european journal of social sciences issn: 1450-2267 - EuroJournals
european journal of social sciences issn: 1450-2267 - EuroJournals
european journal of social sciences issn: 1450-2267 - EuroJournals
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European Journal <strong>of</strong> Social Sciences – Volume 5, Number 3 (2007)<br />
In 1996, a workshop was sponsored by the United Stated Agency for International<br />
Development (USAID) and held by the Harvard University Conflict Management Group, college<br />
students from both Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities were asked for their perceptions <strong>of</strong> the<br />
conflict that each has dealt with through their respective communities 19 . This workshop revolved<br />
around determining their understanding or articulation <strong>of</strong> the nature <strong>of</strong> the political and cultural<br />
struggle, what it meant to reside in a community, and developing skills at negotiation and dialogue in<br />
order to resolve the conflict on a personal level. The results <strong>of</strong> this workshop make it quite clear that,<br />
while many <strong>of</strong> the students do not have a pr<strong>of</strong>ound mistrust <strong>of</strong> the other as individuals or groups, they<br />
do mistrust the nature <strong>of</strong> the civic and national orientations that have been put in place; politically,<br />
economically, culturally, and educationally.<br />
The relevant time frames both groups refer to in the context <strong>of</strong> the present situation range from<br />
the years <strong>of</strong> the Cypriot Republic (1963-1974) and to the present. Greeks and Turks both place causal<br />
factors to what occurred during this frame <strong>of</strong> time. The Turkish community focuses on 1963-1974<br />
because this was a time where there was a large degree <strong>of</strong> <strong>social</strong> unrest and illegal entities such as the<br />
Greek terrorist organization EOKA committed acts that terrorized residents <strong>of</strong> Turkish communities on<br />
the island. Their activities and persecution forced many people to flee these communities on the<br />
southern portion <strong>of</strong> the island for the northern part <strong>of</strong> the island where the Turkish population was<br />
larger. The Greek coup de grace added to this and, legitimate in the eyes <strong>of</strong> the Turkish population,<br />
brought about the Turkish invasion <strong>of</strong> 1974. The time from 1974 on is the era focused on by the<br />
Greeks as this represents a violation <strong>of</strong> the sovereignty <strong>of</strong> the island by Turkish forces. This same<br />
event is looked at as being legitimate by the Turkish community, due to the same coup 20 . As is replete<br />
through the recent history <strong>of</strong> the island, two groups see the same set <strong>of</strong> circumstances in very different<br />
ways.<br />
Both groups cite historical links to the past with the Greek Cypriots citing their Greek heritage<br />
and the Turks their own heritage. It should be noted that neither group placed the totality <strong>of</strong> their<br />
respective identities within the historical parameters <strong>of</strong> their cultural progenitors, but they hold fast to<br />
the fact that these different groups give them their roots. Neither group, especially the Cypriots <strong>of</strong><br />
Greek heritage, desires a permanent division <strong>of</strong> the island. But with history still as fresh as it is, these<br />
acts <strong>of</strong> division are still quite fresh in the minds <strong>of</strong> the younger generation and so they must be<br />
resolved.<br />
Historically, with the physical border that exists on the island between the two groups, there is<br />
an economic result which comes about with regard to the prosperity <strong>of</strong> each community. As a result,<br />
the Greek community to the south has a much higher standard <strong>of</strong> living than their northern counterparts<br />
due to their ties with Greece, and subsequently Europe. Northern Cyprus trades almost exclusively<br />
with Turkey and this substantially limits the degree <strong>of</strong> foreign investment and prosperity that have<br />
come to their part <strong>of</strong> the island. The infrastructure <strong>of</strong> the southern part <strong>of</strong> the island is better developed<br />
and, since it is recognized as the legitimate Republic <strong>of</strong> Cyprus in the eyes <strong>of</strong> the world community,<br />
enjoys a far greater degree <strong>of</strong> trade and prosperity.<br />
Cyprus joined the European Union in 2005, though not as a unified or reconciled people 21 .<br />
Though both the north and south are members <strong>of</strong> the E.U., only the southern Greek portion <strong>of</strong> the<br />
island receives the monetary and trade benefits which accompany state membership. The situation is<br />
further complicated by the fact that Turkey is the main sponsor for northern Cyprus. Turkey desires to<br />
join the European Union itself, but the issue <strong>of</strong> its military and financial support <strong>of</strong> TNRC (Turkish<br />
Northern Republic <strong>of</strong> Cyprus) serves as a stumbling block for their acceptance. At this point, Turkey<br />
needs the Cyprus issue to be resolved so they can pursue their own interests with acceptance to the EU.<br />
19 Erduran, S. (1996). “Reflection on Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot students’ perceptions <strong>of</strong> the Cyprus conflict:<br />
Implications for peace education.” Paper presented at the 1996 annual meeting <strong>of</strong> the American Educational Research<br />
Association. New York. Eric document: ED427985.<br />
20 Cyprus conflict narrative, http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/www.cyprus-conflict.net/index.html (accessed July 11, 2007).<br />
21 Country pr<strong>of</strong>ile: Cyprus, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_pr<strong>of</strong>iles/1016541.stm (accessed July 11, 2007).<br />
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