Paphiti, i got a lot of work today so don't have too much time to get into this, but from what you say the Cypriots should give up their rights in Cyprus in favour for the diaspora as they are much more patriotic, have not been "forced" to do their national service and seem to have more cash than us too.
DT, that is clearly not what I said.
For me it makes common sense that Cypriot expats should be allowed the right to vote. Most other countries do give their citizens this right and some countries such as Australia actually make it compulsory.
Cypriots will not be giving up their rights by allowing Cypriot expats the right to vote. That is a ridiculous assertion.
I never stated that Cypriot expats are also more patriotic than Cypriots. But it is apparent that at least some of them are as many just work tirelessly for Cyprus and with no recognition. They don't need the recognition either, but the least Cyprus can do is allow them to vote, as it is quite clear that some of these people care so much for Cyprus.
I did not say that anyone was "forced" to do their national service either. But the way some of you behave, you make it seem like it is such a big chore and inconvenience on your lives and most of you would avoid it if possible. You are the one that said that we should be "wasted" for 26 months at the Green Line for the right to vote or to prove some kind of patriotism.
I am sorry, but things are not quite as simplistic as that. The Cypriot Diaspora does not need to prove a thing and nor do they want recognition, but the right to vote is truly appreciated by those that wish to have their voice heard as Cypriot citizens who live abroad. I did not say that Cypriot expats should have the right to vote because they somehow have more money.
I did not even say that Cypriot expats have more money, and I would never descend to that level as I do not believe that money is any measure of the man or woman. I only stated that there are many hard working Cypriots overseas and that some are very influential in their respective countries, and Cyprus would do well if it could utilize and recognize these valuable assets. I was sort of an expat myself (lived in UK for 12 years after my service) moving back to Cyprus 2 years ago, I now know how little I knew about politics in Cyprus then....yet told the world I know everything.
You are very fortunate to have lived in the UK. But spare a thought for Cypriots further afield who are cut off from Cyprus and have lost all contact with their heritage.
I enjoyed hanging around with the diaspora in Cyprus, their Cyprus seems to be stuck in the 70's yet they are always willing to do something for their country (mostly souvla and ziafethkia).
I am absolutely disgusted at your statement above.
I am absolutely lost for words. 
Cyprus may seem to be stuck in the 70s for the first generation who were stuck in a time warp.
However, to some of us 2nd, 3rd and 4th generations, we can see that Cypriot political institutions, ideologies and political polarization ARE stuck in the 70s, when compared to countries they grew up in. You compare all of that, including the mentality of the average Cypriot to other countries such as Sweden, Finland, Austria, Australia and Canada and then tell me if you are not stuck in the 70s.
OK, I think I am being a little too harsh here. What I can't stand however is some American, Ozzie, Brit telling me how patriotic they are when I know that if anything ever happens again they'll be sitting in London, NY or Melbourne while the unpatriotic Cypriots in Cyprus do the fighting for these patriots.
The last thing any Aussie Cypriot will tell you is how patriotic they are about Cyprus. Out of 74,000 Australian Cypriots, you would be hard pressed finding about 5,000 patriotic Cypriots, because the rest don't even consider themselves as Cypriot but only as Australian. Australia has successfully claimed these people and assimilated them. Those that are "Patriotic Cypriots" are the ones you would probably find on this forum, are active within political parties and lobby groups, volunteer left right and center at every Cypriot group, live and breath Cyprus. These are probably the ones that would also want to vote. The rest would not care and they are lost to Cyprus forever.
However, it is quite easy for you to say that you get upset at some Aussie or American dirt bag
sitting in Melbourne or New York having the right to vote as citizens of Cyprus. That would be a tragedy as these people are not Cypriot at all. BTW when I said that this law has been passed mostly for the students I want you to think for a second. Who do the political parties fly over in busloads every election time....students. The students have their electoral cards done by the party associations in the universities. Each political party has a student party in the UK to represent it. I used to belong to one of those. Our main job was to sign up students, get them on the electoral register and fly them home for next to nothing in exchange for their vote. These are votes the parties know about and expect. As far as I know there was very few of the diaspora and practically zero of the 2nd
If you ask me, the above absolutely makes a mockery of democracy and turns it into a Bordello.
It is not just students that are able to get voter cards. All Cypriot citizens are able to apply for voter cards. I am able to apply for a voter's card and if I was somehow in the UK whilst there were elections in Cyprus, all I would have to do is go to one of the major party's and state that I support them and the next day I would be in Cyprus provided there was room on the chartered plane.
Bloody ridiculous! You would also find that some East African democracies do the same thing when they have elections.
I could in fact sell my vote for a free trip to Cyprus. If you do not recognize that this makes a mockery of your democracy then I do not know what to say. This is worse than being stuck in the 70s. That is neolithic and corrupts the very core of democracy.
The solution is to simply allow Cypriot expats the right to vote. it should be no skin off your back if a few thousand Cypriot expats feel so strongly about Cyprus and wish to participate in the countries democratic institutions. If you were smart you would encourage this, but alas being Cypriot and smart do not always go hand in hand.
This is the enemy you are dealing with, and Cyprus needs to play the same game, although we don't have that much money to play with or the resources. This is WHY, Cyprus needs to keep the diaspora very close and utilize it as a valuable asset, because anything the Diaspora achieves is 
