Cyprus-Forum.com

[EUropean666]

What trans has to do with EU values? I am talking for some real values that make EUrope superior than any other civilization

[alexISS]

NB.Using EU aid Greece surpassed us in many sectors e.g manufactiring, high-tech (computers etc). Generally however they are still a bit behind us. That’s not the point though.

If you are a bit ahead of Greece (although I don't think you are), you still owe it to Greece, don't you think?

[EUropean666]

I guess that the 3mil Turkish in Germany can claim Bavaria. Cant they?

[Kikapu]

What trans has to do with EU values? I am talking for some real values that make EUrope superior than any other civilization

You know, it is said, "a little knowledge can be very dangerous", but in your case, it would be, "a little perceived importance can be very dangerous". If you don't have the basic needs of people, like a good transportation system, then those who do not have cars and can not afford to get a taxi to everywhere, can hardly be excited about superior and civilized Europe. Are you more superior and civilized than you were before joining the EU.?? The answer is, of course you're not. You're the same "666" as before.

[Pyrpolizer]

Kikapu,

Greece is doing fine economically, and the mainland Greek people have a lot of merits. So does France, UK, Italy etc etc. This does not mean we should want to unite with anyone.

Alexis,
if you think you are ahead of us, then fine no problem. If you think we owe this to you then you must be joking. In fact here WE ARE PAYING because of you. Understand what I mean?

Back to Kikapu: We have an excellent transportation system. Highways connect each and every city. We have wide roads even in villages. Every family has at least 2 cars. Kids drive their own motorcycles. The very few that can’t drive take a taxi, that can be outside your door within 5 minutes from call. We have service taxis connecting all cities that can pick you up from anywhere within 15 minutes and drop you anywhere you want at a fixed low rate.
There is not a single person that cannot afford a car. There are very very few people that use the bus, like school children, and some elderly, and in nicosia alone we have more than 200 routes each having more than 40 bus stations. However only 3% of the population uses the bus. Just because we can afford these "luxuries".

Yes we don’t have trains because the distances are short and economically unfeasible. We don’t have intercity flights like between New York and Los Angeles because the distance between our cities is 30 - 50 miles.

So it is more than obvious that your information is wrong. If in doubt a quick visit will convince you.

[Kikapu]

Kikapu,
So it is more than obvious that your information is wrong. If in doubt a quick visit will convince you.

I stand corrected. I was going by what some members wrote recently who live in Cyprus.

[Pyrpolizer]

I stand corrected. I was going by what some members wrote recently who live in Cyprus.

I understand.
All I know is the EU said we are doing a lot of waste in fuel. So they directed us to increase the use of buses from 3% to 13%….Imho unless the fuel jumps to 5 pounds a litre, such a target is unrealistic.

[Natty]

I read this about enosis which I thought was quite interesting,

"The official position of the Republic of Cyprus today is that enosis is neither feasible nor desirable. None the less, the Greek heritage of the Island is undeniable. And it is important to realize that, historically, enosis was not the romantic and irrational idea it has so often been made out to be. As a national aspiration, however simplistic, it conformed perfectly well with the emergence of modern Greece and with the desire of the Greek Cypriots, who were a small force in themselves, to have an ally in an attempt to escape from the British Empire..."


Peace!

[alexISS]

Alexis,
if you think you are ahead of us, then fine no problem. If you think we owe this to you then you must be joking. In fact here WE ARE PAYING because of you. Understand what I mean?

Yes, I think I do. You obviously believe that the hundreds of Cypriots studying at Greek Universities FOR FREE or our (much more than) helping you entering the EU or even the defence pact that has kept you safe since 74 are trivial and not worth considering. YOU are PAYING because of us? YOU must be joking, do you REALLY believe that it was the greek junta and not Makarios' politics that brought the Turkish Invasion? The coup was just a (good) reason to give the green light to a plan already prepared, a plan that would eventually materialise anyway. But hey, don't even bother answering, I've met people of your mentality before and I pretty much have heard all kinds of arguments one can think of. "WE ARE PAYING because of you"... my god...

[Kifeas]

NB.Using EU aid Greece surpassed us in many sectors e.g manufactiring, high-tech (computers etc). Generally however they are still a bit behind us. That’s not the point though.

If you are a bit ahead of Greece (although I don't think you are), you still owe it to Greece, don't you think?

Alexis, what “Pyrpoliser” meant in his undoubtedly usually redundant comments is that Cyprus is indeed a bit ahead in terms of per capita GDP, and this is not some kind of a secret. Our pleasure is to see the economy of Greece continuously advancing and I can assure you we will not be displeased at all even if it surpasses that of Cyprus one day. You must also be aware that at a time a lot of Greek investment capital leaves the boarders of Greece and moves into neighboring states, a lot of Cypriot investment capital moves into Greece, especially in areas of tourism development. The balance of investment capital flows between our two countries is overwhelmingly in favor of Greece.

We indeed owe a lot to Greece, mainly in the areas of moral, political and diplomatic support in relation to the Cyprus problem, throughout all the years since 1974, and also for the accession of Cyprus into the EU, but in terms of economic development you cannot really say that it is all due to Greece. The balance of trade (imports/exports) was always in favor of Greece, as well as the balance of tourist visits. On the average and for the last 15 years, only about 100,000 holiday arrivals come to Cyprus from Greece on a yearly basis, versus about some 300,000 the other way around, even though the population of Greece is 20 times more than that of Cyprus. Even the economic burden of Greek military stationing in Cyprus of some 1,500 troops and officers is largely covered by the RoC.

Indeed nearly 50% of Greek Cypriot students have been traditionally studying in Greek universities without tuition fees, but this means that those people also transfer money from Cyprus into the Greek economy because they have to cover all their living expenses, something which in a way counterbalances the cost that the Greek public encounters as a result of providing free education. Of course now we have our own state university as well, and we are in the pleasant position to also offer similar scholarships to Greek students, always on the same per university proportional basis.

Greece indeed provided to Cyprus some tens of millions of dollars of annual very valuable direct financial aid during the early years after 1974. I am not sure for how many years it lasted, perhaps until mid-1980’s, but I have a hope and a strong feeling that due to the all the factors I mentioned above, this must have been reciprocated and we are now probably even in a sense, and that Greece did not in the end lose down to Cyprus.