Managing ethnic diversity in Cyprus requires sensitivity and respect
By Alkan CHAGLAR
This week I was invited to attend a reception in London to commemorate the Independence of Cyprus from Britain 47 years ago. Held in the West End, the celebratory event was hosted by Cyprus High Commissioner Georgios Kyriakou Iakovou and was attended by the Ambassadors of China, Portugal among other countries. A beautifully presented reception, it was also a great opportunity for me to meet Mr Iacovou, known as one of the ablest administrators of Cyprus and longest standing politicians. My initial reason for attending the reception was out of necessity to show that the Republic of Cyprus still belongs to my Turkish Cypriot community and we will not just get up and walk away from it, but it also an opportunity to build bridges with other Cypriots. Far from being confrontational our group was well received and reunited with many Greek Cypriot friends.
INSENSITIVITY
However, feelings of outrage followed when I learned that an event held in the name of the Republic of Cyprus was going to be held at the London Hellenic Centre. Uncertain why such a venue was chosen I thought the Hellenic Centre was a completely inappropriate and irresponsible choice as a venue – this is not a language class or celebration of Greek culture but an official Reception for the Republic. The organisers should have realised that the event was attended by diplomats from Portugal and China among other countries; what impression must they have had reading that the event for the Republic of Cyprus was to be held at a Hellenic Centre I dread to think!
What equally troubled me was the fact that there appeared to be more Greek Orthodox Churchmen than Turkish Cypriots at the event. While there is no reason Churchmen should not attend an event to mark the Republic’s Independence Day (considering Archbishop Makarious’ own contribution Cyprus’ independence movement), it seemed strangely odd that they outnumbered the island’s second largest community who despite physical division are still partners of this state with the Greek Cypriots. I wondered if enough invitations were being sent to Turkish Cypriots and then asked myself what kind of organiser entrusted to organise an event for the Republic of Cyprus would in their correct frame of mind choose such a venue for a country that is officially multi-faith, multi-cultural and bilingual? How would a Greek Cypriot feel if I was entrusted to organise an event for the Republic and chose the Turkic Languages Institute as a venue?
CARELESS BLUNDER or DISCRIMINATION?
Sadly, this is not the first time our Republic has made official blunders of this kind, as one of the editors for Toplum Postasi Newspaper I receive regular press releases from the Cyprus High Commission Press Office, which represents the Republic of Cyprus abroad. After receiving a string of press releases that were in Greek, I had to personally remind the Press Office that as a Turkish Cypriot newspaper we have no way of understanding press releases emailed to us in Greek. As a Turkish-speaking citizen of the Republic of Cyprus I would expect and it is not unreasonable to expect given that Turkish is an official language of Cyprus for the Press Office of the Cyprus High Commission to send me press releases in my own language. Although this could have just been a minor error of judgment, it represents to me a widespread insensitivity to the linguistic diversity of Cyprus.
Sadly, my friend Hasan T informed me that it is now common place on official publications, maps and brochures to write “Kypros” (the Greek word for Cyprus) alone or beside “Cyprus.” No effort is made to include “Kibris” (the Turkish word for Cyprus). “This is hurtful to me as a Cypriot – is this not my country too?” he asks. I wonder whether this is a careless blunder or deliberate discrimination?
How can it slip the minds of officials from the London High Commission that Cyprus is officially bilingual and that as Turkish –speaking citizens of this country we would require nothing less than information in our own language? I admit altering this may involve employing additional Turkish Cypriot staff at the High Commission, but if managing ethnic diversity in our country is going to be expensive business then so be it, this is exactly what Cyprus must do.
“WE DON’T WANT PRIVILIGED STATUS”
Still there are those who in order to justify their monopoly of power tell me that we (Turkish Cypriots) have privileged status and it was us who decided to separate. This is far from the truth. Talking to other Turkish Cypriots I learned that privilege status is not what they are after at all. Emre. B. told me: “Actually I do not want to be a privileged citizen, I really don’t mind paying taxes or even doing military service in the National Guard but what I object to is the sheer insensitivity (to our community) by those using the name of our Republic to promote Hellenism.”
To add to Emre’s argument, let us not forget that Turkish Cypriots did not ask for partition, in fact most campaigned against it as do many still. Despite the illegality Turkish Cypriots are still citizens of Cyprus. Like many Turkish Cypriots who realize that Turkish Cypriot culture is dying in the North of Cyprus, the TRNC for us is not synonymous with the needs and aspirations of our community. Surely to lend credence to such a notion amounts to recognition of that entity. So may I ask our Cyprus Government why are Turkish Cypriots rights frozen and our government insensitive to our religio-linguistic differences?
RECOGNITION AND RESPECT
Devrim. M. introduced me to a different angle, she said: “I am not surprised they (the Greek Cypriots) are reluctant to share their celebrations with us. They cannot even share power. “If I were a Greek Cypriot comfortably in power I wouldn’t share power with a Turkish Cypriot,” she adds. Sadly, Devrim’s remarks hold much truth. As far as I’m concerned the simple truth is our state has been hijacked by a larger community who sees it as their right to dominate as they see fit. But the dilemma is this; if Cyprus is to reunite and the Republic to exist as before, then sensitivity to the cultures, religions and linguistic differences of Cyprus’ other non-Greek Cypriot communities is essential if the Republic is to shake off an image that it is a Greek Cypriot National State. To instill trust and confidence, respect for diversity is crucial to the development of peace in Cyprus and the longevity of the Republic itself.
It is time the Republic’s officials realised once and for all that the Republic of Cyprus represents Cypriots not Hellenism. The High Commission in London should not only respect the ethnic, cultural, linguistic of all the communities of Cyprus but must strive to include the full participation of all Cyprus’ communities in its official events - managing ethnic diversity in a country like Cyprus requires nothing less than 100% sensitivity and respect for all communities.
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