How would you make life easier for both sides?

MickSturbs


Joined: 23/12/2009
Posts: 110

Message Posted:
25/03/2010 23:16

With all talks going on, north and south how would you try to make life easier for both sides, what would help?



I will start off with 2 suggestions.



1. Mobile phone use island wide. (Mustaphas' wife wants to know where he is as well as Costas' wife.)



2. Childrens' competitive football teams going either side of the border. (Let the young show the oldies how it should be done)

Look forward to the suggestions, helpful ones only please.



MickSturbs

everon


Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 956

Message Posted:
25/03/2010 23:18

please can we have all the fab shops and stores x

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
25/03/2010 23:44

1. Currency Turkish Lira on both sides.



2.Direct flights into a new airport in Lefkosa

MickSturbs


Joined: 23/12/2009
Posts: 110

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 10:05

Now this thread got lost somewhere. Would all of the above be acceptable by both sides. If neither side gain this is where one side has tantrums!



Although the way the Greeks and their Euro are going.....

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 15:15

Message 1. The childrens football game is a great idea.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 17:15

Music is a great healer too... an island-wide music festival with musicians entertaining mixed audiences north and south...



I'm working on bringing this off...

NanaJan



Joined: 15/10/2009
Posts: 90

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 17:25

I think a big food festival with marquees offering buffet type food and both cultures providing the food and inviting each other to attend perhaps in mutual ground. A bit like the programmes that the "Hairy Bikers" did recently on the British TV where they asked families to provide a recipe from their culture and bring it to the tented village to all share the food and menus.

The bring a plate events have often been a big success on our compounds in the Middle East where every nation joined in to unite us for an evening.

MickSturbs


Joined: 23/12/2009
Posts: 110

Message Posted:
27/03/2010 11:48

Nice one Groucho, I like that one... keep us informed.



NanaJan, another good idea.



If just one small think like this will help join the communities together, it could probably make politicians redundant.



Oops... bet they will have an argument both sides for that one! Back to the drawing board!!

Carndi


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 613

Message Posted:
27/03/2010 14:10

My grandaughter lived with us and has a Turkish Cypriot boyfriend and they along with their friends would go to the discos at Ia Napa ( spelling ) on Saturdays.

When I asked her about their ( The Greek Cypriots ) attitude to them she told me that when they arrrive at the disco the DJ always announce their arrival by saying '' Here are our friends from the north '' and they always get a round of applause,which she said always embarrased her at first.

I think that to unite a country,you first have to unite the people and here,as in my country, Ireland/Northern Ireland, it will only be done through the young.

Music and sport are a common language so perhaps that is the road to go down BUT it will not be done quickly. It will take time.

Izzet



Joined: 01/12/2006
Posts: 920

Message Posted:
27/03/2010 18:43

This is a nice thread. I am making this sticky.



Please let's try to keep this from political affairs.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
27/03/2010 21:09

What about an open day with food from both sides, music from both sides and a Football Match for the children?

Texas


Joined: 22/09/2009
Posts: 634

Message Posted:
27/03/2010 21:20

1.

All Government employees at the "crossing points" could be especially polite and pleased to see and welcome everyone.



2.

Change car registration plates to something that cannot identify whether it's from the North or South.



3.

All restaurants in tourist areas to have menus in Greek and Turkish.



4.

Abolish "Army type" excercises. (This has already started to happen).



5.

Close down forums that allow posts relating to hatred of the other side.



6.

Turkish speaking "tourist police" in the South, and vice-versa.

zookeeper


Joined: 17/03/2010
Posts: 168

Message Posted:
27/03/2010 22:16

Common public holidays island wide. Everyone would benefit from more days off work.

MickSturbs


Joined: 23/12/2009
Posts: 110

Message Posted:
28/03/2010 00:12

Thank you Izzet, much appreciated. It is places like this where opinions can be aired to see if any way forward can proceed, you never know someone might pinch one of these ideas and go that step forward. Does it matter? If it makes progress then, no it doesn't.



Carndi, that is a superb reception from one side to the other and must be nurtured and I do agree with you that it will take a long time but one concert, one match, then the ball could start rolling. Who is going to be the first to start. It will come from the young, but when?

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
28/03/2010 09:29

Mick I like the ideas put forward, I agree it will be the young who will take it forward,Like Carndi being Irish we have seen it happen there and i always think this is so much like ireland, all we can do is live in hope.

MickSturbs


Joined: 23/12/2009
Posts: 110

Message Posted:
28/03/2010 23:32

Yes Texas I agree with suggestions 1, 3, 4, 5 & 6. No. 1 would definitely be a bonus to us Brits as well!



Zookeeper, this might be a problem, nowhere would be open, as it stands at the moment when one side is closed then the other is open and vice versa. Best of both worlds as it stands!



Yes Liz I agree with you, lets hope it happens sooner rather than later, all the opportunities should be taken, now!

CyprusChill


Joined: 08/05/2009
Posts: 666

Message Posted:
29/03/2010 01:10

The Turtles love the Island of Cyprus and nature knows best. Locals, Students and Volunteers from all over the world have a caring passion for there survival and protection.



A common tourist and information group that portrays all that is Cyprus North, East, South and West. A benefit to commercial gain for all to share and improve on.



Investment, imagination and design to reflect the people and community spirit at the open borders.



A joint charitable organisation that supports the youth of the country in learning scholarships and sport.



An understanding and promotion that i or we love Cyprus means the whole of the Island.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
29/03/2010 11:33

Maybe Direct Trade and open ports would help x

Carndi


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 613

Message Posted:
29/03/2010 12:00

If anyone was to actively pursue a project to ' start the ball rolling ' an approach to the UN would be of great help.

Through them other orginistions would / could become involved and they would be able to contact like minded people on the other side.

As we have seen in Northern Ireland small groups of dedicated people can achieve great things.

Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan who achieved so in Ireland are people who spring to mind.

From both side of the divide they were like minded and are proof that it can be done.

If there are any from the Greek Cypriot side who read this and think it possible,then perhaps we could have their thoughts.

Small steps can lead to great things.

LondonCypriot


Joined: 15/12/2008
Posts: 426

Message Posted:
29/03/2010 13:22

How about re opening the Nicosia International Airport where both Greek and Turkish Cypriot can jointly manage the airport. This can build confidence, hope and trust for both communities

MickSturbs


Joined: 23/12/2009
Posts: 110

Message Posted:
30/03/2010 15:35

Yes the resemblance between Ireland and Cyprus is very similar and we all know how long that took to get it together. So we are looking at the youth of today.



CyprusChill like some of your ideas, a flag with a united pair of turtles on it could be a flag for progress.



Tourists for the whole of Cyprus, yes.



A charity organisation for the youth to be promoted is a plus, I wonder could something like this be instigated by the presidents wife, North & South.



LondonCypriot, a contribution from the EU/UN probably to get this started, to provide jobs, building and tourism, good idea.



Keep it rolling.