Cyprus-Forum.com

[erolz66]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/ent ... 84204.html

"Whether Hatice is a Turkish Cypriot and I’m a Greek Cypriot might be a subject for others, but for us, this is completely natural."
Ardost nods vigorously. "Two human beings being together is not a miracle."
Their union is emblematic of a gradual thaw in relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus, home to one of Europe’s most enduring conflicts.

But while politicians slog it out at the negotiation table, Cypriots on both sides of the divide have taken matters into their own hands. People-to-people contact is now flourishing after an easing of crossings between the two sides in 2003, which followed decades of isolation.

Ardost and Larkou are among a small, but growing community of mixed-marriage Cypriot couples, transcending psychological and physical barriers. They married within two months of meeting in 2014, and are expecting their first child later this year.

For me couples like these are an emblem of hope for a better future Cyprus for all Cypriots.

[kurupetos]

Glad you posted this on General chat, and not on Cyprus problem.

[Sotos]

Good for them but why good news for Cyprus? How does it make anything better for the rest of us? I hope they thought everything through... very often people fall in love and they are blinded by their passion and they don't consider some practical things which come back to hunt them later on, especially if they have children. Their situation is a bit unusual so it will also have a few practical challenges that most other couples do not have. The difference in language is bit of a problem but not a great one. If they are religious then religion is a much bigger potential source of problems. And then on top of that we have the fact that we are currently at war and this can also be a source of problems for them and their children. Best of luck to them regardless.

[erolz66]

Good for them but why good news for Cyprus? How does it make anything better for the rest of us?

Well the title when I wrote was more in the sense 'positive' news story about something in Cyprus but I do think that it is good news for Cyprus as well myself now I think about it. Division I think starts in our heads, boarders, check points and these other physical manifestations are just then the symptoms of that. To me stories like this remind us that things and 'we' do not have to be this way and that I think is good for us. Longer terms I think it is good for Cyprus that their children, should they have them, will not be TC or GC, they will be just Cypriot and to me that is good for all of Cyprus.

[Sotos]

I think division starts with difference in interests. The interests of everybody else will not change because of such things. From what I understand your mother is English and father Cypriot... but you are not neither English nor Cypriot. I guess for some reason you decided that you are more Cypriot than English? Maybe things would be different if your parents had named you something like "Alex Christianson" or "Johnny English". A name might be just a label but I think it affects how people grow up to perceive themselves and how others perceive them. So how this couple will name their children and what religion they will follow will have a great effect on them and they might actually feel more GC or TC, and not "just Cypriot".

[miltiades]

I think I mentioned this before but I will do so again as it is relative in a way to this thread.
My older brother's English wife has a sister who is married to a Turkish Cypriot, they have 3 children who are half T/C and half English and naturally first cousins to my brothers five children.

Neither the T/C or his English wife are religious therefore no constrains here.

A few years back 2 of the T/Cs children were in Cyprus, in Kyrenia, and my brothers oldest son was in Limassol, they met up in Limassol, I was there. It was a pleasure to watch the interaction, all in English, between the cousins, no animocity at all. All three half Cypriots.

Such events do help towards a better understanding, one of the many reasons that I bear no animocity towards my compatriots the T/Cs , although Im highly critical of the continued occupation of our northern parts by Turkey, a foreign nation.

[erolz66]

... but you are not neither English nor Cypriot.

Well I consider myself both (well British and Cypriot).

I guess for some reason you decided that you are more Cypriot than English?

I do not really think in those terms. For me it's like asking am I more good looking or charming I just do not see them as being 'in contention' that it is a case of one vs the other and more of one has to mean less of the other. However if I was pushed and forced to declare which I was 'more' of, it would have to be British I guess.

Maybe things would be different if your parents had named you something like "Alex Christianson" or "Johnny English". A name might be just a label but I think it affects how people grow up to perceive themselves and how others perceive them. So how this couple will name their children and what religion they will follow will have a great effect on them and they might actually feel more GC or TC, and not "just Cypriot".

Sure names are important and especially in how others perceive you, at least that has been my experience. I was free to choose whatever religion I wanted and no religion was 'forced' upon me as a child but then neither of my parents were 'staunchly' religious. It is possible that children of this couple, should they have them, would consider themselves more GC or more TC but I think undoubtedly the chance that they will just consider themselves Cypriot is massively higher than children who come from all GC or TC parents.

[GreekIslandGirl]

Aaaaahhh - give them a Nobel Peace Prize!

[Pyrpolizer]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/entertainment/love-chips-away-at-barrie/2484204.html

"Whether Hatice is a Turkish Cypriot and I’m a Greek Cypriot might be a subject for others, but for us, this is completely natural."
Ardost nods vigorously. "Two human beings being together is not a miracle."
Their union is emblematic of a gradual thaw in relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus, home to one of Europe’s most enduring conflicts.

But while politicians slog it out at the negotiation table, Cypriots on both sides of the divide have taken matters into their own hands. People-to-people contact is now flourishing after an easing of crossings between the two sides in 2003, which followed decades of isolation.

Ardost and Larkou are among a small, but growing community of mixed-marriage Cypriot couples, transcending psychological and physical barriers. They married within two months of meeting in 2014, and are expecting their first child later this year.

For me couples like these are an emblem of hope for a better future Cyprus for all Cypriots.

I 'd just repeat my view that 20 years after a solution we will not know who is GC and who is TC here.. OK make it 30 years.

[erolz66]

I 'd just repeat my view that 20 years after a solution we will not know who is GC and who is TC here.. OK make it 30 years.

I so want to believe you are right about that.