Cyprus-Forum.com

[brother]

Actually you are wrong, we are the people who were in cyprus that were conquered by various empires over the centuries who evolved to take on the conquerers language, religion etc.

In DNA testing it has been shown that the mainland Greeks and Turks are not the same DNA make up as cypriots whereas the GC and TC are identical.

I hope this is food for thought.

[Leon]

How is that possible though, brother? if you originate from Turkey and I originate from Greece how is our DNA the same

Out of interest, when you meet somebody and they ask your nationality, do you say Cypriot or Turkish-Cypriot?

Leon.

[cannedmoose]

How is that possible though, brother? if you originate from Turkey and I originate from Greece how is our DNA the same

Out of interest, when you meet somebody and they ask your nationality, do you say Cypriot or Turkish-Cypriot?

Leon.

Leon, Greek-Cypriots are not pure descendents of those who settled Cyprus thousands of years ago, nor are Turkish-Cypriots pure descendents of the Turks who came to Cyprus after 1571. Rather, Greek-Cypriots, by virtue of the huge numbers of settlers and invaders who have swept across the island down the millennia are a product of interbreeding with all cultures from the region. Therefore, whilst they have remained culturally Greek and assimilated many of the other peoples who came to the island within this culture, their DNA is a mix of races from around the East Mediterranean basin.

Similarly, Turkish Cypriots are not exclusively the product of the Turkish settlers who came to Cyprus between 1571 and 1878. Many who would today be called 'Greek Cypriot' but would then just have been christian Cypriots chose to convert to islam because of the benefits that conversion would bring them in terms of taxation, representation etc. As a result, some modern-day Turkish Cypriots have christian orthodox (i.e. Greek Cypriot) heritage as well.

Leon, saying that Greek Cypriots have Greek DNA and Turkish Cypriots have Turkish DNA is like saying that English people have English DNA. If you looked at a typical white, english male's DNA, it is highly unlikely that this would trace back to the original inhabitants of the island thousands of years ago, it would likely contain traces of celtic, roman, saxon, viking, norman, heugenot etc. etc.

There is a saying that 'no man is an island', meaning that no-one is entirely divorced from what goes on around them. In a similar vein, no DNA is an island and it is therefore highly unlikely that many people in Cyprus are 'pure Greek' or 'pure Turk'.

[Leon]

True, completely agree, cannedmoose.

[Michael Coumas]

'Suetoniuspaulinus', I have just returned from Cyprus & ref your post sat jun 04 2005 @ 9:02 pm - If you feel you must explain to your daughter perhaps do not try to justify either sides actions and explain that you hope that future generations show more intelligence than mine did and will refuse to be led like sheep to commit horrific acts of barbarism on their neighbours.
'Leon', ref your post sat jun 04 2005 @ 9:15pm - You ask "how am I a Cypriot? It was an invasion". You go on to say that you don't see how I have the right. If Turkey plays football etc. etc. etc.
You have confused me. Let me explain, my name on this forum is exactly as it is. My location is exactly as it is right now, I could have added Limassol too but right now I am in England, one of many Countries I have lived in. We are a Cypriot family from a village in the Famagusta region, in fact in the Southern foothills of the mountains (now in the occupied region). My rather large family became refugees and are now scattered all over the Southern part of the Island and Worldwide. If you choose to categorise Cypriots into Turkish, Greek, Maronite etc then I will be categorised as a Greek Cypriot. I understand it was an invasion but am bemused when you say "I don't see how you have the right". The right to what Leon? Regarding the football question I have a cross to bear in that in England I would be classed as a Tottenham supporter, in Cyprus I support Limassol & if Greece played Turkey I wouldn’t support either, just enjoy the game. If Cyprus played either Turkey or Greece I would support Cyprus. I hope I have answered your questions but confess I found them hard to understand. If it helps I am Cypriot, of Cypriot parentage, speak Cypriot Greek, eat Cypriot food and feel for Cypriot people. I will not however permit imbeciles of any origin try to turn me or anyone close to me against another human being without good reason other than to satisfy their own megalomania or paranoia.

[Leon]

I don't think you understood me, Michael. I said that Turkish-Cypriots have no right to call themselves Cypriot, snd that they are Turkish

Out of interest, where in the world have you lived? Were you born and/or brought up in England? How many languages do you speak (and can you speak proper Greek, that is to say, not the Cypriot slang)? If you don't mind me asking though, of course...

Leon.

[Yiannis]

I don't think you understood me, Michael. I said that Turkish-Cypriots have no right to call themselves Cypriot, snd that they are Turkish

Leon dude you have been repeating this over and over again.Can you please clear out whats your point here? Basically Turkish Cypriots have Turkish background and Greek Cypriots have Greek background.So who is a real Cypriot for you???

[Michael Coumas]

Leon
I can now answer the first part of your question. As a Greek Cypriot my belief is that a Turkish Cypriot has as much right as I to be a 'Cypriot'. That is to say an indigenous Cypriot of either origin is equal in as much as that they are descendant of Cypriot roots. An immigrant of either motherland, if you wish to call it that, (I do not like to but do so in order to make the point) or an immigrant whether economic or political from any other nation is not Cypriot. The Turkish immigrants imported and remaining in Cyprus would have dubious claim to being Cypriot and probably would not want to be anyway, however those that remain and adopt a Cypriot life will produce future Cypriot generations as their Children will have been born in Cyprus and as a consequence are Cypriot. If you do not mind me saying it is confusing when you say Turkish Cypriots have no right to call themselves Cypriot because they are Turkish. Leon my friend I could say Greek Cypriots have no right to be called Cypriot as they are Greek. I do accept that too many so called Cypriots in the South, including I may add one of my brothers Children aged 12 make a point of displaying an apparent loyalty to the Hellenic flag. My brother’s child also goes to Greek School – food for thought there, perhaps we need to control the curriculum somewhat and exclude personal political viewpoints being taught. I hope that answers your question.
If you don’t mind I am not certain my personal life story would add anything to the debate so will not bore anyone with it. Suffice it to say that my expertise is Sub Sea and consequently have worked world wide and consequently lived in various places for months sometimes years at a time.

[Main_Source]

Has anyone ever done DNA tests to compare Cypriot DNA to the DNA of people from Crete, Rhodes, Samos etc?

I think the argument that a Greek Cypriot is not really Greek because they are as a result of interbreeding over the years does not have much relevance...as the mainland Greeks could be seen as a result of interbreeding too (werent the Greek speeking lands occupied by the Ottomans, the Persians and even invaded by the Vikings at one time or another?). Infact, how many nations do you know who have the same pure blood running through them for the last 3,000 years?

It's not bloodline that holds a nation and people together, it's culture.

Just because Cyprus was not part of the new Greek nation that was born in the 1800's, doesnt mean the GC are not as Greek...thats ridiculous. I guarantee you that a Greek's DNA from the eastern islands is quite different to a Greek from Florina in northern Greece. Just like an English person's DNA from Cornwall is probably different from an English person from Cumbria...etc etc.

and just because someone can be proud of being a Greek from Cyprus, it does not mean that they are not prud to be a Cypriot and have hopes for a unified island.

[Leon]

Leon dude you have been repeating this over and over again.Can you please clear out whats your point here? Basically Turkish Cypriots have Turkish background and Greek Cypriots have Greek background.So who is a real Cypriot for you???

My opinion can sway! I was merely telling Michael what I wrote before.

Well, maybe it's due to lack of understanding or knowledge, but let's look at the facts: why do Greek-speaking Cypriots and Turkish-speaking Cypriots both have the right to be called Cypriot? If they both have the right, why are Turkish-Cypriots never called Cypriots (only ever Turkish-Cypriots!) yet Greek-Cypriots are often called Cypriots There has to be something behind that? But seriously, back to what I was saying, please someone tell me the facts of how both the Greek speakers and Turkish speakers do and don't (if necessary) have the right to be called Cypriots I'd like to read the facts from an older and much more knowledged person on this subject and then I can weigh up the facts and decide.

Thanks,
Leon .