Cyprus-Forum.com

[Nikitas]

From today's Politis, the article of Sener Levent gives a good insight into GC thinking. He says aloud what many, it nof most GCs are thinking.

"NICOSIA OF THE SOUTH IS NOT THE TWIN OF THE NORTH

A friend who had not been back to Cyprus since 1974 was looking around southern Nicosia in awe. Everything seemed changed to him. As we drove down a tree lined avenue with wide pavements he asked: "What do the GCs really want? A united Cyprus or to maintain the system they created in the half of Cyprus that they possess?".

It is a good question, one I often ask myself. I try to answer it putting myself in the place of a GC who lives in the south. For me the division of Nicosia is not the wall. It is the picture of that side compared to this side. It is as if the two sides are not twins but two totally different cities. In the north there is unrurly messy building, while in the south there is order. It is immediately apparent how meticulous the town planning officials are in the south. In the south there is the atmosphere and air of advanced cities. The north looks like a disused warehouse where things are stacked helter skelter.
It looks like a city hosting temporary lives. It is as if no one cares for the city where those that govern us live. They did not take care of any part of it, as if no architects or engineers ever passed through here.

Don't anyone dare say "we have no money, that is why things are as they are". There was money, plenty of it. But all the money went to the pockets of a small group who never thought of anyone else but themselves. No one thought of the community or the homeland. They looked after themselves.They widthdrew into their shell, building imposing mansions with huge walled gardens. To me they seem similar to the rich of poverty stricken countries, like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sudan. Those that live like kings while the people are hungry and sick. Brand new luxury cars slice through the crowded poor in streets trodden by barefoot children, while blind and lame beggars stand on street corners. And in these cars there are showoffs with pipes and dark glasses.

The question my friend posed as he drove admiring the surroundings in the south was "what do the GCs want? A united Cyprus Or are they simply trying to protect and safeguard the values they have now?" I think that if there is an agreement it will be the second that will worry the GC community. That is why they want the Turkish army to leave. They do not feel safe as long as there are troops here.

Contrary to the nationalist notion prevalent in the north, the GCs will not massacre the TCs when the troops leave. They do not want the troops to leave because they are dreaming of an all out attack. They insist because they want to guarantee their survival in the south.

The GC community is not certain it can maintain what it created in the south as long as there are troops in the north. Are they wrong? No!

They survived two tragedies in 1974.They recovered with great hardship. They built wealthy cities and flourising villages. Their standard of living is high. It exceeds that of the north at all levels. Do they want to risk all this? If the Turkish army does not leave the island and the guarantees are not lifted why would they accept such an agreement?

Sener Levent"

[Nikitas]

I will add a comment about the above from my experience of living 35 years in Greece. Unlike Cyprus there was no intervening power between Ottoman rule and independence. There was no English rule to break the "continuity".

It is therefore interesting to see some similarities between attitudes in Greece and the northern part of Cyprus. I know this will surprise some forumers, but it is borne out by my experience here in Greece. The attitude of Greeks towards their country is similar to the attitude Levent attributes to the TCs: "No one thought of the community or the homeland. They looked after themselves.They widthdrew into their shell, building imposing mansions with huge walled gardens. "

If there is one difference I would say that in Greece the majority is able to have such an attitude, it is not the privilege of the rich minority.

This view is not uncorroborated. Many Greeks who visit Cyprus observe the difference in attitude towards community oriented matters. Even small things like the width of pavements reflect this difference.

It seems that the RoC has found a way to live after 1974, a way that the other three players in this problem are still trying to achieve. No wonder there is such hostility towards the RoC. It success raises questions about the other three- Greece, Turkey, and the TRNC. The RoC needs to be cut down to size, so there is no measure of comparison.

[DT.]

From today's Politis, the article of Sener Levent gives a good insight into GC thinking. He says aloud what many, it nof most GCs are thinking.

"NICOSIA OF THE SOUTH IS NOT THE TWIN OF THE NORTH

A friend who had not been back to Cyprus since 1974 was looking around southern Nicosia in awe. Everything seemed changed to him. As we drove down a tree lined avenue with wide pavements he asked: "What do the GCs really want? A united Cyprus or to maintain the system they created in the half of Cyprus that they possess?".

It is a good question, one I often ask myself. I try to answer it putting myself in the place of a GC who lives in the south. For me the division of Nicosia is not the wall. It is the picture of that side compared to this side. It is as if the two sides are not twins but two totally different cities. In the north there is unrurly messy building, while in the south there is order. It is immediately apparent how meticulous the town planning officials are in the south. In the south there is the atmosphere and air of advanced cities. The north looks like a disused warehouse where things are stacked helter skelter.
It looks like a city hosting temporary lives. It is as if no one cares for the city where those that govern us live. They did not take care of any part of it, as if no architects or engineers ever passed through here.

Don't anyone dare say "we have no money, that is why things are as they are". There was money, plenty of it. But all the money went to the pockets of a small group who never thought of anyone else but themselves. No one thought of the community or the homeland. They looked after themselves.They widthdrew into their shell, building imposing mansions with huge walled gardens. To me they seem similar to the rich of poverty stricken countries, like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sudan. Those that live like kings while the people are hungry and sick. Brand new luxury cars slice through the crowded poor in streets trodden by barefoot children, while blind and lame beggars stand on street corners. And in these cars there are showoffs with pipes and dark glasses.

The question my friend posed as he drove admiring the surroundings in the south was "what do the GCs want? A united Cyprus Or are they simply trying to protect and safeguard the values they have now?" I think that if there is an agreement it will be the second that will worry the GC community. That is why they want the Turkish army to leave. They do not feel safe as long as there are troops here.

Contrary to the nationalist notion prevalent in the north, the GCs will not massacre the TCs when the troops leave. They do not want the troops to leave because they are dreaming of an all out attack. They insist because they want to guarantee their survival in the south.

The GC community is not certain it can maintain what it created in the south as long as there are troops in the north. Are they wrong? No!

They survived two tragedies in 1974.They recovered with great hardship. They built wealthy cities and flourising villages. Their standard of living is high. It exceeds that of the north at all levels. Do they want to risk all this? If the Turkish army does not leave the island and the guarantees are not lifted why would they accept such an agreement?

Sener Levent"

This article has definitely got me thinking if we're being honest with ourselves on what exactly we're looking for in a solution. How far will we go to jeoperdise what we've accomplished as a country in the last couple of decades.

[Get Real!]

From today's Politis, the article of Sener Levent gives a good insight into GC thinking. He says aloud what many, it nof most GCs are thinking.

"NICOSIA OF THE SOUTH IS NOT THE TWIN OF THE NORTH

This article has definitely got me thinking if we're being honest with ourselves on what exactly we're looking for in a solution. How far will we go to jeoperdise what we've accomplished as a country in the last couple of decades.

Sener’s simplistic and mundane articles put me to sleep…

Err, which part exactly got you “thinking”?

[RAFAELLA]

I would like to keep the following from Mr Levent's article:

"Contrary to the nationalist notion prevalent in the north, the GCs will not massacre the TCs when the troops leave. They do not want the troops to leave because they are dreaming of an all out attack. They insist because they want to guarantee their survival in the south.

The GC community is not certain it can maintain what it created in the south as long as there are troops in the north. Are they wrong? No!

They survived two tragedies in 1974.They recovered with great hardship. They built wealthy cities and flourising villages. Their standard of living is high. It exceeds that of the north at all levels. Do they want to risk all this? If the Turkish army does not leave the island and the guarantees are not lifted why would they accept such an agreement?"

[Nikitas]

Sener Levent is a brilliant journalist who has paid a heavy price for his principles. As with all writers, his writing cannot be expected to appeal to everyone. But it does contain uncanny insights into the Cypriot mind. I have learnt more about TC society reading snere Levent than from academic and diplomatic analyses.

I wish there were more Cypriots like him.