by Bananiot » Sat Jul 15, 2006 3:34 pm
I repeat the facts, though I do not expect certain people to understand. In 1959 we signed an agreement that created an independed Cyprus, in which lived two equal communities that were partners in the running of Cyprus. This agreement excluded enosis but also partition, since the Turkish Cypriots would never allow enosis and the Greek Cypriots would never allow taksim (partition). This agreement was miles better than the agreement that led to enosis of Crete with Greece. There were no mass population movements (in fact, not a single person had to move) and laid the basis for a peacefull and prosperous future for all Cypriots. Yet, the bigots on both sides never believed in independed Cyprus. Makarios and his henchmen tried to achieve enosis via the side door. This was a God sent gift to the extremists on the TC side who siezed the opportunity to further their plans. From then on, the fait of Cyprus was sealed. I personally, put most of the blame on our side. We could have prevented tragedy if we isolated the extremists on our side and practically show our TC compatriots that we were guardian angels of the Constitution. Yet, we embraced the bigots and armed them (that is the legitimate government) and sent all the wrong signals to the Turkish Cypriots who now turned to their bigots for protection.
It is a sad story Natty, but a true one and as a great Greek once said, "only the truth serves the national interests". Those that try to stop the truth from surfacing will accuse people of being "traitors" and "agents of the enemy" but in practice, they have nothing to offer to the legitimate national interests, and when I say national, I do not for a minute forget that they include the interests of both communities.
I think Pyrpolyser, being horribly biased, fails to understand the essence of the tragedy in Crete. Almost one hundred thousand Cretan Turks were relocated. They left everything behind and were sent to live in foreign lands. There is still a whole village of them in Syria today! One million Greeks were relocated from Asia Minor. They left everything behind, properties, memories, the graves of their forefathers.
Such was the menace of the cultivated hatred within the two people. This was imported to Cyprus (and perhaps fuelled to an extend by the Brits). The two communities lived side by side for centuries in relative peace. Only when national inspirations were revived by the so called patriots, clouds began appearing in the blue sky of Cyprus. Suddenly, it became evident that we could not live together. Blood was shed, anger and frustration grew in both communities. Loved once were lost and bullets spoke instead of logic. People were overtaken by events. Sane people on both sides became sorry minorities and the "patriots" called them traitor or agents of the enemy.
In this environment, eventually, the stronger militarily side is bound to win the day. Our doomsday came in August 1974, but it was inevidable, because we wanted all. We (that is Makarios) even rejected functional federation in the early 70's which provided for the Turkish Cypriots to stay in their areas but have more freedom to deal with their community business's.
Thereafter, unlike Crete and in order to minimise human suffering, we all agreed to designate an area (zone) to the Turkish Cypriots and an even bigger one to the Greek Cypriots and go for a bicommunal bizonal federation (BBF). Many people say that they subscribe to this solution but in reality many people in our side do not want it. I suspect that Papadopoulos is one of them. Certainly, all the head people in his Party are against it.
Many people would say that BBF is a compromise and a necessay evil. I do not agree. It is the best solution in view of all that have taken place in Cyprus since 1955. Simply, we do not deserve anything better. Even if I was given a choice between a unitary state and BBF I would choose the latter. I would, until such day comes, when the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots show a heavy hand to those that incite racial hatred, rather than elevate them to a hero's status. We are, alas, a long way to this day yet. Thus, for the time being and as long as it is needed, a BBF is the best solution.
