"Comment - The Cyprus problem: ideas, realities and might
By Dr Ozdemir A. Ozgur
THE CYPRUS problem is intrinsically related to, and affected by, the factors of ideas, realities and might. It is related to all of three, and not just one of them.
As I have indicated in my study on the �Cultural aspects of the Cyprus Problem� (Cyprus Law Review, July-September 1989, pp. 4207-27 and later in Thetis 9, Mannheim, 2002, pp. 205-17), Greek political culture is very much idea-oriented; it is stuck mainly to ideas, theories, principles and even mythology. This has been so ever since the ancient Greek political philosophies (Plato�s ideal state). In short, the Greek mind evaluates things according to the universal and the perfect; the ideas have a reality of their own. The unrealistic nature of Greek politics was the gist of an article entitled �The need for total change of behaviour� by C. Kitromilides in Philelefteros (19 September 1990). Greeks have an idealistic fervour and simultaneous duality of purpose in mind, which can at the same moment encompass two contradictory ideas. The Greek mind sees the particular object but understands is it terms of the idea. On the other hand, Turkish political culture has always been more reality and might-oriented. When the ancient Greek philosophers were promulgating their ideas, the Turks were in Central Asia on horseback with their swords preparing for the Ottoman Empire. In the past, might meant right, as verified by Alexander the Great too."
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