Sokaktan

Istanbul - Mustafa Ocaklioglu (30),works in the tourism sector: Abolishing death penalty is a positive step. Kurdish is already being spoken so things won't be much different. But Turkey has to preserve its own culture. We should be able to join the EU without losing our culture.
KKTC- Mustafa Isık (48): I hope these EU-reforms will be a catalyst for the solution of the Cyprus problem. There should be freedom everywhere. We should live in freedom.

Siirt- Guven Kuzu (35), head of the chamber of commerce: Very positive. I guess it's good that they are now allowing Kurdish broadcasts. It won't change my life but my country will be taking a step towards becoming a better country.

Istanbul- Ahmet Celik (33), shoe salesman: I am against abolishing death penalty. One, who commits a crime, should be punished. There should be Kurdish language classes but the Ministry of National Education should not be teaching Kurdish. I am against joining the EU. They are trying to bring us under their hegemony.

Siirt- Cemal Silah (43), bank manager: I honestly don't believe that the EU will accept Turkey as a member with its present social structure and economic situation.

KKTC- Ibrahim Oyman (41): (The EU-reforms) represent a new era for Cyprus and Turkey. But still, we don't know whether there will be an agreement or not. We are happy that the parliament passed the reforms but how is this whole thing going to end?

Istanbul- Nuran Alay (28), secretary: I want to join the EU, but yet only my grandchildren would be able to see that day. It is important for us that democratic laws were passed. The death penalty and the ban on Kurdish education should have been abolished a long time ago.

Siirt- Emin Tutar (36), works in a parking lot: The new laws that were passed are positive. EU will be the salvation of Turkey. We will join the EU.

KKTC- Aslı Egemen (23): We are now more hopeful about the Cyprus problem. We hope that this conflict, that has been going on for years, comes eventually to an end. We hope there is peace on the island soon, because we are running out of hope.

Istanbul- Yunus Yalcin (22), unemployed: Abolishing death penalty is the salvation of humanity, the beginning of a new era. Repealing the ban on Kurdish education is fertilizing a tree. The tree can now produce fruits. Joining the EU will bring freedom to us.

KKTC- Iznur Donmez (24): Why should we care about the EU laws if they will not bring a solution to the Cyprus problem. If we join the EU, all the insistence will end.

Istanbul- Yuksel Derdiyok (25), painter: Abolishing death penalty is bad. The rapists should be executed instead of being kept in prisons. I am Kurdish. I want my language to be spoken. Joining the EU will not change anything as long as we have these parties in power.

Siirt- Muttasim Aydin (50), internal revenue official: I want Turkey to join the EU. But I don't think they will accept us. The biggest obstacle is our being Muslims.

KKTC- Fusun Aroglu (42): I want the barriers to be removed. Of course we have things to lose, but we have more to gain.

Istanbul- Zeki Karaguc (43), banker: I want Turkey to join the EU but I am against abolishing death penalty. The U.S. attacked Afghanistan because of the attacks on its Twin Towers. We could have joined the EU after the executions. Repealing the ban on Kurdish education is positive. We are a civilized country.

Siirt- Nedim Kuzu (47), architect: There will be positive developments in our lives in terms of human rights. We will join the EU.

KKTC- Tolga Kinacı (23): A man like Apo, should definitely have been killed. All my friends are unemployed. Our hopes are fading day by day. What will change if we join the EU?

Istanbul- Aynur Oneren (40), housewife: Joining the EU would comfort us. And abolishing death penalty is also a positive step. We wouldn't have a chance of joining the EU if we had not (abolished death penalty). It is a positive step to allow education in mother tongues. Our children will be able to watch TV more comfortably from now on.

KKTC- Gulsun Karaduman (60): I am upset about the abolishing of death penalty. My two brothers and my wife are martyrs. A county that does not give me my rights will never get better.

Istanbul- Berna Bayram (20), student: I think the regulations are positive. They will comfort us a little. I am hesitant about the abolishing of death penalty. Death penalty should be implemented accordingly. Kurdish was already being spoken.

KKTC- Taylan Avcibasi (62): For us, the most important thing is the Cyprus problem. We should not let them smash Cyprus. We don't want to go back to the old days.

Istanbul- Erdal Balikci (22), security guard: Death penalty was not implemented anyway. (Allowing Kurdish education rights) is not that important. Everybody should be able to speak and write in his or her own language. The EU would not accept us, but if we can join the EU, our lives would become much easier.

KKTC- Ayse Isisal (45): Our only hope is that these EU laws will bring a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Istanbul- Suna Akar (36), pollster: Passing democratic laws would be beneficial for all of us. Nobody can get anywhere by banning people's languages. These laws will also make it easier for us to join the EU.""

KKTC- Ramadan Uzundag (40): We want peace as soon as possible. We don't want to migrate.

KKTC- Ufuk Tekin (20): Turkey did the best by making this decision.We now expect peace on the island. We are tired of being treated as second-class citizens when entering or leaving the country.

KKTC- Kemal Varoglu (16): We had better have a solution soon because if not, we will migrate out of this country. We have had enough of the unemployment on the island. We are being crashed under the ever-increasing foreign currency.

KKTC- Nihal Duzgun (15): We, the young people, are very happy about the passing of the EU-reforms. There definitely will be a solution, and there should be anyway.

* The opinions from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) were taken from Kibris newspaper, August 07, 2002.