Cyprus-Forum.com

[andreasv]

Thank you for your response..... I wish to take up a point and that is of that of self pitty..... there is no self pitty here ..... just simple love of humanity .... I lost an uncle to the war and hope that a unified Cyprus will make his death a betta future for evryone ..... if Turkish Cypriots support the regime as it is so be it...... however I question then the results of the referendum 2004.

Yes may be I am an idealist and would love to see everyone living in harmony. If evryone felt the same there wouldn't be a need for this discussion.

Your comment about not being just toward the Greek Speaking Cypriots ..... well we can not change the past but we can influence the future .... I respect your comments .... however if we do not forget and let things go we will be stuck in 1974.

Thank you for your reply
Andreas

[mehmet]

''I believed that only Turkey was responsible for these crimes and that TCs were just victims, as we were though in schools''

Is this still being taught?

[Piratis]

''I believed that only Turkey was responsible for these crimes and that TCs were just victims, as we were though in schools''

Is this still being taught?

I graduated from high school more than a decade ago. However I don't think anything has changed since the policy of RoC has always been that the Turkish troops should be removed and that Cyprus should be reunified and Greek and Turkish Cypriots to live together again.

I am guessing that since the policy of Turkey and the TC leadership all these years has been the opposite of ours, that Turkish Cypriots have been thought to hate the Greek Cypriots and to believe that the Turkish troops are here to protect them, as this is what serves the aim of partition

[mehmet]

Yes, I understand that propaganda does not just exist on one side of the island, although I am not aware either what was taught in the past nor the present from where I am positioned. I would suggest that if history is to be a subject of education than it should be based on evidence and facts and that where there is more than one point of view students should be encouraged to discuss and debate.

[Piratis]

I agree that history should be based on facts and evidence. Of course the Greek Cypriots schools would emphasize some parts of history and briefly mention some others. But they didn't lie about anything, and they definitetly didn't promote hate against Turkish Cypriots since unification is the aim. I am not claiming that our history books are super objective, however there is an obvious different of approach and aim compared to what TCs are taught. Another good example is that in our schools we have events to condemn the coup, while in the occupied areas they celebrate the invasion. This clearly shows the difference in the aim of the two sides: unification VS partition.

[Kifeas]

As a member of the "Cyprus List" for many years I am aware of the feelings of both sides. I feel that "Cyprus Form" helps both sides to understand each other better. However due to unfortunate external circumstances the chances for a solution is getting thinner and thinner. Every passing day makes the division more permanent. As long as the south and Greece is within EU and Turkey remains outside, I see no possibility of a permanent solution in Cyprus. It will not be long before Turkey gives up on Europe. So we are further from a solution despite "Cyprus Form" and similar activities. Of course the losers are the Cypriots. We all think we are too clever.
ismet

And why is it a problem towards a solution, if the RoC is a member of the EU (more so Greece for this matter) while Turkey is outside? Unless of course it is just another one of those typical stereotyping clichés!

[mehmet]

''And why is it a problem towards a solution, if the RoC is a member of the EU (more so Greece for this matter) while Turkey is outside?''

Elko can of course speak for himself but my understanding of that arguement is that Turkey's desire for membership of EU is leverage for the RoC. If Turkey is rejected completely there is a risk that it will become more insular and that the chances for a solution become more distant. I think Papandreou understands this well, opposition to Turkey is being led by countries other than Greece or RoC. Internationally they may avoid the blame if Turkey is unsuccesful. It is a balancing act, keeping Turkey engaged with the EU, as rejection will be a catalyst for the nationalists to gain support.[/b]