"that both nations could make much better use of their time and resources."
I speak as an American that loves Cyprus. When I try to reason with your friend, he comes back with war stories from the past, that I care less to answer. I don't give a dime for the past. I know that the Greek Cypriots make 13k/year and the Turkish Cypriots 3k/year. The Turk in Turkey makes even less. The Turkish Cypriots have a chance to improve their life right now. If you don't want to let them do what they want, then compensate them. Make-up the $10,000 per year per person that they are loosing, improve their life, and I will not say another word. Do not send any more Asil Nadirs to them. A 70 million people country, should be able to look after a 100,000 Turkish Cypriots and 200,000 Anatolian Turks in Cyprus. Do you care enough for them? Prove it.
EU is just good for the Turks, but not for the Turkish Cypriots?
First of all its not propaganda. It is a mere statement of the facts about the conflict. Did the Turkish Cypriots do nothing against the Greeks and Cyprus during those days? No. I'm aware that they have done some stupid things as well but in comparison to Greek attrocities and their policy based on taking the entire island for themselves (politically and geographically) was what caused the mess.
The reason that the TRNC is not as properous as the south is mostly because they have been completely isolated from the world and have been forced to rely solely on grants from Turkey to survive, thanks to Greek propaganda.
Would both sides benefit form EU membership? Yes. Being a person that has personally not been able to comprehend the reasons for the inability of people of such similar cultures to get along with eachother on a beautiful and sufficiently large island like Cyprus, I believe that both sides should get back together and live in harmony like they used to 50+ years ago. For this to be possible, I belive that both sides must come to terms with their past conduct and admit the mistakes they have done and the harm they have inflicted on eachother. Another point that would make all sides involved feel safer would be to allow a limited amount of Turkish and Greek military presence under perhaps a joint NATO (or if/when Turkey is accepted EU) security force and disarm all Greek and Turkish Cypriot domestic defence/guard/police etc... forces. This would extinguish Turkish concerns of the Greeks attacking turkish Cypriots and Greek worries of the Turks invading the south. The joint nature of the security force would also oblige the Greek and Turkish armies to work as partners for a common cause as they should have been doing for years since both are supposed to be NATO allies.
Let us not forget that the center of all Greek-Turkish disagreements is the Cyprus issue. The Aegian problem is just an artificial issue that Greece has made up to give it better bargaining power on Cyprus. The government of Greece is finally in the hands of a group of rather intelligent and reasonable people and they would almost certainly give up on their claims to increase their territorial borders when the Cyprus issue is brought to a solution.
I will continue to elaborate on this matter if I get positive feedback from you.
Let us not forget that the center of all Greek-Turkish disagreements is the Cyprus issue. The Aegean problem is just an artificial issue that Greece has made up to give it better bargaining power on Cyprus. The government of Greece is finally in the hands of a group of rather intelligent and reasonable people and they would almost certainly give up on their claims to increase their territorial borders when the Cyprus issue is brought to a solution. I will continue to elaborate on this matter if I get positive feedback from you."
I have no problem with what you say above.
1.I have attended a high school where I had Turkish Cypriot friends and classmates, which I would like to see again. 2. During summer vacations, I worked in a Greek factory, side by side with Turkish Cypriots, trying to make living, like I was.
I believe that if the two communities are left alone, without interference from Greece or Turkey, they will be able to live together in peace.
I do no want another dollar to be spent by the Cypriots on war machines. Public moneys should be spent on education, healthcare and infrastructure.
There are enough educated people, from both communities, that can sit down together, and figure out what is good for the island.
"Let us not forget that the center of all Greek-Turkish disagreements is the Cyprus issue"
The Cyprus issue was always an issue for Turkey. Turkey wanted Cyprus back from the British in 1960. The fear of getting rid of one conqueror, and acquiring a new one, had settled in, among the Greek Cypriots, so a good portion of them saw Greece as way out. The British did not want to leave an autonomous state behind them. A domestic problem was the best security for maintaining their three bases there, without having to deal with the domestic headaches of the Cypriots. This tactic was proven true, when they stood back and watched the Greek Junta stage the coup against Makarios. They had the right to intervene, but did not act. It was a scenario well planned and executed, by all involved parties, except the Cypriots. The three “guarantors” had something to gain. Cyprus lost.
The Greek governments never wanted anything to do with Cyprus. They had bigger and more serious internal problems to face. The Cyprus issue was used only for domestic consumption and politicking. The same situation occurs now in Turkey. Cyprus is and has been used by the Turkish politicians, as a diversion to the real problems of the common Turk. Neither Greece nor Turkey (governments) ever cared about the Cypriots. I don’t think they care right now.
I feel that, any solution that gives the chance to the two communities to be together again, is a good solution. I don't care what they want to call it. Trust will build with time and all Cypriots will prosper. The EU laws could be adopted, and an EU force can police the island for as long as it is necessary. Greece and Turkey should stay out of Cyprus, unless they come as tourists. They both have enough domestic problems to keep them busy.
Globalization is too powerful for a tiny island, like Cyprus, to resist it. It is also too powerful for a big country like Turkey, to resist it. The sooner they realize it, the better.
The wealth of a country, are its people and their culture. If you oppress them, they stop blooming. They either die, or turn evil. (This is mine)
What is your solution to the Cyprus issue? Have you ever been to Cyprus? Talk to me.