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Letter : Cyprus: unite or divide?

Sinan Akinal
Sunday 18 August 1996 23:02 BST
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Sir: The article "Greek Cypriot 'martyr' given hero's funeral" (17 August) revealed clearly why Turkish Cypriots have no expectation that the Greek Cypriot side is capable of making a positive contribution to the efforts for a lasting solution to the problem in Cyprus.

The coffin of the Greek Cypriot who was killed during the recent demonstrations was "draped in a Greek [not Cypriot!] flag". You also quote Archbishop Chrysostomos urging the Greek dignitaries present at the funeral to "help us sing the Greek [again, not Cypriot!] national anthem in Kyrenia". Kyrenia is on the northern side of the island, where the Turkish Cypriots live.

Turkish Cypriots, while wanting to be equal partners in a truly independent Cyprus, do not wish to be a powerless minority in an island that becomes part of Greece. As long as Greek Cypriots are unable to accept a definition of a Cypriot identity that includes the legitimate aspirations of the Turkish Cypriots, the island is bound to remain divided.

Perhaps the only way forward is to accept the existence of two nation states on the island rather than work towards a unitary federal state that treats the Turkish Cypriots as equals in every way, something which seems unacceptable to the Greek Cypriots.

SINAN AKINAL

Manchester

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