A divided island

Recent events in and around Cyprus have resulted in increased political tensions between the north and the south.  To summarise a few of these developments: 

• Cyprus and Turkey are in the throes of a major dispute regarding exploration rights for oil and gas fields in the seas around the island (the latest development being Turkey's threat to send naval frigates to the waters around the island to protect ocean seismic survey craft).  
• Continued mass protests each night in Nicosia around the President's Palace demanding his resignation in the wake of the ammunition explosion disaster that crippled 2/3 of the island's power through the summer
• A general stalling of UN-sponsored talks in New York to try and broker a lasting solution to the Cyprus 'problem'. Many ultimatums and deadlines have been set and passed over the last 5 years, and there is very little optimism that the current round of talks (brokered by none other than Downer, A.) will deliver any progress.
• The recent breakdown of Turkey's relationship with Israel is adding to general tensions in the region

So all in all, some interesting times for Cyprus and the region.  

1974 abandoned aircraft at old Nicosia airport
(now part of the UN buffer zone) 

Sarah and I continue to be challenged as we learn more about the history of this place.  A few weeks back we watched a documentary called Attila '74, which tells the story of the Turkish invasion from a Greek perspective.  We hadn't reckoned on the extent of displacement that occurred when the island was partitioned.  More than 200,000 (or 1/3) of the island's population were displaced and lost their homes,  livelihoods and communities.  Impacts were felt equally for both Turkish and Greek Cypriots.  The fact that thousands people still remain missing or unaccounted for is an ongoing point of grief and pain for both sides of the divide.  

Untouched and uninhabited since 1974

Families looking for missing loved ones

At a political level, the two sides seem more distant than ever, but there is an active 'bi-communal' movement that is seeking to bring young people from both sides together in an effort to build relationships, bridges and understanding.  


On Monday we watched a great film called 'Sharing and Island, which tells the story of 3 Greek Cypriots and 3 Turkish Cypriots who spend a week living together and visiting different parts of the island.  The film is humorous, insightful but also tragic, and we left thinking how challenging the prospects of a lasting political solution between the two sides will be, even if at a relational level there is much commonality.  See below for brief trailer from the film.