Cyprus-Forum.com

[humanist]

OVER 1,000 Turkish Cypriots in 58 buses crossed through Limnitis yesterday to the former Kokkina enclave to mark the anniversary of what they term a victory over Greek Cypriots in 1964, when Turkey carried out an aerial bombardment of the area.

Some 300 Greek Cypriots from Kato Pyrgos staged a peaceful protest at the same time. The held up banners saying “Freedom of movement for all Cypriots” and “Limnitis crossing for peace”.

The bishop of Kykklou and Tyllirias Nikiforos, and other clergy took part in the protest.

Greek Cypriots are aggrieved that Turkish Cypriots are allowed to cross at Limnitis while they are still waiting for the Turkish side to give them permission to cross through the same road to attend a church service in Morphou next month.

The Turkish side said if there are no ‘technical problems’, the pilgrims could cross next month.

The Pyrgos residents had planned to block the road yesterday but were talked out of it by the government and the Church in the longer term interests of having the Limnitis crossing opened permanently. It is not ready to become an ‘official’ crossing point yet, even though Turkish Cypriots have been let through in the past two years. Previously they had to visit Kokkina by boat.

Aided by the UN the crossings began around 9.30am yesterday and all the buses had passed through an hour later.

The Turkish Cypriots’ ceremony in Kokkina was held in the presence of Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who flew to the former enclave by helicopter, while three Turkish navy vessels lurked off the coast.

Acting government spokesman Titos Christofides yesterday congratulated the Greek Cypriot residents for their patience and the responsible way they handled the protest, which allowed the Turkish Cypriots to cross without any problems.

He said it had been a vote in favour of the permanent opening of Limnitis and the upcoming Cyprus negotiations that if successful, would lead to all Cypriots moving freely. He said he didn’t know when the Turkish side would give an answer about the Greek Cypriots crossing for the church service at Ayios Mamas next said.

Bishop Nikiforos said the aim was not just a one-off crossing for the pilgrimage, but the opening of all crossing points.

Andreas Karos, a member of the committee for the opening of the Limnitis crossing said he was optimistic that the Turkish Cypriot side would respond positively to their request for next month.

He said last year the Turkish Cypriot side turned down a similar request on the grounds that it was too late to organise but Karos said this year they had sent the request in plenty of time.

Kato Pyrgos community leader Costas Michaelides, who led the initial charge to block the road to Turkish Cypriots said yesterday: “This is a painful concession for residents to make but it’s for the good of Cyprus and the good name of our community and should not be considered a weakness.”

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=40766

[Oracle]

This trip of theirs, would be equivalent to a load of gawking Americans visiting Hiroshima and Nagasaki to pay tribute to the pilots that flew the planes that dropped those bombs to incinerate the innocent native civilians. Even Americans would not be so insensitive.

Sickening! .... worshippers of Napalm!

[pantheman]

Our problem is we just don't have the balls to stand upto them.

I am willing to bet that the TC don't recipricate the gesture next month.

But what do you expect from an illegal state.

Disgraceful!

Like I said on another thread, close the crossings. if they came over protesting we could even get Christofias to shoot one or two of them for a laugh.

[humanist]

I din't quite think that way but soething similar. I thought that was a bit cheeky. But I think there will be good come of it Oracles. I did chuckle though to read that Talat flew by helicopter. Why would the man like to see unification? What will feed the ego then.

[paliometoxo]

take take and ask for more... typical turks. thats why we should of kept tassos in charge now we are giving them everything and getting nothing back.

[mehmet]

It's a commemoration of resistance in an enclave. No more, no less. The appropriateness of these events is another issue in the context of talks to resolve Cyprus issue.

[Sotos]

take take and ask for more... typical turks. thats why we should of kept tassos in charge now we are giving them everything and getting nothing back.

I agree! Why show any goodwill and give when you know you will get nothing in return??? That is a fucking stupid policy that we have! No matter what we will do they will not appreciate it. They will always use their 40 year old propaganda to hate us. So whats the point of us showing to them any goodwill????

[mehmet]

And there are no events in the RoC that commemorate recent historical events?

[Sotos]

commemorate yes but celebrate the killing of innocent people no! And that is not what I mean by goodwill moves. What I mean is that TCs opened only the gates that suited them. The Limnitis gate opening would serve the people of Pyrgos because now they need over an hour to go to Nicosia but if the gate opens they will need just 20 minutes. This is very important when there are medical emergencies! But the Turks make such a small issue a big deal and they do not even accept to open that gate!!

[humanist]

mehmet

And there are no events in the RoC that commemorate recent historical events?

goodmorning mehmet. Firstly thank you for your previous post, where you questioned the appropriateness of the protest in a climate of looking for a solution.

The difference I guess is that we haven't crossed the opennings celebrating anything other than religious places and events.

Personally I think the people of Pyrgos showed an exemplary restraint and willingness to unify our Island. One could see the actions of TC's as provocative. My understanding of kokina is that it's a military base. So one would question why would civilians be celebrating an army base. Will the TC's allow GC's to hop on buses and head to Kyrenia to celebrate the fall of Cyprus to Turkey?