Cyprus-Forum.com

[Natty]

Hey, I hope this doesn't cause any arguments, but what I want to know is, were the GC's so "Bad" for wanting enosis with Greece all those years ago? from what i've read it seems that some people feel that, one of the main reasons the GC's wanted enosis with Greece, was because they wanted to oppess or "Get rid of" their fellow TC country men.


I can completely understand why the GC's wanted enosis, I mean when you look back at the history of Modern day Greece and Cyprus and not just through the Ottoman times, it becomes clear to me why it was such a 'popular' idea. I mean, for example, Modern Day Greece is a new country, just like Turkey, before it 'joined' together it was never a 'country', even in anciant greek times, it was always split into regions or 'City States', as was the case in Cyprus, and over the years it was part of one empire or other, or taken over by some other country, as was the case in cyprus. When the Greeks, on mainland Greece fought for independance from the Ottomans, Some Greek Cypriots fought along side them, and helped them achieve their independance (Not the whole of Greece was made independant). Different regions and Islands have their own unique variation of Greek Culture, just like in Cyprus.....

I think Im rambling on a bit, plus i'm started to confuse myself...

What i'm trying to say is, as far as I can see, enosis for GC's was the 'logical' thing to do, and it had nothing to do with 'hating' the TC's..After all Cyprus had never really been independant before....

Anyway i'd love to hear what people think...

Peace!

PS, just to clarify i'm not asking if Cyprus would have been better off if it was part of Greece or anything like that, personally i'm glad that it's not part of Greece, and I think 99.9% of GC's would agree with me on that, Im just asking whether the GC's wanted enosis, specifically because they wanted to 'get rid of' or oppress the TC's, as I believe some people beleive...

[Kikapu]

Hey, I hope this doesn't cause any arguments.

You got to be joking, asking a question like that around here with a "hot patato" subject.

[Pyrpolizer]

Most people wanted Enosis because other people wanted Enosis.

So you have to check who the elites that started it were:

In short:The church, the teachers, and some other "enlightened" people.

As to why I will let others explain.

[Pyrpolizer]

For me it is more interesting to investigate how the reverse started.

From the sociological point of view:
New technology allowed easier travel. More people could visit Greece and see it was not that "great" neither the people so fit to the "idealist" image they had in mind.

[Kikapu]

New technology allowed easier travel. More people could visit Greece and see it was not that "great" neither the people so fit to the "idealist" image they had in mind.

Is Greece any "greater" now, after 50 years, and if it is, than does that mean the idea of "New Enosis" will once again rise ?. So the TC's should have great concerns in that case, if there is going to be a final settlement. If Greece is still a piece of crap, then there shouldn't be anything to worry about. So which is it ??

[andri_cy]

I think that Greece hasnt been getting any better....I actually believe the opposite. I believe that wouldnt have mattered , though, because the GC now should know better.

[Natty]

Hey, I know that GC's don't want enosis now, whether Greece is doing well or not, GC's have realised that Cyrpus can be independant, it doesn't need to be part of anything 'bigger'...

[Kifeas]

Most people wanted Enosis because other people wanted Enosis.

So you have to check who the elites that started it were:

In short:The church, the teachers, and some other "enlightened" people.

As to why I will let others explain.

Pyrpolyser, may we get to know about which particular period of our history are you commenting the above, and also, before you started answering natty's question in the above way, how sure you was that Natty's vague question is also directed for the same period for which you make reference with your above comments?

Are you talking about the 1955 period? The 1960? The mid 60's? The 1970's? Where the facts all the same during all the above periods? Don’t you think that before starting to give answers to such a question, it is only sensible to ask Natty for which period is she talking about?

Natty, yes during the 50’s the majority of GCs indeed were aspiring enosis. After 1960, much less people were aspiring enosis, and after mod-60’s even less so. By late 1960’s it was only a minority that wanted enosis, and by 1974 even less so. That is why Makarios got elected for a huge majority during those years, even though after 1968 he ruled out enosis as his political objective and worked for the forging of an independed state; that it is why it was “necessary” for the illegal and minority Eoka B groups to try and assassinate Makarios, and that is why the “Greek” junta engineered his overthrowing with a coup. Therefore, your above thoughts and questions are very vague and meaningless, unless you specify the period for which you are talking about.

[Natty]

Sorry Kifeas, I'll explain better, I meant before independance, I know the GC's wanted enosis when the British arrived, so from that point up untill 1960 mainly!

Was enosis a legitamate thing to ask for?

Sorry for confusing anyone!

[eracles]

Apparently you have to look at this in context it seemed the next logical step after...
29 Mar 1864 Ionian Islands incorporated into Greece.
2 Jul 1881 Thessaly incorporated into Greece.
15 Nov 1912 Macedonia (Salonika) and Epirus incorporated into Greece.
30 May 1913 Crete incorporated into Greece.
13 Feb 1914 Aegean Islands (except Rhodes and Dodecanese) incorporated into Greece.
7 Mar 1948 Rhodes and Dodecanese Islands incorporated into Greece.

Cyprus as a predominantly Hellenic society may have felt it natural that they would be next as part of a greater Hellenic kingdom. Apparently when Britain enlisted GCs for WW2 they promised union and even asked them to 'Fight for Greece'