The latest Jennifer Lopez incident revealed how far we are from the ultimate utopia of peaceful coexistence in Cyprus. Perhaps we have been spending too much an energy on concepts like peace,conflict resolution,reconciliation. Without a doubt these concepts evoke a bright future. Yet before fantasizing about that relatively problem free moment in some indeterminate future,we need to have the courage to look back,to confront our not so pleasant past on this island. Easier said than done of course.
I always felt awkward in the presence of people who like to point out the endless similarities between the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. Our eating habits are the same,we share similar values regarding the family,community and so the list goes on and on. Mostly such sentences are followed by a rhetoric people love to employ especially in bicommunal meetings. Accordingly Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots have always been on good terms,they led a peaceful life together in mixed villages until the external forces started meddling in the affairs of the little island of the Eastern Mediterranean. Such events usually end in people drinking and hugging their dear compatriots. Now that we have relieved ourselves from the burdensome responsibility of the notorious ‘problem’ and relegated it to the external actors,we might as well enjoy ourselves a bit.
This does not mean that there is no truth to this statement that external actors are to blame in creating and further deepening the conflict in Cyprus. Yet this is only a partial truth. Cypriots have no way of escaping from the responsibility of their tragic past. They were the ones who set up the homegrown nationalist organizations like the TMT,EOKA,EOKA-B. They were the ones who massacred,raped,tortured the members of the other community,all in the name of some sacred ideal. “We have always been friends” rhetoric amounts to nothing but dehistoricization.
Of course this does not absolve Turkey of its grave responsibility of the terrible events of 1974. It is a disgrace to refer to a partition operation that caused so much misery as the “Happy Peace Operation”. It is a disgrace to celebrate the anniversary of this so called “peace operation” by inviting world famous singers.
There can be no way out from this impasse we are in if we fail to acknowledge and take the responsibility of the human rights violations experienced by the other community. Just like the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey need to confront what the Greek Cypriots went through in 1974 and apologize for what happened,Greek Cypriots need to confront the reality that the problem in Cyprus did not start in 1974,it can not be reduced to a problem of occupation and the role of EOKA,EOKA-B and the Colonel’s Junta in Greece in the conflict can not be overlooked. Turkish Cypriots led an insecure,fearful and deprived existence in the enclaves after 1963 ,they had to be displaced not once but twice after 1963 and 1974. So each community had its share of agony and suffering. Unless we have the courage to confront the very evils within ourselves and take the responsibility of the atrocious crimes we committed,peace is doomed to become a honorable yet a hollow ideal.
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Dear Umut,no greek cypriot likes the Junta,even the Grivas supporters will claim that he resisted against them. The vast majority don’t like EOKA B either,and those who like them will say that they were misled,misguided etc etc. What we really need to confront as Greek Cypriots is Makarios,and his complicity in the collapse of constitutional order,his refusal to implement the municipalities law or reach any consensus with Kucuk. We need to talk about how supposed greek democrats like George Papandreou pushed this collapse of order into a return of the retoric of Enosis by sending the greek army division and Grivas as general chief of armed forces in 1964. We need to talk about how most army and policemen etc. were training in paramilitary groups after work and preparing for intercommunal violence in the months leading to December 1963. We’ve got little respect for the fascists. We now need to question the state mechanism itself,the “democrats”,“patriots”and the “law abiding citizens”of the 60s.
And we need to question todays alternatives and greens that have a Makariakos or a Grivikos just under the surface paint.
crucial question Umut.
i agree with Stelios
judging from the history education promoted by the two regimes (Eroglou’s textbooks,2009) and (Christofias’analytic programme for history education,2010) we are very far from it…
First of,calling EOKA a terrorist organization,is not what I would have expected from a person who wants to heal wounds,and to have both communities living in peace. Rather that is what I would have expected to hear from a nationalist or a person who has antidemocratic and Anti-Cypriot tendencies. Anyway,the Greeks in the island are ready for a democratic peace agreement so I don’t see a problem on their behalf or a threat of Greek nationalism being an obstacle to peace. Also,personally,I don’t care if the Turks never take full responsibility for everything they have done,so far that atleast today they stop their ongoing crimes and change a tone from fascism-nationalism and start being in favor for a reunification of the island in a democratic constitution. And genuinely wanting this new democracy to work.
However unfortunately the Turkish Cypriot Community is unable to do just that,because their biggest oppressors,and that is Turkey won’t lead them. Turkey hasn’t let a proper democracy to exist in the occupied teritories,and they never have shown any will to let the northern part of Cyprus live in a democratic regime. If anything both communities should stop looking into blaming each other and start looking into blaming Turkey. The Greeks had already done that and we have been critical in examining our past errors. Clearly today we don’t want enosis but democracy in all of the island.
Unfortunately,in my opinion you need a lot more balls to write the truth and blame Turkey,so it is easier to repeat the same nonsense about how both communities and most precisely the greek cypriots should see their responsibilities for past mistakes.
Today there is no EOKA C while Turkey still keeps the island partitioned. Certainly,I find it cowardly and not defining of a genuine need for reunification if one’s rhetoric does not focus upon pressuring Turkey and blaming Turkey.
That you may feel that Greek Cypriots in the past may have been responsible for bad things that happened to Turkish Cypriots,is ultimatly irrelevant to who currently is the biggest obstacle to reunification.
As for how I see things,well due to Turkey’s actions I ask my self Turkish Cypriots who ? Turkey had the occupied terittories (and even before 74,it still had Dectash) under its direct control with a fascist regime that destroyed any opposing voices. It tried and that is even before 74 to destroy the Cypriot from the Turkish Cypriot,and partion the island for its own imperialistic needs. It tried to destroy the Turkish Cypriot Community and to create a society under its complete control. And it has succeeded. Why would Turkey out of any countries agree to a democratic reunification of the island when even in the teritories under its own control it doesn’t allow real democracy ? Also,considering you come out of that society,it is hard to see you as trustworthy. Meaning that you genuinely want a reunified Cyprus and you don’t really want to benefit Turkish imperialistic designs. Or you consider the occupied teritories as your nation and you don’t want it to stop.
Personally,so far that Turkey is not even more greedy,I am not a nationalist and I am content that time will heal the wounds so far that we have our democracy. Questioning the history of the 60es and 70es is more fit for historical research or meaningless political fights,what we must focus upon is preserving our democracy.
What you should do,is first stop being a nationalist if you are one. I don’t know you,but considering the not free society where you are coming from you might just be one. If you are a Cypriot and not a puppet of Turkey,you obviously know who is more up to blame for our current mess. And most importantly your own mess. (Note,it isn’t Grivas since he is dead,it isn’t junta since that regime is also dead. Talat,well he might be up to
At the very least your article could work for that,considering Greeks know that it doesn’t apply to them,because they are already ready for both reunification and peace.blame.) Secondly,work for demoracy and third,I would want reunification,but I am not sure if you want it.
Before that happens fighting the fight against Turkey comes first. However it is incredibly hard in your case but also the only option,you have. Yes,you may get dumb Presidents like Christofias who accept undemocratic principles,but even he,and most importnatly us,won’t accept the full extend of what Turkey is asking. At the end of the day,since there is no Turkey here,we will have our democracy which we appreciate,and we will be able to live with it. In your case on the other hand,things don’t look so positive.
The ghosts of our past,is not what will bring a solution to the problem. The ghosts from your past on the other hand,show us who is the obstacle today. Because Turkey today is not a ghost like Grivas,Makarios,EOKA B and EOKA,and etc,which you think have wronged you. And Greeks will most likely respond with ”We don’t deny that we might have wronged you”,anyway. I hope this article was written with the intention to be used as pressure against Turkey.
Hello there!
This is a greek/cypriot speaking!
I want to say some things to the TurkishCypriots,and i am someone that supports a federal solution and i see T/Cypriots as an equal community and not as a minority
The last years i realised some things:
1.most greekcypriots will not accept a federal solution because they see it as a form of partition
2.most greekcypriots do not accept the equality of T/Cypriots but see them as minority.That is why will not accept a solution with political equality with a T/Cypriot (vice)president,neither a power sharing in central government nor two constituent states with equal status.
3. A solution that demands from G/Cypriots to give money to T/Cypriots will not be accepted.
4.most greek cypriots,that are not refugees like me do not have a reason to vote for (any) solution.
5.Nationalism is very high in BOTH communities and moderate Cypriots are still very few.
6.The possibility of an ‘agreed partition’is a bigger taboo than federation.
Although some greekcypriots support it rather than federation.
Most greekcypriots would still not support it and no greekcypriot politician would negotiate it.But even if some would dare to do it we would probably negotiate for another 36 years!
Conclusion:NO to federation,NO to agreed partition so…STATUS QUO WINS AMONG GREEKCYPRIOTS.
P.S. A possible 4th solution would be if T/Cypriots accept a return to the pre ’74 situation and accept the ’60s constitution with no veto,no separate election and in power sharing a 80-20 ratio and not something more.
Would the turkishcypriots choose that?
Thanks for the comments everyone. Stelios and Gregoris,my apologies for not responding earlier. I agree with what you say Stelios. Conte Cristo,I fear that we are heading towards a partition (or the status quo) because after the swing towards Right in the North I am concerned that most Turkish Cypriots will say no to a settlement as well as they are increasingly disillusioned about the peace process. But of course hope dies last,I am strongly hoping for a federal solution.
Now to Skorpion.Forgive me for the strong language I will employ to reply you,yet you left me no alternative. Let me start by your accusation of not having balls to write the truth and blame Turkey. First of all as a woman I find the usage of this language (which equates balls to courage) deeply sexist and insulting. Therefore I invite you to a more gender conscious and political correct way of expressing yourself.
I have always been quite explicit about my criticism of Turkey’s involvement in this island starting with the partition operation of 1974. I have been writing for Turkish Cypriot newspapers and like so many other colleagues of mine who define themselves on the Left openly declared my criticisms of the colonialist policies of Turkey towards the North of Cyprus. A generation before me who represents the progressive,pro-peace,leftist forces in the Turkish Cypriot community paid a heavy price for what they believe. They struggled to find jobs,they struggled to make ends meet,and all thanks to Turkey supported right wing governments. So do me a favour,before coming up with sweeping generalizations about the “Turks” and the Turkish Cypriot community,try to understand the different dynamics within it. No community is homogeneous,there are conflicting groups,sectors within every community and the same thing holds for the TC community as well. I don’t think you are quite aware of this fact though judging from your sentences. I am quoting with your permission:“Anyway,the Greeks in the island are ready for a democratic peace agreement so I don’t see a problem on their behalf”,“Also,personally,I don’t care if the Turks never take full responsibility for everything they have done,so far that at least today they stop their ongoing crimes and change a tone from fascism-nationalism and start being in favor for a reunification of the island in a democratic constitution. And genuinely wanting this new democracy to work”. Angel Greeks,Evil Turks. That’s what I call a refined analysis,indeed.
Now,if you read the article carefully you will recognize that I did not refer to EOKA as a terrorist organization. I defined EOKA,together with TMT as homegrown nationalist organizations. This does not mean that I deny the role of Turkey in setting up the TMT,but let’s face it;GC and TC men who were good friends up until the fifties when they became enemies and took part in either of these organizations. Nobody forced these Cypriots to act like this yet they did.
I do agree that more pressure should be put on Turkey for reunification and furthermore Turkey should be held accountable for what it did in 1974 but I am not naïve enough to think that this place will be a peaceful,rosy place once Turkey leaves and we reach some form of a settlement. This is exactly because both communities have so much baggage and it will take time to heal the wounds. I am also quite uneasy about this romantic perception of the peace loving Cypriots. Just recently a Nigerian man was beaten close to Makariou Avenue where the main police station is just around the corner. No one even went to get the police. And let me tell you that the same racist attitude holds against the poor workers from Anatolia in the North. Just look at how both the GC and TC communities are responding to humanitarian crises,human trafficking,refugees. With an absolute apathy and carelessness.
Now the allegation of me being a nationalist is taking this bit too far. I suggest you again read what you have written and be struck with an awareness of who really is a nationalist. You even went so far to say “What you should do,is first stop being a nationalist if you are one. I don’t know you,but considering the not free society where you are coming from you might just be one”. “Also,considering you come out of that society,it is hard to see you as trustworthy. Meaning that you genuinely want a reunified Cyprus and you don’t really want to benefit Turkish imperialistic designs”. What on earth makes you think that a dissident Turkish Cypriot who explicitly criticizes Turkey in a GC newspaper (this article was originally published in Politis in Greek) is benefiting from Turkish imperialist designs? I think you are not only a Greek Cypriot nationalist;you are also deeply ignorant about the internal dynamics of the GC and TC communities. Hope this reply becomes a wake up call for you.
Umut maybe you didn’t take my comments seriously and you didn’t answer if you would consider the 4th scenario.
In order to show you the gravity of the situation i will post here the (current) results from a conducted poll by the website of the greekcypriot newspaper POLITIS.
The question is:
‘After 36 years of invasion and occupation and the Cyprus issue remains unresolved,what do you think should be the strategy to solve it?’
1.bi-zonal bi-communal federation with political equality
receives 43 per cent/1381 votes
2.two-state solution(what i named above as agreed partition)
receives 26 per cent/835 votes
3. status quo
receives 9 per cent/302 votes
4. preparation for ARMED LIBERATION STRUGGLE
receives 18 per cent/577 votes
5. i don’t know/no answer
receives 4 per cent/145 votes
–total 3240 votes
CONCLUSION;The reason federation ranks first is because the newspaper is well-known for its support of a federal solution and in other polls is even lower in percentage(especially if it is related to Annan plan). In any case if this was a real referendum federation would still fell short since it needs a 55% at least.
The suprising (for me but maybe not for other G/Cs)is the ranking of two-states solution(second most popular) and the armed struggle as the 3rd most popular option.
@Conte Cristo
There are so many polls going around,not sure which one is reliable any more. The answer to your question whether the
“T/Cypriots would accept a return to the pre ’74 situation and accept the ’60s constitution with no veto,no separate election and in power sharing a 80-20 ratio and not something more”is no. Of course there is a minority that would prefer to be a part of the Republic of Cyprus but this group is not big enough to have any impact on the process. If you look at the official position of TC policy makers and Turkey,what they really want is a confederation yet they are compelled to negotiate along the lines of the UN parameters (bi-communal,bi-zonal federation). If the Turkish part has a red line that is this scenario you are mentioning,returning back to the pre-1974 situation and being represented in the state institutions as a minority.
You see this is not a new thing. Even though the two parties are negotiating according to the UN parameters,the TC side is pushing for a more confederal solution whereas the GC side is pushing for a more unitarian state,i.e the perpetuation of RoC,and TCs returning back to the RoC. Yet I don’t think either of them are options in the current conjuncture.
Of course i knew that most turkishcypriots would not choose what is the most favourable solution to greekcypriots:pre ’74 condition. that is why i say status quo is the temporary ‘solution’.
You are right that only federation is on the table now,as a compromise between the unitary state supported by the greek side and confederation supported by the turkish side
(and i will say it again that although the greekcypriot political elite ‘supports’federation as a sign of compromise the ordinary people still will vote against such a settlement-that’s reality)
but let’s see the leaders and their positions:
in 2004 Papadopoulos wanted unitary state and Denktash wanted a con-federation
the annan plan let’s say was a loose federation
–result:nobody wanted the plan
in 2006 Papadopoulos still wants unitary state and Talat loose federation.right?
–result:nothing
in 2008 Christofias who wants ‘STRONG’federation and Talat loose federation
–result:closer to solution but not close enough
in 2010 Christofias with strong federation and Eroglu with con-federation
–result:dead-end
in 1013 if Anastasiades-DISY who wants LOOSE federation gets elected as president of RoC and has Eroglu with con-federation then MAYBE we could have an agreement
or in 2015 if Talat returns who supports loose federation like Anastasiades then we could have bigger possiblities
conclusion:if Anastasiades and Talat are on the same table in 5 years from now(or were 5 years before),and if the world doesn’t turn upside down-which it will-,then we have a chance!
@Umut
I think your views are balanced and reflect fairly,in broad terms,what has happened over the years. That said,I also agree with others above that,although facing our collective past is important,our main concern should be finding a way forward.
I disagee that GCs are against any federal solution. GCs will accept a solution that is balanced,because they have a lot to gain from such a solution.
The main obstacle to a balanced solution,in addition to Turkey’s strategic interests,is the desire of TCs to secure “spoils of war”at the expense of their compatriots.
TCs are 18% of the population and own some 12% of land in Cyprus. Yet,in all negotiations,they demand to have near-sovereignty and Turkish/TC “purity”over 30% of land and 55-60% of coastline (which is the main/only wealth driver).
I believe that the following 2 are balanced solutions that would be acceptable to GCs at referendum –however,TCs/ Turkey reject these because of greed:
1. Annan-like plan (i.e. quasi confederation/securing ethnic purity) with adjusted territory i.e. 20-22% of land and coast to TCs and minor adjustments to guarantees (Turkey guarantees only TC state,EU and UN Ch 7 guarantees for GC state).
2. True federation per 70s agreements i.e. TCs administer 28-30% of territory but full human rights apply (including return of all refugees,properties,free movement etc),GC president &TC vice etc,effectively a federal version of the 1960 agreements with the 2 communities “formally”administering a separate area,but without guaranteed ethnic majorities,rights limitations etc.
As the above 2 options are rejected by TCs/ Turkey due to greed (even though they are more than “fair”to them),the status quo will continue.
This is because anything worse than the above 2 options is WORSE than EVEN the (bad) status quo,from the GCs perspective. Accordingly,the only possible change will happen if and when Turkey feels that Cyprus problem is becoming an obstacle in its EU aspirations.
”Πόσο αριστερή είναι η σημερινή αριστερή Κυβέρνηση τής Κύπρου;
How left is the current leftist government of Cyprus?
Πού ξανακούστηκε,και πότε ξανάγινε,ένα αριστερό κόμμα να αποδέχεται την καταπάτηση των βασικών δικαιωμάτων τής καταπληκτικής πλειονότητας ενός λαού και την παροχή υπερπρονομίων στη μειονότητα;
Where has it been heard,and when has it been done,
a leftist party to accept the violation of the basic rights of the great majority of a people and provide over-privileges to the minority?
Με βάση την κομουνιστική ιδεολογία,μερικοί πρόσκαιροι συμβιβασμοί επιτρέπονται,όμως ό,τι οι σύντροφοι επιχειρούν στην Κύπρο,με την εξίσωση τού 82% τού λαού με το 18% τής τουρκοκυπριακής μειονότητας,δεν διαφέρει σε τίποτε από πραγματικό ξεπούλημα.
Based on the communist ideology,some temporary compromises are permitted,but what the comrades are doing in Cyprus,with the equation of 82% of the people with the 18% of the Turkish Cypriot minority,is no different than a real sell-off.”
Extracts from an article written by Christodoulos Tzionis,
member of the 2004 Papadopoulos G/C negotiating team,published by Politis newspaper on friday the 6th of August(a few days ago)
I provided with the translation.
His views are very similar to those of most G/Cs that clearly reject POLITICAL EQUALITY of the T/C community,especially within the context of a settlement of the Cyprus issue.
@Sceptic
I do agree that the fundamental problem is the property issue. After 1974 Turkish Cypriots experienced an overall social mobility thanks to war plunder. Especially the right wing governments have been giving away GC property to their supporters,so many people who actually did not leave any property in the South got hold of these. Furthermore the Turkish settlers were given land especially in rural places.
I guess it’s not in the best interests of people to reach a settlement if they feel they will be losing these spoils of war. Yet,strangely during 2004,most people even those who would be relocated and lose their properties said yes to the Annan Plan. The property issue became more complicated after 2004. Suddenly a mushrooming of buildings on GC properties,people became less inhibited. I guess people felt a bit relieved that the peace process is going nowhere so they might as well enjoy the left behind properties guilt free.
Furthermore cases like Orams further contributed to the disillusionment on the part of the people. It has made a destructive impact on the construction sector. The economy is doing really bad anyway. Now Turkey is imposing austerity measures. Hard to guess the overall impact but what the elections shown us is that this feeling of being trapped further boosted nationalist,right wing parties.And these right wing parties are the ones in charge now that are not so willing to negotiate as they are the main architects of this corrupt system in the first place.
@Conte Cristo
I think AKEL’s policy of saying no to cement a yes during Annan Plan referendum was really problematic. Christofias’s policy of having no deadlines did not help either. They could not even manage to organise a joint press conference with Talat before the election. A GC friend had said that Christofias is actually relieved that Eroglu is elected as he will eventually reveal his true-read intransigent- colurs therefore relieving the pressure of him. Don’t know what you think of that but I can’t see a willingness on the political actors on both sides to finalize this process.
Umut,
First of all,i want to say that i am not a supporter of AKEL.
In fact,the first time i started to support Christofias was during the presidential election 2 years ago since he was the most obvious pro-solution candidate.I hoped (as many G/Cs i assume)that if he won the elections,since he comes from the only traditionally friendly party towards T/Cs he could find a way to communicate with ‘the other side’.
Now,as to what you said,Christofias is actually haunted by his past choices.
He followed Papad.He didn’t support the Annan plan and he took part in the ‘demonising’process.
Now,he is basically doing two things simultaneously:
he is trying to ‘rectify’his mistake of rejecting the plan by entering a new annan-free negotiation process(at the beginning i also believed it was best to forget the plan and make a new one but later many realised that was wrong and time-consuming rather than changing the previous plan).At the same time he tries to deal with popular fears created in 2004 by rejecting intense negotiations,certain time frames and foreign involvement in order to avoid ”a new Burgenstock-a new annan plan.”
I think that he is perhaps one of the few politicians that truly support a federation.But of course what kind of federation-that’s another troubling issue.
He is no longer part of AKEL and as a president i think he has ‘toughen up’somehow supporting a ‘strong’federation that will-in his own view- reunify the state and such a federation could disolve doubts and fears of those that will give a majority in a possible referendum.
Certainly there is the issue of Turkey’s position.
He is not sure that Turkey wants a federal solution-and what kind of federation anyway,so he was ‘relieved’as you said because Eroglu,as the well-known strong opponent of federation,would take the blame in case of a dead end.
But now,he doesn’t even have that excuse.
We also have a division regarding the g/c political elite,those that support federation and others that don’t.
The thing is that,since he believes Turkey is not willing to solve the problem(Is that true ?) he cooperates with anti-federalist forces since they are ‘not’right-wing and he has even reject close cooperarion with the other big party that also supports federation,but unfortunately is ‘right-wing’.
I believe that this is one of his biggest mistakes.
In the end you are right.Rejecting and demonising the plan got him here and he was ‘relieved’in a way because he thinks Eroglu will take the blame for a possible failure.
P.S. Certainly things don’t look good right now.
Christofias has said that he is willing to come to an agreement if the turkish side will introduced compromising suggestions especially in the very important issues of territory distribution-properties-settlers.
We are expecting some better proposals,and if Turkey does that important step we will be closer to the solution.
I read the news and i know that the chapters he negotiated with Talat,european affairs,governance and economy are pretty much done,we have now the hot issues territory/properties/settlers and if those are resolved too,hopefully in september,the only thing left will be the guarantees,that many say will be settled in november by an international conference.