CYPRUS’ SILENT OCCUPATION: AMBASSADOR SHEDS LIGHT ON LITTLE-KNOWN CONFLICT
James Sprague
The News Record – Student Newspaper
lent-occupation-1.2264876
May 12 2010
His Excellency Andreas Kakouris, the Republic of Cyprus’ ambassador
to the United States, visited the University of Cincinnati campus to
remind Americans that human injustices are still occurring outside
U.S. borders.
The 36-year occupation by Turkey of a portion of Cyprus was the focus
of a lecture given by the ambassador Tuesday, May 11 at the Max Kade
German Cultural Center.
Cyprus is an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and once
belonged to the Roman, Ottoman and British empires before becoming
an independent republic in 1960. The republic was admitted to the
European Union in 2004.
Kakouris described the history of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, which
occurred in July 1974 as an effort by Turkey to restore constitutional
order to the island. It resulted instead in the occupation of nearly
37 percent of the island’s territory and is still ongoing.
Kakouris also shared his feelings on the lack of attention given to
the Turkish occupation, which is currently non-violent.
"[The occupation] is morally, ethically and legally wrong," Kakouris
said. "Unfortunately, we live in a society that, unless one sees
blood spilled, it is not news."
In 1983, Turkey declared a "unilateral declaration of independence"
in the area occupied by its military. The declaration was condemned
as illegal by the United Nations, which called for the withdrawal of
Turkish troops.
Approximately 5,000 Greek Cypriots (Cyprus citizens) were killed,
200,000 were forced from their homes and 1,619 were reported missing
during the invasion. Among those missing were five American citizens.
Kakouris compared the Turkish occupation to a political ethnic
cleansing.
"Turkey brings illegal settlers to the island to change the
demographics of the island," Kakouris said.
Kakouris expressed hope for continued negotiations with Turkey and
how Cyprus is determined to do it without outside influences.
"If this doesn’t work out, we will regroup and try again," Kakouris
said.
Previous negotiation efforts aided by other countries failed, due in
part to those countries doing what they though was in Cyprus’s best
interest, Kakouris said.
Kakouris finished his lecture outlining the goal of the Cyprus
government.
"All we want in Cyprus is those values and principles that you hold
dear here in the United States," Kakouris said.
The lecture was enjoyable, said Zoe Desalle, a third-year history
student.
"There was a certain bias but that is to be expected," Desalle said.
Kakouris expressed his pleasure with the visit to UC and being able
to discuss world affairs with students and faculty.
"I’m very appreciative," Kakouris said.
Other stops Kakouris made while in Cincinnati included Children’s
Hospital, where he met staff that will be treating a Cypriot child
this summer.
Kakouris acknowledged UC’s archaeological reputation during the
lecture.
"UC is rather prolific in digging and Cyprus is an archaeological
playground," Kakouris said.
The ambassador also met with UC Provost Anthony Perzigian, who is of
Armenian descent. Armenians are among the population of Cyprus.
"They had a connection," said Lia Seremetis, a fourth-year
communication student who spent the past two months organizing the
ambassador’s visit.
Seremetis felt the audience was impacted by Kakouris’s lecture.
"It was amazing," Seremetis said. "You could tell the audience was
interested."
The UC political science, European studies and UC international
departments sponsored the lecture.