Q. What were the thoughts or ideas or conclusions you had
during the 1974 war?
For a long time, we were neighbors with a Greek family, but
during this war they wanted to kill their Turkish neighbors.
When the 1974 war started all Greek soldiers wanted to kill all
the Turks on the island. And they wanted to kill their best
friends during this war.
Q. Did these thoughts or ideas or conclusions help you in
any way?
Yes. I understood that it wasn't secure to live together on
the same island. But now we are living separately on the same
island and I am afraid because at any time the new war will start
again. However, for a long time we didn't feel secure with
people, especially greek people.
Q. Were these thoughts or ideas or feelings or conclusions
a problem for you in any way?
Yes. I didn't go to a foreign country for a long time and
now I don't want to go because I'm afraid, and I don't want see
or meet Greek people.
Q. What feelings or emotions did you have at that
time?
I was badly affected because I didn't forget all these
terrible events. Every time I remember these events I am
unhappy.
Q. Did these feelings or emotions help you in any way?
Today, when the two governments (Turkish Republic of Cyprus
and Greek Republic of Cyprus) want to make peace, I don't agree
because it's impossible.
Q. Were these feelings or emotions a problem for you in
any way?
Yes. Now, when I hear a weapon shoot I think that the war is
beginning again.
Q. Did you have any questions or confusions at this
time?
Yes. I didn't know when the war would be finished. How many
days would this war continue? And what was the result?
Q. Did these questions or confusions help you in any
way? How did they help you?
Yes. I learned lots of things. During the war, lots of
people died and I learned to protected myself. We learned to
hide under the ground, we learned to store a lot of food and all
these things we learned to be provident.
Q. Were these questions or confusions a problem for you in
any way?
Yes. When I hear there is a war anywhere in the world I
remember our war. I become unhappy.
Q. Was there anything that happened during this time that
was helpful for you?
Yes. One night, 3 or 4 soldiers they came to my home and
they said; "Leave your home immediately." All the neighbors got
together and about 20 persons went to a little house and stayed
there. However there wasn't food because there wasn't a market
open.
Q. How did this help you?
These soldiers took us to the safe places and I always trust
all Turkish soldiers.
Q. Was there anything that happened during this time that
hurt you or got in your way or was a problem for you somehow?
Yes. My neighbor was shot near me by the Greek soldiers and
died, and another neighbor was wounded. My best friend's fiance
was a soldier and we heard that a bomb exploded in his area. And
my best friend became depressed, and then he learned that he was
O.K.
Q. How did this hurt you or was a problem for you?
I didn't get news from my fiance because he was a soldier and
I was anxious, but some time later I got some news and I learned
that he was all right.
Q. Is there anything in your experience during this time
that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
Yes. We learned first aid, we learned to protect ourselves,
to make food for the soldiers and most importantly we learned to
share all pains and joys.
Q. Is there anything you else you would like to say about
your experience during this time?
Yes. War isn't a beautiful thing. The best think is not to
fight each other. The most important thing is peace.
Q. Is there anything you would like to say about the
questions I have asked or the style of the interview itself?
When you ask these questions all my memories are refreshed.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation: Retired
Age: 42
Sex: Female
Nationality: TRNC
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Gonyeli,
Nicosia
Where lived during the events described during the interview:
Nicosia.
Occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in
household when growing up: Father's occupation was shoe-maker.