Cyprus-Forum.com

[Danish Journalist]

Hello,

I’m a Danish journalist student studying at the Danish School of Journalism in Aarhus. I’m on my final semester and to my final project I’ve chosen to focus on the situation in Cyprus and more specifically I’ll focus on the pros and cons and obstacles and benefits from a possible reunification of the island.
In the Danish media there has been virtually nothing about the issues concerning a future reunification and the effects of the opening between the two sides that began a few years ago, the Danish media has however had a lot of focus on Cyprus as a part of the EU – Turkey obstacles. I find it interesting to show Danish readers the Cyprus issue from a cypriotic angle. I should say that part of my project, which consists of a number of articles, will be printed in the Danish newspaper Jydske Vestkysten after my exam in late January. I will be in Cyprus from the 4. of December till the 18. the same month.
Now, to help me get started, I hope the readers of this forum can help me with a few things:

I would like to get in contact with greek-cypriot persons who lives in the TRNC and has done so at least sine 1974 or are part of a family where that is the case.
I would also like to get in contact with Turkish-Cypriots who live in the Republic of Cyprus and I would like to get in contact with Turkish-Cypriots, who lives in TRNC, but works or study in the Republic of Cyprus.

I would like to get in contact with any NGO organization or such similar thing which tries to help promote more contact between the two peoples.

Also any contact to the nationalist anti-reunification “movement” primarily in the Republic of Cyprus, for example the EFEN.

I’m also interested in attending gatherings of any sort where the reunification/better relations between the two sides are the agenda or part of the agenda. Or maybe some bi-communal events in December.

The two journalists who were arrested the TRNC police.

I’m very interested in seeing how the opening of the border is working on an micro economical level – this could be a greek-cypriot business and a Turkish-cypriot equivalent doing business with each other or people living on one side and working on the other side of The Green Line or maybe something quite different.

My research so far tells me that not everybody is allowed to cross the border – especially if they live on land that is being seen as stolen land or property. Are there any other examples of people who are not allowed to cross the border for some reason? I would like to get in contact with such people too.


I will probably have more questions as my work progress.

Any help is very much appreciated!

Sincerely Martin Poulsen

[miltiades]

Martin I would suggest that you take a little time and do some research first before inviting comments from Cypriots.

[bg_turk]

Hello,
Are there any other examples of people who are not allowed to cross the border for some reason? I would like to get in contact with such people too.

Members of the Bulgarian Refugee Association in the TRNC attempted to cross to the south in June last year to cast their votes in the Bulgarian parliamentary elections in the Bulgarian embassy in South Nicosia, but were prevented from doing so under the pretext that they are allegeldy illegal settlers.

The incident is described in detail in Cyprus Mail:
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.ph ... &archive=1

[Danish Journalist]

Martin I would suggest that you take a little time and do some research first before inviting comments from Cypriots.

All I need is relevant contact information and not inviting anybody to comment anything here.

[Danish Journalist]

Hello,
Are there any other examples of people who are not allowed to cross the border for some reason? I would like to get in contact with such people too.

Members of the Bulgarian Refugee Association in the TRNC attempted to cross to the south in June last year to cast their votes in the Bulgarian parliamentary elections in the Bulgarian embassy in South Nicosia, but were prevented from doing so under the pretext that they are allegeldy illegal settlers.

The incident is described in detail in Cyprus Mail:
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.ph ... &archive=1

Thank you. That seems interesting

[rawk]

Friendly aren't they?

Its our quarrel and we don't want anyone else poking their noses into it, especially if its a piece of detached professional research that might expose this futile ethnic squabble in Cyprus for what it is.

Good luck with your project. Try something easier next time.

Perhaps Iraq?

Rawk

[cypezokyli]

hallo martin and welcome to the forum

I would like to get in contact with greek-cypriot persons who lives in the TRNC and has done so at least sine 1974 or are part of a family where that is the case.

i dont know anyone personally, i hope that someone can help you with that. if you dont manage , you can try and visit villages by yourself. even though i guess you would need a translator. the people there are in their great majority really old and i am not sure if they can speak english.
in rizokarpaso there is also a junior school

I would also like to get in contact with Turkish-Cypriots who live in the Republic of Cyprus and I would like to get in contact with Turkish-Cypriots, who lives in TRNC, but works or study in the Republic of Cyprus.

i think bananiot can help you with that (at least for the first group).

I would like to get in contact with any NGO organization or such similar thing which tries to help promote more contact between the two peoples.

western kind of thinking
i will try to find some sites for you, even though their importance in cyprus is limited since they are treated with great suspsicion.

Also any contact to the nationalist anti-reunification “movement” primarily in the Republic of Cyprus, for example the EFEN.

why primarily in the RoC ?
i dont think you can find any "moovement" in the south that are against unification (in theory at least... )
make sure you dont fall in the trap. EFEN supposingly is not against a solution. they are against a federal solution.
(personal opinion : they are just extreme right wink nationalists. but they can fool you with legalistic arguments )
only in the north, you have moovements that are publicly anti-reunification

I’m also interested in attending gatherings of any sort where the reunification/better relations between the two sides are the agenda or part of the agenda. Or maybe some bi-communal events in December.

i have none in mind at the moment. if you visit the forum often i could post it here if i listen sth.
another possibility is to visit this guys website
http://fcms.emu.edu.tr/tony/
he is a gc peace-activist. his website is updated for the events of november. december is not there yet. you can contact him, i believe he can help you. he is also the only gc i am aware of, that works in the north. (coming to thing about it, he would also know about cypriot NGOs )

contact him , he will answer

The two journalists who were arrested the TRNC police.

i thought they were more than two
does anyone remember who they were ? perhaps we can find their email address... i cannot promise though.
other members might be able to help you on this

I’m very interested in seeing how the opening of the border is working on an micro economical level – this could be a greek-cypriot business and a Turkish-cypriot equivalent doing business with each other or people living on one side and working on the other side of The Green Line or maybe something quite different.

tcs work in the south and come for visits, or to shop.
gcs dont work in the north, but some go for visits , shop or kazinos
the only real micro economical business is at the moment crime
nevertheless, you can search it, perhaps you find sth interesting

My research so far tells me that not everybody is allowed to cross the border – especially if they live on land that is being seen as stolen land or property. Are there any other examples of people who are not allowed to cross the border for some reason? I would like to get in contact with such people too.

there was a meyhem in the tc media last week, bc of an unclear law and a stupid comment from our minister of justice. tcs are under no circumstances prevented from crossing or face the fear of being arrested for currently living on gc property.
its been a week since the meyhem in the press. how many tcs who crossed were arrested ?

on the other hand, non-cypriots who have bought property are treated ofcource differently.
settlers are also not allowed to cross (hance the case with the bg - turks) . any other visitor , is allowed to cross.

[cypezokyli]

i am not sure if you are interested about politics or about normal people.
if it is normal people and if you are interested for some reading, this is a very good book about perceptions , the one has for the other :

echos from the dead zone , by jannis papadakis

[Danish Journalist]

Cypezokyli, thanks for some very good answers.

1. Yes, will try to visit the realitively newly opened Rizokarpazo Gymnasium too.

2. Ok

3. I thought you were a part of the West...

4. Not primarillar in RoC. Will try to get in contact with fx The Grey Wolves in TRNC but as with anything its more easy to get contacts and information in and about RoC or so it seems so far.

5. Great, I'll contact Tony

6. I'll try and contct the Media Office

7. Check

8. Ok must be a mixup of information I got. A lot of it is biased..but guess I don't need to tell you that.

Thanks again!

[cypezokyli]

concerning :
3. we are in the west.... but its most eastern part

8. all info you will get is biased. even mine
as i said the law is indeed unclear. but anyone who can make very simple political thinking (or think at all) would realise that if our goverment started to arrest tcs it would be like commiting suicide. i disagree with many things they do, but trust me they are not that stupid