Cyprus-Forum.com

[magikthrill]

do you have any specific incidents in which the author made mistakes?

any books you would recommend kifea?

[Kifeas]

do you have any specific incidents in which the author made mistakes?

any books you would recommend kifea?

I beilive it is very unwise to try and understand the entire Cyprus issue by reading one or two books. None of them can cover the whole issue thoroughly and comprehensively and nearly all of them will have a certain degree of bias.

I found Makarios Drousiotis study (although I totally disagree with him on his opinions regarding the Annan plan and Papadopoullos,) which is presented in 3 or 4 books, if I am not mistaken, quite thorough and more importantly recent as it includes documents that were revealed many years after. Unfortunately they are only in Greek.

[cannedmoose]

Whilst I disagree with him about the quality of Borowiec's book, I agree with Kifeas that an appreciation of the Cyprus problem is a life-long study in itself, I've been seriously studying it for 3 years and still find some aspects hard to understand and come to terms with.

I would also, and probably controversially, put forward the opinion that neither a Greek, Turkish, Greek-Cypriot, nor Turkish-Cypriot author can accurately construct a genuine testimony of what has happened on the island. The scars are too recent and too deep and the effects of living in the society engender an unconscious bias that skews any analysis they conduct. As someone involved with Cypriots myself, I also am totally incapable of providing such work as I am also subject to this constant barrage of manipulated arguments and distorted truths.

The problem with writing about the Cyprus problem is that you have to get involved to get the information, and in so doing, you become a target for both sides to convince you that their argument is the truth. As soon as someone discovers I'm researching Cyprus (even though 90% of my research has nothing directly to do with the Cyprus problem), they throw the same tried-and-tested arguments at me. So, I don't think you'll ever find a truly objective text on the problem. In my opinion Borowiec does admirably, but is not wholly successful. The only reasonably objective text can come with a solution and a mutually agreed text between Turkish-Cypriot, Greek-Cypriot and overseas academics... which I fear is still some way off.

[erolz]

My favourite bit of the whole book is the final paragraph of his conclusion:

A bit off topic but one of my 'favourite' quotes about Cyprus (which I think came from John Reddaway from memeory but might be wrong) is

"The problem with Cyprus is that the GC can not remeber anything before 74 and the TC can not forget"

This seems as true and 'insightful' summary of the problem in a handful of wrods today as it did when I first read it many years ago - espeically given my recent 'discussiuons' with othellos.

[Bananiot]

Been away for nine days, on a visit to ireland, so I have missed many debates but talking about Makarios Droushiotis's books, you might like to know that his latest book titled "The First Partition" will be presented on Tuesday night at 20:00 hours, by ex Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pagkalos and Michalis Atalides. It will take place at the Journalists Home (I think this is its name) near RIK area. The book is based on new material that were only recently released and for sure it sets the record straight about Papadopoulos and his role in the Cyprob.

By the way, the debate in Ireland about the European Constitution has started quite vigourously and I was lucky to be present in a meeting in Galway where many prominent Irish politicians spoke, including the Minister for European Affairs. Here in Cyprus, we seem to care only for our microcosm and the Cyprob and expect the rest of the world to pay attention only to us. I think we should start thinking about making a significant contribution to the ongoing debate on the EC.

[Kifeas]

Been away for nine days, on a visit to ireland, so I have missed many debates but talking about Makarios Droushiotis's books, you might like to know that his latest book titled "The First Partition" will be presented on Tuesday night at 20:00 hours, by ex Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pagkalos and Michalis Atalides. It will take place at the Journalists Home (I think this is its name) near RIK area. The book is based on new material that were only recently released and for sure it sets the record straight about Papadopoulos and his role in the Cyprob.

By the way, the debate in Ireland about the European Constitution has started quite vigourously and I was lucky to be present in a meeting in Galway where many prominent Irish politicians spoke, including the Minister for European Affairs. Here in Cyprus, we seem to care only for our microcosm and the Cyprob and expect the rest of the world to pay attention only to us. I think we should start thinking about making a significant contribution to the ongoing debate on the EC.

Bananiot!
Welcome form your “enlightening” trip to Ireland!
You cannot fail making your anti-Papadopoullos opinionated propaganda, even in the most unrelated and unsuitable circumstances. Everybody knows you very well by now.

What I do not understand with you is the following.
Why you do not administrate an equal blame to Klerides as you do with Papadopoullos, in relation to the 1963 events? Wasn’t Klerides one of the three “authors” of the Akritas plan? Wasn’t him the minister of justices at that time, while Papadopoullos was the minister of labour? Wasn’t in fact 15 years older (and more experienced) than Papadopoullos when all these things were occurring?

Yet, you have never made even one SINGLE blame comment against Klerides. You throw all the blame and all responsibility on Papadopoullos. Only from this simple fact, one can easily judge how paranoid you are with your criticism against Papadopoullos.

[cannedmoose]

"The problem with Cyprus is that the GC can not remeber anything before 74 and the TC can not forget"

Nice quote Erolz, do you remember the source for it??

[magikthrill]

"The problem with Cyprus is that the GC can not remeber anything before 74 and the TC can not forget"

nice quote, although with a hint of TC bias it is very true. my cousin was telling me that during their cyprus history lessons in high school there was a blank between 1960 and 1974. Hmmm?

[erolz]

"The problem with Cyprus is that the GC can not remeber anything before 74 and the TC can not forget"

Nice quote Erolz, do you remember the source for it??

It was definately a British diplomat of some sort or other. I think, but am not sure, that it was John Reddaway. I will try and find the 'original' source where I first saw the quote and who it was from, but it's not always easy to do this. I have many books about Cyprus and often can not refind stuff I know to be there somewhere.

[rotate]

Re; THE CYPRUS REVOLT - NANCY CRAWSHAW.

In answer to cannedmoose and erolz.

'The Cyprus Revolt' deals with the period after the end WW2 to the early 1960's and is a clear, factual and even handed report of that period. Although the book is now almost thirty years old its value to those who wish to understand how Cyprus got from where it was in the 1950's to the situation of today should not be under estimated.

As the Cyprus reporter for the Manchester Guardian Nancy Crawshaw was witness to many of the events both military, para military and political that took place during that time. Her journalistic reporting was influential in the raising of questions in the British Parliment by MP's concerned at what they had read about the treatment of Cypriots by the British Forces. The removal of Sir John Harding (a soldiers soldier but hardly a hearts and minds winner) as military governor of Cyprus whose hard line towards EOKA and its supporters almost destroyed the organisation can be possibly wholely attributed to the reports filed by Nancy Crawshaw. Her criticism was not confined to the British military and administration, she was at one time a target for both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot para military organisations, a loss that would not have been mourned by the British establishment. When clearer minds prevailed in London she was appointed the British governments expert on Cyprus thus gaining further insight into the machinations of the Whitehall Mandarins.

At 452 pages the book is hardly an easy read but then the Cypriot situation is hardly as easy one. Highly informative and accurate 'The Cyprus Revolt' is generally regarded as authoritive by all sides and is quoted by the RoC, the TRNC, the British and the UN.

Anyone know if 'The War Dairies of General Grivas' are available in English?