by Simon » Sat May 20, 2006 4:37 pm
Because of the political situation meant that Cyprus could not join Greece like the other islands, even though the Cypriot people at the time overwhemingly voted for it in a poll (96%). What I mean by this is that, Turkey, USA and Britain did not allow Cyprus to join with Greece. The political climate at the time would not allow it, unlike Crete, Rhodes etc. That is why it says Cypriot and not Greek.
Anyway, I accept that Cyprus is now independent. But this does not have to mean that we forget that we are Greek. As a Greek-Cypriot, I feel that I am just as Greek, ethnically-wise, as Greeks from Greece. Although, I accept that GCs are not citizens of Greece, but of Cyprus. I respect that and I respect the Cypriot flag. But as I have stated, this does not mean that we have to forget our Greek identity.