Cypriot artist, Ismet Vehit Guney, who designed the Cyprus flag still used by the Southern Cyprus Greek Administration 44 years later, does not plan to demand that he design the new flag of a 'United Cyprus' if a solution is reached on the island.
Guney, who was born in Limasol in 1923, wants new generations to draw the 'new Cyprus' flag.
When asked if Greek-Cypriots know that their flag was designed by a Turkish-Cypriot, Guney said most Greek people did not know it and added: "Administrators know it, but they destrpued all of the documents after they separated from us. Now it is not 'officially' clear that I designed the flag; however, former Greek leader, Makarios, had a principal clerk that seems to have included this fact in a book he wrote."
Makarios liked the flag that Guney designed for Cyprus Republic which was formed jointly by Turkish Cypriots and Greeks in 1960. Guney said 'there were 500 participants in the flag contest. Makarios liked my design very much and it was used after the selection. Makarios himself gave me the news-- he said I won and congratulated me. As an award he gave me 500 Cyprus liras. In addition, Makarios asked me to design 3 memorial stamps and the governmental Force emblem. I made these as well and they still use that emblem.'
The artists said Greeks who continued to use the old flag even though the Cyprus Republic collapsed in 1963, described Turkish people as 'rebellious' to the world. Guney, now a retired art teacher, lives with his wife, Tomris Guney, who is also a retired teacher.
ISTANBUL SINCE 1453
