Someone should put an end to this madness

Someone should put an end to this madness


The two communities in Cyprus have lived apart for a long time. When there is separation, one cannot speak of co-operation, and friendship.

If we accpet 1974 as the date of severance, this situation continued up until 2003. The openin of the border crossings after a 29-year break provided both communities with an important opportunity. Indeeded, we witnessed some colourful reunions over the first few months: emotional moments with old friends embraced; invitations reciprocated, barbecues, picnics together and tavern dinners all raised our hopes.

And just when we expected these relationships to reach a stage when they would contribute towards a solution, we were confronted with the disappointing opposite. Those frequent, warm and hospitable meetings that had prevailed in the first few months slowly dwindled.

Of course, the political leaders played an important role in an all this; especially the Greek Cypriot leadership.

What is particularly disappointing is that while relations between the two communities were improving, the extreme nationalists made use of the opportunity to transform their views into action.

No one can deny that the majority of Turkish Cypriots are fond of doing their shopping at the supermarkets and malls in South Cyprus. Especially over the past month with the opening of Ikea and the Carrefour shopping centre, three out of every ten people you come across is a Turkish Cypriot.

On the other hand, the placing of flyers with ‘Cyprus is Greek’ written on them on the windscreens of cars with Turkish Cypriot number plates is only repaying an act of goodwill with a mean gesture.

According to the information our newspaper has received, there has been an alarming increase in the number of attacks against Turkish Cypriots at the Orphanides Shopping Centre over the past two weeks. We await the announcement by the Minister of Interior of the outcome of a police report regarding an incident in which two Greek Cypriots stopped a Turkish Cypriot car before smashing its windows with iron bars. Again in the same area, information is awaited as to whether a Greek Cypriot youth was arrested, having stopped a Turkish Cypriot woman’s car to cover its windscreen with a Greek flag. A great number of cars in Carrefour’s car park have been sprayed with paint. Someone has to stand up and give us some answers about these incidents.

The Turkish Cypriots voted overwhelmingly in favour of a solution but were crushed bu the Greek Cypriots side’s rejection. Nevertheless, they cross into South Cyprus to do most of their shopping at the price of ruining businesses in North Cyprus. Even if they are not received with gratitude for their continuing good will, they should not be subjected to such attacks.

As a concerned person who fears the increase of such acts as the elections draw closer, I would like to warn the Minister of Interior and the head of th Greek Cypriot police department: fascism is no kind of settlement.

Resat AKAR