You make some really valid points Mr Bara, and on the whole, I can’t help but agree with the statements you’ve made. I’ve spent a great deal of time in Cyprus and have ventured as far as Northern Cyprus on a few occasions.
In 2004, I accompanied an elderly, now deceased gentleman, Mr X, friend of my family, back to his birthplace in Kyrenia, from his residence in Nicosia.
His son was with us, he’s resident here in Jersey, but was born in London. When we arrived at the Northern side of the border, I was greeted with wolf whistles, and good humour, my friend, his son, treated with respect and good humour, however, when his father showed his passport and I.D. he was verbally humiliated by the young border guards, and they purposely treated him with contempt.
It was one of the most distressing moments I’ve witnessed, an elderly gentleman wanting to visit his place of birth, before he died, reduced to tears by people who ought to have behaved in a more professional manner.
The young border guards were not how I have found the Turkish Cypriot people to be. In fact, quite the reverse, the Turkish Cypriots are utterly delightful people.
We eventually entered Northern Cyprus, and got to Kyrenia, it was beautiful, beyond all measure, like St. Aubin should be, if I were in charge.
Mr X went to his family home to see what had become of it, it was all terribly emotional for him, he’d not returned since the 50s. We went for lunch, and a really charming Turkish Cypriot man served us, no problem at all, he was surprised that I spoke enough of the language to get by.
A good time was had by all.
On returning to Nicosia, I was surprised by Mr X’s apparent ‘hatred’ of the people whom, he felt had ‘stolen’ his home. But, I suppose his reaction was on a par with a lot of the older generation here in Jersey, who, have an intense dislike of the Germans, because of the Channel Island occupation. There is, from what I’ve seen, much mistrust, in certain quarters, but it is on both sides, and I can’t help but feel, that this ‘hatred’ won’t decrease, until this generation who remember the genocide, are themselves passed away. There is no simple solution, but what is currently in place works and I believe will have to work, because the Greek Cypriots I know, will never back down and try to live peacefully alongside the Turkish Cypriots.
I sadly, can offer no solution that can alter this. However, it is intrinsically wrong, that Northern Cyprus is not permitted to trade, it’s wrong that the World appears to have forgotten about the beauty of the region, the fantastic people, the culture, the sites of interest, it’s also entirely unacceptable that so many Greek Cypriots are so opposed to any reconciliation. The Turkish Cypriots I know, are, on the whole, open to it.
On a lighter note, the dislike of the Turkish Cypriots is so intense, that I’ve been told off, on more than one occasion, for saying ‘Christmas Turkey’, only ‘Christmas big chicken’ is permissible, in some Greek Cypriot households.
My personal view, you genuinely need the ability to trade with the World, it’s a short time we are here, so live, and let live.
