Why do we want “bloody” Turkish Cypriots?

Why do we want “bloody” Turkish Cypriots?
Nikos Stelgia
www.kathimerini.com.cy

IMPORTANT STATEMENT: -THE TRANSLANTION IS BASED ON GOOGLE TRANSLATE. PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH POSSIBLE INACCURACIES. THANK YOU-

In the middle of last week, a beloved colleague Savvas sent me a telegraph of the official news agency of the republic. "The so-called antimilitarist peace movement in the occupied areas yesterday held a protest march because of threats launched against the newspaper Afrika", said the CNA. I read all the telegraph in a few seconds. At the end of the reading my psychological balance was dangerously wrong and my irritation was inevitable. The article was misleading. The antimilitarist movement took to the streets to declare their support and also its different point of view with the "Africa." A day before, the daring young men who participated in the mobilization made clear to me that, despite the fact that they are on the side of this newspaper because of threats they disagree with the line of "Afrika", which accuses the protest against all the armed forces on the island as a disruptive thorn in the heart of the Left.

Misleading of the official news agency of the republic was a part of my frustration. My attention was focused automatically to another point: I was wondering why the official news agency was led to describe a hopeful message born on this earth, the antimilitarist movement as "called." The doubts raised once again in my thoughts: Perhaps the Cyprus problem is not a political problem. Perhaps it is about an alternate masks theatre. Why do we hide behind the masks and condemn all the creative voice of this place, based on national and religious criteria? (I hope some colleagues do not have the mistaken impression that a antimilitarist or anarchist movement must necessarily be in harmony with the state!)

Reflections on the choice of Greek Cypriot community

Why we do not speak with freedom about Greek Cypriot citizens in what concerns the future relationship, coexistence with their fellow Turkish Cypriots on this earth? Why Greek Cypriots do not come to their own negotiating table with its own proposals? As part of this social reality we are face to face with a series of proposals. Personally, I can count at least three ...

1) "I do not agree with the coexistence of the two Cypriot communities and I suggest the preservation of Greek / Christian / Orthodox character of Cyprus”. Here is the first suggestion ...

2) "I want coexistence with conditions that would define my community. The Cypriot state will still be governed by the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will be able to enjoy basic human rights within the EU. A second proposal with a political flavor of today ...

3) "Our goal is a state of the law that is not based on national / religious discrimination. The new state of Cyprus should be based on principles such as decentralization (not only in bi-communal level, but also to strengthen the powers of all local communities), the separation of state - religion with the constitutional guarantee of all human rights (including religious, community, various groups such as homosexuals, etc.), the rule of law, to maintain equal distance from all its citizens and the fight tirelessly all economic disparities, the new education authorities which will be autonomous from the national centers, coordination with all European structures and cooperation with all neighbors fn the island (Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, etc.). For those who have the impression that the army forces can not be combated, this is surely a utopian proposal, ...

Whatever the view of Cyprus, the truth is that we must face the reality of today and all its manifestations. Like:

1) The first proposal ensures the continuity of the Greek / Orthodox character of the state in 63% of its territory. At the same time, however, in the horizon appears the risk of consolidating the division of the island. Thus, the state and society is forced to review nearly all entrenched political lines.

2) The second sentence implies that the Turkish Cypriot community will settle for a minority status. At a time when micro-nationalism galloping across the world, proponents of this proposal should seek in particular to substantiate their proposal.

3) In case of the third proposal the obstacles are insurmountable. One of the key requirements is to modernize all of existing political / social structures and the creation of "communication" "hole"-roads on both sides of the green line. You will need to remove outdated political models (eg the existing political parties) or their evolution based on a bipolar / bi-communal model of liberal right wing - new socialist line. The fact is that the first stages of implementation of this model will be painful and will need to overcome and be undermined by previous generations responsible for the civil war and the invasion of Cyprus (Of course do not forget the role of foreign policy makers) ...

Why do we want “bloody” Turkish Cypriots?

I must conclude. Otherwise my friend Savvas will protest again on the scope of this article. But I must stress that there is a corresponding dimension of Turkish Cypriot proposals, which I intend to develop in the coming weeks. I made a variation of a daily Greek Cypriot saying: " Why do we want “bloody” Turkish Cypriots?”. I'm going to ask the same question to my Turkish Cypriots readers: Why do we want “bloody” Greek Cypriots?

I hope you recognize my right to a humorous treatment of the conflict.
It is time to ask: "Why (not) want them?".

www.kathimerini.com.cy