Some members of the forum have been comparing Cypriotism to the British nationalism of the BNP. This is NOT the case.
Cypriotness, Cypriotness (whatever you want to call it) or the passion for Cypriot unity and freedom was born out of centuries of British/Greek/Turkish involvement in Cypriot affairs. This resulted in conflict, communal division and the rise of divisive Greek and Turkish nationalisms, the partition of the island of Cyprus, the partition of our capital city - the last divided capital in the world, and the creation of a Turkish vassal state dominated by Turkey in the north of our country.
Partition was not just a line on the map; it was the construction of a system of political apartheid which relied on discrimination and denied democracy and justice.
Resolving the many complexities resulting from this was never going to be easy. Cypriotism has a role to play in this process.
The ongoing negotiations started by Mehmet Ali Talat and Dimitris
Christofias are putting in place mechanisms and arrangements which will help reverse this injustice.
These include changes to how we conduct political matters, institutional arrangements, human rights, equality, policing, justice, language and culture issues.
These negotiations are significant instruments of change; real change in real ways in peoples daily lives and have brought about holes in our Green Line Wall of Shame known as "Crossing Points."
For this reason elements of Greek / Turkish nationalism in Cyprus and the Diaspora oppose ] this new development and seek to minimise, to dilute and to delay its potential or to oppose it entirely.
For this reason, the talks continue to face huge challenges, not least in the failure of the Turkish government to fulfil its obligations vis a vis demilitarisation.
The talks recognise that it is for the people of the island of Cyprus to determine our own future – to exercise our self-determination. This is a great achievement.
In the event that a majority of people in the north prefer a sovereign United Cyprus then the Turkish government will have to accept it.
The agreement also sets out the mechanism by which this will happen – by means of a referendum.
Now there is a particular responsibility for all parties in the Republic and particularly for the government in south Nicosia to actively work for reunification.
We have to persuade as many Turkish speaking Cypriots as possible and some of the more rational settlers that such a development makes political, social and economic sense – that it serves their self-interest.
There is already a growing awareness of the importance to our future prosperity and growth, of the all-Cyprus economy and of all-Cyprus connections in health, education, energy, the environment and much more.
These are commonsense arrangements which must be built upon.
We need to address the genuine fears and concerns of those that are still hesitant in a meaningful way.
We need to explore what they mean by their sense of 'Turkishness' or 'Greekness', often these identities are built upon mis-impressions, we need to introduce them to Cypriotness and be willing to accommodate them within a Cypriot identity.
We will never do to the Greek / Turkish nationalists what they have done to Cypriots and Cyprus. There can be no place for hatred or revenge in the thinking or vocabulary of Cypriot Unity, however much they have hurt us through their betrayal.
Our United Cyprus needs to be their United Cyprus.
We need to look at ways in which all people can find their place in a new Cyprus.
Let's work together towards unity.
