Cyprus: Drinks at the Theo's
Drinks at the Theos’ turned out to be quite a social occasion; there were various other English people who were also staying in their villas as well as a couple of locals. Their house was very well appointed, and we sat out on one of the balconies enjoying the beautiful views across the hillside and out around the Chrysouchou Bay. Mrs Theo had made various things to eat, including some delicious pastries and a fresh fruit salad. Mmmm.
We met some interesting people, notably Andreas (the author of this book) and his wife. Andreas grew up in a village near Kyrenia (in the now occupied part of Cyprus) and I was able to learn a lot from him about the division of the island and the Turkish occupation.
He was not the first person to tell me that the hostility was not between Turkish and Greek Cypriots – who lived happily together in the past – but between the Cypriots in the south and the Turkish people occupying the north. The current situation is certainly very complex and I shared Andreas’ frustration as he told me how he had to show his passport when he visited his home village and his objection to the border controls. Evidently Turks from the north quite happily cross the border every day to work in the southern part of the island or tend land which belongs to them, and yet Cypriots from the south are apparently not allowed to work in the north.
In southern Cyprus, mosques are largely left untouched (or even restored) and churches built alongside, and Turkish land is left undeveloped. In northern Cyprus however, churches are apparently converted to mosques and Greek land is built on illegally. A recent court case taken up by Cherie Blair highlights the issue of land ownership in the north, and the whole scenario is not pretty.
It seems to be fairly common to claim that the Americans were somewhere behind the illegal invasion, and although I need to investigate further there are various theories about this which would seem to hold water. Sadly, the British forces did not stand up to the invasion, and in many ways made the situation more complicated. Rather than protecting Turkish Cypriot villages in the south, such as Androuliki, they instead bussed all the refugees across the dividing line. Feeling the need to take a political swipe, I will just make the point that it was a Labour government in power at the time.
None of the locals I have spoken to seemed impressed with the current reunification plans. The general feeling is that it is the interests of the big boys such as Britain and America which are held as most important. Interestingly, as part of the plans, an 800 page document was allegedly produced with just a week to verify it, which someone fortunately refused to do. Hidden in the clauses was a waiver of Cyprus’ right to veto new EU members. Why, might you ask, is that significant? Had the plans been passed, Cyprus would no longer have been able to prevent Turkey joining the EU. If Turkey joins the EU with the island as it is, Turks would as EU citizens have rights in southern Cyprus but there would be little sign of improvement in the rights of the Cypriots who wanted to move to, or work in, the north. At least, that’s how it could be perceived.
I have purchased a copy of Andartes (Guerillas), which will apparently give me a lot of the background about the struggle for independence and the build up to the invasion despite being a novel. It should be an interesting read, and I certainly intend to continue my research in to the situation in Cyprus. Oh to be in a position where I could take up a research fellowship somewhere (All Souls would be nice) and write a book on the matter.
We met some interesting people, notably Andreas (the author of this book) and his wife. Andreas grew up in a village near Kyrenia (in the now occupied part of Cyprus) and I was able to learn a lot from him about the division of the island and the Turkish occupation.
He was not the first person to tell me that the hostility was not between Turkish and Greek Cypriots – who lived happily together in the past – but between the Cypriots in the south and the Turkish people occupying the north. The current situation is certainly very complex and I shared Andreas’ frustration as he told me how he had to show his passport when he visited his home village and his objection to the border controls. Evidently Turks from the north quite happily cross the border every day to work in the southern part of the island or tend land which belongs to them, and yet Cypriots from the south are apparently not allowed to work in the north.
In southern Cyprus, mosques are largely left untouched (or even restored) and churches built alongside, and Turkish land is left undeveloped. In northern Cyprus however, churches are apparently converted to mosques and Greek land is built on illegally. A recent court case taken up by Cherie Blair highlights the issue of land ownership in the north, and the whole scenario is not pretty.
It seems to be fairly common to claim that the Americans were somewhere behind the illegal invasion, and although I need to investigate further there are various theories about this which would seem to hold water. Sadly, the British forces did not stand up to the invasion, and in many ways made the situation more complicated. Rather than protecting Turkish Cypriot villages in the south, such as Androuliki, they instead bussed all the refugees across the dividing line. Feeling the need to take a political swipe, I will just make the point that it was a Labour government in power at the time.
None of the locals I have spoken to seemed impressed with the current reunification plans. The general feeling is that it is the interests of the big boys such as Britain and America which are held as most important. Interestingly, as part of the plans, an 800 page document was allegedly produced with just a week to verify it, which someone fortunately refused to do. Hidden in the clauses was a waiver of Cyprus’ right to veto new EU members. Why, might you ask, is that significant? Had the plans been passed, Cyprus would no longer have been able to prevent Turkey joining the EU. If Turkey joins the EU with the island as it is, Turks would as EU citizens have rights in southern Cyprus but there would be little sign of improvement in the rights of the Cypriots who wanted to move to, or work in, the north. At least, that’s how it could be perceived.
I have purchased a copy of Andartes (Guerillas), which will apparently give me a lot of the background about the struggle for independence and the build up to the invasion despite being a novel. It should be an interesting read, and I certainly intend to continue my research in to the situation in Cyprus. Oh to be in a position where I could take up a research fellowship somewhere (All Souls would be nice) and write a book on the matter.
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