Cyprus-Forum.com

[icefist]

Cyprus Dialogue, Letter from the Editor

Someone should put an end to this madness


The two communities in Cyprus have lived apart for a long time. When there is separation, one cannot speak of co-operation, and friendship.

If we accpet 1974 as the date of severance, this situation continued up until 2003. The openin of the border crossings after a 29-year break provided both communities with an important opportunity. Indeeded, we witnessed some colourful reunions over the first few months: emotional moments with old friends embraced; invitations reciprocated, barbecues, picnics together and tavern dinners all raised our hopes.

And just when we expected these relationships to reach a stage when they would contribute towards a solution, we were confronted with the disappointing opposite. Those frequent, warm and hospitable meetings that had prevailed in the first few months slowly dwindled.

Of course, the political leaders played an important role in an all this; especially the Greek Cypriot leadership.

What is particularly disappointing is that while relations between the two communities were improving, the extreme nationalists made use of the opportunity to transform their views into action.

No one can deny that the majority of Turkish Cypriots are fond of doing their shopping at the supermarkets and malls in South Cyprus. Especially over the past month with the opening of Ikea and the Carrefour shopping centre, three out of every ten people you come across is a Turkish Cypriot.

On the other hand, the placing of flyers with ‘Cyprus is Greek’ written on them on the windscreens of cars with Turkish Cypriot number plates is only repaying an act of goodwill with a mean gesture.

According to the information our newspaper has received, there has been an alarming increase in the number of attacks against Turkish Cypriots at the Orphanides Shopping Centre over the past two weeks. We await the announcement by the Minister of Interior of the outcome of a police report regarding an incident in which two Greek Cypriots stopped a Turkish Cypriot car before smashing its windows with iron bars. Again in the same area, information is awaited as to whether a Greek Cypriot youth was arrested, having stopped a Turkish Cypriot woman’s car to cover its windscreen with a Greek flag. A great number of cars in Carrefour’s car park have been sprayed with paint. Someone has to stand up and give us some answers about these incidents.

The Turkish Cypriots voted overwhelmingly in favour of a solution but were crushed bu the Greek Cypriots side’s rejection. Nevertheless, they cross into South Cyprus to do most of their shopping at the price of ruining businesses in North Cyprus. Even if they are not received with gratitude for their continuing good will, they should not be subjected to such attacks.

As a concerned person who fears the increase of such acts as the elections draw closer, I would like to warn the Minister of Interior and the head of th Greek Cypriot police department: fascism is no kind of settlement.

Resat AKAR

[kafenes]

Cyprus Dialogue, Letter from the Editor

Someone should put an end to this madness


The two communities in Cyprus have lived apart for a long time. When there is separation, one cannot speak of co-operation, and friendship.

If we accpet 1974 as the date of severance, this situation continued up until 2003. The openin of the border crossings after a 29-year break provided both communities with an important opportunity. Indeeded, we witnessed some colourful reunions over the first few months: emotional moments with old friends embraced; invitations reciprocated, barbecues, picnics together and tavern dinners all raised our hopes.

And just when we expected these relationships to reach a stage when they would contribute towards a solution, we were confronted with the disappointing opposite. Those frequent, warm and hospitable meetings that had prevailed in the first few months slowly dwindled.

Of course, the political leaders played an important role in an all this; especially the Greek Cypriot leadership.

What is particularly disappointing is that while relations between the two communities were improving, the extreme nationalists made use of the opportunity to transform their views into action.

No one can deny that the majority of Turkish Cypriots are fond of doing their shopping at the supermarkets and malls in South Cyprus. Especially over the past month with the opening of Ikea and the Carrefour shopping centre, three out of every ten people you come across is a Turkish Cypriot.

On the other hand, the placing of flyers with ‘Cyprus is Greek’ written on them on the windscreens of cars with Turkish Cypriot number plates is only repaying an act of goodwill with a mean gesture.
According to the information our newspaper has received, there has been an alarming increase in the number of attacks against Turkish Cypriots at the Orphanides Shopping Centre over the past two weeks. We await the announcement by the Minister of Interior of the outcome of a police report regarding an incident in which two Greek Cypriots stopped a Turkish Cypriot car before smashing its windows with iron bars. Again in the same area, information is awaited as to whether a Greek Cypriot youth was arrested, having stopped a Turkish Cypriot woman’s car to cover its windscreen with a Greek flag. A great number of cars in Carrefour’s car park have been sprayed with paint. Someone has to stand up and give us some answers about these incidents.

The Turkish Cypriots voted overwhelmingly in favour of a solution but were crushed bu the Greek Cypriots side’s rejection. Nevertheless, they cross into South Cyprus to do most of their shopping at the price of ruining businesses in North Cyprus. Even if they are not received with gratitude for their continuing good will, they should not be subjected to such attacks.

As a concerned person who fears the increase of such acts as the elections draw closer, I would like to warn the Minister of Interior and the head of th Greek Cypriot police department: fascism is no kind of settlement.

Resat AKAR

Do you think the huge Turkish flags have something to do with this?

[boomerang]

or the continous selling of properties....or the killing of civilians in custody in the Nth?

[humanist]

What about Grey Woolves marching thruogh Morphou with banners that Cyprus is Turkish. The only maddness about this is Turks running the occupied areas and reducing the original Cypriots who speak Trkish to a minority in their own country.

[phoenix]

Yes, somebody should put an end to the madness of having over 40,000 Turkish troops keeping 200,000 GCs away from their homes.

You may find some of the reasons to answer your shopping gripes here:

http://users.westnet.gr/~cgian/turkish-atrocities.html

[Viewpoint]

You guys are avoiding the issue, if you cliam the "RoC" represets all Cypriots then why arent the authorities protecting these people or stoping these racists attacks? Please answer the question not make excuses?

[phoenix]

You guys are avoiding the issue, if you cliam the "RoC" represets all Cypriots then why arent the authorities protecting these people or stoping these racists attacks? Please answer the question not make excuses?

They would be as protected as any normal civilians would be.

If you want special treatment, take one of your many Turkish soldiers along as a shopping buddy

[kafenes]

You guys are avoiding the issue, if you cliam the "RoC" represets all Cypriots then why arent the authorities protecting these people or stoping these racists attacks? Please answer the question not make excuses?

And the question is??? (please put it simply for the simple minded like myself).

[miltiades]

icefist posted "

""""On the other hand, the placing of flyers with ‘Cyprus is Greek’ written on them on the windscreens of cars with Turkish Cypriot number plates is only repaying an act of goodwill with a mean gesture.

According to the information our newspaper has received, there has been an alarming increase in the number of attacks against Turkish Cypriots at the Orphanides Shopping Centre over the past two weeks. We await the announcement by the Minister of Interior of the outcome of a police report regarding an incident in which two Greek Cypriots stopped a Turkish Cypriot car before smashing its windows with iron bars. Again in the same area, information is awaited as to whether a Greek Cypriot youth was arrested, having stopped a Turkish Cypriot woman’s car to cover its windscreen with a Greek flag. A great number of cars in Carrefour’s car park have been sprayed with paint. Someone has to stand up and give us some answers about these incidents. ""

I condemn such behaviour and sincerely hope that the authorities do what they preach. I would personally intervene if such acts were to occur in my presence. THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION IN ACTING IN A MANNER LIKELY TO INFLAME FEELINGS AND INCITE VIOLENCE.
One wrong does not justify another. I will never justify or excuse in any way such behavior.

[Get Real!]

We had this posted before but VP wants a rehash so sets up a new alias and gets a new lease of life again!

Btw, Orphanides has plenty of security all over the place and I've never seen anything there but shopping tranquility...