Michael Coumas wrote:Miltiades
I rarely post on this forum and have resisted as much as I could over these past months / years. I must, however, side with your general views although I am not too amoured with US & UK foreign policy as exhibited over the last decade or so.
I too would not want to be in a position to rely on Greece in any form of diplomatic row with anybody. Like you I lived through the late 50's, 60's and 70's and although I can appreciate and welcome the cultural ties we have, like you,. I believe we are an autonomous sovereign state and as such should promote ourselves as such. I cannot tell you how sad I feel each time I see a Greek flag flying in Cyprus at the expence of a Cypriot flag. Why do we insist on denying our identity? we might be small and perhaps insignificant in the eyes of greater powers but I & I guess you would too stand up & be counted for what I am even if I was the last one remaining.
I have been to Greece once, by default, in 1974 whilst on the way home to Cyprus we only got as far as Greece as the invasion was taking place. My family sufferred as thousands did but I did let my hosts know my views on the junta which went down like a lead balloon. At the time I got the impression they expected me to be grateful & I clearly remember a heated argument with a woman in a restaurant (had she have been male I would have launched her - but I was just 26 at the time) Enough said.
I will always defend the right for others to have opposing views to me but I do sometimes despair at the apparrent inability for some of us to see beyond the end of our noses and accept that dialogue and compromise (not the same as capitulation) is the only way forward. However being Cypriots I guess we need something to blame for all ill's from sore throat to occupation so perhaps a solution to our problems might just turn up more problems than it solves.
I wish you, yours and all other humanitarian contributors to these pages a peaceful Christmas, healthy new year and may your God be with you. I guess we all live in hope but in our own way.
Michael , Merry Christmas and a happy , healthy and prosperous new year. I'm so happy that , like you , there are many thousands of proud Cypriots who are prepared , without any effort at all it comes naturally , to stand up and be counted as Cypriots , G/Cs , T/Cs , Armenians and others but all from this wonderful island we call Cyprus.
I have maintained my position from day one on this forum with almost 7 thousand posts , never once exhibiting the slightest hint of capitulation to Turkey , never once have I recognised Turkey's creation the "trnc" , never once referring to Turkish troops as anything else but foreign occupying troops ,and never once concurred with the notion of minority and majority Cypriots , since I consider all Cypriots to be part of the majority.
I'm on record as saying on a number of occasions that I have a dream too , a dream that should it materialize , conflicts in Cyprus will be relegated to the history archives 0for ever. To see a united Cyprus , political parties embracing all communities under the banner of Cypriots, a party with the best man for the job elected democratically that happens to be a T/C and to see him lead his party to political victory and he the President of Cyprus , whose allegiance would be to the island of Cyprus and its people.
I noted your once only visit to Greece , my first time in Greece was in 1963 since then I have visited Greece on many occasions. Do I feel a part of the Hellenic world , in short yes I do , do I feel a part of the European world , in short yes I do , Am I a Greek and a European , in short yes but I'm a Cypriot first and foremost.
ps. I have had the opportunity of interacting both in my school days and business life with mainland Greeks , do I feel there is a relationship with them yes I do , have also met and interacted with Turkish Cypriots in all walks of life , do I feel there is a relationship with them , yes we are brothers.
As for your comments on the Greek flag in Cyprus I feel that our own Cypriot flag is denigrated and reduced to a mere symbol whereby the Greek flag is hoisted as the nations glorious emblem. A bloody shame that we have people in Cyprus who are mortified of our heritage and REAL identity.
I guess you read them in Turkish!
