By Dimitris Kyriakou *:
Dear Varosians, the republishing of this emotional article takes place after the latest events and with the urge to persuade you to return to your land and homes even under Turkish Cypriot rule. It will be an opportunity to prove that we can live together, that we still love our country much more than we did here in exile, and that we as a people are tired of fairy tales and slogans.
I was sixteen years old in 1974. I was a child when we were forcibly expelled from our village in Kyrenia, or better when we left in a hurry, by any means possible, so as not to be trapped. As of noon on Black Wednesday, the information was spread that the defense line in Miamilia had been broken. We left with fellow villagers, we did not wait for the grandfather and the father. They came two months later, after living horrible days of captivity and constant movement. Like everyone else, we lived in settlements and foreign villages that "hosted" us. We all waited and hung from the radios and televisions in the cafe to be told when we would be back. The first UN resolutions filled us with hope…
Grandpa was constantly in tears and speechless. It first showed some joy in 1977, when the Makarios-Denktash summit agreement was announced. Now we will be back soon, he kept saying. Nothing. He returned to withering. He laughed again and showed joy in 1978. American-Canadian design. The Cyprus problem is being solved. Turkey was cramped. An end to the suffering of refugees. Greater joy with the Kyprianou-Denktash summit agreements. Now the solution is definitely coming. Nothing. New resolutions of hope. Nothing again. It was the others' fault.
My grandfather died of wilting in 1981.
We built makeshift houses with a lot of effort. Work began, but the father was hesitant. Where to open again, he said. and if we suddenly turn back. And he was sure that we were going back to 1983. The Gujarat indicators would solve the Cypriot problem, there were no settlers, the Turkish Cypriots wanted it and the conditions were in our favor. Instead we came to the proclamation of the pseudo-state. The father bought some goats and slowly the work spread. He married children, new families, I left for studies, the others worked and the conversations about our villages became thinner. Only the father keeps there. We will return, see where we will return. He was very happy in 1992. Ideas Galli. Very good solution !!! Nothing. The same again and damn it from the beginning. Resolutions were increasing σαμε We have reached 2004, Annan plan. We did not return but 90.000 refugees were returning. Be that as it may, others may go later, even under Turkish Cypriot rule. Nothing. The father withers again. We have joined the European Union! we will let her understand Turkey! We will save the credibility of the European Union. Especially now that we will produce our own oil… (since then we pay it at three times the price).
The father died in 2005. He managed to see the village on a visit full of tears and grief.
Another ten years have passed since then. Two of my older brothers and the youngest died. Neither the president of the solution nor the one before him dared to proceed to a substantive discussion and solution. Generalities only. Committees and announcements. And it was all the others' fault.
New president of solution, dude and staratos. Figs - figs and the boat - boats. New hopes and the solution close, especially after the election of the real Cypriot Mustafa Akinci. (where we should have called him as vice president of the Republic of Cyprus and see the mouths that we would close) but what time for the Cyprus issue. Political crises. Economic crises, social crises and of course as a side effect the psychological crises for all of us. Where mind for solution. Nothing.
The good patriot Alexis Galanos also died.
I am now over sixty years old and all of you who became refugees at your pure age in 1974. I have no hope anymore. He dies late every day. I am afraid that I too will die my dear Anna, flag of Famagusta, in anticipation of the solution. Because, dear Varosians, it is certain that my children, our children will no longer care for a solution.
So take hope and save it from death for the proverb to apply.
* Dimitris Kyriakou from Hartzia, Kyrenia. A refugee who wants a solution, because it is certain that some do not want it.