Cyprus-Forum.com

[The Cypriot]

Should we organise a pettition to thre RoC government asking just for this to occur, one flag that represents all Cypriots, any ideas anyone, or am I alonoe on writing a personal letter to the President?

This is a letter the Cypriot Academy wrote to the president's office a while back...

Sir, The Cypriot Academy has noticed that the President of the Republic of Cyprus often makes statements about protecting the interests of Cypriot Hellenism.

We appreciate the deep emotional reasons for this, but we are concerned that such statements can be misconstrued as representing a one-sided, one-community stance by a government which asserts, with all legal and moral justification, that it is the only legitimate authority over the entire territory of Cyprus.

Such statements lend credence to those who seek to entrench division and who belittle the Republic of Cyprus by referring to its free territory as ‘Greek Cyprus’ and to its legitimate government as the ‘Greek administration’. This terminology has unfortunately been picked up by respectable international newspapers and is very damaging.

There can only be one Cyprus for all its people, whether they have affinity to Hellenism or any other cultural tradition forming part of the rich blend of heritages that ultimately make us all Cypriot.

The Cypriot Academy proposes another term that, in the context of Cyprus, is more appropriate and inclusive than Hellenism. That term is Gibreismos, ie Cypriotism. And we would encourage its use by those who seek unity.

Cypriot Academy

[humanist]

Two flags ought to be flown in Cyprus including educational facilities, The Cyprus Flag and the EU flag. I kinda like the current RoC flag but also open to a new one also if it will mean incussiveness of all. However I hate to see three stripe collour flag.

[The Cypriot]

Draft letter to the President.... How about this?

Dear sir

We should like to thank and congratulate you for the unilateral steps taken by the government of Cyprus to remove the barriers dividing Nicosia at Ledra Street. We hope that the regime in the north of the island is in a position to reciprocate this goodwill gesture of reconciliation.

As another bold step in the cause of national unity but at absolutely no risk to the Cypriot people's safety, may we also suggest that consideration now be given to the removal of all flags of Greece from crossing points, public buildings, schools and even churches in the free areas. We hope this further gesture of reconciliation may encourage Cypriots in the north to reciprocate by removing their own symbols of foreign intervention and control, in particular, the deeply offensive blot on the Cypriot landscape at Pentadaktilos.

While appreciating the deep emotional attachment to the flag of Greece, we are concerned that its continued use can be misconstrued as representing a one-sided, one-community approach by a government which claims, with all legal and moral justification, to be the only legitimate authority over the entire territory of Cyprus.

The flag's universal presence belittles the Republic of Cyprus and lends credence to those who seek to entrench division by referring to the free territory as ‘Greek Cyprus’ and the legitimate government as the ‘Greek administration’. This terminology has unfortunately been picked up by respectable international media and is very damaging.

There can only be one Cyprus for all its people, whether they have affinity to Hellenism or any other cultural tradition forming part of the rich blend of heritages that ultimately make us all Cypriot.

The Cypriot Academy proposes that only the white, gold and green flag of Cyprus, designed by a Cypriot of Muslim extraction as a beautiful symbol of hope, peace and liberty, be flown alongside the flag of the EU.

[humanist]

I like it, is it possible to use it? With the exception of the reference to the Cypriot Academy/ as I am not sure what the Cypiot accademy is and as I am not representing the forementioned academy/

thanks

[The Cypriot]

Hi humanist

This is a draft of the letter we're planning to send. By all means adapt and send your own version, if you wish. Here are details of the Cypriot Academy:

www.cypriotacademy.com

[Sotos]

I also agree that the only flags that should be in Cyprus are that of RoC and EU! But the constitution gives to others the right to fly the British and the Turkish flags. So even if we remove the Greek flag we can not demand that all other flags go as well because they will tell us that it is their right to fly them

[humanist]

Sotos, I am not objecting to the other flags flown, however on official RoC domains I do believe it only hold right that we fly the RoC and EU flags, if a British ex-pat wants to fly a British flag that is fine, however on official posts it requires only the two I feel. if a Greek ex-pat in Cyprus wants to fly the Greek flag that would be okay.

I do beleiev in living by example and walking the talk.

The only way of getting the Turks out of Cyprus is through The RoC's constant force of showing them up as they trully are, rotten scoundrals, for ever keeping a step ahead and throwing the ball in their court as with the Ledra street wall. The RoC ought to proceed doing what it needs to do for unification so long as the interests of the RoC citizens are not being placed at risk and let the Turks having to answer to the UN and EU respectively. Before we know it the international arena will get a picture of what Turkey is like and they shall judge accordingly.

[miltiades]

As Alkan wrote:
"""""Whether there is a political settlement at present or not, there is no justification for President Papadopoulos to manipulate powers entrusted to him. As President if Mr Papadopoulos genuinely believes in reconciliation, peace and reunification, then he must be prepared to manifest his sincerity by being more representative of his people, otherwise his presidential legacy will be remembered for entrenching partition and his messages of defending Hellenism will be construed by the entire world to mean that the Republic of Cyprus is nothing more than a Greek Republic of Cyprus.

A presidential balancing act between being a Greek Cypriot leader and “President of all Cypriots” is a dangerous game, particularly if one tries to defend Hellenism while promoting Cypriot unity. Naturally when Hellenism is promoted in Cyprus, Pan-Turkism and a new Turkish Cypriot nationalism are quickly formed to counter it. As President of Cyprus, Mr Papadopoulos has to embrace the full diversity of Cyprus, even while standing in front of the Greek head of state. And if the President still feels the needs to be patriotic, then he should opt for Cypriotism, a more inclusive ideology which captures all the communities of Cyprus.""

The President ought to take notice of such wise words , he is most certainly not helping the situation in Cyprus by making such irresponsible statements . Let us hope he will soon go and be replaced by a statesman and a wise Cypriot too. The President's remarks are offensive to my ears , just imagine how its perceived by our T/C fellow compatriots. Here we are arguing that there is only one Cyprus , not Greek or Turkish and Pinocchio contradicts us all by irresponsible claims. May he go quick.

[The Cypriot]

New article by Alkan Chaglar....

http://www.toplumpostasi.net/index.php/ ... in_ENGLISH

He's also writing for Cyprus Mail and Turkish Daily news now...

[Get Real!]

All I ever hear is Papadopoulos this... and Papadopoulos that… but how about this for a change:

I’m interested to hear what the Turkish Cypriot community is doing to “promote the Cypriot nation” as Alkan likes to call it. Someone please enlighten me...