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[Expatkiwi]

This man is a hero IMHO.

Harry Blackley – an abiding love for Turks and Turkish CypriotsFont Size: Larger|Smaller

Friday, December 11, 2009
GÜL DEMIR and NIKI GAMM
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Harry Blackley was a pharmacist by profession and is a writer by choice. And not just any writer, he is a novelist whose books are set in Cyprus in part and are particularly pro-northern Cyprus. He has published two novels – “Love and Death in Cyprus” and “Korean Rose.”

How did someone who was born and raised in Scotland and subsequently moved to Australia become so interested in Turkey and Cyprus? His answer to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review was: “I was in the British Army in Cyprus from 1957 to 1959. I was awarded a Commendation by the Commander in Chief for the Middle East Land Forces ‘for services rendered in Cyprus.’ This was in recognition of my anti-terrorist work against EOKA [the National Organization of Freedom Fighters]. If you read ‘Kibris’ta Aşk ve Ölum’ (Love and Death in Cyprus), this work is detailed through the character Alexander.

“Naturally my sympathies were with the Turkish Cypriots and later I began to defend Turkey against anti-Turkish articles in newspapers. It always seems to me that Turks love to react to bad publicity but seldom take positive action to create stories where they are heroes, victims of anti-Turkish propaganda or the friendly people they are in reality. Simon Anholt, a specialist in advising the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries and cities on how to improve their image wrote: ‘It is not through spending millions on propaganda but through simple stories that a nation’s image is created.’”

In spite of many years of talk and even negotiations, the Cyprus issue has never been resolved. Rauf Denktaş who was the leader of the Turkish Cypriots and president from 1976 to 2005 was always blamed for being intransigent. It seemed appropriate to ask Blackley what his thoughts were on the issue.

“The Cyprus issue began in 1963, not in 1974 as claimed by the Greeks. The historical content of ‘Love and Death in Cyprus,’ which covers 1950 to 1975, has never been challenged. I do my research very carefully. I have been a guest of Rauf Denktaş on several occasions and he has never given an inch in his negotiations with Greek Cyprus. Had he done so, it is unlikely that there would be any Turkish Cypriots on the island today.”

He continued: “In my experience, terrorism can be both physical and psychological. Led by [Archbishop] Makarios who was the president of Cyprus, [George] Grivas and a few hundred fanatics, Greek Cypriots were subjected to terror in order to support ENOSIS, or the [Cypriot] union with Greece. This included murders and threats to kill family members. These fanatics could not bring themselves to see Turkish Cypriots as partners on Cyprus.”

In spite of Blackley’s pessimistic view of relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, he does think the problem can be solved. He suggested: “Greek Cyprus can recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and a financial settlement made based on the value of land occupied by each side. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus then joins the EU and business resumes between both states. No doubt some Greek Cypriots will return to the north, but the constitution of northern Cyprus can be structured in such a way that it is not possible for Greek Cypriots to become a majority. As one character in ‘Korean Rose’ states, ‘All wars end and business returns to normal.’”

One of the obstacles to a settlement of the Cyprus problem was created when the European Union accepted Greek Cyprus as a full member. This gave the Greek Cypriots leverage with which to “threaten” Turkey’s accession to the EU if Turkey did not pressure the Turkish Cypriots to accept Greek Cypriot terms for reunification of the island.

Does Blackley think that Turkey will become a full member of the EU? And should it become a full member? “It is my opinion that Turkey will never become a full member of the European Union in the foreseeable future, that is, within 50 years. Unfortunately, religion will always play a large part in how Europe views Turkey. Current trends in Turkey will mitigate against any progress in membership talks. I do not see any reason for Turkey to become a member before then. Europe has many problems that will take decades to fix. Turkey should wait until Europe is financially capable of running its budgets in surplus and its pension funds are solvent.”

Blackley added: “We have a saying in Australia – ‘Put your money where your mouth is.’ I have done my best to show my friendship for Turkey and Turkish Cypriots. Unfortunately Turks do not have the organizational structure of the Greeks and Armenians. As I have noted in the past, a novel written by an American Armenian is guaranteed to be a bestseller. Turks tend not to read books and still have an Ottoman attitude toward anti-Turkish novels, films and newspaper stories. Maybe one day they will unite and change. If Turks wish people in the West to know and understand them, they must ensure that books and films are supported and made widely available in the West.”

Blackley as author

What makes a person start writing books, and in particular fiction? Blackley said, “Let me begin by saying that I have been writing since I was a teenager, having won several essay-writing competitions, both locally and nationally in Scotland.

“I came from a poor background and my aim in life was not to be poor. I was fortunate to be intelligent and finally became a pharmacist. Marriage, children and work were my priorities and I did not pursue my writing. I migrated with my family to Australia and when my marriage ended I decided to return to writing and graduated from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in creative writing.

“I re-married, took on a new wife and family and it was only after selling some property investments and my pharmacy that I could take up writing again. My first book was written after my wife, Gina, and I spent six months traveling in Europe, Turkey and northern Cyprus. It was titled ‘The Independent Australian Traveler.’ It failed to find a publisher. I then wrote ‘Kibris’ta Aşk ve Ölum’ (Love and Death in Cyprus) based upon my army experiences in Cyprus during the EOKA terror campaign. I wrote it as a historical/fictional story hoping that it would have greater appeal.”

In 2009, “Korean Rose” was published, a fictional/historical novel set during the Korean War. It involves the story of Rose, an Australian nurse, and Kemal, a lieutenant with the 1st Turkish Brigade. According to Blackley, the reviews for “Love and Death in Cyprus” were numerous in Turkish and Turkish Cypriot newspapers. The response from readers was passionate and filled with gratitude for his story. Responses from readers of “Korean Rose” were excellent, as many had no knowledge of Turkish in Korea.

Reviews may be good, but that is after a publisher brings out the book. Nowadays book publishers are deluged with manuscripts and ideas for novels at a time when people seem to prefer television. When the author then makes matters more complicated by taking up themes that have a limited audience, or are highly sensitive, it becomes even harder.

As Blackley said: “It is extremely difficult to find a publisher in the West for novels about Turks. They usually respond that the book is written well and interesting, but they doubt there is a market for it. ‘Love and Death in Cyprus’ was self-published at a cost of $25,000. Vivid Publishing published ‘Korean Rose’ with a contribution by me of $4,000. To date I have made a profit of over $20,000. It is hard work with limited distribution and publicity. This is not a great return for six years of work.”

Blackley’s next book is about Armenians in eastern Turkey from 1914 to 1915, an even more sensitive issue than in his previous books.

[SKI-preo]

Deakin University with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in creative writing

So an Arts Degree from a second rate Uni makes him qualified to discuss complex constitutional issues and EU accession. The problem with pharmacists is many of them self medicate with morphine.

I think the funniest line was:
To date I have made a profit of over $20,000. It is hard work with limited distribution and publicity. This is not a great return for six years of work.

He would have made more collecting super market trolleys or becoming a paperboy.If this drug pusher/addict gets a noble prize it will only be for overdosing on a viagra/morphine cocktail.

[james_mav]

Deakin University with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in creative writing

Isn't the solidarity between sad case third (turd) rate authors of fantasy incredible? Any skeletons lurking in Harry Blackley's closet also?

[Oracle]

Now we know ALL the "great" men Expat tries to emulate; Denktash, and this Blackley who not only denies the Armenian Genocide but equates the Armenians with Nazi Germany all the while ignoring whose side Turkey was on for two world wars.

Anyone who claims, as Blackley does, that fiction is the way forward to improve a country's image knows the Turks very well


"Only by creating new stories that portray Turks as heroes, kind, caring and honorable will the image be changed, slowly but in time."

"When will Turks stop reacting to bad stories and start creating good ones?


Go on Turkey. Carry on with genocides and ethnic cleansing and bury it all with creating a good STORY!

[B25]

The Plonker thought that he had a market of 70 million possible readers, but hadn't realised that most of them can't read.

Bit like Expat, probably trying to get into the Turkish market with his fantasy writings.

Dream on guys ...... Plonkers!

Don't you just love Milti for coming up with that expression, or was it Del Boy???

Eitherway I just love it!

[Get Real!]

This man is a hero IMHO.

Your heroes (Denktash, Harry Blackley, Ronald McDonald) have one thing in common… they all feed you crap and you happily take it in like a trashcan!

If Harry, thinks he's good with facts pertaining to Cyprus let him come forward and enlighten us instead of forever hiding!

[Jerry]

Typical "support the underdog crap", "they are the minority so it can't be their fault crap", "eoka started it crap",

If he dug a little deeper he would find that Greek/Turkish tit for tat has been going on for centuries, Cyprus is just one place where it has occured.

[Sotos]

The Cyprus issue began in 1963, not in 1974 as claimed by the Greeks.

The issue began in 1571 when the Turks started to invade our island, killing innocent Cypriot people, stealing our land and giving it to their Turkish Settlers. They continue to do the same since then. If it wasn't for the Turkish aggression and expansionism then Turks would have never come to Cyprus and our island would be a peaceful, democratic, Christian European island with no Turks and no problems.

[Malapapa]

The Cyprus issue began in 1963, not in 1974 as claimed by the Greeks.

The issue began in 1571 when the Turks started to invade our island, killing innocent Cypriot people, stealing our land and giving it to their Turkish Settlers. They continue to do the same since then. If it wasn't for the Turkish aggression and expansionism then Turks would have never come to Cyprus and our island would be a peaceful, democratic, Christian European island with no Turks and no problems.

When has it ever been claimed that the Cyprus issue started in 1974? By Greeks or anyone else?

I was fortunate to be intelligent...

Were you now... Actually saying this in an interview, suggests the opposite.