Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

DR MARIOS Matsakis had an affair with a Turkish woman when he was a student in London, he revealed to Turkish newspaper Vatan.

Talking to Vatan, the MEP was keen to prove that, despite his flag-snatching stunt, he had nothing against Turkish people.

Matsakis confirmed the love affair to the Cyprus Mail yesterday, joking: “Have they written about this as well? They’ll be writing about what I ate yesterday soon!”

“When I was a student in London in the early 1980’s I had a relationship with a Turkish girl, a fellow-student of mine”, he said.

But marriage was never an option, as neither of them was ready for it.

“We were young at the time. The fact that she was Turkish certainly wouldn’t have stopped me. The relationship just didn’t work out,” said Matsakis.

The pair kept in touch briefly after splitting, but lost contact eventually.

Matsakis was in the news on Tuesday after venturing into the buffer zone and taking the flag from the Turkish observation post.

Turkish Cypriot papers reported that a warrant for his arrest was to have been issued yesterday.

Matsakis said he hadn’t heard about this, adding he had received death threats.

“I had two phone calls in which my life was threatened. One was from the occupied areas; the person spoke to me in English. The other was from the Greek side; the person spoke to me in Cypriot. He said that I was going to get shot.”

He made light of it, however: “One such phone-call amongst the hundreds of congratulatory ones is not so bad.”

President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos was critical of Matsakis’ ‘theatrical’ actions. “There are not many people who approve of Mr. Matsakis’ actions”, Papadopoulos had said.
Matsakis admitted relations with the President had always been rather strained, except during the referendum when they were both campaigning for a ‘no’ vote.

“We have had different approaches on matters for a long time; the Annan referendum united us,” Matsakis said.

The MEP’s flag snatching has sparked feelings of insecurity in Athienou, the village’s Mayor Gavriel Kazazis said. The village is in the buffer zone, close to the observation post visited by Matsakis on Tuesday.

Some houses are just 100 metres from the Turkish guard-posts.

“When you are so near you can hear them (Turkish soldiers) when they’re talking, see them when they’re moving and something like this happens, insecurity increases”, said Kazazis yesterday.

“Farmers are ploughing their fields, which are situated next to the guard-posts. There has always been a sense of insecurity to some degree, but now its worse”.

Matsakis brushed aside the Mayor’s fear. “I don’t see how there can be a broader problem. I don’t see how the farmers are in danger. If the Turkish guards were to shoot me then yes, I see it. Shoot the farmers? No, I don’t”, he said adding, “The only man whose life is in danger, is me. Nobody else, just me.”

“Insecurity is something that should be felt by all Cypriots, considering the situation”.

Kazazis was so incensed with Matsakis’ action that he had asked for the MEP’s prosecution. “You can’t just carry out actions like these that may hurt the rest of the public,” he said.
But a defiant Matsakis asked: “I would like the Mayor of Athienou to tell me for which crime I should be prosecuted.”

As for the people of Athienou, Matsakis reminded them that when they were in danger, he always came to protect them.

“Ask the mayor of Athienou if he remembers this: during times of crisis, was Matsakis not in Athienou at nights?”

[Agios Amvrosios]

I knew the Good Dr was a playa getting death threats from all those playa haters.

[cypezokyli]

just read the response of matsakis after being in practise kicked out of DIKO which was covering up for him. he accused kleanthous of having his hause on tc property
ah this patriots...
who knows what more we will hear? in any case i wouldnt trust what matsakis sais... but who knows?
patriots know each others patrotic acts

[Piratis]

cyperzokly, I see very often you say negative things about people of DIKO, and in many (not all) cases you are right. However maybe you should also tell us which party is better according to you?

And another question: Who is a true patriot according to you? Or maybe we shouldn't have patriots at all?

[bg_turk]

[Piratis]

Thats funny.

However with the recent history of Turks shooting and killing anybody that tried to remove their flag, I think you should admit that Matsakis has balls.

P.S. did you make that graphic? its pretty good! (or you took from were you get the regular propaganda material )

[cypezokyli]

nice photo bulgarian turk

[cypezokyli]

a person who loves his country my friend piratis is the one who doesnot prague about it. and unfortunately history has proven that the ones who shout more during peace are the ones who run away first. that is what i dont stand about this people.

when it comes to DIKO, its difficult to find a member who is not such a shouter: matsakis, koulias, pittokopitis, ant. papadopoulou, kleanthous... i dont know, i also dont listen anymore to cyprus radio. perhaps DIKO has some newer members that i am not familiar with.

as to which party i support... if u want to know as a typical cypriot, around 15, i joined for a while a youth organisation of a party. do you want me to surprise you? the same one as my father supported!!! i dont know if u ever had that experience? it is completely dissapointing, so i stopped going, participating or voting them. if u can guess which one it was i ll tell u the reasons i left.

now, i dont support any parties. in any case i dont believe in parties anymore but in people. i would vote anyone who promises: i ll plant trees in the limassol - lefkosia highway. if he does it after 5 years i ll vote for him again. u know its sth stupid, but i mean sth small, a clear target and achieve it.

the big words its for me a reason not to vote none of them. take their leaflets before the elections and what u ll see is: i ll fight for a just and fair solution for the cyprus problem - which for me means: absolutely nothing.
our party is in favor of democratisation of education. what the hell is that supposed to mean? if one said our purpose is to make classes no bigger than 20 students i would vote for them. not because that that would solve the problems of education but it is one clear, practical objective , a propossal which would make sense rather than big general and as a consequence , empty promises.

[Main_Source]

Ive seen that graphic on the front page of a British based Cypriot newspaper about a week ago.

[zan]

Have you guys noticed? If you look really hard in that picture, right at the back far far into the background you will see.....No one. not a soul!