Cyprus-Forum.com

[Alexandros Lordos]

Friends, I have a suggestion to make: Why don't we, as members of this forum, sit together and map out a possible documentary about the Cyprus Problem?

I am thinking here of the interesting work that Angastiniotis did, unfortunately his documentary was only presenting one side of the story and was too radical to be accepted as a mainstream work. I believe that we here, working as a bicommunal drafting team, could do better. I believe we could create a documentary that will have a sobering effect both on GCs and TCs as well as any non-Cypriots who will be watching it.

My idea is that we should try to present the history of Cyprus from 1955 to 1977 as objectively as possible. I propose 1955 as a starting date, in order to include the controversy surrounding the EOKA struggle. I propose 1977 as an ending date, to end with the high level agreements and a message of hope for the re-unification of Cyprus.

The presentation should simultaneously include a human angle, showing the suffering but also the "sense of brotherhood" of average Cypriots, while at the same time a wider historical-analytic angle will be pursued, with interviews from prominent figures of the time and from expert historians.

The documentary will simultaneously be published in English, Greek and Turkish, with each interviewee speaking in his own language and with Greek, Turkish or English subtitles wherever necessary. We should seek to get it to air, in Cyprus, in Greece and Turkey, in the UK and in the US.

I envision us working through this forum at first, putting together the scenario, agreeing on how each event should be presented, agreeing on who should be interviewed, and then we go and find a good producer plus funding ...

Funding is not going to be a problem, there are many who would be willing to finance such a project.

What do you all say then?

[Alexandros Lordos]

Some more thoughts about the breakdown of the documentary in periods:

1. 1955 to 1959
2. Events of 1960
3. 1960 to 1963
4. Events of 63/64
5. 1964 to 1974
6. Events of 1974
7. 1974 to 1977

[insan]

Alexandros, this is an excellent idea!

Let's question the dark sides of our history. I'm sure it would help a lot for rapproachment and reconciliation.

Though it is obvious that there are two diametrcally opposing point of view about our past. TC point of view and GC point of view. Nevertheless there are also two different point of view within each communities. Point of view of GC left and point of view of TC left.

Besides, there's a non-Cypriot point of view on our past. I think a documentary which involves 1950-1977(why not up to date?) should put a mirror to the points of view of all major actors of Cyprus problem.

[brother]

I am all for this project, how can i be of help?

[Saint Jimmy]

I believe that the first hot potato that we've got in our hands is the nature of EOKA - its aims and its tactics. What I know (mainly from school) about EOKA is that it fought a noble cause, full stop. Its aim was to kick the Brits out and free Cyprus, for the sake of all Cypriots. Later on, through my own investigation of the matter, I came to think that EOKA may not have been such a holy organisation - not in the sense that it planted bombs and people died as a result (it was an armed struggle!), but in the sense of its objectives, its deeper aims.
In any case, the GC perspective of EOKA is one of pride for the unmatched grandeur of its four-year fight against the mighty Brits.
I'm guessing if we start throwing perspectives and opinions around, about EOKA, we'll pretty much get nowhere. Our agreed assessment of EOKA, its aims, objectives and tactics must, therefore, be based on facts and valid accounts. Maybe that can be a start.

[insan]

Some more thoughts about the breakdown of the documentary in periods:

1. 1955 to 1959
2. Events of 1960
3. 1960 to 1963
4. Events of 63/64
5. 1964 to 1974
6. Events of 1974
7. 1974 to 1977

Here's my suggestion:

1- 1955 to 1958

Formation of EOKA and start of ENOSIS armed struggle. The reasons behind the desire of Enosis. The relevance between "megali idea" and Enosis. Was EOKA an facist organization? Why did Enosist GCs choose a fascist leader for themselves? Could a fascist leader be a freedom fighter? How GC "freedom fighters" embraced such a monarcho-fascist leader like Grivas?

2- 1958 to 1960

Formation of TMT and start of TAKSIM armed struggle. The reasons behind the Taksim struggle. Right wing - Left wing strife within each communities. Who was the leader of TMT. Was he fascist? What were the fascist actions of TMT?

3- 1960

Establishment of RoC.

4- 1960 to 1962

Disputes on new taxation law. Proposal of GC leadership and the counter proposal of TC leadership. Disputes on seperate municipalities issue.

5- 1963

13 points of Makarios. What was the real aim of Makarios. A fairer and more democratic constitution or preparing the ground for Enosis? TC reaction. What was the main motives behind TC reaction? An excuse for Taksim or a panic of Enosis? What were the wrongs and mistakes of TC resistence movement against Enosis and majority rule?

6- 1964

Implementation of Akritas Plan and its consequences. Landing of UN forces. Events of Tylliria and Turkish intervention. The reasons of TCs abandoning 112 villages and fleeing to enclaves.

7- 1965

The political stance of Makarios against TC leadership and the political stance of TC leadership against Makarios. Report of Galo Plaza.

8- 1966 to 1969

Coup in Greece, split between the political elites of GC community, the new Enosis movement backed by Junta, GC left under the leadership of Makarios, increasing public Enosis propaganda both in Greece and Cyprus, preparetions for military intervention in Turkey, US interference to dissuade Turkey not to intervene, change of Makarios's stance towards TC leadership, initiation of inter-communal talks under the auspices of UN. Withdrawal of Greek troops and return of Grivas to Athens.

9- 1970

Return of TC refugees, formation of first communist TC political party, CTP. The relations of TC right with TC left.

10- 1971

Secret return of Grivas and formation of EOKA-B. Violence, bombings in Cyprus and attempts of EOKA-B to assassinate Makarios.

11- 1972 to 1974

The strife between Makarios led left wing and Junta led far right. Inter-communal talks ended up with deadlock on local autonomy issue. Greek Junta inspired Coup D'Etat. Overthrowal of Makarios and self-proclaimed presidency of Sampson. Turkish diplomacy calling Sampson to resign and withdrawal of illegal Greek troops. Turkish intervention and the combat between National Guard/Eldik under command of Greek officers and TC/Turkish troops. Geneva talks. The situation of irregular fascist bands under command of Sampson during 23rd of July and 14th of August 1974. The second phase of Turkish intervention.

12- 1975

3rd Vienna Agreement. Under the hostile circumstances of post war Cyprus; moving of TCs and GC to safer areas. The difficulties the refugees faced. Self-Proclaimation of KTFD.

13- 1976

The first TC elections in North.

14- 1977

Makarios-Denktash talks and ratification of 1977 summit agreements. Continuing threats of EOKA-B towards Makarios.

[Piratis]

How can we even discuss such thing, when many TCs consider the invasion that left 6000 GCs dead and 200.000 refugees as a "peace operation"?

While we have no problem to accept the crimes that were committed against TCs during the 63-68 period, TCs refuse to recognize the most major crime that was committed against us.

[brother]

Then lets not call it peace operation or invasion lets just call it intervention under the guarantor treaty, that way we tread less on anyones toes.
If this documentary is to be made it must be the truth 100% and at the same time be sensitive to some words if need be.

[Piratis]

intervention under the guarantor treaty

The guarantor treaty was supposed to be one to guarantee RoC, not one that will split it into parts and ethnically cleanse Greek Cypriots from 1/3rd of the island. What turkey did to Cyprus has nothing to do with the treaty.

We are either going to try to make something true, or not bother at all.
Why the crimes that were committed against TCs from GCs are not "sensitive" for me and I am more than willing to discuss and document them, while the crimes of TCs and Turkey against GCs are "sensitive" and should be hidden and disguised?

[brother]

You are splitting hairs Mr.Piratis, the idea is to tell the truth which we both agree too, but your invasion becomes my peace operation that saved me from death, so what i have tried is to find a middle ground that would be sensitive to ALL but if you think of something better then lets hear it(no sarcasm please)
This is something we can do but lets not let trivial things hamper our efforts or get stuck on the notion of one word.