Turkey invaded Cyprus during the Ottoman Empire in 1570 where no Turks were living on the island and occupied it until 1878. Over 100,000 Greek Cypriots were killed and over 20,000 Greek Cypriots were forced to convert to Islam and a lot of them into exile. There is strong evidence that a lot of Greek Cypriots were forced to change their religion and their names to stay alive.
Below is a list of 22 villages with names of Greek Saints that 15 of them were wholly inhabited by Turkish Cypriots, six of them in majority and one in minority. One village named Elea (which means olive tree in Greek and in Greek symbolises peace) was fully inhabited by Turkish Cypriots. I must point out that the Turks do not believe in Saints and they do not have any Saints. There is strong evidence that all these villages were built and inhabited by Greek Cypriots for over 2,000 years, but were forced to change their religion and their names to survive when Turkey invaded Cyprus the first time in 1570 to 1878. All those Turkish Cypriots who lived in these villages until 1974 where descendants of Greek Cypriots-a DNA test can assure this. This is also the reason why the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots have had good relations and communications. Further evidence to this, is that the Turkish Cypriots are different from the Turks from mainland Turkey. Turkey knowing all these after the invasion in 1974, tried very hard to force the Turkish Cypriots population in Cyprus to leave the country. The Turkish Cypriot population until the invasion in 1974 was over 120,000 and today they are down to 78,000. This is an indication that Turkey did not invade Cyprus for the protection of the Turkish Cypriots as it has fiercely claimed but for other self and foreign benefits.
Prior to the invasion by the Ottoman Empire in 1570 there were no Turkish Cypriots living in Cyprus. Cyprus was inhabited for over 2,000 years by Greek Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriots are mainly descendants of Greek Cypriots (who were forced to change their religion and their names to survive) and some Turkish army personnel who decided to settle in Cyprus permanently after the invasion in 1570.
The Cyprus government since the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960 has continuously financially supported the Turkish Cypriots, without receiving anything in return (such as income or land taxes). In the year 2005 alone, the Cyprus government has given them over 600,000,000 euros, with similar amount given and increasing every year.
The Lausanne Treaty which was established in 1923 with the articles 16, 20 and 21 has abandoned Turkey to have any rights in Cyprus. One of the reasons was the genocide and drama they created in Cyprus during 1570 to 1878 as mentioned above. In 1955 Britain involved Turkey in the Cyprus problem and since that the climate changed. Turkey organised Turkish Cypriots extremists against the Greek Cypriots. Turkey’s aim, who had the support of Britain and America, was the partition of Cyprus. Taking all these into account, the United Nations and the International Community should force Turkey to implement the United Nations Resolutions and withdraw all the troops and settlers from Cyprus immediately and leave the two communities, Greek and Turkish Cypriots, to live in peace and harmony as they used to live for over three centuries.
The British and American governments, who are well aware of all these, should stop supporting Turkey. I do not believe that it is beneficial for them to stand in that way against a small country who as suffered for thousands of years not only from Turkey but from a lot of other enemies. I strongly believe that the British and Americans would elevate their reputation if they help Cyprus and Greece in general achieve freedom and justice.
The whole world knows about the Greek history, which is democracy, freedom, justice and liberty. Greeks do not want to attack anyone and occupy land which is not theirs as Turkey does; rather Greeks are looking for peace and harmony with their neighbours. It is time for Turkey to follow Greece’s example especially if they want to join the European Community. Greece and Cyprus were very generous to Turkey-they did not use their veto to object Turkey’s entrance in the European Community. No discussions should take place with the European Community before Turkey withdraws from Cyprus. Hoping that Turkey, Britain and America will change their policy regarding Cyprus and look forward to peace for the sake of everyone. Also please find the following list of names of villages with names of Saints which were forced to convert to Islam during the Ottoman Empire 1570-1878.
VILLAGES POPULATION (Ayios/Ayia means Saint)
NICOSIA area
1. Ayia 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
2. Ayios Sozomenos 85 per cent Turkish Cypriots
3. Ayii Alifotes 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
LIMASSOL area
4. Ayios Thomas 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
KYRENIA area
5. Ayia Irini 75 per cent Turkish Cypriots
6. Ayios Chariton 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
PAFOS area
7. Ayios Ioannis 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
8. Ayios Georgios 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
9. Ayios Nikolaos 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
10. Ayia Varvara 50 per cent Turkish Cypriots
11. Ayios Isidoros 85 per cent Turkish Cypriots
LARNAKA area
12. Ayia Anna 75 per cent Turkish Cypriots
13. Agios Theodhoros 75 per cent Turkish Cypriots
MORPHOU area
14. Ayios Theodhoros 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
15. Ayios Georgoudhi 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
16. Ayios Epifanios 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
17. Elea 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
18. Ayios Ioannis (Selemani) 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
FAMAGUSTA area
19. Ayios Andronikos 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
20. Ayios Iakovos 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
KARPASI area
21. Ayios Evstathios 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
22. Ayios Andronikos 15 per cent Turkish Cypriots
23. Ayios Symeon 100 per cent Turkish Cypriots
*Christos Violaris is a former treasurer of the Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria and former teasurer and foundation member of (SEKA) Melbourne and Victoria.
