49 years on. Why I am more optimistic about reunification.

The irony or perhaps not, of me writing this on the 20th of July, 49 years after the Turks have invaded does not allude me. However, so often so many are so pessimistic about the future of reunification and its prospects. We live in a free country, so please express your disagreement with me, and if you have any issues with any of my arguments, I am always happy and open to hear counter points. Without further-ado, why I am more hopeful about reunification and its prospects than ever before.

**1) Erdogan. The snake.**

Yes, the re-election of Erdogan is the reason I am starting off with as to why I am bullish on Cypriot reunification. And this is more than that Erdoganidis meme, how Erdogan is a secret agent for Cyprus. There are two main genuine arguments I have because of this.

**A) Economy is going down.** Although Turkey has finally hiked interest rates, this makes it all the more likely their economy will face a recession, and a deep one at that. They don’t have much debt, at least not government debt, so that wont be an issue. The worse the Turkish economy is off (and the lira collapses further) the better for Pro-unification candidates (Tatar being the exception) [(1) Occupied Area Mayoral Elections Results : cyprus (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/cyprus/comments/zv5cj1/occupied_area_mayoral_elections_results/) As their economy worsens. And the quality of life worsens, Cypriot reunification is looking an increasingly better option for them. Especially as Cyprus itself is getting better (See point 2). So Erdogan mismanaging the economy, is acting as a push factor away from Turkey and a pull factor towards us.

*Anecdote: I don’t have facts to back up everything I am saying, but every time I go to the Occupied lands / Northern side of the island, things seem to be getting poorer, don’t see as much construction, the products seem to be slightly worse off in quality, and everything just seems to be slightly poorer. Can’t explain it, perhaps its just a bias, maybe someone agrees with me.*

**B) The snake.** There is no more lying, back-stabbing, two-faced politician than Erdogan. He can call Israelis butchers, and then meet with their Prime Minister. Talk shit with the Armenians and then normalize relations. Call El Sisi a dictator and then meet and shake his hand. Dido what he did with all the Gulf monarchies he had problems with before, and now we see with his “turn” to the West. If he gets desperate enough, he has no problem throwing anyone under the bus, and now that he has been re-elected, he won’t really face any issues should he “abandon” the Turkish Cypriots, if doing so becomes politically convenient and stop supporting their puppet regime financially or militarily.

*Anecdote: I usually notice that big countries with ethnic minorities abroad, care rather little for said minorities. Most Russians care little about the Russian, in the post-ussr, the Armenians “care” about their diapora only so much. And from the Anatolian Turks I’ve spoken to, even the most nationalistic ones, they only care very little about their plight. (I am however always happy to have my opinions challenged)*

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**2) The Republic is getting better**

Despite the pessimism and doomerism many exhibit, I have noticed many positive trends in legitimate territory of the republic. The economy is growing, slowly, but surely we are experincing 3-4% GDP growth, and you can see this growth anywhere you go. (Try and hire a builder rn, I swear to god, construction is just booming currently, and that wasn’t the case just a decade ago). The reputation of Cyprus is getting better, we are seen less as laundromat for foreign money entering the EU. Real reforms have been done in recent years, and after almost 20 years in the EU we are increasingly seen as modern, forward-looking European country. Its increasingly difficulty for those who wish to disuade the T/Cs from reunification.

This is most evident by how many international flights have opened up from Cyprus, especially to places like France and Scandinavia, and also by the fact that according to the 2021 Census, 21% of the population in RoC controlled territory are non-Cypriots (some also naturlized and are counted as Cypriots, but thats probably around 1-2% of the population). People are increasingly coming here to create companies and for jobs and opportunities. Its also a giant counter argument, to those arguing that G/Cs are racist, or bloodthursty etc. The Republic already has a large non Greek Cypriot part of the population, no harm will occur to them or any other ethnic minority should the Turkish army leave.

*Anecdote: Most of this was an anecdote, but I am increasingly hearing alot more foreign languages in Cyprus, and alot of people I speak to outside of Cyprus have an improcing opinion of the island, I recently saw some Cyprus tourism billboards in France, and generally, the country seems to be having an uplift in its reputation.*

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**3) The communities are getting closer**

I’ve read a good book recently, about how we shouldn’t focus on great man history, ordinary people play a far bigger role than we think. And fundamentally the two communties are getting closer and closer. Both have a high % of English-speakers allowing for ease of communication between the two groups, nowadays if you want to speak to a Cypriot from the other side of the green line, its never been easier than ever. Trade across the green line is increasing [Green Line trade at a high but restricted – Financial Mirror](https://www.financialmirror.com/2022/10/16/green-line-trade-at-a-high-but-restricted/). And generally the situation is improving, the number of people who hold this vitriol hatred of the other is getting less and less as years go on. Germany and France used to be bitter enemies, now they are the closest of allies. Time heals old wounds. Yes the invasion was terrible and ruined many lives, and many died. That is the past, and it should not be forgotten. But we should not fixate on the past, or carry over this inter-generational hatred of the other. People talk, and increasingly there is less animosity towards one another on a personal. On a human level.

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by TheoryOfHistory