Cyprus-Forum.com

[LENA]

I know at least 5 couples and the families have absolutely no onjections. Again these families are from left background...

How old are those couples?? Are they young or old?

I wish we could count those couples not in our hands!!!

[askimwos]

I know at least 5 couples and the families have absolutely no onjections. Again these families are from left background...

How old are those couples?? Are they young or old?

I wish we could count those couples not in our hands!!!

They are all young in their late twenties, early thirties. I am sure that there are more, don't forget though that the borders have only opened 4 years ago and it needs time to overcome taboos. Especially in a close society such as the Cypriot one.

[LENA]

I know at least 5 couples and the families have absolutely no onjections. Again these families are from left background...

How old are those couples?? Are they young or old?

I wish we could count those couples not in our hands!!!

They are all young in their late twenties, early thirties. I am sure that there are more, don't forget though that the borders have only opened 4 years ago and it needs time to overcome taboos. Especially in a close society such as the Cypriot one.

Hope you are right askimwos...some people in Cyprus want their children to get married with a Cypriot one..but they can accept with lots of arguments someone else as well...but not a Turk or Turkish Cypriot...they can even accept a Muslim from Syria but not from Famagusta!

[askimwos]

I know at least 5 couples and the families have absolutely no onjections. Again these families are from left background...

How old are those couples?? Are they young or old?

I wish we could count those couples not in our hands!!!

They are all young in their late twenties, early thirties. I am sure that there are more, don't forget though that the borders have only opened 4 years ago and it needs time to overcome taboos. Especially in a close society such as the Cypriot one.

Hope you are right askimwos...some people in Cyprus want their children to get married with a Cypriot one..but they can accept with lots of arguments someone else as well...but not a Turk or Turkish Cypriot...they can even accept a Muslim from Syria but not from Famagusta!

That's exactly why I highlighed the fact that those families cime from a left/communist background.

[fanourıo]

Is the question CAN WE LIVE TOGETHER? or am I missing something?

[Bill]

Bill about your question ... "If every person that owns property and land was to go to the north and sit down on their land or outside their property and refuses to move I wonder what will happen" ... do you think they want to go back?? How many they want to go back and leave in those houses?

Lena
I did a little survey a couple of years ago of all the Greek Cypriot refugees that I know and a very large percentage would not go back -- they have lived in the republic for 30 plus years -- they have had children and their children have had children -- they have made their new homes -- found alternative work and to be quite honest most realise that there is no point in going back whilst the Turkish army is in control or in fact any influence from the Turkish mainland being present.

I found a couple of refugees who stated they wanted to go back but also wanted to keep the house and farm ( previously Turkish ) they have in the republic -- so I discounted them.

Now it's rather strange but if you ask a Cypriot living in the UK or for that matter anywhere else in the world they will all tell you that going back to their homes in the north is foremost on their minds -- no thought about living conditions or what work they could do just the pressing urge to return and no longer be a refugee -- Cypriots living in Cyprus seem to have a more realistic point of view.

I wish there is a solution soon -- as I would love to build a nice bungalow in Yialousa.

Oh -- I haven't forgotten you by the way -- I've had a lot on my mind just recently.

Bill

[Bill]

oops! ------- duplicate posting

[askimwos]

Bill about your question ... "If every person that owns property and land was to go to the north and sit down on their land or outside their property and refuses to move I wonder what will happen" ... do you think they want to go back?? How many they want to go back and leave in those houses?

Lena
I did a little survey a couple of years ago of all the Greek Cypriot refugees that I know and a very large percentage would not go back -- they have lived in the republic for 30 plus years -- they have had children and their children have had children -- they have made their new homes -- found alternative work and to be quite honest most realise that there is no point in going back whilst the Turkish army is in control or in fact any influence from the Turkish mainland being present.

I found a couple of refugees who stated they wanted to go back but also wanted to keep the house and farm ( previously Turkish ) they have in the republic -- so I discounted them.

Now it's rather strange but if you ask a Cypriot living in the UK or for that matter anywhere else in the world they will all tell you that going back to their homes in the north is foremost on their minds -- no thought about living conditions or what work they could do just the pressing urge to return and no longer be a refugee -- Cypriots living in Cyprus seem to have a more realistic point of view.

I wish there is a solution soon -- as I would love to build a nice bungalow in Yialousa.

Oh -- I haven't forgotten you by the way -- I've had a lot on my mind just recently.

Bill

Bill, surely people that used to live in villages are not willing to go back as their jobs are in the south. How about asking those people whether they wish to go back to their village once they retire. It happens also with non-refugees who were born in villages and moved to the cities to find work. Once they retire agreat percentage of them choose to move back to their villages and visit oe be visited by their children on the weekends.

[LENA]

Bill about your question ... "If every person that owns property and land was to go to the north and sit down on their land or outside their property and refuses to move I wonder what will happen" ... do you think they want to go back?? How many they want to go back and leave in those houses?

Lena
I did a little survey a couple of years ago of all the Greek Cypriot refugees that I know and a very large percentage would not go back -- they have lived in the republic for 30 plus years -- they have had children and their children have had children -- they have made their new homes -- found alternative work and to be quite honest most realise that there is no point in going back whilst the Turkish army is in control or in fact any influence from the Turkish mainland being present.

I found a couple of refugees who stated they wanted to go back but also wanted to keep the house and farm ( previously Turkish ) they have in the republic -- so I discounted them.

Now it's rather strange but if you ask a Cypriot living in the UK or for that matter anywhere else in the world they will all tell you that going back to their homes in the north is foremost on their minds -- no thought about living conditions or what work they could do just the pressing urge to return and no longer be a refugee -- Cypriots living in Cyprus seem to have a more realistic point of view.

I wish there is a solution soon -- as I would love to build a nice bungalow in Yialousa.

Oh -- I haven't forgotten you by the way -- I've had a lot on my mind just recently.

Bill

Bill, surely people that used to live in villages are not willing to go back as their jobs are in the south. How about asking those people whether they wish to go back to their village once they retire. It happens also with non-refugees who were born in villages and moved to the cities to find work. Once they retire agreat percentage of them choose to move back to their villages and visit oe be visited by their children on the weekends.

Hello Bill,

how are you?

Well every year less and less refugees want to go back. After 33 years you can count those people in your hands ( I mean the people that want to go back)...and I even doubt of what askimwos said...because they will want to be close to their children and grand children, help them etc...i heard only people from Varosi that want to go back people the only thing that touch their houses and land is the time and the war...

PS: I thought so Bill...its ok take care and finish what you have to do...I will be around anyway!!! xxxx

[Pyrpolizer]

I think some people will return for retiring, but most of those who will return will just do it because they have substantial lands or properties to take care or develop. And in most cases it will not be the original refugees but their children. The process will be very slow and I don't think it will ever reach any percentage more than 10-20% of the GC refugees.

I see a lot of GCs (especially those living in Nicosia building summer houses and going their on weekends though.

As for Famagusta I tell you guys. Even if they return it to GCs tomorrow, they will be looking around to find some famagustians to return. If the hotels there are revived then all sorts of people looking for work will flood Varosi, not the original inhabitants though.