Cyprus-Forum.com

[-mikkie2-]

This appeared in the Cyprus Mail yetesrday....

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=18762&archive=1

What was Papadopoulos’ role in 1960s bicommunal talks?

The events of early 1964 have never been clearly explained to the Cypriot public and have been grossly distorted by foreign commentators. The truth about them is essentially unifying rather than divisive. The mediating process then, which came close to success, depended on two men, Tassos Papadopoulos and Fazil Kutchuk. Each was a Cypriot nationalist, rather than a Greek or Turkish one; but each was prepared to seek a new and workable partnership. Maybe it was a recoil from the abyss but no snide belittlement can alter the fact of what. they achieved, or sought to achieve, during the period that I was working with them. The conquering of violence and the survival of a great number of Turkish Cypriots stemmed from that co-operation and from the conciliatory efforts that were spearheaded by Papadopoulos: I say this not because of friendship or respect but as a witness to events in which I was involved.

So perhaps he is not so bad afterall.

[cannedmoose]

I noticed that article as well mikkie... my only counter to it would be that we should judge TPap on his actions now, rather than during the 1960s. I don't doubt that he wants a rapprochement, but I'm not sure you could label him a 'Cypriot nationalist' these days... Greek Cypriot certainly, but I find it hard to see anything else in his actions and comments.

[erolz]

So perhaps he is not so bad afterall.

Indeed. I saw this article the other day and I have to say it has help to improve my personal impression of TP. I have much respect for the author of this article. However this is one piece of the 'jigsaw' that I use to shape my opinions of the man. It has to be balanced against the other statements I have seen by him and about him (which are not always so positive from a TC point of view). Like I say this article _did_ help me move towards an opinion and view that TP is a useful part of the solution and not part of the problem.

[-mikkie2-]

Well, the point is that people castigate him for his past actions and his eoka links when in fact he was working for a solution in Cyprus. I don't think his current actions are any different. Just because he didn't like the Annan plan doesn't mean he doesn't want a federal solution and doesn't mean he wants partition, let alone wanting to hold on to power.

[Alexandros Lordos]

I spoke with Martin Packard extensively during the Wilton Park conference, but I refrained from mentioning anything up till now because of the "Chatham House Rules" - since however he has now gone to the press, I no longer feel compelled to keep silent.

Packard was adamant that, out of the "ruling GC elite" of the time, which included Makarios, Clerides, Giorkatzis, Sampson and Papadopoulos, the one who was by far the most protective of Turkish Cypriots was Papadopoulos. For Packard, Tassos was "a lone voice of reason, in a period that was otherwise very antagonistic" ...

According to Packard, Papadopoulos was also the one who was most staunchly anti-British, and this is the real reason why he has gotten such a bad "international reputation": The mud-slinging against Papadopoulos began from the British Foreign Office, who did not want to see him anywhere near a position of power.

According to Packard, Tassos was "very intelligent, compassionate, pragmatic but also very ambitious". Even in those times, he was not ideologically committed either to Enosis or Independence, but was willing to accept either outcome and keep on working from within its parameters. He fully expected, however, that one day he would be given the chance to lead ...

[-mikkie2-]

What struck me also is that he did not like the Wilton Park conference. He is definitely of the view that Cypriots should be able to sort out their problems without the intervention of outside interests.

[Saint Jimmy]

Well, the point is that people castigate him for his past actions and his eoka links when in fact he was working for a solution in Cyprus.

Quite true.
This article adds a totally new dimension in my mind on T-Pap's picture... I have no idea who this guy Packard is, but I've never heard anyone talk like that about Tassos. I guess I am guilty of what mikkie described above (obviously he is no angel - there's no smoke without fire - but I admit the picture I drew of him was a miserable stereotype).

[brother]

I read the article with great interest and to this day i have always been firmly against tassos and have always viewed him as the problem at the moment and also i have viewed him with suspicion of his past but for me the moment of biggest disconsent for me was when he went on t.v and cried.
But this article has given me food for thought and will be less critical of him in the future and give him a chance.

[insan]

We know that the chief-leader of violent and oppressive actions was Grivas and his close students, e.g Sampson... And they also had a political front...

In 50s until the first half of the 60s both the military wing and the political wing of Greeks and GCs had a consensus on how would "majority rule" and Enosis be achieved. Akritas Plan well reveals their civil-military cooperation schemes.

However, afterwards the mid-60s things changed. Junta came into power in Greece. In 1967, Turkey was very decisive to intervene and stop the bloodshed and oppressions comitted towards TCs. Moreover, TC were under heavy embargos imposed by GC leadership.


However, in order to prevent a possible to be appear war between Greece and Turkey; US interfered and dissuaded Turkey from intervening. Then what's happaned:

1- Makarios publicly declared that Enosis was not a viable policy anymore.

2- Economic sanctions being imposed upon TC community were lifted by GC leadership.

3- Makarios abandoned his stance towards TC leadership and reconcile himself to negotiate with TC leadership without any pre-conditions. Formerly, he was insisting not to negotiate with TC leadership until they accept the minority status.(See Galo Plaza's 1965 report.)

4- Grivas together with 12.000 Greek troops were called to Athens.

5- The majority of Greek Cypriots gradually lost much of their fervour and concern for the struggle for Enosis.

6- Those who remained committed to the Greek 'national cause' were divided into two competing nationalist camps the Makariosites and the Grivasites. (see, http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/zenon,%201963-74.htm )

The question is in which camp Tassos had took position? Does Martin Packard's observations and analysis regarding Tassos, involve 1967-74 period or not?

According to Makarios Drusatis, Tassos hadn't been among resistence fighters who are known as the main group standing behind Makarios. So, what was the political position of Tassos in 1967-74 period?

[metecyp]

But this article has given me food for thought and will be less critical of him in the future and give him a chance.

Ok, it was a good article but what does it change about T-Pap? For me, actions speak louder than words. He might have gaven a good speech in Brussels about federalism but did he ever try to explain these to TCs? Does he care to explain these to TCs?