From: bse@en.ecn.purdue.edu (Besime Erin)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.greek
Subject: Re: one more comment
Date: 22 Jul 92 01:18:49 GMT
Distribution: soc.culture.greek
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

In article <1992Jul20.230021.19692@en.ecn.purdue.edu> dominop@en.ecn.purdue.edu (Philippos A. Peleties) writes:
>In article <1992Jul20.222951.18105@en.ecn.purdue.edu> bse@en.ecn.purdue.edu (Besime Erin) writes:
>>
>>I wanted to add one final comment.
>>
>>>
>>>all Cypriot citizens to live, work, prosper, and feel secure in ANY PART
>>                                                                 ^^^^^^^
>>>OF THEIR COUNTRY.  Due to the mistakes of our fathers there is mistrust
>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>
>>That's a detail yet to be worked. Let's learn to trust each other first.
>          ^^^^^^
>
>Well I must have missed the smileys since surely you are not serious
>(underlining mind you. No reference to the latter part of the sentence.)

I agree that that is not a detail and actually constitutes a major 
part of any solution and thus is very important. 

In the flow of my writing I have neglected to stress that.

>
>>
>>The current frame is bizonal. Free movement but the majority in the North
>>will be Turkish Cypriots and the majority in the South will be Greek 
>>Cypriots. 
>>
>>It's a good way to start. 
>>
>
>I gather that the meaning you attribute to "free movement" is not the same
>as the one I attribute. Mine includes relocation as well. Otherwise you are
>not talking about a feasible concept (in my mind at least.) I feel that
>starting a country with limitations and restrictions in movement is a dangerous
>proposition. I feel that starting a country with the rights of free movement,
>relocation, property etc with external supervision is a more healthy one.
>
>

You cannot change a whole system ALL AT ONCE. 

The Turkish and Greek Cypriots have lived apart for 18 years now.

Talking specifically about the Turkish Cypriots.....
The old set-up (i.e. the one before the intervention in 1974) has been 
partially forgotten and most people have gotten used to the "new way". 
i.e. living with their own kind, making their own decisions,self-determination. 

There is also a new generation of people who have not interacted with
the Greek Cypriots WHATSOEVER. They don't know what it feels to be a minority.
They have lived among and were governed by their own kind, the Turkish Cypriots,
all their lives.

Noone has any right to put these your Turkish Cypriot kids in a vulnerable
position. This is very true for myself and my 16 year-old brother. 
I was only 4 years old in 1974. My brother wasn't even born.
We didn't live with the Greek Cypriots. Adjusting to a new situation ( if it
happens that is) as members of a minority community and facing who-knows-what
all at the same time would be nothing but DISASTROUS for us.

It seems you are also not aware of the current frame or you choose to ignore it.

The current platform: BIZONAL, BIFEDERATIONAL.

This has ALREADY been agreed by BOTH SIDES. 
Such a platform is BEST FOR THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS at this time. 
I don't care how the Greek Cypriots feel about that. That is the 
bottom line platform and in any solution anything other that a 
BIZONAL, BIFEDERATIONAL solution is SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE to us. 


>>Once we get used to interacting with each other again, and hopefully 
>>start trusting one another, we can see if further improvements 
>>on the restrictions are needed.
>>
>
>I trust you. Do you trust me? Take the question in its general meaning since
>you do not know who I am but you can suspect where I come from.
>

It's easy for you to say that. You are not a member of a minority
community who has suffered DEEPLY UNDER THE TORTURE of a majority
community on a moderately small island for so many years.

At this time, I DON'T TRUST THE GREEK CYPRIOTS and I WILL CONTINUE
TO FEEL THAT WAY until I see and interact with enough Greek Cypriots
who show an understanding for the needs and concerns of the Turkish 
Cypriots(the community in less numbers) as members of the community
in larger numbers. 


>
>Philippos Peleties
>-- 
>
>
>I speak for myself, I think for myself, I work for myself ... but I don't want
>to play by myself ... so bring your toys and let's share ...

Besime Erin