by Bananiot » Sat Aug 04, 2007 6:20 am
This kind of talk, apart from being amusing, reflects the past which was so detrimental for our peoples. The posters that shout about the ethnic cleansing of Greek Cypriots in 1974 most probably watched passively the unfolding events between 1963 and 1974, when the Turkish Cypriots were forced into enclaves and the government was hijacked by the Greek Cypriots who had a hidden agenda and could not therefore stomach the 1960 agreements that made the two communities equal partners of our island.
I too wish it were possible to go back to the 1960 agreements but these things do not happen in the real world. Our only hope is a solution based on bizonal bicommunal federation to which both communities can agree and put the past behind them. By throwing accusations at each other so liberally and hatefully, if I may so so, we are just destroying any chances that may still exist for a peacefull solution.
This has been my philosophy all these years in the fora and life in general and I have grown to realise that peoples hearts soften and mellow when sympathy, understanding and good will are genuinely displayed. I stress the genuine part, because people have a magic instinct to recognise the pretender, the fake. These are crucial preconditions if we are to live together again in one country.
I do not expect everybody to behave like this. I am pragmatic enough to realise that bigots will always exist. The question is, can the sincere and patriotic Cypriots carry the day and stop bowing to the populist cries of the fanatics?
I accept that the Turkish Cypriots made their stance in 2003 when they got rid of Denktash. It was a great feat, because Denktash was like Makarios was to the Greek Cypriots. My community might get another chance in February 2008. Come February, a great battle will take place between the rejectionists and the moderates. The future of Cyprus will probably depend on the outcome of this election.
For the first time in the last four and a half yera I am confident that something good may emerge in February. I ask the peace loving Turkish Cypriot compatriots and brothers to stay with us. We can make it happen together!