Cyprus-Forum.com

[bg_turk]

Inspired by Greece’s ‘Ochi’
By Constantine Markides

HIGH officials delivered lofty orations on the independence of the Greek spirit and thousands marched yesterday outside the Greek embassy to celebrate ‘Ochi’ day, the anniversary of October 28, 1940 when General Ioannis Metaxas said ‘ochi’ (no) to Mussolini’s request to allow troops to occupy Greece.

In the parade were former EOKA fighters, university students, boy scouts, high school students, and members of various organisations. While the main parade was in Nicosia, various other parades and ceremonies took place throughout the island, most attended by top officials.

The anniversary was an opportunity for politicians to associate the Greek refusal to submit to fascism with the Cypriot refusal to submit to the Turkish occupation, although no one went so far as to explicitly state that the ‘ochi’ to the Annan Plan was comparable to the ‘ochi’ to Mussolini.

In a speech at the church of Ayios Ioannis, House Speaker Demetris Christofias said that the military anniversary has particular relevance for the Cypriot people, who “for over three decades have been struggling to win the basics: the re-establishment of international justice and of basic freedoms that Turkey infringes upon with her occupation.

“The Greek people did not remain indifferent and uninvolved in the fight against fascism. It fought for its country, but also for justice and the freedom of the entire world, participating in the antifascist victory of all countries and writing many pages of wonderful heroism.” Christofias added that the Greek people paid a high price for their freedom, with casualties totaling 520,000.

In Dherynia, Health Minister Andreas Gavrielides said that Cyprus “has for 31 years now drawn strength” from the 1940 resistance, “insisting on resistance against the Turkish occupation.”

On October 28, 1940, after receiving the ‘no’ reply, 200,000 Italian troops attacked Greece from Albania. Mussolini expected an easy victory, but the Greek army proved more battle-worthy than the Italians expected and Greece expelled the Italians, driving them back into Albania.



Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2005

[Sotos]

Yes. Of course we are. Why we shouldn't be? Do you think we should just say "nai" to anybody that wants to occupy us?

[bg_turk]

No, I just wanted to learn how you feel about it, I had no intention to judge you.

But to add my observatons...
If I were in your place, my feeling wouldn't be pride, it would be some kind of anxiety for having missed an opportunity to unite, i,e if my intention was to unite (which I strongly doubt in the case of Papadopoulos). If I were concerned about the plan not being fair, I would work towards finding a more acceptable solution through dialogue with the other side, rather than expressing how proud I am for rejecting a solution proposal.
I think the whole proublem with the attitude of GCs is that they view this as some kind of a zero sum game. The only victory is when the other side is defeated and humiliated, you will never accept any other solution, it would be against your greek pride. You wont Turkey and TCs to pay dearly and if you ever achieve that you will probably be the proudest nation in the world. But what kind of people are proud of inflicting misery on others?

[ELLAS H TEFRA!]

Thank God (ours-not yours) that you are not in our place then!

[Piratis]

If I were in your place, my feeling wouldn't be pride, it would be some kind of anxiety for having missed an opportunity to unite

Sure bg_turk, thats what Mussolini said also during WWII: "Lets all unite under an undemocratic fascist regime that will not respect your human rights". Yes we said no, and yes we are proud of it. Are you proud as a Bulgarian and as a Turk that your country has collaborated with the fascists? (I am sure you are.)

I think the whole proublem with the attitude of GCs is that they view this as some kind of a zero sum game. The only victory is when the other side is defeated and humiliated, you will never accept any other solution, it would be against your greek pride.

Before 1960 the GCs who are the 82% of this island demanded union with Greece which was their right. TCs demanded partition, which was not their right. Between the two demands we made a compromise and agreed to the 1960 agreements. Today the Turks demand nothing less than partition or disguised partition. They took back the "compromise" they made and they insist for more and more and more. We ask for nothing more than the compromise that has already been made, which is the only legal thing. TCs and Turkey insist on illegality and on the violation of human rights of 100s of thousands of people.

But yes, accepting any kind of "solution" that will humiliate us by not giving to us even our basic human rights is against our pride and it will NEVER be accepted.

You wont Turkey and TCs to pay dearly and if you ever achieve that you will probably be the proudest nation in the world.

Pay? What we want is to give back to us what they illegally stole from us. Is it "paying" giving back what you stole?

But what kind of people are proud of inflicting misery on others?

They are the kind of people that you support: Nazis and Turks (the ones who support the violation of human rights and illegality).

[Main_Source]

I think the whole proublem with the attitude of GCs is that they view this as some kind of a zero sum game. The only victory is when the other side is defeated and humiliated, you will never accept any other solution, it would be against your greek pride. You wont Turkey and TCs to pay dearly and if you ever achieve that you will probably be the proudest nation in the world. But what kind of people are proud of inflicting misery on others?

So you want us to sell out so you can gain legality from Turkey's theivery.

[Main_Source]

and who is inflicting the misery on who!? Who is occupying our homes and getting away with it because their government is the Middle Eastern ho' of American and Britain!?

You really expect us to fall for your bullshit for the sake of Turkey gaining a legality from what they have done.

[bg_turk]

Thank God (ours-not yours) that you are not in our place then!

May God (both of them) bring mercy upon your hearts and help you unify your country so you can live in peace, harmony and prosperity with TCs ever after, and rid all of you from the venom that is eroding your hearts and your country.
Because as far as I can see only a miracle is needed to bring unification, without one unity between TCs and GCs will not be achieved any time soon, possible never.

[bg_turk]

Sure bg_turk, thats what Mussolini said also during WWII: "Lets all unite under an undemocratic fascist regime that will not respect your human rights".
Yes we said no, and yes we are proud of it. Are you proud as a Bulgarian and as a Turk that your country has collaborated with the fascists? (I am sure you are.)

I'd rather you check your historical facts before hurling accusations. Turkey never took part in the second World War. Whereas in the case of Bulgaria you are right that Bulgaria joined on the side of the axis, and yes I am proud of how my country stood up for its jews, and never let a single jew to be killed on the territories that were under its direct control, despite its political orientation, the bulgarian people have AWLAYS stood for the protection of the lifes and wellbeings of all their citizens despite ethnic origin. Something which Greece will never achieve.

[Sotos]

bg_turk, the answer I gave was for the OXI of Greece in World War 2. For that OXI I don't think anybody would not be proud.