Piratis wrote:For me such general statements mean very little. In any case when our human rights are violated today and when our country is occupied today, receiving apology from TCs for past events is very low in my priority list. Actually I find it quite hypocritical to apologize on one hand, and on the other hand to be determined to continue the violations of our human rights.
And my uncle is dead
today. She is a widow
today - and has been every day for the last
40 years. Her children live
today without a father and her grandchildren without a grandfather
todaySuch appologies by even a single GC that my aunt recived nearly 40 years after the tradgic murder of her husband meant much to her. This was the first time that any GC had ever expressed their sorrow and regret for what happened to her husband 40 years ago at the hands of GC. For me personaly and I also suspect for many TC such appologies are very important. The denial of GC for their part in the mess that is Cyprus
today is a constant cause of lack or repraochment and understanding between GC and TC - and it continues today with the outregous statements like those made by TP.
Piratis wrote:The only thing I believe I can ask for an apology (because it involved the majority of GCs) is the fact that GCs before 1960 were drunk by nationalism and they though of TCs as something less than compatriots and they didn't take their fears seriously.
Of course on top of this, we had a small minority of far right wingers that committed some outrageous crimes against members of the TC community. Personally I will fully support the TCs if they decide to prosecute those criminals.
It is not just that GC persued a Greek nationalist ideal that simply sought to marginalise the TC community before 1960. They also continued to persue such devisive ideals long after 1960 and after they agreed to 'reject' them in the 60's agrements. They used the balance of power (your favourite phrase) they had in Cyprus (but not the region) AFTER 1960 in the persuit of the Greek nationalist ideals and divisive polices. This was not done by a samll group of 'extremists' by by the GC state itself. If GC in general had shown even 1/100th of the outrage they now show about abuses of human rights and legailty and the abuse of 'balance of power' in period 60-74 then Cyprus would not be in this mess today. If these acts of oppression against a smaller weaker TC communinty by GC was just the work of a small minority of GC extremeists then were were the efforts by the GC state to seek and prosecute these extrmists. Where were the actircles in the GC press condeming these extremists? Where were the arcticles about abuse of TC human rights by GC in this period? The mass anguish of the GC community at the 25,000 TC refugess in their own homeland? The fact is that the GC community directly or indirectly cared nothing for the TC community not just in it's goals prior to 1960 but in it's goals and actions throughout the period 60-74. If they had then this mees we have today may have been averted. As long as you continue to isnsit the reposnibility of the GC community ended in 1960 then hopes for treu reconcillation are remote as far as you are represetnaive of the GC community in my opinion.
