Cyprus belongs to us, as a whole
By Ali Kişmir
“Our hearts were torn out” when we realised during the Limnitis fire that there are no mechanisms, that we are not ready in the face of any disaster. We have a system that completely relies on having things done for us. We face the same problem every year, and every year our hands are tied.
At the end of the day we find ourselves counting huge losses because, as in many other issues, we are completely dependent on Turkey. Some people are demanding that we buy a fire fighting helicopter. Ok, that's a very good idea, but what exactly are we going to buy it with? If we buy a helicopter, it is Turkey that will have to buy it for us. It's sad, but true.
Why then isn't the “motherland” allocating a fire fighting helicopter to a country with very hot summers? The answer is clear: Turkey wants us to be totally dependent to her. If that wasn't the case, then why does Ankara deny to make this contribution when they say they love us so much at every opportunity?
If you ask me, I believe we shouldn't take anything from them. And before you accuse me of being anti-Turkish, let me explain that I say this because I am tired of being oppressed by this “we saved you” nonsense that they keep using since 1974. I am tired of Turkey rubbing any contribution in our face when in fact they only help when it serves their own interests.
I don't want to be dependent on Turkey any more. You can respect my opinion or call me a traitor – but you can never run away from reality. And because you really don't like people who say the truth, your reply to what I have to say will probably be “well, why don't you give us a solution?” when in fact you haven't demanded a solution from any politician for the past 40 years.
What really upset me the other day was the fact that some seemed pleased when the wind changed its direction. Dear friends, Cyprus – both in the north and in the south – is ours. It belongs to all Cypriots. It is terrible that some people can say “let them burn as long as we're safe”.
Particularly Mr. Eroğlu's accusations towards the Greek Cypriots were very inappropriate. Remember, a couple of years ago Mr. Eroğlu had accused the Greek Cypriots of opening the gates of a dam to cause flooding in the north. Then we found out that there isn’t even a dam in that region.
Mr. Eroğlu is doing the same thing today, but he should know that such provocative rhetoric does not benefit either community. Cyprus belongs to us a whole. And instead of looking for someone to blame, we should find the way to live together and cooperate – even though some still object.
http://www.lemoncy.eu/authors_article_detail.php?Vid=34
