURKISH TROOPS OUT OF CYPRUS...

Simple when you can get the equation right, is it not?

The problem is that TCs saying above are minority even in NOC (North occupied Cyprus)- without decision and/or negotiation power .

How do you know that the TCs saying the above are in minority?

I think you may have just reduced that minority even further by addressing their part of the land as "North occupied Cyprus".

Why are you in denial of the name of the part of Cyprus whose people have freely chosen to live in? - although internationally not recognised.

Does it really matter if they called it "Ottoman decendants' Republic", "Coconut Republic" or whatever?

Would it have changed the truth about the physical ethnic division of the island?

Epsilon, the minute you stop letting your emotions dictate what you write, and start looking at issues from a factual perspective, the better you will see what the issue to be addressed are. You might even surprise yourself by agreeing to some of the things others say - please try!

Replying by emotions?!!!!!!!!Can Talat say tomorrow am that he prefers Turkish occupation army to leave Cyprus and Tcs to take over the whole government of ROC? No my friend he can not. because despite what rights TCs will obtain from a solution the important is the rights of the Turkish occupation army. May be you is the side thinking by emotions. I beleive that i have a very clear picturte of what exactly Cyprus problem is and believe me that same is not including TCs or even Gcs

Please read my last post in "Are TCs joint owners of Cyprus" thread as a reply to this.

[halil]

İ will give another vertion of the incidences.
Personal Stories: Living with Greek Neighbors before 1963.
A Cultural Memory of Peace:
• Asli. "If there is to be peace, I want to meet with my best friend and resume our friendship as before."
• Leyla."We lived together without any problem. They were good also."
• Kemal"These celebrations were done with Greek and Turkish friends all together."
• Teacher."If there had been no foreign pressure these two folks would have lived happily ever after."

[halil]

Asli's Story
Q. What are pleasant memories you have related to Turks and Greeks before 1963?
I lived in Aygasyona which is located in Nicosia. Before 1963, Turks and Greeks lived together. Their relationship was good and there wasn`t any border before 1963. Both Turks and Greeks lived together in the same street. For example, the grocer and baker in that street were Greek. All the Turkish children and Greek children grew up together. They were good neighbours. The Greek people were always ready to lend a helping hand to people. They learned each others' language. I thought Greek people were hard- working. Turkish and Greek doctors and nurses were working in the same hospital. The Greek doctors and nurses or Turkish doctors and nurses were not prejudiced against the ill. My best friends were Greek. They were sincere, and we had a good relationship. When I first came to that street my friends helped her. They loved each other as brothers and sisters. One day I had an accident and since my friend's brother was a doctor he helped examine me and didn`t take any money for it.
When the events began and attacks had started, the Greek people started to escape from the street. My friends were sad for me and they also gave all their furniture to me. Then I went back to the Greek side in Limassol. For a long time I didn`t get any news about my friends. Then later I learned that they were all right.
My opinion is that if peace was to be declared, relationships regarding the Turkish and Greek people would be the same as before. If there is to be peace, I want to meet with my best friend and resume our friendship as before.

DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation: Housewife
Age: 75
Sex: Female
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Nicosia
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Nicosia.
Occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in household when growing up: Shoemaker.

[halil]

Asli's Story
Q. What are pleasant memories you have related to Turks and Greeks before 1963?
I lived in Aygasyona which is located in Nicosia. Before 1963, Turks and Greeks lived together. Their relationship was good and there wasn`t any border before 1963. Both Turks and Greeks lived together in the same street. For example, the grocer and baker in that street were Greek. All the Turkish children and Greek children grew up together. They were good neighbours. The Greek people were always ready to lend a helping hand to people. They learned each others' language. I thought Greek people were hard- working. Turkish and Greek doctors and nurses were working in the same hospital. The Greek doctors and nurses or Turkish doctors and nurses were not prejudiced against the ill. My best friends were Greek. They were sincere, and we had a good relationship. When I first came to that street my friends helped her. They loved each other as brothers and sisters. One day I had an accident and since my friend's brother was a doctor he helped examine me and didn`t take any money for it.
When the events began and attacks had started, the Greek people started to escape from the street. My friends were sad for me and they also gave all their furniture to me. Then I went back to the Greek side in Limassol. For a long time I didn`t get any news about my friends. Then later I learned that they were all right.
My opinion is that if peace was to be declared, relationships regarding the Turkish and Greek people would be the same as before. If there is to be peace, I want to meet with my best friend and resume our friendship as before.

DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation: Housewife
Age: 75
Sex: Female
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Nicosia
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Nicosia.
Occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in household when growing up: Shoemaker.

Leyla's Story
Q. How was your relationship with your Greek neighbors?
We lived together without any problem. They were good also. We hadn't been harmed by them. We didn't do any harm to them, and they didn't do any to us. After soldiers from Greece came to the island, they attacked our village. Then we were collected in the school of our village. We all stayed in the school.
Then, after we came back to our houses, the soldiers of Greece had broken the locks and destroyed our houses. They took all the things in our houses and stole our furniture. Then we went to the school again, and we stayed in there a very long time. Then we left from there and we were sent to the village called Evdim. The war all also started in Evdim. We lived through some very bad things there. Then the Greek soldiers left the village and we stayed there in Evdim.
Q. Did your Greek neighbors or your villagers attack you?
No, no, they didn't attack us. The soldiers who came from Greece attacked us. The soldiers wanted to kill us. But our village's administrator didn't let them kill us. He said: "If you do anything to or if you even touch my Turks, you have to kill me first. No one will even touch our Turkish villagers." And because of that only a few people had been killed.
Q: Were they in your village?
Yes.
Q: Were they Turkish?
Yes.
Q: Did your villagers do this, or the soldiers of Greece?
No, the soldiers of Greece did.
Q. In which year did this events happen? It was in 1963. We were living together with our Greek villagers in peace. They also thought the same of us. No bad things happened between us, but when the soldiers of Greece came, everything was destroyed. Some of us were killed.
Then they left our village, we went to Evdim, then we came back to our village Malya again. We moved to North Cyprus, and we are still living in here in peace.

DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation (or life's work): Housewife.
Age: 73.
Sex: Female.
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Adinkoy, near Guzelyurt.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: During the war she stayed in Malya and Evdim villages, in the South.
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in the household when growing up: Farmer.

Kemal's Story

Q. Would you please tell me your pleasant experience that happened before 1974.
Of course, with pleasure. Well, we had lots of Greek friends, like other nations, and they were good Greek friends as well. We had very nice neighbourhood relations, we use to include them in our wedding ceremonies. These ceremonies used to start on Friday and continue three days long until Monday. Eat, drink and enjoy ourselves all these three days long. In fact, we used to go to their weddings, as they came to ours. In every wedding we used to have the best friends who helped emotionally and financially with the wedding sponsors. In Greek, they used to call this "gumbaro," or "sagdic" in Turkish. So we used to help each other in this manner.
They used to cook special rice and cook meat on charcoal or in conventional owns for everybody. They had a special ceremony in the evening. They stained the bride's hand and all together we went around the village with the assistance of drums and flute. In short, we didn't have any trouble among us.
As you know, Limassol was a city that was world famous for its annual wine festival, which was organized by the local spirit companies ETKO and KEO. These celebrations used to be held in a zoo area and they continued for fifteen days. The manufacturers used to bring their wine and brandy in large barrels. So the entrance fee was one Cyprus shilling, and this fee covered a bottle of wine and a glass at the entrance. After that, all the drinks were free. Anybody could go and ask for his free bottle of drink. I liked red wine the most. I used to have a bottle of red wine and go under a tree and enjoy either grilled chicken or meat. In different corners there were different entertainments, such as dancing with folk music or dancing with popular music. And these celebrations were done with Greek and Turkish friends all together.
Q. Were you using Greek language or Turkish language among yourselves.
We used to talk in Greek to Greek people.
Q. Did they know Turkish?
Quite seldom. Very few Greeks used to know Turkish. But most of the Turks used to know Greek. Well, we had some Turkish friends that didn't know Greek either. But in general, Turks could talk in Greek.
Q. Did the Turkish companies take a part in these celebrations?
There was only one or two Turkish spirit producers such as Cakartas which used to produce some Raki and brandy, but they were not allowed by the Greeks to take a part in these celebrations as producers. So Turks used to go only for the entertainment.
Q: Do You have anything else to add?
As you know, the politicians created most of the problems every passing day, and our relations with Greeks got bad. In fact Makarios, who was the president the republic of Cyprus in 1960 admitted that this new republic was a springboard to join the island with Greece -- "ENOSIS." This was to free the island from the United Kingdom, and it would be easier to get rid of Turks. With this understanding, he accepted the laws of the republic and those happy days were left in the past.
We are happy here as well, but as we came from the South and know that the South is better, we are always going to miss our place in the South.
Well, I don't have anything else to add, and I wish you success. Thank you very much for your interview.

DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation (or life's work): Barber, Mujahit.
Age: 53.
Sex: Male.
Nationality: TRNC.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Mutluyaka village near Magosa.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Mutluyaka village in South Cyprus near Limassol.
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in the household when growing up: His father worked in cafeteria at British base: Agroturi.


Teacher's Story


During 1960-63 there is an event which is very important for me. I would like to tell you about this. I was sent to Arapkoy to fulfill my duty as a lecturer. During that time the resentment between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots had given way to a wonderful peace. The Greek Cypriots who saw me said, "Look, our Turk teacher has arrived." This really got my attention. To tell the truth I was very touched that they would say, "The Turk teacher is here." They accepted me as a part of them. Like I said before, if there was no foreign pressure these two folks would have lived happily ever after. I believe that this massacre would have never have happened if there was no foreign pressure. . . .
The Greek Cypriot villagers were very friendly to me there. The friendly welcome gave me a positive motivation. This was very helpful to me. . . because I was thinking it would be hard for me to adapt to the new environment, but I was wrong, the villagers made me feel at home. I felt that I was being protected. I got my self confidence.

DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation: Retired teacher
Age: 55
Sex: Male
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Akgdogan.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Arapkoy and many other places.
Occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in household when growing up: Teaching.

[halil]

Tomorrow i will write down about......

Personal Stories From 1963-1974...........

• Mehmet. "Those who couldn't reach the buses to turn back got lost or died."
• Ahmet. "We were not even sleeping during those days."
• Kemal. "Turkish mujadeen ...told him that the Greeks had cut the road..."
• Teacher. "No Turkish Cypriot was allowed to leave his or her village to visit relatives, because they were afraid."
• Sevgi. "For 11 years we lived like migrants. During this time we lived by the help of Turkey."
• Sevgi. "We saw that one of our Greek neighbors broke in to our house and he killed my brother for no reason."
• Salih. "We had to leave our houses and villages. We lost our relatives and families. What worse could have happened?"