Cyprus - The "Green Line" is an unnatural border dividing the capital city of Nicosia. For the past 30 years, Turkish Cypriots in the north and Greek Cypriots in the south have lived separate lives on the same island. The opening of the Green Line in 2003 allowed Cypriots on both sides to cross to their former homes, which they had fled due to conflict decades before. Thousands crossed.

Hopes for a reunited Cyprus were dashed in 2004 when Greek Cypriots voted down the Annan Plan, which would have allowed all Cypriots to enter the European Union together. Instead, Greek Cypriots entered the EU with their motherland, while Turkish Cypriots were left behind. Negotiations with Turkey for entry into the EU are currently underway.

returning to their former homes. Also, if we succeeded to get a double ‘yes’ on the referendum, we would join the European Union as a single Cyprus, not a divided one. If the plan was rejected, we would postpone our hopes for a long time. We were shocked when 65% of Turkish Cypriots voted ‘yes’ for the Annan Plan, but 76% of Greek Cypriots voted 'No.' I still do not understand why this happened.

I felt betrayed...You do your best, risk both you and your family's lives to make peace, only to be rejected from the other side. I wanted to cry and at that moment I saw a dear friend standing in the crowd with a sign saying 'We want to enter the EU with the Turkish Cypriots.' When our eyes met we started crying and hugged. She was ashamed her community had said no. We met with friends from both sides and promised each other that we would meet again and make plans to continue our struggle for peace in this country.

I am writing what I suffered but not in an effort to show what Greeks had done to us. I know that most of them suffered the similar tragedies. But I find I am tired of seeking answers even to my most simple questions. As we are all humans, why are we fighting each other for differences we created like nations, religions or languages. Isn't it better to live every single minute in peace and happiness without a fear of fighting and wars?

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...Even when I smile, no warmth is reflected in my eyes. I have concluded that I should blame Cyprus; my country. If you live on an island that has never witnessed real peace, happiness looks like a magic ball. You can't be sure when you will hold it and how long it will be before it slips from your hands. Even when I feel happy something in my brain makes me worry about what will come next...

... In 2002, United Nations Secretary Kofi Annan introduced a plan for the ultimate solution of Cyprus. Although the Turkish side rejected the plan, the Greek side said they could negotiate. So, the Turkish Cypriot community started a social revolution against the regime with huge demonstrations. More than 60,000 people out of about 200,000 Turkish Cypriots joined the first one. I cry when I remember thousands of people shouting "Peace in Cyprus."

...On April 23, 2003, the two sides opened the Green Line, lifting the law forbidding us to pass to the other side. We were happy but shocked....after twenty nine years we could visit our former homes.

When I arrived at my aunt's old house my heart was nearly bursting, but it had changed and it seemed smaller...I imagined my aunt, uncle and cousins living there but felt nothing. The only memories left were the ones in my own mind.

....I never felt right calling the Greek home we have lived in the north my own home. When the borders opened, I awaited my landlords but they never came, even though my husband and I were ready to give them keys to the house.

...Our hopes to reunite Cyprus died on April 24th, 2004, the day of Annan Plan referendum. If the plan was accepted by both communities, Cyprus' problem would come to an end with many people