Cyprus-Forum.com

[zan]

did it change your opinion about the cyprus problem and the other side ?

Do people here, who seem really intelligent, really have to have meetings in order to be convinced that the "other side” is not evil to the core?

Maybe it's a Cypriot trait but I don't like the idea of anyone, including the USA of treating me like a child even if I am acting like one.

I have never been to one of these meetings but I would hazard a guess that most people went there with the hope that other tangible things were going to be sorted out. I also think that the other Cypriot trait of turning up and telling everyone else there that they are wrong and putting all the wrongs right had a part in it. If the meetings did help, I retract all I have said and wish future meeting's god speed.

[sadik]

Precisely! You see, those were not issue in which we Cypriots were supposed to have too much of a say, according to their own understanding of the Cyprus problem.

i dont know. did you attend any kifeas ? i never attented any. could sadik gives us some input on this ? where you left alone in discussing or did the leaders lead the discussions where they wanted ?
do you think it mattered that it was the americans that did them?
do you think in that perios could it have been achieced without the americans?
and
did it change your opinion about the cyprus problem and the other side ?

thanks

Dont get me wrong. I'm not negative on these meetings. Moderators were people with good intentions. They followed the standard conflict resolution techniques. However I believe we need more serious political dialogue in Cyprus between the communities.

At the time, these meetings were the only way for Cypriots to get together and discuss. I am talking about the second half of the 90s, when the checkpoints were closed and it was very difficult to get necessary permissions to cross from the north. Even though Americans had their own purposes and agenda, at the time, we had no other option. There simple was no other way to meet. Americans were the only ones who could get the necessary permissions. Meetings in Cyprus stopped in 1998 or 1999 when the Turkish side stopped giving permissions to Americans for these meetings.

[cypezokyli]

thanks sadik
what was the american agenda?

can i ask you sth more? u said that they asked you to avoid certain words. i can imagine words like invation/ freedom operation etc. it could be that using such words would lead the discussion out of topic - as it happens here many times.
do you think that going straight on the political discussion would have been more productive ? i mean it could be that people just then meet to repeat the arguments of their leadership. it could be that it was done in order to first get to know each other, have a discussing atmosphere and then start solving the cyprus problem...
on the other hand if you never reached the core issues of the cyprus problem, i would also wonder : whats the point ?
or is there one, in any case ?

[Piratis]

But if you come to the table and try to enforce for example that you are the only governement on the whole island then you will be starting off on the wrong foot and ensuring that TCs walk away. the realities are before all of us we have to use what we have to everyones benefit.

It is the opposide. You are trying to enforce that there is more than one goverments, since legally and according to the whole world there is only one.

These meetings in order to have a different result they should be based on principles and human values. If those people gather to play power politics there is no point. Power politics can be played better by politicians.

[BirKibrisli]

Conflict resolution works if the sides are convinced that they will both be better off it there is no conflict.In Cypro there are so many variables that people cannot agree,or rather cannot see how they will benefit from a solution.The TRNC has totally cornered itself,boxed itself into a very rigid position by their action on Cypriotgreek property and the settler issues.
Not to mention by their abdication of political power.
It is always beneficial for people to get to know each other as human beings,to realise the other side is not a two headed monster waiting to drink their blood.But can this give raise to a movement from bottom up which will push away the very entrenched interests or the politcians and the outside players?Can nationalists on both sides be silenced so that one common nation can be build on democratic principles and human rights?
Can the flames of history be put out so that they will not poison the coming generations.conflics can only be resolved if both sides can see clear benefits.But no harm can come from people meeting heart to heart.They might even learn to speak the same language one day...