Cyprus-Forum.com

[michalis5354]

This is another term of Independence:

Independence can be the initial status of an emerging nation (often filling a political void), but is often an emancipation from some dominating power. It can be argued that independence is a negative definition: the state of not being controlled by another power through colonialism or imperialism. Independence may be obtained by decolonization, or by separation or dismemberment.

[michalis5354]

And what makes a nation are international agreements signed and not religion , and language only . This is my point ! But you may disagree of course!

[michalis5354]

If the Crete island of Greece makes a military struggle to achieve independence from Greece and If such action leads to Independence through International Aggreemets signed then Crete will be considered as an independent state and a separate nation! Thats how I see things. You may disagree of course!

[miltiades]

My friend Strahd , I owe you an apology if I misinterpreted your comments , your post 27/4/06 at 9.04 am.
Im glad that you made it clear that the Nation of Cyprus does exist on its own independent merit , and there is indeed a Cypriot idendity. Of course the Cypriot Turks will maintain their ethnicity just as much as the Cypriot Greeks , Cypriot Armenians etc. , just look at the Scots or the Welsh or English in the UK.
Some of the posts suggest that those of us who tend to place the Greek idendity behind the Cypriot one , tend to think that we are rejecting our Hellenic heritage, nothing could be further from the truth. We are first and foremost Cypriots , and feel that if our compatriots , yes compatriots , felt the same way and place Cyprus on the top shelf instead of Turkey , may , just maybe they will have enough courage to tell the Turkish army to clear off.
Long live Cyprus

[michalis5354]

Of course Miltiades this is true. When cypriotGreeks reject to embrace the cypriot culture and the Cypriot nation what do you expect from the Cypriot turks to do? I justify them 100% . If I was in their shoes I could claim the same. Wishing to form my own idependent state rather than unification with the Cypriot Greeks who betray their own culture and Nation.

If CypriotGreeks want dependence to Greece Then CypriotTurks want dependence from Turkey and this is where the problem becomes a MIX JAPANESE SALAD!!!!!!

[michalis5354]

EMbracing the cypriot culture and the Cypriot Nation is a Prerequite for any future settlement!

[stuballstu]

Strahd Said

Nobody encourages the flying of the Greek flag in Cyprus... it is done by Greek Cypriots because we are Greeks and we do not see the Greek flag as a symbol of the Greek state but as a symbol of Hellinism as a whole wether living in Greece, Cyprus, USA, Brazil, Austarlia etc.

Strahd

Just to clarify a couple of points that you have made.

Greek Cypriots are not Greek like you say above. A Greek Cypriot has an ROC passport not a Greek passport. Greek Cypriots claim independance from Greece but then you say you are Greek, also a Greek Cypriot can not, unless through parentage, vote in Greek elections, represent Greece at any sporting events etc etc.

Strahd if you do a quick search on a search engine for "hellenic flags" it does not give the official flag of Greece as a "hellenic" flag. There are many other hellenic flags that could be chosen. Granted some have the official flag of Greece incorporated in their design but none listed as a sole hellenic flag are that of the official flag of Greece.

Strahd says

We fly the Greek flag because we are memebrs of the Greek Community of Cyprus as described by the constitution and because it is our constitutional right from the declaration of independence at 1960.

Maybe i've mis read your post but it seems strange that members of the Greek community in Cyprus have a decleration of independence in 1960 and fly another countries flag

Kifeas wrote

You are making a very wrong claim here! Better read the constitution again, before speaking in such absolutist ways and manner! The Greek and Turkish flags are explicitly permitted in the 1960 constitution in all private places (including schools run by each community.) The only places, in which they were not permitted, are RoC government buildings, something which holds true even nowadays. No government building is flying the Greek flag.

Kifeas, forgive me if i am wrong. When i cross at Ledra street to the North i see a Turkish flag flown beside the "TRNC" flag (that gets on my goat also) however when i cross back the first thing i see is the Greek flag flown beside the ROC and EU flags. I can understand the EU and ROC flags but would never consider that the Greek flag is there just to represent hellenism. It gives the impression of moving into Greek territory. Also at this checkpoint is it not an official ROC building as it is manned by ROC officials thus making it an official government building?

[michalis5354]

So where excatly on the constitution of ROC state that Greek and Turkish flags are encouraged as previoulsy has been claimed! Or where in the constitution sates that the national anthem of the ROC is the Greek national Anthem ? Where? Anyone who knows to enlighten us all? Please !!!!!

[michalis5354]

You are making a very wrong claim here! .

There are no wrongs and rights only at schools and even there I still doubt it!

[kalahari]

The Cypriot national anthem is listed as "Imnos eis tin Eleftherian (Hymn to Freedom)", which, perhaps entirely coincidentally, is also the national Anthem of Greece.

May I suggest it is time that Cyprus turned to its many doubtless talented musicians and poets to drum up something a little less derivative and contenscious.