Cyprus-Forum.com

[Kikapu]

Hi Bir,

I need to run soon, but will reply to your post(s) soon.

Take care.

[denizaksulu]

Just found a simplified piece of the puzzle about Cyprus' predicament ...



THE DESTINY OF CYPRUS

Author: N. ALEXANDROV, V. KONDRATYEV

Britain's island colony of Cyprus has repeatedly attracted the attention of world public opinion in recent years. Its destiny was discussed at the Ninth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations and prompted lively press comment in many countries. Both the U.N. discussion of the Cyprus question and the developments that preceded it revealed sharp differences between many members of the aggressive North Atlantic bloc. They also laid bare the unsavoury political moves that some NATO countries, particularly the United States and Britain, are making to prevent the inhabitants of Cyprus from realizing their demands.

What lies at the root of the Cyprus question? Why is this island a bone of contention between some of the great and small Atlantic partners? What are the aspirations of the Cypriote?

Cyprus is extremely well situated, strategically close to important Mediterranean sea lanes and astride air routes linking Europe with the Middle East and North-East Africa.

Close to the coasts of Turkey, Syria and Egypt, and near the routes from the Aegean Sea to the Suez Canal, India and the Far East, Cyprus has tempted foreign conquerors since antiquity. Its population has suffered greatly at their hands. Through the centuries the island was ruled, in turn, by the Egyptian Pharaohs and Alexander of Macedon, Persia, Rome, the Byzantine emperors, Richard Coeur de Lion, the Knights Templars, Venice and Turkey.

From 58 B.C. to 395 A. D. Cyprus was a Roman province. After the collapse of the Roman Empire it passed into the hands of the Byzantine emperors. In the second half of the 15th century it came under Venetian rule. Then, in 1571, it was conquered by the Turkish Sultan Suleiman II. The Ottoman Empire ruled Cyprus for more than 300 years. It was in those centuries that the island's present Turkish minority of about 18 per cent of the population originated.

Despite the numerous foreign invasions, the Greek inhabitants of Cyprus have preserved their language, religion and culture. A distinctly national colouring can be seen in their entire mode of life: in their dress and customs, in their music, dances and handicrafts, in their buildings. The ruins of temples and other structures bear witness to the island's ancient culture.

Great Britain seized Cyprus from the Ottoman Empire after the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878. On June 4, 1878, Britain forced Turkey to sign the Cyprus Convention giving Britain the right to occupy and administer the island in return for an obligation to render the Sultan armed assistance in defending Turkey's Asiatic possessions "against encroachment by Russia."

page 100

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THE DESTINY OF CYPRUS 101

The idea of territorial aggrandizement at the expense of Turkey had arisen in the minds of Britain's rulers long before the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878. It took final shape, as a decision to occupy Cyprus, on March 27, 1878,1 after the signing of the San Stefano peace treaty between Russia and Turkey. The English bourgeoisie wanted the island because of its exceptional strategic position on the Mediterranean routes. They calculated on turning it into a strongpoint for subsequent expansion in Egypt and other Mediterranean countries.

On instructions from his government, on May 24, 1878, the British Ambassador in Constantinople presented the Sultan with a demand to yield Cyprus within 48 hours.2 The next day, the Sultan gave in. His firman placing the island under British "temporary administration" was made public in Nicosia, the Cypriot capital, on June 30, 1878.

The "temporary" occupation lasted until the British colonialists annexed the island outright in November 1914, after Turkey entered the war on the side of Germany. "From and after the date hereof," declared the British Order in Council, "the said island shall be annexed to and form part of His Majesty's dominations. .. ."3

In the Treaty of Lausanne, July 24, 1923, Turkey recognized the annexation of Cyprus. The island was officially proclaimed a British colony on May 5, 1925.

During the First World War the British imperialists tried to use Cyprus as a bait to draw Greece into the war against Germany and her partners. They promised, on October 18, 1915, to cede the island to Greece if she abandoned her neutrality. Greece refused. Two years later she did join the Entente against Germany, but Britain preferred not to raise the question again. Prior to the Second World War, the rulers of Greece, greatly dependent on the British imperialists, both economically and politically, decided that the question of Cyprus was better left unposed.



http://dlib.eastview.com/browse/doc/20201807

So much for your credible link Oracle mou

The author does not even know which Ottoman Sultan conquered Cyprus in 1571. Shame on him. I dont blame you; perhaps you did not read the whole article.

Selim was the son of Sultan Suleiman I so that makes him Sultan Suleiman II as the article suggests ... or is there some other name-changing going on, as only you Turks can manage

sORRY oRACLE.

SELIM II it was.(not Suleyman/Suleiman) Different names altogether.

Easy to miss by commoners like us, but an expert should know better.

[Paphitis]

An excellent post Kikapu. You have articualted your thoughts well. I agree that empathy can't come from the bottom up. It is up to our leaders to demonstrate that they are prepared for peace and to work together for a better future for Cyprus.

If our leaders demostrate that we can move on, to forgive, to look to the future then the people will follow.

Thanks, Mikkie2

I agree, that in time of war, empathy and understanding is the last thing that is on peoples mind to offer the "enemy". They are too busy licking their own wounds. It has always been that way throughout history. It can only come from the top before peace is achieved, and so far, Talat has refused to meet Christofias half way. Those of us at the bottom can only give empathy and understanding once there is an agreed settlement where everyone's rights are respected. I wish it was the other way around as my friend Bir would like it to be, but it is not the case, or else it would have happened already by now, society wide. It hasn't.!

There is always empathy extended to the common TC, and I don't believe there is any malice or hatred between the common GC and TC populace. What does not exist is the type of empathy and understanding that Bir preaches, because he seems to equate empathy and understanding with total GC surrender and capitulation where a Confederacy is accepted, Turkish troops are allowed to stay, which means I can only assume that he would also approve of Greece also deploying a division or 2, and where the TCs are granted a "special status" until there is such time they begin to trust us "evil" GCs which you and I know will never be forthcoming because the TCs will be hell bent on maintaining this "special status" which can only bread resentment down the track, and then who knows.

We have a country under occupation. As a tiny nation, we are only able to continue fighting against this occupation by using the EU card against Turkey, and hoping that one day, the UN, EU or some other power will get motivated enough to end the suffering of ALL Cypriots, or until Turkey is motivated enough to compromise in order to achieve its desired(?) EU membership.

Kikapu, you know very well that we GCs do understand your suffering as a hostage at Kaimakli, and that you were then forced to leave Cyprus for a better future, and for that we truly sympathize and are massively regretful because Cyprus lost a great son...

[denizaksulu]

Oracle;

Suleiman II was the son of Ibrahim I (the Mad one/Deli Ibrahim).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_su ... man_Empire

[BirKibrisli]

"The GCs here with the notable exception of Bananiot and miltiades,see everything in black and white...They were right in demanding ENOSIS with Greece,the TCs were wrong to oppose it...The EOKA fighters were heros,the TCs who thought otherwise were wrong...Makarios was right to want to change the constitution,the TCs who opposed it were wrong...There was nothing wrong with the treatment of the TCs during 63-74 period,the TCs who say otherwise are liers and exaggerators....etc etc...You get my gist... "

I know that your post is directed to Kikapu but you are making sweeping generalisations Bir!

So Bananiot and Miltiades are the only two people that show empathy for the TC's? I beg to differ.


Bir, the issue here is that BOTH communities have suffered. You cannot put what the TC's suffered above what the GC's have suffered. You cannot also expect the GC's to give the 'benefit of the doubt' to the TC's because the TC's are really ruled by Turkey and much of what happens in the north is done to pursue the interests of Turkey and not the TC's. The longer division goes on, the worse it will become for the TC community.

Likewise I understand why the TC's cant expect to give the 'benefit of the doubt' to the GC's. But one thing that the GC's (more specifically the RoC) do have is that they are part of the wider EU community and as such are largely governed by the principles enshrined in the EU. If you think that the GC's can pursue their 'aims' within it then you are sadly mistaken.

Also, I would ask you to think about the fact that Cyprus has not been flooded by Greeks since joining the EU in order to strengthen the Greekness of Cyprus. If there was an underlying policy of strengthening the Greek presence in Cyprus then I would expect to see the Enosis 'dream' being pursued with vigour. If anything, since joining the EU, Cyprus has strengthened its independence.

Also, take note of your signature - If you want the true Republic of Cyprus live then act to make it so. Look to the future and not the past. Sacrifices will have to be made, both by TC's and GC's, and these are mainly psychological which unfortunately are one of the hardest things to overcome.

Sorry Mikki...There are a few other GC posters,yourself included,who have always shown empathy with the TCs...I named Bananiot and miltiades because they have been active and prominent recently,and hence attracted the GC wrath in abundance...The rest,when they talk about the TC loss and pain,always qualify it,minimise it or justify it...The worse offenders (those who say "but more GCs suffered and for longer" ,"who invited you to come anyway","you are greedy thieves helping Turkey to gain on our loss" or "the TCs have no place in Cyprus" etc) are the first to deny their insults...

I am not saying the GCs want Enosis with Greece now...I am saying there is no trust or understanding between the communites because nothing has been done in the past 36 years to improve the situation....The murderer on both sides have been walking around with immunity,often looked upon as heros by their respective community... The missing on both sides are still largely missing...The bitterness and hatred have been left simmering...So now it is too big a step for the TCs to totally remove Turkey from the picture (assuming they had the power to do so) ,so an interim solutiion is required....One that will leave the way open for True federation and democracy or whatever at a later time ,if and when mutual trust and respect have been achieved...Insisting on full democracy now knowing that the TCs and Turkey will never buy it is as unhelpful as Talat's latest proposals...I am surprised you people cannot see this simple logic...

[BirKibrisli]

Hi Bir,

I need to run soon, but will reply to your post(s) soon.

Take care.

No worries ,mate...I am going to bed soon anyway...
Catch you later...

[denizaksulu]

Hi Bir,

I need to run soon, but will reply to your post(s) soon.

Take care.

No worries ,mate...I am going to bed soon anyway...
Catch you later...

Nite nite yegen.

[Oracle]

Oracle;

Suleiman II was the son of Ibrahim I (the Mad one/Deli Ibrahim).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_su ... man_Empire

Selim II son of Suleiman I

Does that make our pain any the lesser ....

[denizaksulu]

Oracle;

Suleiman II was the son of Ibrahim I (the Mad one/Deli Ibrahim).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_su ... man_Empire

Selim II son of Suleiman I

Does that make our pain any the lesser ....

NO it does not.

I just question the integrity of the source you quoted thats all. No one is perfect. Even so called 'experts'.

xx

[BirKibrisli]

triple post...better go to bed...