|
|
|
| |
| |
Life Onboard |
LAST UPDATE
July 12, 2005
|
|
| site design imagesparkle.com |
| July 10, 2003 |
The Conflict in Cyprus – Sarper Ince and Anna Mishaouli |
|
| |
 |
| Greek-Cypriot, Anna Mishoauli, and Turkish-Cypriot, Sarper Ince, talking about the conflict in Cyprus |
In a series of lectures on the subject of the division in Cyprus, Greek Cypriot, Anna Mishaouli, and Turkish Cypriot, Sarper Ince, told Peace Boat participants about the conflict that has split this Mediterranean island in two since 1974. Since the ancient Greeks brought the Hellenic civilization to Cyrpus over 3000 years ago, this piece of land at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, has had many different rulers, including the Venetians, Francs and the Arabs. In 1571, Cyprus came under control of the Ottoman Empire, and remained in their power until it became a British colony in 1878.
After World War II, when many countries were gaining their independence, Turkey renounced its rights to Cyprus, but Britain remained. As was the case in many of the British Empire's colonies, the way of dealing with citizens angry at the colonizer's presence was to set communities against each other, and the Turkish Cypriot police were pitted against the Greek guerrillas.
In 1955, the Greek Cypriots revolted against the British occupation, demanding unification with Greece. In 1960, Cyprus gained independence, but both Greek and Turkish Cypriots were unhappy about parts of the constitution. From 1963 to 1967, the two sides fought, with many of the Turkish Cypriot population forced to live in enclaves around the island.
After 1967 there was a brief respite in the violence with Archbishop Makarious's policy of non-alignment and unification with Greece. But in 1974, the Greek Army seized control of the government, and Archbishop Makarious was toppled from power in a coup d'etat that led to the Turkish invasion. A one-month war ensued, with thousands killed or left missing, and over one-quarter of the population having to flee their homes.
The partition between the Greek south and Turkish north was formed, and the United Nations, arguably with little success, has been working for reunification of the two sides for the past 29 years. |
|
|
 |
| The road to reunification and the ending of the divide between northern and southern Cyprus |
The increasing power and influence of the European Union (EU) has forced both sides to work for a solution. In 1992 Greece became an EU member, with Cyprus and Turkey following as nominees. Despite the continued occupation of the north of the island by Turkey, the EU will make the Republic of Cyprus a member in 2004 whether the divide is still there or not. This will place Turkey into the strange position of being a state wishing to join the EU yet illegally occupying the land of another state. Though the EU hasn't presented any direct stipulations to Turkey on the Cyprus issue and becoming an EU member, the pressure on Turkey to improve its human rights record includes its occupation of northern Cyprus.
Negotiations between the two sides are progressing, but some key issues are still being contested. The Turkish Cypriot government wants the Turkish troops to remain, along with its rights of unilateral intervention, while the Greek Cypriot government wants withdrawal of the troops and the right to implement a tri-party intervention involving the United Kingdom, Turkey and Greece.
The property of both Greek and Turkish refugees is another contentious subject. The Greek Cypriot stand is that all refugees are entitled to return home and reclaim their former property, whereas the Turkish Cypriot government position is that people cannot have their property back from the other side as it may have changed owners many times, suggesting instead a blanket property exchange as a means of resolving the issue.
Some of the property in the north may also now belong to the Turkish settlers - inhabitants of Turkey who came to Cyprus encouraged by the Turkish government to increase the population on their side. The Greek Cypriot government wants these settlers to return to Turkey, saying that they have no place in Cyprus, while the Turkish Cypriots want them to remain, pointing out that it is now a humanitarian issue and not a political one.
Though there are many aspects of the conflict still unresolved, the two parties are talking. Since the opening of the 'green line' in April this year, people from both sides have been able to cross between north and south to visit their former homes and neighbours. Peace activists in both Turkish and Greek parts have recently seen the fruition of their work over the past 29 years in exchanges between the two communities, and look forward to seeing the continuing progress in the steps to reunification. |
| |
|
|
|
