The 'desecration' of Cyprus

Brian Coleman on Northern Cyprus, the treatment of Orthodox churches and why the government promotes

By Brian Coleman Published 22 October 2007 12:34

The deaths of a couple of dozen Turkish troops in operations against the Kurds and the vote by the Turkish Parliament to in effect invade Northern Iraq to pursue operations against the Kurdish people has focused world attention on a conflict which the modern state of Turkey has pursued for many decades.

Last weekend I was in Cyprus (and yes my expenses were paid by my hosts) to attend events to continue to protest about the Turkish occupation of North Cyprus in particular the beautiful town of Morphu, twinned with my home Borough of Barnet.

Whereas over the last few years the legitimate Republic of Cyprus has made huge economic strides.

On the back of EU membership it operates as a mainstream European Country. The occupied north meanwhile continues to exist in a form of Asiatic poverty with an army of occupation of about 40,000 troops.

Most of the native Cypriots (both Greek and Turkish) have long since given up and abandoned the place to settlers flown in from Anatolia.

The desecration of Orthodox churches and the wholesale stripping and sale abroad of religious icons and archaeological treasures has to be seen to be believed and the ethnic cleansing carried out in the north of this magnificent island is as bad as anything experienced in the former Yugoslavia.

Yet as the new female Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis told me in rather a forceful manner - she has a touch of the Margaret Thatcher about her - there are thousands of Britons buying property illegally confiscated from Cypriots many of whom are my constituents in North London. In fact 95% of sales in the occupied area are to Brits.

Quite why anyone would buy property they have no legal entitlement to and which, when the eventual reunion of Cyprus comes, they may well lose with no compensation at all is beyond me. However the British Government sits back and does little to prevent these sales and the environmental damage to picturesque North Cyprus which the huge building boom is causing.

This last fortnight has also shown that Britain is not alone in playing softball with Turkey; the attitude of President Bush to Congress which was discussing the Armenian genocide was bizarre.

As the Armenian ambassador explained in his excellent piece on the New Statesman website last week, nobody with any common sense denies that the Armenian Genocide of 1915 onwards took place. Yet if the Germans can admit their guilt over the Nazi Holocaust why cannot the Turks do likewise?

The plucky little democratic country of Armenia still has to contend with a blockade by Turkey not to mention the aggression of its neighbour Azerbaijan whose idea of Democracy is to pass the presidency down from father to son.

So why this desire by Britain and the US to butter up Turkey? Gone is the Cold war threat from the Soviet Union and, with the election of President Gul, the Islamists are taking over Turkey anyway. Quite how the Turks imagine they can have any place in the EU whilst maintaining their belligerence on Cyprus, Armenia and towards the Kurds is beyond me.

Exactly why does the British Government continue to promote Turkey’s EU membership? Could it by any chance be to do with Labour’s need of the Muslim vote?

More from Brian Coleman

View the discussion thread.

255 comments

Mon, 2012-08-27 03:54 — rsgoldjw (not verified)

very good, it's very useful to me, thank you very much!

Thu, 2012-07-19 13:18 — mzaryta (not verified)

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Sun, 2012-04-29 13:22 — civil ball (not verified)

I always was interested in this subject and stock still am, thankyou for putting up.

Thu, 2007-10-25 03:13 — Chris5

Thank you to Brian Coleman for having the courage to criticise Turkey and its illegal occupation of one third of Cyprus. This is something that successive UK governments seem incapable of doing, despite Britain's obligation to protect the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus.

In the troubles in Cyprus of the 50s-60s Greek and Turkish Cypriots suffered approximately the same losses – around 500 each. But in 1974 Turkish troops committed mass atrocities, as documented by the report of the European Commission of Human Rights of 1976 which brought to light the mass executions, torture and rape (of women and young girls) conducted by the Turkish army and its officers with complete impunity. If there was a genocide in Cyprus it was committed by Turkey in its murder of 6,000 Greek Cypriots – combatants and non-combatants and in attempts to eradicate the thousands of years long heritage of Cyprus that unfortunately for Turkey happens to be predominantly Greek.

This is the realisation of Turkey's long term plans to foist on Cypriots "taksim", Turkey's own racist brand of apartheid in Europe.

As for Turkey's European aspirations? Is it a civilised European state that attempts to alter the demographic composition of a country through the importation of 162,000 illegal colonists who have no legal, moral or historical right to occupy the homes and lands of Greek Cypriots? Is it a modern EU suitable country that daubs an entire mountainside with Turkish supremacist statements to taunt the ethnically cleansed Greek Cypriots living in exile in the free areas: "How proud is he who calls himself a Turk"? Actions speak louder than words and it is on Turkey's actions that it is being judged.

Thu, 2007-11-22 23:31 — teacher

Read on Mr, Pagomenos .
I used to spend my summer holidays in my grandfathers village KORAKOU , on the slopes of Trodos mountains . It had a Mosque , a Turkish school and land , owned by Evkaf .
After the borders were opened in 2003 , I visited the village again to find that the mosque is completely demolished , the school is gone , houses built on Evkaf’s land as well as my grandfathers land. All traces of any Turkish Cypriots living or owning land there has been wiped off the surface of the earth . A few miles away is another village called Aybifan , this is the village where Denktash’s father comes from , and here the whole villages houses and buildings have been demolished and an army camp has been erected in its place . I have seen this with my own eyes , and I don’t need any URL addresses to convince me that the mosque that I used to pray in on my holidays existed there before . You can believe it or not , it doesn’t really matter to me as I know this is the truth , and I can prove it to anyone.
I would like to give a brief history and details of Akritas Plan , mostly prepeared by Papadopulos , which you may have not even read it yourself . I think many people reading it will find it revealing , and will see that Greek Cypriots are still trying to implement parts of it . For example , Greeks are still trying to take the right of unilateral intervention of Turkey , agreed when setting up the state of Cyprus in 1959 ,away from them .

On 19th February 1959, The Zurich and London Agreements were signed
and the road to the Republic of Cyprus was opened. On 16th August 1960 this
new Republic was established. The Greek Cypriot Leader Makarios was elected
President and The Turkish Cypriot Leader Dr. Fazil Küçük was elected Vice-
President.

According to the Constitution 7 Greeks and 3 Turks would be Ministers. As
one of the Greek Ministers Makarios chose Polykarpos Yeorgadjis and he
became Minister of Interior. He was the EOKA Area chief for Nicosia. Makarios
also directed Yeorgadjis to form a Secret para-military Organisation. The code
name "AKRITAS" was chosen and Yeorgadjis became "Chief AKRITAS". For this
Organisation he picked ex-EOKA men loyal to Makarios and ENOSIS. All party
leaders were authorized to form their own militia and they all did. Thus
Makarios through his Minister of Interior had became the Commander-in-Chief
of a secret army with the aim of destroying "the shackles" on Enosis which the
1960 Agreement had outlawed.

Chief AKRITAS (Yeorgadjis) set to work in earnest. The President of the
House of Representatives Glafkos Clerides, the Minister of Labour Tassos
Papadopoulos and Yeorgadjis were the masterminds of this Organisation. Most
top ranking Greek Cypriot officials of the Government were its members and
supporters. According to Mr. Glafkos Clerides, the Organisation started with
500 members all well armed ex-EOKA fighters. Towards the end of 1963 this
number rose to 1,800. The arms for this Organisation came from the arms
depot of the Cyprus Army and the Police and Gendarmerie Forces, the Greek
Cypriot members of which were now working with the Organisation under the
same leader, the Minister of Interior Mr. Yeorgadjis. With the addition of Greek
Contingent and its armoury and the arrival of 20,000 troops from Greece
Turkish Cypriots faced an formidable force. Arms came from Greece and Egypt
and some was bought from Czechoslovakia and other neighbouring countries.
Most of the arms were under the direct control of Makarios. The training of the
members was undertaken by the Greek Mainland Regiment in Cyprus. The
leadership was trained in Greece as from the signing of the London Agreement
in 1959. EOKA had cast off its uniform and was ostensibly converted into a
non-combatant organisation called EDMA whose first task was to give
scholarships in Greece, to young EDMA members in military training and
education. The AKRITAS organisation started planning a different future for
Cyprus. Apart from military plans a general plan for the extermination of
Turkish Cypriots was prepared. This top secret plan, with the name of
'AKRITAS PLAN', was first published in the Greek Cypriot newspaper PATRIS on
21st April 1967, three years after it had been fully and mercilessly
implemented and at a time when all Greek Cypriot leaders believed that what
they had achieved in Cyprus was irreversible. Indeed Makarios was jubilant in
announcing that Cyprus was now Greece... The House of Representatives now
composed of 100% Greek Cypriots, had already passed a resolution on
ENOSIS. Nothing else could be the "national aim".

Although both Yeorgadjis and Makarios are dead, this same plan, with
certain improvisations, is still being implemented by the Greek Cypriot
Leadership.

THE AKRITAS PLAN

TOP SECRET FROM HEADQUARTERS

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

The recent public statements of the Archbishop have prescribed the
course which our national issue will follow in the immediate future. As we have
stressed in the past, national struggles are neither judged nor solved from day
to day, nor is it always possible to fix definite time limits for the achievement
of the various stages of their development. Our national cause must always be
judged in the light of the conditions and developments of the moment; the
measures which will be taken, the tactics and the time of implementing each
measure is determined by the conditions existing at the time, both
internationally, and internally. The entire effort is trying and must pass
through various stages, because the factors which influence the final result are
many and varied. It must be understood by everyone that each measure taken
is the result of continuous studies and, in the meantime, forms the basis for
future measures. It must be recognized that the measures which are
prescribed now constitute only the first step, one simple stage towards the
final and unalterable national objective, to the full and unfettered exercise of
the right of self-determination of the people.

Since the purpose remains unalterable, what remains to be examined is
the subject of tactics. This must necessarily be separated as internal and
external (international), since in each case both the handling and the
presentation of our cause will be different.

A. EXTERNAL TACTICS (INTERNATIONAL)

During the recent stages of our national struggle the Cyprus problem has
been presented to world public opinion and diplomatic circles as a demand for
the exercise of the right of self-determination of the people of Cyprus. In the
exercise of this right, the subject of the Turkish minority was introduced under
the well-known conditions and with the argument of violent intercommunal
clashes, it had been tried to make it accepted that co-existence of the two
communities under a united administration was impossible. Finally, for many
international circles the problem was solved by the London and Zurich
Agreements, a solution which was presented as the result of negotiations and
agreement between the contending parties.

a) Consequently, our first target has been to cultivate internationally the
impression that the Cyprus problem has not really been solved and the
solution requires revision.

b) First objective was our endeavour to be vindicated as the Greek
majority and to create the impression that:

(i) the solution given is neither satisfactory nor fair;
(ii) (ii) the agreement reached was not the result of a free and
voluntary acceptance of a compromise of the conflicting views;

(iii) the revision of the agreements constitutes a compelling
necessity for survival, and not an effort of the Greeks to repudiate their
signature;

(iv) the co-existence of the two communities is possible, and

(v) the strong element on which foreign states ought to rely is the
Greek majority and not the Turks.

c) All the above which required very difficult effort, have been achieved to
a satisfactory degree. Most of the diplomatic representatives are already
convinced that the solution given was neither fair nor satisfactory, that it was
signed under pressure and without real negotiations and that it was imposed
under various threats. The fact that the solution has not been ratified by the
people, is a significant argument in this connection, because our leadership,
acting wisely, avoided calling the people to give its official approval to the
agreement by a plebiscite or otherwise, which the people, in the 1959 spirit,
would have definitely approved. Generally, it has been established that the
administration of Cyprus up to now has been carried out by the Greeks and
that the Turks was confined to a negative role and acted as a brake.

d) Second objective. The first stage having been completed, we must
programme the second stage of our activities and objectives on the
international field. In general terms, these objectives can be outlined as
follows:

(i) The efforts of the Greeks are to remove unreasonable and unfair
provisions of the administration and not to oppress the Turks;

(ii) The removal of these factors of the administration must take
place today because tomorrow will be too late.

(iii) The removal of these provisions of the administration, although
it is reasonable and necessary, is not possible because of the
unreasonable attitude of the Turks and therefore, since it is not possible
by agreement with the Turks, unilateral action is justified;

(iv) The issue of revision is an internal affair of the Cypriots and
does not give the right of intervention, by force or otherwise, to anyone;

(v) The proposed amendments are reasonable, just, and safeguard
the reasonable rights of the minority.

e) It has been generally proven that today the international climate is
against every type of oppression and especially the oppression of minorities.
The Turks have already succeeded in persuading international opinion that
union of Cyprus with Greece amounts to an attempt to enslave them. Further,
it is judged that we have greater possibilities of succeeding in our efforts to
influence international public opinion in our favour if we present our demand,
as we did during the struggle, as a demand for exercising the right of self-
determination, rather than as a demand for Enosis. However, in order to
secure the right to exercise complete and free self-determination, first of all,
we must get rid of all those provisions of the Constitution and of the
Agreements (Treaty of Guarantee, Treaty of Alliance etc) which obstruct the
free and unfettered expression and implementation of the wishes of our people
and which may open the way to dangers of external intervention. It is exactly
for this reason that the first target of attack has been the Treaty of Guarantee,
which was the first that was stated to be no longer recognised by the Greek
Cypriots.

When this is achieved no power, legal or moral, can stop us from deciding
our future alone and freely and exercising the right of self-determination by a
plebiscite.

From the above, the conclusion can be drawn that for the success of our
plan a chain of actions and developments is needed, each of which is a
necessity and a must, otherwise, future actions will remain legally unjustified
and politically unattainable, while at the same time we will expose the people
and the country to serious consequences. The actions to be taken can be
classified under the following headings:
a) Amendment of the negative elements of the Agreements and parallel abandonment in practice of the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance. This step is
necessary because the need for amendments of the negative aspects of the
treaties is generally accepted internationally and is considered justified (we can
even justify unilateral action), while at the same time external intervention to
prevent us amending them is held unjustified and inapplicable;

b) After the above actions, the Treaty of Guarantee (the right of
intervention) becomes legally and substantially inapplicable;

c) Once Cyprus is not bound by the restrictions (of the Treaties of
Guarantee and Alliance) regarding the exercise of the right of self-determination, the people will be free to give expression to and implement
their desire.

d) Legal confrontation by the forces of State (police and even friendly
military forces) of every internal or external intervention because then we shall
be completely independent.

Therefore the actions from (a) to (d) are absolutely necessary and must
be carried out in the above order and in time.

It is therefore obvious that if we hope to have any possibility of success
internationally in our above actions, we cannot and must not reveal or declare
the various stages of the struggle before the previous one is completed. For
instance, if it is accepted that the above four stages are the necessary course,
then it is unthinkable to speak of amendments (stage (a)) if stage (d) is
revealed. How can it be possible to aim at the amendment of the negative
aspects by arguing that this is necessary for the functioning of the State and
the Agreements.

The above relate to targets, aims and tactics in the international field. And
now on the internal front:

B. INTERNAL FRONT

The internal actions are judged by the interpretations that will be given to them internationally and by the effects that our actions will have on our
national cause.

1. The only danger which could be described as insurmountable is the
possibility of external intervention. Not so much because of material damage,
nor because of the danger itself (which, in the last analysis, it is possible for us
to deal with partly or totally by force), but mainly because of the possible
political consequences. If intervention is threatened or implemented before
stage (c), then such intervention would be legally debatable, if not justified.
This fact has a lot of weight both internationally and in the United Nations.
From the history of many recent instances we have learnt that in not a single
case of intervention, even when legally unjustified, has either the United
Nations or any other power succeeded in evicting the attacker without serious
concessions detrimental to the victim. Even in the case of the Israeli attack
against Suez, which was condemned by almost all nations and on which Soviet
intervention was threatened, Israel withdrew, but received (kept) the port of
Eilat on the Red Sea as a concession. Naturally, much more serious dangers
exist for Cyprus.

But if we consider and justify our actions under (a) above well, on the one
hand the intervention will not be justified and, on the other, we will have every
support from the beginning, since by the Treaty of Guarantee, intervention
cannot take place before consultations between the Guarantor Powers, that is
Britain, Greece and Turkey. It is at this stage of consultations (before
intervention) that we need international support. We shall have it if the
amendments proposed by us appear reasonable and justifiable.

Hence, the first objective is to avoid intervention by the choice of the
amendments we would propose in the first stage.

Tactics: Reasonable Constitutional amendments after efforts for common
understanding with the Turks are exhausted. Since common agreement is
impossible we shall try to justify unilateral action. At this stage the provisions
in (ii) and (iii) of page 21 are applicable in parallel.

2. It is obvious that for intervention to be justified, more serious reasons
and a more immediate danger must exist than mere constitutional
amendments.
Such reasons could be (a) an immediate declaration of Enosis before stages (a) - (c), (b) serious inter-communal violence which would be presented as massacre of the Turks.

Reason (a) has already been dealt with in the first part and, consequently,
only the danger of inter-communal violence remains to be considered. Since
we do not intend, without provocation, to massacre or attack Turks, the
possibility remains that the Turks, as soon as we proceed to the unilateral
amendment of any article of the constitution, will react instinctively, creating
incidents and clashes or stage, spurious killings, atrocities or bomb attacks on
Turks, in order to create the impression that the Greeks have indeed attacked
the Turks, in which case intervention would be imperative, for their protection.

Tactics: Our actions for constitutional amendments will be open and we
will always appear ready for peaceful talks. Our actions will not be of a
provocative or violent nature. Any incidents that may take place will be met, at
the beginning, in a legal fashion by the legal Security Forces, according to the
plan. All actions will be clothed in legal form.

3. Before the right of unilateral amendments of the constitution is
established and is accepted, decisions and actions which require positive
violent acts from us, such as the unification of municipalities, must be avoided.
Such a decision compels the Government to intervene by force to bring about
the unification and seizure of municipal properties, which will probably compel
the Turks to react forcefully. Therefore it is easier for us, using legal methods,
to amend, for instance, the provision of the 70 to 30 ratio, when it is the Turks
who will have to take positive violent action, while for us this procedure will
not amount to action, but a refusal to act. The same applies to the issue of the
separate majorities with regards to taxation legislation. These measures have
already been studied and a series of similar measures have been decided for
implementation. Once our right of unilateral amendments to the constitution is
established de facto by some such actions, then we shall be able to advance
using our judgment and our strength more forcefully.

4. It is, however, naive to believe that it is possible to proceed to
substantive acts of amendment of the constitution, as a first step of our
general plan, as has been described above, without the Turks attempting to
create or to stage violent clashes. Exactly for this reason, the existence and
strengthening of our Organisation is imperative because:

a) In the event of spontaneous Turkish reactions, if our counter-attacks are not immediate, we run the risk of having panic created among Greeks, particularly in the towns, and thus we run the danger of losing
substantial vital areas irreparably , while on the other hand an immediate
and timely show of our strength may bring the Turks to their senses and
confine their actions to insignificant, isolated acts, and

b) In the event of a planned or spurious attack of the Turks, staged
or not, it is imperative to overcome it by force in the shortest possible
time, because if we succeed in gaining command of the situation in one or
two days, no outside intervention would be possible, probable or
justifiable.

c) In all the above cases, the forceful and decisive confrontation of
any Turkish effort will greatly facilitate our subsequent actions for further
Constitutional amendments. It would then be possible for unilateral
amendments to be made, without any Turkish reaction, because they will
know that their reaction will be impossible or seriously harmful for their
community, and

d) In the event of the clashes becoming widespread and general we
must be ready to proceed immediately with the actions described in (a) to
(d), including the immediate declaration of Enosis, because then there
would be no reason to wait nor room for diplomatic action.

5. At all these stages we should not overlook the factor of propaganda,
and to counter the propaganda of those who do not know or cannot be
expected to know our plans, as well as of the reactionary elements. It has
been shown that our struggle must pass through at least four stages and that
we must not reveal our plans and intentions publicly and prematurely.
Complete discretion and secrecy is more than a national duty. IT IS A VITAL
NECESSITY FOR SURVIVAL AND SUCCESS.

This will not deter the reactionaries and the irresponsible demagogues
from indulging in an orgy of exploitation of patriotism and provocations. The
plan provides them with fertile ground, because it gives them the opportunity
to allege that the efforts of the leadership are confined to the objective of
constitutional amendments and not to pure national objectives. Our task
becomes more difficult because by necessity, and depending on the prevailing
circumstances, even the constitutional amendments must be made in stages.
However, all this must not draw us into irresponsible demagogy, street politics
or bidding higher in the stakes of nationalism. Our acts will be our most
truthful defenders. In any event, because the above task must make
substantial progress and yield results long before the next elections, in the
relatively short time in between we must show self-restraint and remain cool,
for obvious reasons. At the same time, however, we must not only maintain
the present unity and discipline of the patriotic forces, but increase it. We can
only achieve this by the necessary briefing of our members and through them
of our people.

Before everything else we have to expose the true identities of the
reactionaries. They are petty and irresponsible demagogues and opportunists,
as their recent past has shown. They are negative and aimless reactionaries
who fanatically oppose our leadership, but at the same time without offering a
substantive and practical solution of their own. In order to promote all our
actions we need a steady and strong government until the last moment. These
are known as verbalists and sloganists, with pretty words and slogans, but
they are unable and unwilling to proceed to concrete acts or to suffer
sacrifices. For example, even at the present stage they offer nothing more
concrete than recourse to the United Nations, that is, words again without cost
to themselves. They must, therefore, be alienated and isolated.

In parallel and at the same time, we shall brief our members about the
above plan and intentions, but ONLY VERBALLY. Our Sub-headquarters must,
in gatherings of our members, analyse and explain fully and continuously the
above, until each one of our members understands fully and is in a position to
brief others. NO WRITTEN REPORT IS PERMITTED. THE LOSS OR LEAKAGE OF
ANY DOCUMENT ON THE ABOVE AMOUNTS TO HIGH TREASON. No act can
damage our struggle as vitally and decisively as the revealing of the present
document or its publication by our opponents.

With the exception of word-of-mouth briefing and guidance, all our other
actions, specially publications in the press, resolutions etc, must be very
restrained and no mention of the above should be made. Similarly, in public
speeches and gatherings, only responsible persons may make, under the
personal responsibility of the Chief of Sub-headquarters, references in general
terms to the above plan. And this only after the explicit approval of the Chief
of Sub-headquarters who will also control the text. Even in this case, ON NO
ACCOUNT ARE REFERENCES TO THESE TEXTS IN THE PRESS OR ANY OTHER
PUBLICATION ARE PERMITTED.

Tactics: All the briefing of our people and of the public BY WORD OF
MOUTH. We should make every effort to appear as moderates in public.
Projection of or reference to our plans in the press or in writing is strictly
prohibited. Officials and other responsible persons will continue to brief the
people and to raise their morale and fighting spirit, but such briefing excludes
making our plans public knowledge by the press or otherwise.

NOTE: This document will be destroyed by fire on the personal responsibility
of the Chief of Regional HQ, in the presence of all the General Staff within 10
days from its receipt. Copies in full or in part are prohibited. Members of the
staff of the Regional HQ may have the plan on the personal responsibility of
the Chief of Regional HQ, but may not take it out of the Regional HQ.

The Chief

AKRITAS

Wed, 2007-11-07 01:03 — DominickSchneide

I will also no longer participate in this disgusting and demeaning conversation. I have requested that this article and blog be removed and especially with regard to Ms Fannoullas last comments and if it is not removed by tomorrow i will be logding a complaint with the Press Complaints Commission against the New Statesman.

Wed, 2007-11-07 11:21 — To Kounoupi

The old dicta are still the best and there is no doubt that the truth hurts. That's why so many Turkish readers are choosing not to particpate any further. There is also the old agage that "there are none so blind as those who will not see". That sounds relevant also. There is and can be no disputing the findings of the European Council of Human Rights in 1976, the plethora of UN resolutions against Turkey, the substantial case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the evidence of massive cultural destruction by Turkey. It's hardly surprising that Turkey's acolytes in Cyprus are desperately trying to whitewash her human rights violations in Cyprus in 1974; Turkey is after all still trying to whitewash her crimes from 1915 against the Armenians. Witness the mass demonstartions against Armenians commemorating the Armenian genocidel ast saturday in Cardiff. But the truth has a way of coming to the fore and Mr Coleman and the New Statesman deserve great credit for trying to accelerate the process.

As for racist comments this is most definitely a case of the pot calling the kettle black. The state of Turkey is entirely the creation of a mass Turkification characterised by genocide, deportations and expulsions. Apartheid has been introduced into Europe by Turkey; no Greeks can live or return to their properties in the north of Cyprus. That's true racism not the nonsense spouted here by some people.

Wed, 2007-11-07 14:50 — Leo1

And the broken records go on and on and on with lies and more lies and they actually think that by shouting the loudest and having the last word, they will convince people to believe the rubbish that they have repeated over and over again.

And yes, the truth hurts: the fact that Greek Cypriots ethnically cleansed Turkish Cypriots from 103 villages and forced the 18% Turkish Cypriot population to live in ghettos on 3% of the island.

No wonder the Cyprus problem has not been resolved with such extremists around. This is more like the Greek Cypriot version of the BNP who are being encouraged and fuelled with the likes of Coleman for self interest. Turkish Cypriots should not and must not be left unprotected surrounded with such lunatic nationalists. Turkish troops and partition are here to stay until such racist attitudes change.

If I have to listen to another broken record one more time, I will be sick. So, I am switching off too.

Fri, 2007-11-23 01:00 — YANNIS

Hey ‘teacher’ you did not give any URL address about Akritas plan. You know that is not acceptable. So here is some:

http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/akritas_plan.htm
http://www.cypnet.co.uk/ncyprus/history/republic/akritas.html
http://www.geocities.com/t_volunteer/cyprus/akritas.htm
http://www.visionmatters.co.uk/BB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4646&start=15&st=...

Papapetru's Confession: We Were Trained To Kill Turkish Cypriots

Nicosia - Deputy Chairman of United Democrat (EDI) party and the former spokesman of Greek Cypriot Administration, Michailis Papapetru declared that the he was trained by some governmental and non-governmental organizations that gave military training before 1963 with the purpose of putting the Akritas Plan into force and massacring the Turkish Cypriots.
As it is written in the liberal Politis newspaper of South Cyprus "Governmental and non-governmental organizations - including me myself- have given military training to some trainees in order to put the Akritas plan into force and murder the Turkish Cypriots" said Papapetru in his confession and underlined that the burden and the responsibility of the inspections are on the Greek Cypriot Administration, speaking at a TV program together with the deputy of the Greens George Perdikis.

According to the newspaper, Perdikis said that the Greek Cypriot Government should have the responsibility of scrutinizing under what conditions the left-winged Greek Cypriots murdered and also the violence applied to Turkish Cypriots afterwards. The daily read:

"At this point Mihailis Papapetru said publicly that before 1963 governmental and non-governmental elements including Papapetru himself with the intention of putting the Akritas Plan into force and killing Turkish Cypriots, gave military training to his Community. Without appropriating Perdikis' language who offered the starring cast of the incident should hear a case,

Akritas plan was originaly published by the Greek Cypriot newspaper Patris with some parts missing. The missing parts were then supplied by Clerides.

If you want the 'originals' of this document then start with Patris and Clerides' books.

FOREIGN PRESS ON CYPRUS EXTRACTS
IN THE FORBIDDEN CITY
"We went to-night into the sealed-off Turkish quarter of Nicosia in which 200 to 300 people had been slaughtered in the last five days. We were the first Western reporters there and we have seen sights too frightful to be described in print as horrors so extreme that the people seemed stunned beyond tears and reduced to an hysterical and mirthless giggle that is more terrible than tears. This much we can tell:

In the Kumsal quarter, at No 2 Irfan Bey Sokag, we made our way into a house whose floors were covered with broken glass. A child's bicycle lay in a corner. In the bathroom, looking like a group of waxworks, ware three dead children piled on top of their murdered mother. In a room next to it, we glimpsed the body of a woman shot in the head.

This, we were told, was the home of a Turkish Army Major whose family had been killed by the mob in the first violence. Today was five days later and still they lay there . . .

(Extract from a report by Rene MacColl and Daniel McGeachie, Daily Express, 28 December, 1963).

Thu, 2007-10-25 05:04 — Mike Pagomenos

Well done Mr Coleman. A well written article on issues that are rarely reported.

The young people of Turkey find it very difficult to accept that their fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers, and great great grandfathers carried out Genocide, ethnic cleansing, and the desecration of churches. That is totally understandable. It is too horrible for anyone to believe or accept such despicable actions.

But denial puts salt in those great wounds.

The Turks usurped the indigenous peoples of the Middle East and eastern Europe. Not the other way around.

We can only forgive those who ask for forgiveness. Meanwhile, the unforgiven will be tormented by their own denial till the end of time.

Yours sincerely,
Mike Pagomenos
Documentary Filmmaker

Fri, 2007-11-23 04:36 — Mike Pagomenos

The Monastery and Theological School at Halki was mentioned on Greek national television news channels last week. So your long-winded fantasy of phonecalls was a waste of time. Everybody has heard about the event that watches live Greek news and anybody who is anybody in the Orthodox Church also knows about it. But nice try. The Halki desecration happened on Tuesday last week. Kathimerini is not used British toilet paper like the Cyprus Mail and it is also backed up by an Italian news source that has a lot more detail.

So are you claiming that the mosque listed above was not bombed by Denktash? What happened to the 100 mosques that you claimed were destroyed? The problem is that you stretch the truth so far you really cannot tell where fiction ends and reality starts.

You are wasting your time posting selective articles on body count particularly when "two or three hundred" is banded about as though a 50% margin of error is acceptable. If they couldn't count up to 200 then where were their eyes? Obviously not where the bodies were. Such inaccurate news reporting is not worthy source material.

Jack the Ripper (the Republic of Turkey) is complaining that the victim (the Republic of Cyprus) has put blood on its shirt.

Enormous Republic of Turkey is complaining that tiny Republic of Cyprus has bloodied its nose whilst Turkey was implementing planned, systematic segregation and ethnic cleansing against the Christian population.

All of the above when Turkey continues to deny the Holocaust of the Christians and the Genocide of the Armenians.

Turkey has got the track record for ethnic cleansing, Holocaust and Genocide a mile long. Let's not forget Constantinople in 1955 either. Or what Turkey did to the Armenians before 1915. What has the Republic of Turkey been doing to the Kurds for years and will be doing to the Kurds for many more after you used them to do much of the Genocidal dirty work for you.

No wonder you have to publish so much propaganda and rubbish in your efforts to deny it all.

The UN is so embarrassed about the whole mess, that is Cyprus, that they tried to implement permanent apartheid with the Annan Plan. They made sure that nobody could read the Annan Plan till the day of the vote so that they could sneak in a vast array of ridiculous concessions to benefit the Republic of Turkey, its colonists, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Annan Plan does not benefit Cypriots in any way.

Stop trying to implement the Annan Plan on Cyprus. Flush it down a toilet where it belongs and send the idiots that "negotiated" and wrote it to South Africa. Nelson Mandela will find something constructive for them to do like planting trees for all that wasted paper.

Kofi Annan should be ashamed for allowing his name to be used for it.

Fri, 2007-11-23 05:19 — Mike Pagomenos

"One point we should never forget is that the intervention of Turkey in Cyprus was not effected solely for the 'blue eyes' of the Turkish Cypriot community... it also intervened moved by consideration of its own strategic interest."

Mehmet Ali Birand
Millyet (Turkish newspaper)
13 March 1984

Well ofcourse not Mehmet. It never was about the Cypriots. Turkish troops were never fussy about who they killed or raped. Especially if they had blue eyes.

Fri, 2007-11-23 05:28 — Mike Pagomenos

"In Turkey they torture anything: pregnant women, children, old people– anything."

Former Turkish Army Torturer
Interviewed for Channel 4 documentary 'Roots of Evil'
October 1997

Fri, 2007-11-23 05:32 — Mike Pagomenos

"The explosion sparked off a night of riots in Nicosia. Turkish Cypriots burned and looted Greek shops and homes. Soon came counter-attacks and the fighting spread around the island. A friend of mine, whose name must still be kept secret, was to confess to me that he had put this little bomb in the doorway in order to create an atmosphere of tension so that people would know that the Turkish Cypriots mattered."

Former Turkish Diplomat - Emin Dirvana
'Cyprus, Britain’s Grim Legacy'
'End of Empire' (ITV documentary)
22 July 1984

Fri, 2007-11-23 05:38 — Mike Pagomenos

"... in case of the smallest resistance, every soldier must perform his duty to murder these men in large numbers. The fatherland orders so. You must not neglect to perform your duty: every soldier is obliged to kill four to five Greeks for our country's grandeur. Every soldier is obliged to carry out the contents of this order."

Order made by Nourredin
Chief of the Turkish army in Smyrna (Izmir) when ordering the slaughter of the Christian population at the start of the massacres in 1922

Fri, 2007-11-23 05:43 — Mike Pagomenos

"… the demographic Turkification of the north will soon be complete. Towns and villages such as Kyrenia and Lapithos which stood empty and ghostly until April are now filled with settlers, some Turkish Cypriot, some mainland Turks. The return of the original inhabitants is ruled out, and the Turkish authorities now say quite openly that the remaining 5,800 Greek Cypriots in the north (of a total of 14,500 two years ago) will be reduced by half this Christmas."

The Economist
4 September 1976

By the way, The Economist has a heavily pro-Turkish bias. It's unusual to get something in The Economist that criticises Turkey.

Fri, 2007-11-23 05:47 — Mike Pagomenos

"We visited 26 former Greek villages [occupied northern part of Cyprus]. We found not a single undesecrated cemetery ... At Syngrasis, the church interior was smashed beyond recognition, littered with the remains of icons, pews and beer bottles. The broken crucifix was drenched in urine."

The Guardian (6 May 1976)

Thu, 2007-10-25 12:28 — To Kounoupi

What Brian Coleman is too polite to point out is that the cultural genocide committed by Turkey in Cyprus is entirely consistent with her appalling tradition of genocide committed throughout the 20th century. The Armenians, the Pontic Greeks, the Smyrna Greeks, the Greek Cyprots and now the Kurds have all sufferred. Is there anyone left in the neighbourhood that Turkey has not tried to bully, victimise, intimidate or otherwise mistreat in her paranoid obsession at creating an ethnically Turkish state? The truth hurts and this is what has prompted the usual drivel from your Turkish readers. Coming to terms with history is the sign of political maturity, something Turks seem to lack. But let's not dwell on the past. The present is what Mr Coleman describes and he paints a truly awful picture of cultural cleansing following ethnic cleansing. In all genocides killings are followed by cultural cleansing. The final act is the denial of what happened. This is what the Turks have been desperately trying to do to the Armenians and those who have commented on this excellent piece are following this criminal pattern. Shame on you appeasers of genocide!!

Fri, 2007-11-23 05:50 — Mike Pagomenos

"I think it is only natural that the Cypriot people, who are of Greek descent, should regard their incorporation with what may be called their mother-country as an ideal to be earnestly, devoutly, and fervently cherished. Such a feeling is an example of the patriotic devotion which so nobly characterises the Greek nation."

Winston Churchill (17 October 1907)

Fri, 2007-11-23 05:53 — Mike Pagomenos

"I could not help reflecting wryly that had we been honest enough to admit the Greek nature of Cyprus in the beginning, it might never have been necessary to abandon the island or fight for it. Now, it was too late!"

Lawrence Durrell
Director of Public Relations for the British Government
'Bitter Lemons of Cyprus' (1957)

Thu, 2007-10-25 12:58 — TC

I applaud Mr Coleman's frank and refreshingly truth based comments.

To all those who hark back 3 centuries, I'd suggest looking at ways to move forward and to stop fueling the pseudo ethnic conflicts which any visitor to North London can clearly see are not true.

Mr Coleman states the situation as it currently stands and as it is accepted internationaly by individuals, countries and organisations such as the UN and Europe whilst ignoring the propaganda which seeks to distort realities.

Fri, 2007-11-23 09:50 — Sol

"Sir Alec Douglas Home said in his
memoirs: ‘If the Greek Cypriot leadership could not
treat the Turkish Cypriots as human beings they were
inviting the invasion and partition of the island.’"

Thu, 2007-11-08 05:24 — Chris5

How outrageous that when the arguments run out, the cheap race card is played.

And that is by some who seem to be supporting enforced apartheid, partition, racial segregation, or 'taksim' – created with bombs and the barrel of a gun – in order to transform part of Cyprus into a province of Turkey.

This would be akin to the white people of South Africa claiming they are the victims of racism by the black population in the days of apartheid.

I smell a rat. Surely the Turkish PR propaganda machine can come up with something more value for money than the race card.

No wonder the 301 penal code exists in Turkey, making it a criminal offence to suggest Turkey's occupation troops should leave the Republic of Cyprus (or to mention the Genocide of the Armenians). What better way to stifle debate and cover up the past and the present.

So Greek Cypriots and their supporters on this forum call for their human, moral and legal rights. So what. Just because some people get hot under the collar when exposed to Greek Cypriot concerns, it follows that Mr Coleman has written a racist article? Do readers really think the New Statesman would be so irresponsible to publish an article that is in any way racist?

Sat, 2007-11-17 01:29 — Mike Pagomenos

True to form, it was reported in the news in the last 24 hours, that the Turks have desecrated the Orthodox Christian Monastery at Halki.

The desecration that Mr Coleman writes about is ongoing and not just in the occupied northern part of the Republic of Cyprus.

Whilst Turkish hands desecrate their mouths spout denial. Instead of apologising for committing Genocide Turks unabashedly claim that Genocide was committed against them in a pseudo-justification.

Isn't it enough that the Turks have turned the majority Christian population of the western coast of Asia Minor in to a minority.

They have also succeeded in doing the same to the northern part of Cyprus and are still bullying the minorities.

Turkey is comparable to a well fed fat cat that is too full to eat the mouse it has just caught. So it plays with its prey just to pass the time.

Fri, 2007-11-23 09:51 — Sol

The leader of the 1974 coup, Nicos Sampson, told Eleftherotipia newspaper that ‘had Turkey not intervened I would not only have proclaimed ENOSIS — I would have annihilated the Turkish Cypriots’.

Fri, 2007-11-23 09:57 — Sol

Daily Telegraph
"we called for intervention in Cyprus when the anti-Turkish pogroms began in the 1960s

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/04/30/dl...

Fri, 2007-11-23 09:58 — Sol

The point is Mike, both sides have been bloody awful, You, and Coleman though blame everything on the Turkish side. How is that going to bring about reconciliation.

Sat, 2007-11-17 04:39 — DominickSchneide

I think you may have forgotten what Turkish Cypriots have constantly been reminded the we are in fact the minority in Cyprus not the Greek Cypriots. I dont think anybody claimed that the Turkish army was a victim of genocide. In your over excuberance to spout hatred you should perhaps proof read your contributions and make sure they add up

Fri, 2007-11-23 12:16 — Mike Pagomenos

"Scandalous map: Expansionist ambitions of the Turkish ultranationalism

The ultranationalist frenzy which threatens at an accelerated rhythm the Kurdish people as well as the ethnic and religious minorities of Turkey is now accompanied by a new expansionist campaign aiming at Turkish occupation of the republics of Cyprus and Armenia as well as important territories of the neighboring countries like Greece, Syria and Iraq.

On November 21, 2007, Günes, one of the Turkish daily newspapers with high circulation, has published on its first page a new map of Turkey showing the annexation of these neighboring countries and territories.

Under the title, "You say map? Here is the map!", the newspaper announces that currently circulates on Internet the map of "Enlarged Turkey" in response to the maps showing Turkey divided.

In this new map of Turkey, the oil-producing Mosul and Kirkuk areas of Iraq as well as all Greek islands including Crete form parts of future the enlarged Turkey."

Source: The above is in about every news source outside Turkey. You have to keep your ultranationalist tendencies under control.

Fri, 2007-11-23 12:20 — Mike Pagomenos

You'll never take Zoniana. Not in a million years.

(You have to keep up with the Greek news and have a sense of humour to understand this one.)

Thu, 2007-11-08 14:08 — Sol

DEMOCRACY IN AZERBAIJAN by Dr Charles Tannock MEP
"I was fully expecting a repeat of the 2003 presidential election, which was widely criticised by international observers as deeply flawed.

"I was pleasantly surprised, along with the other MEP observers, that we observed a well conducted and transparent voting session in all the polling stations we monitored and a subsequent count which was carried out in an exemplary albeit laborious fashion."

"I believe the election augurs well for the future. It appears we will now see a parliament with the presence of significant numbers of opposition and independent MPs. They will be able to scrutinise President Aliyev's government and insist on improvements in democracy, human rights and governance. To date, Azerbaijan has had a relatively poor track record in these respects."

http://www.charlestannock.com/pressrel.asp?id=370

MOre joined up thinking from the Conservatives,...

Sat, 2007-11-17 10:35 — YANNIS

I do not want to dwell too much on this isolated incident apart from pointing out that probably the ancient building was not structurally sound any more, presenting a hazard and danger to people and that’s why it was partially demolished.
HOWEVER, what qualifications does Mr Coleman have to criticise anybody on desecration of historic buildings??!! Read on…
The Ottomans ruled over the Greece for about four hundred years. They converted the Parthenon into a mosque (built Minarettes around it) BUT DID NOT DESTROY the actual temples. Of course after the Ottoman rule these were converted (DESECRATED ??) back to original temples. Then somewhere in the middle of the chaos, the British got into the picture and stole much of the ancient relics. In 1803, Lord Elgin stole the sculptures of the Parthenon as well as one of the Erechtheum Korai and numerous other antipuities. They stole 57 SHIPLOADS of RELICS (DESECRATION IN GRAND SCALE??) from the old temples and shipped to England. Unfortunately some of the ships sank during the journey, thus invaluable historical relics were lost forever, although most reached England. Thus, if you want to see the most beautiful and precious relics of ancient Greece you will have to go to the British Museum in London.
Now who is desecrating, who is looting on grand scale AND WHO IS PRESERVING?? I think the Greeks should put those minarettes back around Parthenon; it would really spice it up a bit.

Thu, 2007-11-08 14:13 — Sol

CHRIS the issue is is that between 1963 -74 the Turkish Cypriots were the victims, 1810 were murdered half of the entire populaltion of TC were forced from their homes. Niko Sampson the leader of the 1974 coup admitted this, when he said that had tUrkey not invaded he would have Aniliated the Turkish Cypriots from Cyprus.

Now in 1974 the Greek Cypriots were also the victims of terrible suffering at the hands of the invading Turkish army.

As both sides have suffered, why is it that Coleman and other supports of Greek Cypriots are only interested in the suffering of the Turkish Cypriots. Is it because they are racist? I don't know I have never met that to ask why they never mention the Turkish victims. But what I do know is those who deny the suffering of those on the other side are pulling the two sides further apart.

Tue, 2007-10-30 23:06 — To Kounoupi

Next the Turks on this site will be saying that the dog ate their homework! Don't you all feel embarassed trotting out all this rubbish? Grow up and face facts..Turkey has been guilty of genocide in respect of the Armenians, the Pontic Greeks, the Smyrna Greeks, the Assyrians, the Cypriots and the Kurds. We all wait with interest to see which non Turkic ethnic group will be the next to suffer. Will it be the Pomaks, Alawites, Laz or Arabs?? You would be treated more seriously if you face up to your terrible crimes against humanity and apologised. But to do that admits guilt and then the issue of reparations comes into play.....

Thu, 2007-10-25 15:31 — stoneman

Excellent piece from Mr. Coleman. It reminds us about the essential truth behind the Cyprus 'issue'. Let us not forget that Turkey named the invasion of Cyprus 'Operation Attila.' A name which speaks volumes for the barbarity, brutality and evil of the invasion of Cyprus. A British newspaper at the time ran a front page filled with just one word for a headline: 'Barbarians.'

Since 1974 Turkish propaganda has attempted to rewrite the invasion as a 'peace operation' . A phrase so outrageously Orwellian in its scope that one wonders if Turks have any sense of shame. To invade, pillage, rob and occupy a democratic neighbour in the interests of 'peace' is a concept sadly many Turks still seem not to have any problems with.

Similarly, the Turkish propaganda machine continues its endless orgy of denial over the massacre of Armenians at the beginning of the last century. Turkey continues to live in a state of total denial about some of its most appalling abuses of humanity. As one critic has put it Turkey 'is unbending in its never-wrongness'.

To this day, Turkey maintains that the Armenian genocide never happened. There have been no admissions, no apologies and no compensation. For years the Turks refused to admit that Kurds even existed - there was no Kurdish language, no Kurdish culture, nothing.

As Mr. Coleman eloquently and bravely testifies, Greek culture in Cyprus - a place mentioned several times in Homer before the Turks existed - has been virtually eliminated from the north of the island, occupied by 40,000 Turkish troops and ruled behind the scenes by the Turkish Embassy in occupied northern Nicosia.

As far as north Cyprus is concerned, Mr. Coleman is utterly correct. Every aspect of its Greek and Christian heritage has been expunged, or else looted and exported. As Christopher Hitchens puts it 'perhaps nothing illustrates the real nature of the Turkish invasion and occupation better than the pillage of northern Cyprus.'

Well done to Mr. Coleman for being on the side of justice and truth.

Fri, 2007-11-23 15:34 — Mike Pagomenos

I quote a British Lion of a Prime Minister (Sir Winston Churchill) and you quote a treacherous mouse of a Prime Minister Sir Alec Douglas Home who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for one year from October 1963 to October 1964 (didn't last very long did he?).

The Right Horrible Sir Alex Douglas Home betrayed Britain's ally of World War II, where Britain fought together with Greeks against the Germans, to support the Republic of Turkey.

Although Turkey wasn't involved in the war because Turkey pretended to be a neutral country like Switzerland. Turkey manufactured tanks and weapons for Hitler.

What does that make Sir Alex Douglas Home? He helped to degrade the superlative relationship that Britain had with Greece for what? To get in to bed with the supporter of an Axis power.

Britain has a short memory. During World War I, the Republic of Turkey fought with the Germans. Greece was pushed into the war by its German monarchy for the best interests of the Republic of Turkey.

Sir Alec Douglas Home was one of several British Prime Ministers desperately clinging to what was left of the British Empire. All the bitter aftertaste from the loss of Eqypt focussed Britain's vengeance on a small island trying to gain independence.

He betrayed a good friend and jumped in to bed with the enemy.

Wed, 2007-10-31 01:01 — Mike Pagomenos

To the denialists of the Genocide of the Christians in the Ottoman Empire:

Take a good look at the collection of original photographs made by Armin Wegner (a German soldier in Turkey at the time). They alone are conclusive proof of the systematic murder of Christians (the majority were Armenians) in the Ottoman Empire.

Alternatively, refer to:

"The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, 1915-1916, Documents Presented to Viscount Grey of Falloden by Viscount Bryce. Uncensored Edition." ISBN 0-9535191-5-5

Unfortunately, that treatment continued to 1923 and was repeated again in Constantinople in 1955 and again in Cyprus from 1974.

Denialists need to stop ignoring Bryce and Toynbee's "Key to Names of Persons" (a supporting publication).

How the Turks think that they can get away with denying the Genocide of the Christians when the homes of the evicted Armenians and Greeks were sold en masse in Turkish newspapers (all well archived) is beyond belief. The Turks have no shame and no guilt conscience.

It is also well documented during the Greek War of Independence that the Turks unashamedly collected skulls as trophies and displayed leaflets with photographs of their murdered victims in shop fronts to make sure that everybody knew what Turks were capable of.

How can the Turks unashamedly deny the Genocide when the skulls were accumulated as trophies and piled high and photographed for souvenirs.

The Turks marched unarmed Christians in to the Syrian desert until they died of thirst, starved or marched to their deaths over cliffs.

We all know what Turks are capable of and they will once again demonstrate their capabilities in northern Iraq.

Denying the Armenian Genocide is a crime against humanity in itself. The first Genocide of the 20th Century has already been confirmed by numerous countries and is well documented.

"My study of the genocide that had been committed in Turkey in 1915 brought home to me the reality of Original Sin." --- Arnold J. Toynbee, Acquaintances (1967)

It makes no difference how long ago the Genocide happened. It is no less of a Genocide.

Likewise, similar behaviour repeated in 1955, and from 1974 is no less excusable. Nor is the continued ethnic and cultural cleansing of northern Cyprus.

Thu, 2007-10-25 16:00 — Sol

Stoneman wrote "Every aspect of its Greek and Christian heritage has been expunged, or else looted and exported."

Actually not, can you name one place, just one which has been destroyed? It is quite true that they have not been maintained, but the northern part of the island does have as much money. Some have been vanderlised. They have not been destroyed though.

Unlike the treatment of many of the Turkish buildings such as the Grand Mosque is Phahos. Now a car park.

Fri, 2007-11-23 16:21 — rose2

Anyone who rejects theUN Annan peace plan backed by the EU, UN, USA, Greece and Turkey because it's racist cannot be taken seriously. It's wrong for someone in Colemans position to accept any free hospitality, thus undermining his position in the conservative party. Coleman has a responsibility to improve relations between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots NOT destroy them.

Sat, 2007-11-17 13:18 — Mike Pagomenos

What happened at Halki was not an isolated incident. On the contrary it is common practice by the Turks. Cemeteries, monasteries and churches have all recently been desecrated, demolished and built on in the northern part of Cyprus.

Neither are the "Turkish Cypriots" an ethnically distinct people. Although they are treated as second-class (and third-class) citizens by Turkey.

The vast majority today are Turkish colonists since the muslim Cypriots have also been ethnically cleansed by the Turks. Many of the muslim Cypriots before the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 were christians who were forced to convert to Islam by the Turks during Ottoman rule.

It was also common practice for the Turks to cut off the heads of christians when they could not afford to pay their taxes and the only option to stay alive was to convert from Christianity to Islam because the Turks did not behead muslims that could not afford to pay their taxes.

Any pseudo-claim of genocide on the island of Cyprus is pure invention to divert attention from the Genocide of the Christians before, during and after Turkish occupation.

Turkey continues to blatantly persecute the Christian minority which used to be a Christian majority on the west coast of Asia Minor and in the northern part of Cyprus.

"Turkish Cypriots" take note. If your grandparents were born on the island of Cyprus. There is a good chance that your ancestors were christians who could not afford to pay their taxes. These christians avoided beheading by converting to Islam and changing their names to muslim names.

The term "Turkish Cypriots" was invented in the early 20th Century in preparation for the formal segregation of the muslim and christian populations. The ultimate step to secure that racist segregation is the Annan Plan which is supported by Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States (because all three countries gain by it).. The indigenous population of Cyprus gains nothing from the Annan Plan which is why the indigenous population voted NO.

Thu, 2007-10-25 16:08 — Sol

Alexander
'230,000 Greek settlers on the south of the island'.

Is based on research by Proffessor Ata Atun, this number includes many non Greek settlers, but also abound 100,000 "mainland" Greeks. It is interesting to note that the RoC has a policy of giving citizenship to any Greek Soldier who has served on Cyprus.

I read recently and article in the Cyprus mail abut the Pontus Greek in Cyprus and how they were poorly assimitated.

Fri, 2007-11-23 16:58 — Sol

That is of course not to say that Greeces contribution to the allied efforts was not signifigant becuase it was. the Greeks did a terric job under occupation, and suffered greatly for it.

So bad did they suffer that Turkey sent thousands of tons of food to stop starvation. In desperate times like this and the Ismit earthquake in Turkey, both sides can pull together and suly we can both agree that that is a wonderful thing.

Sat, 2007-11-17 14:33 — YANNIS

When someone starts arguing that all Turkish Cypriots are descendents of Christian Greek Cypriots who could not pay their taxes, I think we can safely assume that he has completely lost his marbles and the rest of his arguments deserve no where better than the bin.
WHAT ABOUT THE DESECRATION OF GREEK HISTORICAL TREASURES BY THE BRITISH Mr PAGEMENOS? ANCESTORS OF OUR BRIAN COLEMAN WHO YOU ADMIRE SO MUCH. 57 SHIP LOADS of GREEK TREASURES STOLEN AND SHIPPED TO BRITAIN? What about that Mr Pagemenos? When are you going to complain about that Mr Pagemenos? Or better still when is Mr Brian Coleman going to write about that desecration????
One word of advice Mr Pagemenos, I would stop reading the Sun comic if I were you; it claimed Elvis is still alive and living on the moon; which is more credible than your story. Better still, give them to Fanoulla to base her research on Cyprus.

Thu, 2007-10-25 16:12 — Jeyda

Dear Mr Coleman, you seem to be uncomfortable with the Turkish settlers in the north but you fail to mention the Greek settlers in the south. Do I detect some hostility in your article towards Turks and Muslims or are you simply repeating what you have been told by your Greek Cypriot friends? I suggest you read the piece below so that you have a more balanced view of what goes on in Cyprus.

Historically, and particularly since 1961, Greece has systematically pursued a deliberate policy of colonizing and annexing Cyprus (a process they term “Enosis”), due to which 60,000 Turkish Cypriots were forced to leave their homes, memories and belongings in 1964 after the fierce attacks of Greek militia and a further 60,000 in 1974, as the outcome of the notorious coup d’etat against Archbishop Makarios, staged by Greek generals in Greece.

This is being done in order to change the demographic structure of the island, to control and adulterate the 1960 Treaty of Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus. Such attempts at consolidating the transformation of Cyprus’s demographic character continued even after the events of 1974.
Under international law mass transfers by another country of its own civilian population into territories outside its boundaries to change demographic structure is illegal. Greece sent over its own population to the island of Cyprus in the early 1900s, and more consistently since 1961.
Weeks before the parliamentary elections held on May 21, 2006 on the Greek Cypriot side, Greek Cypriot Interior Minister Andreas Hristu announced the election areas and the number of voters.
The crucial part of the announcement was the number of the additional voters. It revealed a dramatic increase of 30,000 on top of the existing 470,000 voters, with the new total topping 500,000.
When the backgrounds of these 500,000 voters were analyzed, a stunning outcome surfaced, clearly revealing the number of Greek settlers clandestinely accumulated on the island since 1961.
The breakdown of “Greek settlers” in this electoral list of 500,000 is approximately as follows:
Pontus Greek Cypriots: 60,000 - 70,000
Citizens of the former Soviet Republic: 30,000
Christians who fled Lebanon: 15,000 - 20,000
Immigrants from Greece: 100,000
Asylum seeker Kurds: 2,500 - 3,000
Asylum seeker citizens from third countries: 9,500
Total of “Greek settlers in Cyprus”: approximately 230,000
According to the existing but unpublished Greek Cabinet Decision of 1964, any Greek citizen who has done his military service in Cyprus or served in the Greek National Army (Ethniki Fruro) automatically becomes a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus (Greek Cyprus).
For years one Greek regiment and two battalions of Greek Commandos were deployed on the island and thousands of Greek officers served in the Greek Cypriot National Guard. These privates and army officers, who change every two years, have, since 1964, automatically become citizens.
Most Greek Cypriots go to study in Greece, get married and return to Cyprus. Their partners also immediately become citizens.
The Pontus Greeks (Pontii) and citizens of the former Soviet republics were made citizens soon after they settled on the island from 1974 and 1982, respectively.
Opening their arms to the wealthy Christians who fled the war in Lebanon, the Greek Cypriots also made them citizens.
Why are only Turkish Cypriots consistently blamed for bringing in 40,000 settlers from Turkey, while the Greek Cypriots are not, although they have given citizenship to 230,000 non-Greek Cypriots and dramatically changed the demographic structure of the island?
References :Simerini, Greek Cypriot Newspaper, April 30, 2006; Mahi, Greek Cypriot Newspaper, Sept. 20, 2006; Simerini, Greek Cypriot Newspaper, Nov. 28, 2006; Politis, Greek Cypriot Newspaper Jan. 14, 2007; Politis, Greek Cypriot Newspaper, Feb. 6, 2007

Wed, 2007-10-31 02:56 — DominickSchneide

its really hilarious but very telling that the looney nationalists choose to respond to and goad each other rather than addressing the actual issues which is whether Mr Coleman as a representative of the former imperial masters of Cyprus responsible for the deaths of thousands of Greek Cypriots during the anti-colonial struggle has any right to pass judgement why do you not ask him to apologise before you pay his ticket and 5star hotel bills you had better put him up in the best accomodation or better still buy him a house in Paralimni before the temptation proves too much and a demon Turk fools him with a cheap illegal property in the North keep your eye on him because a free plate of souvla in Turkish Kebab shop might turn him. Actually i might phone and offer him a slap up table for 4 in EFES in Great Portland Street on me might do the trick you never know! (tarama, Houmous, Tzaziki the full works)

Thu, 2007-10-25 16:35 — Rizokarpasso

MaryK
At last, a politician that is not afraid to speak the truth. Thank you Brian Coleman for having integrity and seeking to uphold human rights for all the people of Cyprus. Greek Cypriots have been denied access, use and enjoyment of their homes and properties in occupied Cyprus for the last 33 years, meanwhile the illegal occupiers are not only occupying but also building and selling off properties to which they have no entitlement.

As an indication of the inhumanity of the current illegal regime in the occupied north of Cyprus this month Turkey refused to allow a Greek Cypriot born in Rizokarpasso to be buried in the cemetary there, as was his wish; possibly because all the crosses in the cemetary have been broken, the little church and the graves desecrated and human bones scattered everywhere. There are still 264 enclaved Greek Cypriots in Rizokarpasso, a Greek Cypriot village in the Karpass peninsular, who are denied basic Human Rights by the illegal Turkish occupying regime and are intimidated daily by the illegal administration and the illegal settlers from Turkey. Rizokarpasso had 3,500 Greek Cypriots in 1974, of whom 2,500 were enclaved following the Turkish invasion and have now been reduced to 264 following numerous attacks, deaths, beatings and other uncivilized acts.

I could say a great deal more but I will just put forward some basic points:

1) The Cyprus Treaty of Guarantee, Nicosia, 16th August 1960, Article II states: "Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, taking note of the undertakings of the Republic of Cyprus set out in Article I of the present Treaty, recognise and guarantee the independence, territorial integrity and security of the Republic of Cyprus, and also the state of affairs established by the Basic Articles of its Constitution.
Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom likewise undertake to prohibit, so far as concerns them, any activity aimed at promoting, directly or indirectly, either union of Cyprus with any other State or partition of the island". The three Guarantor powers have failed in their Treaty obligations to Cyprus; in fact Turkey went against its own Treaty obligations invaded and is still occupying part of territory of The Republic of Cyprus with 43,000 Turkish troops.

2) Most of the Turkish Cypriots have left the occupied area and it is now inhabited mainly by illegal settlers and their offspring transported to Cyprus by Turkey, an act which is against Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which forbids an occupying power from transferring part of its civilian population to occupied territory. Turkey, a NATO power has been allowed to disregard the Geneva Convention and is given much support by our British Government.

3) According to the 1960 Cyprus population survey the Greek Cypriot population was 77.1%, Turkish Cypriot population was 18.2%, Maronites and Armenians were 1.1%, others 3.7%. Since 1974 the transportation of over 150,000 Turkish settlers to colonise the occupied north and take over the Greek Cypriot homes and properties is a clear attempt to change the demography of Cyprus. Clearly our British Government places strategic self interest above adhering to an accepted code of conduct and upholding human rights.

4) Member of Parliament for Hendon, Andrew Dismore, in his letter, dated 13 th October 2006 to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, is very clear regarding the denial of Human Rights to the enclaved, which he observed first hand during his visit to Rizokarpasso in October 2006.

5) According to 1964 Land Registry Office Records, Greek Cypriots owned approximately 78% of the privately owned land in the territory now under Turkish occupation, while persons belonging to the Turkish Cypriot community owned approximately 21%.

6) Ethnic cleansing is condemned by all civilized countries, yet Turkey been allowed to ethnically cleanse the Greek Cypriots from their homes and properties in occupied north Cyprus. Approximately 150,000 Greek Cypriots fled for their lives when Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974. Not all were successfull, e.g. Sysklipos, a small Greek Cypriot village in the Kyrenia mountains, which had 337 inhabitants has 23 missing persons as a result of the Turkish invasion, who didn't manage to escape and whose fate only the invading Turkish forces know. There are 1,476 missing Greek Cypriots, mainly civilians like those in Sysklipos.

Thu, 2007-11-08 19:52 — Adam2

As an Englishman who has been watching this bizarre episode unfold from the side lines, I am shocked by this relentless uncivilised aggression and barracking by the Greeks towards the Turks and Turkish Cypriots; driven by racial hatred and aided by our Mr Coleman’s article.
Full marks to Turks therefore for displaying exemplary behaviour and character by walking away from trouble, not responding to provocations and shutting the door firmly on uncivilised behaviour and racism.
We understand now fully who were the aggressors in Cyprus and why the Turkish Troops are necessary to stay there for a while longer. Can you imagine someone like Miss Fanoulla living next to a Turkish Cypriot neighbour??!! I certainly can’t.
Don’t try to export your uncivilised behaviour to our country. It’s not wanted.

Mon, 2010-03-01 22:24 — stuart shenel (not verified)

Ive been listening and hearing nothing but childish rubbish for so long..fisrtly the greeks started all the mess in the fisrt place.useing terror tacticks, and killing british soldiers, and any one that was english..So the greeks could take over and run cyprus for its self and kick every one thats not greek out??/And the greeks killed more turks then turks killed greeks..greeks have forgotton so many things, now they cry like little children who cannot have there sweets..Please grow up and lets live to gether.Becouse if the turks were so bad they could very easerly take over cyprus full stop..And when turkey wanted to join the EU. every one said but tukey is in asia.Then how the hell is cyprus joined to Europe..All i see is bad losers..Just like the serbs..You are all luky the Turks are gust race to let you all live..What if the OTTOMANS were still around hay????So put your prides to one side and make it work for every one,,Silly children...Over and out..Lets hear from peace makers from now on,,from both sides.I love both sides, So can yous..

Thu, 2007-10-25 16:55 — stoneman

Sol,

You have no idea what you are talking about.

Reports show a systematic destruction of not only Christian churches but also of other important heritage sites.

This tactic by Turkey is a long-established one. History has shown that first the Turks eliminate the people, then destroy their cultural heritage in order to deny the existence of the original people.

According to Orthodox Church records, about 500 churches have been destroyed or pillaged in the occupied north. The Church has already recovered, through a lengthy legal battle in America, priceless frescoes that were stolen from the occupied areas. Other efforts are underway to repatriate various religious relics.

Italian journalist Giovanni Ricciardi has just published a chronicle of the 1974 Turkish military invasion of Cyprus and its repercussions up to the recent past.

The largest part of the report describes the condition of Christian churches in occupied Cyprus and the destruction of other important cultural heritage sites.

Ricciardi also notes the destruction of non-Orthodox churches in the occupied area, belonging to Maronites, Armenians, and Catholics and stresses that if Turkey wants to join the European Union, it has to allow the repair and restoration of holy sites as a gesture of good will.

Similarly, Dr. Charalambos Chotzakoglou of the University of Athens has recently written on the illegal trafficking of antiquities and efforts to repatriate Cypriot treasures. The Professor of History of Byzantine Art at the University of Athens presented the results of the registration program of Christian churches in the occupied areas and, using photographic material, he chronicled the registration of the Christian monuments, the improper use of the churches and their conversion into barns, mosques and hotels.

Contrary to what you suggest, the most sacred Muslim shrine in the free areas of the Cyprus Republic, the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque outside Larnaca, has recently been restored.

It really is about time the Turkish Cypriots stood up for themselves and spoke out about the injustice of the Turkish occupation, their marginalisation by Anatolian settlers, and their isolation as a result of an illegal occupation supposed to be for their benefit. It's very sad that few Turkish Cypriots seem capable of expressing some shame and alarm at what has been done to their homeland in the name of The Turkish 'peace operation' in Cyprus.