Cyprus-Forum.com

[cypezokyli]

http://www.politis-news.com/cgibin/hweb ... rticles&-p

a study has been contacted from the university of cyprus. it was contucted by proffesor stavrinidis , a proffessor of development psychology.

heres a translation of the main findings
Greek Cypriot fears:

1. crime and economy
2. fear over new communal clashes (like it happenned in 74)
3. loss of national identity (as the greek community of cyprus)

Turkish Cypriot fears
1. loss of national identity , in connection to problems that have to do with the economy
2. fear over new communal clashes (like in 63)

the Greek Cypriot profferor appears to be shocked by the results. "we never expected that people would be afraid that they would loose their language and religion! people believe that reunification will cause an increase in unemployment , a fall in tourism , and that it will reduce their welfare as individuals !!!

we expected that such fears wouldnt have had a psycological organisation , that they would be mostly noise. there is a psycological construction in the two communities , which puts the individual to position
himself quite stark on those topics. that someones believes that he will loose his religion, his language, his civilization, with symbiosis , it needs a foundation, that organises all these informations in the human psycology. and such a foundation does exist! and most probably it is going to be one of the most serious aspects (if we ever live together) that we will have to deal, especially through education


once again this research showed that the fears are higher in the younger generations

national identity.
it appears that Turkish Cypriots are more connected to their turkishness than Greek Cypriots to their greekness

the psychology of the cypriot
for Greek Cypriots it appears that about 1/3 can be classifies as "scared" , a 1/3 as having no fears from reunification and a third lying in the middle of the two .
the Turkish Cypriots appear more ready for a prospect of reunification . they ofcource carry their fears but the group of "scared" doesnot really exist in the Turkish Cypriot community.

mr stavrinidis sais:
the psychological wall we have build in our community is way higher , and it is already difficult to overcome it. the numbers ofcource show that there is still hope , but we obviously have a problem.


the solution
the proffesor suggests contact
" I consider , that the more psycological , social, economic and cultural contact the individuals of hte two communites have (and by that i mean real contact) their fears are cured. if I were to suggest a cure i would say : contact at all levels. only through the contact can the individual as a unit and as member of the sociaty , destroy his myths, and concerns that he has about the other

[cypezokyli]

why i am not surprised, by the above results ?
why i am not surprise that the solution starts from the education ? perhaps thats were the problem starts ? from our "objective" and always-saying-the-truth education ?

what do you say people? are we going to follow the proffesors therapy ?
but for that to happen, one has to admit that he is indeed "sick"...

[Piratis]

people believe that reunification will cause an increase in unemployment , a fall in tourism , and that it will reduce their welfare as individuals !!!

When re-unification is associated with plans like Annan plan then of course people feel in that way.
If we had accepted the Annan plan our economy would have crashed, with all the other negative consequences such thing would bring.
Also this plan based on apartheid would create perfect conditions for conflicts to grow.
So people's fears are perfectly natural.

the solution:
A true unification plan that would bring to Cyprus human rights and democracy, and will create a stable country like all the rest in EU.

The contact that professor suggests is very good to destroy myths. But it will do nothing to change the facts about the problems that a Annan plan style "unification" would create.

[cypezokyli]

is there any sound economic reason why the economy would become worse ?

[Piratis]

The Annan plan would be disastrous for our economy.

Some points:

1) Greek Cypriots would have to compensate themselves, instead of Turkey doing it.
2) Greek Cypriots would have to subsidize not only Turkish Cypriots but the Turkish settlers as well!
3) Greek Cypriots would have to pay the 90% of the state expenses.
4) The north (that would basically be a separate country if Annan plan was accepted) would be developed with the money of Greek Cypriots and EU to develop their industries, Tourism etc, and then compete with Greek Cypriots.
5) The addition of 40.000+ of poor Turkish settlers would mean cheap labor which will in turn bring unemployment to the lower economically classes of Greek Cypriots.
etc

But the most important factor is that the Annan plan would create a politically unstable and conflicting environment, under which no economy can grow.

Any reunification plan would bring some problems. However if this plan was for a true unification (like in Germany for example) then these problems would be temporary. Also people would be more than willing to do such sacrifices if in return they received justice, their human rights and democracy.

But when Greek Cypriots would not receive justice, but on the contrary the crimes against them would be legalized, then why the hell would they want such thing?

[cyfo]

E Piratis do you belive what you write or you are a new profet

[Sotos]

cyfo I think everybody agrees that Annan plan would bring economic problems. The "yes" politicians just argued that the negative things would be temporary only.