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Cyprus: an island divided by the past

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Cyprus island has really confusing history and still its status is very complicated. It’s even visible: architecture in every town is so different, because this island was ruled by so many different empires.  And of course, today nation of Cyprus is not one type.

Island’s lands are divided between Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots and… British. Britain has two military bases which are officially its sovereign lands. Today, no one really has problems with British guys, but if we start to talk about Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, here we come to big troubles. They kinda… highly dislike each other. Especially, after 1974 when Turkish army entered the island and “took care” of  Northern part to ensure Turkish Cypriot independence from Greeks. Many people had to leave homes in both sides and move to ensure safety. And still, Northern part is official part of whole Cyprus, but it calls itself independent Turkish republic of Northern Cyprus. This “Cyprus issue” is one of the reasons which stops Turkey from becoming a part of EU. Also it creates problems for Greek part to get more advantages of EU membership (still not Shengen).

Both nations really dislike each other. From Turkish side, they more hate Greek government, than population. Greek Cypriots also hates Turkish government (they directly talks about Ankara), but also have many prejudices about Turks and Cypriot Turks in personal. I found them very Islamaphobic. They believe, that religion differences make Turks very aggressive and undeveloped.

Greeks blame Turks for not taking care of their churches in Northern part. It’s partly true, because most of the churches are or abandoned, or transformed to mosques. It’s really easy to do: just add a minaret on church and here you already have- Muslim praying house. Meanwhile in Greek side, mosques are not destroyed, but renovated, even there are almost no Muslims.

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People can freely travel to both sides, but different rules, different laws are making it too much complicated. Differences are obvious. Northern Cyprus is not as developed as Greek side. Good infrastructure and international companies can be found just in South part. Also, in North part it’s cheaper to shop (they are using Turkish lira), but in South part  it becomes more expensive (euros).

In North part main economy is …tourism. Not just simple tourism, but mostly- casino tourism. Maybe you know that in Turkey gambling is illegal, so people are travelling to Cyprus to have some fun. Its like a Las Vegas for them (as Batumi in Georgia, next to the border of Turkey).

I thought, maybe my time in Cyprus will let me to conclude about “Cyprus issue” and who’s fault it is. Finally, I guess, that …both sides are fault about current situation…and they will never be together. I don’t know how it was before separation, but now exist big cultural and development differences. So, it would be better to let Northern Cyprus to become an independent state, and 50 years old conflict would be over.

P.S. About Abkhazia I was thinking similar- Just let them to be, they can not join back Georgia. Too many shits are already done. I guess, that’s my usual opinion about this kind of issues “Just let them to be as they want”.  https://scontent-b-mxp.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p480x480/10292468_10204226384478888_7987230281239361096_n.jpg?oh=e6038c26a2c7f10ad163bf4bf5ad2565&oe=55142572https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p480x480/10277354_10204207422284845_4602202569204980158_n.jpg?oh=812271a544f0fd70e83b38503af79314&oe=551D3BB1&__gda__=1427315210_fbbf6ab1fdde706680d1eb76e71bce3e

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