Cyprus-Forum.com

[BigDutch]

Obviously its been over 20 years but i've often wondered as to the name of the pseudo state - lets look at the name :

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

A Turkish Republic. Even the name clearly says "Turkish".

In the 1980's when this "country" was "created" did the majority of TC's in the occupied area want to be Turkish? Is that why the name is as it is?

Don't Turkish Cypriots feel a bit put out that their "country" is "called" a "Turkish Republic" ? Not Northern Cypriot Republic? Not Turkish Cypriot Republic? Not Turkish Cypriot State?

[brother]

I guess we would have prefered to be called the ROC, but that was already in use.

But i feel that the idea behind it was to help identify that there was turkish cypriots on the island and not just GC.

[brother]

And just for the record i would have personally prefered Turkish Cypriot State rather than the title of present but ultimately ROC is where our hearts are.

[mehmet]

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus?

I presume the Northern Cyprus is straightforward.

Republic, well it was not a monarchy with a king or queen or an empire with a sultan, the president is elected by the citizens of the state so that makes it a republic.

Now the Turkish bit. As far as I am aware most Turkish Cypriots do not dispute that they are Turks. They know they live in Cyprus and will also identify with Turkish Cypriot but there is no dilemma there.

As I said previously national identity takes time to establish. We had the Republic of Cyprus three years before it stop being bi-communal, before that it was part of British empire, before that Ottoman. From where were the sense of Cypriot nationhood to emerge. Also remember many Cypriot's prefer Cyprus to be province of Greece or Turkey.

[-mikkie2-]

Also remember many Cypriot's prefer Cyprus to be province of Greece or Turkey

Errr, no!

I can categorically say that most GC's DO NOT want to be a province of Greece. We identify with Greece because, well, we are descended from Greeks and share the same customs with a few of our own thrown in, that is all.

[mehmet]

Mikkie, accept my apologies, that was a mistake on my part. It should have said "preferred' as I was talking about the past when Makarios organise referundum for Enosis and Taksim was on the agenda. Typing on an empty stomach when you have been called to your dinner is not a good idea.

[-mikkie2-]

Thats ok Mehmet. It is quite easy to misunderstand what people are trying to put across sometimes! No offence taken.

[Bananiot]

Lets be honest about this. Turkey and her might is preventing the unification of Cyprus with Greece. Take away the factor Turkey and perform a referendum among the GC's and a huge majority for enosis will emerge. The passion for enosis is still there and many of our actions are guided by this passion. Many people are still hoping and praying for another chance to achieve enosis but for the time they have consciously allowed the noble aspiration to hibernate. On the other hand, practical and pragmatic GC's realise that enosis is for all intense and purposes a dead cause and this is the only reason why they are willing to accept reality. Very few GC's are against enosis on principle. These have never come out into the open because they are scared. In the past they were shot on sight, branded traitors and all that comes with it in a country where you can have your opinion, but up to a point.

[-mikkie2-]

I beg to differ on your conclusion that most GC's want enosis.

That is not the case. Most people want an independent Cyprus state. That is the prevailing view. The people of Cyprus are now much better educated and can stand on their own 2 feet. The notion of enosis died long ago. What remains is our Greek identity and culture and some things unique to us Cypriots which we will never let go of but that does not mean that most GC's want enosis!

[brother]

I beg to differ i think turkey and greece whole heartedly wany unification with one another via the E.U.