The Turkish and Greek Cypriots clash is noted to have started long before the current crisis in the governance of the two sub-countries. Danielidou and Horvath (2006) note that the current border problems are associated with the macabre that continued to inflict the countries long before the advent of the millennium. There are quite a number of factors that have been identified as the root cause of the many problems that continue to face the two countries. The problems witnessed in the two countries are way beyond the character of the modern world, and the assertion developed in this essay is to draw the inadequacies and the negative role that the media and other stakeholders play in fueling the adversity between the two countries. The paper takes the approach of viewing the history of the problem witnessed in the country. There is also an exposition into how the conflict might have started, and the development of the phases leading to the deadlock in the peace and conflict resolutions.
An approach into the methods and possible ways of resolving the problems is also explicated. The conflict between the two Cypriot communities is observed from a socio-psychological view. There is a discussion of the psychological and cultural factors that continue to shape the level of ethnicity and political conglomerations. Thorough scrutiny into the phases of development of the crisis is also advanced. Danielidou and Horvath (2006) observe that the Cyprus issue of conflict is a global problem as it involves the UN and global efforts to resolve. Therefore the issue qualifies as a rightful topic for discussion in the current political quagmires affecting the world.
The conflict
The conflict between the two sub nations is reported to have originated from the 1974 coup that saw the division of power between the two communities living in Cyprus (Global security, 2012).The then president Makarios was not in support of the enosis (the struggle of the Greek majority for unification). Makarios, as Global security (2012) advances, held the view that the current government would not fall into the unification of the majority community in the country as the Greek Cypriot minority would be disadvantaged through the low numbers that were reminiscent of the time. Contrary to the view, the military government on the other hand supported the enosis. This led to heated debates whereupon the president sought the assistance if the Greek Cypriots who opposed the enosis in the near future. On the other hand the military government which had been infiltrated with pro-communist political henchmen continued with the internal resistance. The tension and extralegal political parties and political instigations continued to wheat the country. Danielidou and Horvath (2006) advance that in the 1968 there were peace talks and how the country was to be structured after the 1967 coup de tat. The peace talks were led by the UN envoy and secretary general Kurt Waldheim.
The talks proceeded with each side of the opposing sides advancing their needs. The Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots noted that the then constitution did not address their grievances to the full. Therefore, there was need to implement a new constitution that was to inculcate the grievances of the two sides. Danielidou and Horvath (2006) observe that this sparked opposing reaction s from the military communist parties and those members that were anti-Makarios. The proliferation of the ethnic animosity and the large spread of propaganda had seen Makarios system of government be seen as anti-unionist. This coupled with the backing from the communist senior officers who had infiltrated the government saw an organization of a coup in which Makarios was overthrown in 1974 (Global security, 2012). This was done through citing that Makarios was against the enosis and was an anti-reformist. This as Krikorian (2005) observes was to form the long trek of the two communities on an isolated footpath up to present conflict deadlocks.
How the conflict is framed by both sides
The conflict between the two communities was developed in the same precincts as the ones discussed in the exposition above. The Turkish Cypriots who are the majority hold that the Greek Cypriots ought to join the mainland Greece and form one enosis. The unification of the island with the mainland on the other hand has been misinterpreted by the opposite Greek Cypriot in a different way. Krikorian (2005) observes that while the Turkish Cypriots view the enosis as a possible unification that will oversee equal share of the national cake, the other side views the unification as founded on ethnic witch-hunt that is coupled with false promises. The side advances that the recommendation and the treaties that are being signed by the conflict mitigation teams will not be honored by the Turkish majority. This is seen to have been the major reasons behind the current deadlocks where the countries have demarcated sub-borders leading to national boundaries from within the same state.
Global security (2012) argues that the problems witnessed in the country, especially those of political nature where the crisis between "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC") and the autonomous-declared island are as a result of the 1974 coup. This is seen to be the root cause of the ethic separation. Global security (2012) holds that over 40% of the Cypriots do not live in their maternal places of birth due to many problems which continue to inflict the country. There are many political problems in the country that continue to threaten the integrity of the national government. The opposing ethnic parties and the proposition that enosis in the whole land will lead to lose of ‘touch’ by the minority Greek Cypriots are that, major cause of the political deadlocks that have seen the two sides remain divided since then.
Stanley (2004) develops that the role of the media in the world’s political arena is slowly growing to an inseparable political tool that politicians and political parties and groups will for a while utilize. Media has for a long time played different roles in political equivocations in the world. The case of the Cyprus conflict between the two major conflicting political conglomerations is one which has faced both sides of the media. Lewin (2000) reports that despite the media being on the forefront of advocating for enosis and highlighting the advantages of the unification of the two sides, it has also played a big role if instilling uncertainties in the eventual joining of the two sides. Lewin (2000 notes that the media has on several occasions reported on the repercussions of reaching an agreement between the two sides, citing that the compact majority are bound to benefit more and the minority Greek Cypriots will lose on terms of political unification. This is so because the constitution of the country will give no preference to any one just because of the state of being a minority in the population of the whole country (Lewin, 2000). This therefore has added to the deadlock that has continued to inflict the country. The two sides have advanced their own needs that they need to be met.
Stanley (2004) argues that it is unethical and unsubstantiated for Cypriot communities to continue citing the coup and the structural re-adjustments of the time as tenets of forming a formidable reunion of the state. This indicates that the communities are still affected by the past events which continue to shape the political space between them. The media on the other hand has also been responsible for the reconstruction of political macabre that has been done by the variant political views in the country. For instance, the media has held campaigns in major cities in Cyprus to try and besiege the two sides to take the offer on the table and revitalize the dreams of unifying the state into one concrete union, free from the daily wrangles that rock the basis of government.
Then role of the media in de-constructing the standoff between the peace talks in is also seen through the educative programs that have been aired over the radio and other media platforms. Several key leaders have also been given the chance to talk on the positive sides of uniting the two sides to form one government, thereby leading to unification. The media has also been responsible for covering the events that are related to the peace talks and demonstrations that are advanced by either party in trying to reach agreement. For instance, BBC Monitoring European (2005) reported that in 1996 two demonstrators were killed while demonstrating against the unification. This had sparked a possible re-entry to the field and border combats were the media and private stakeholders not involved in control and preaching of prevalence of peace (Önis & Yilmaz, 2008). One can therefore not ignore the reconstructive efforts of the media in trying to bring tranquility and unionization of the sub-counties.
Önis and Yilmaz (2008) note that the cessation of the political stand still in the country can only be realized through amputation of the psychological and cultural inclinations that is reminiscent of the two conflicting sides. The thought of the atrocities in the past have remained in the minds and political lifelines of most citizens. This therefore has fueled the ethnicity and the stand still thus affecting the efforts that amounted to bring semblance into the country. There is also the cultural belief that the majority will always be the benefactor in any political unification. Sanem (2011) advances that a greater percentage of the Greek Cypriots thing that the unification will make them lose the autonomy that they have enjoyed for long. They are also seen to belief that the constitution and terms of agreements that are advanced by the arbitration teams may not be honored after the withdrawal of pressure from the veto powers of Britain and USA (Sanem, 2011).
Conclusion
Krikorian (2005) notes that the unification of the two Cypriots groups into one unified system of government lies in the proactive de-construction of the minds of the people and possible forgetting of the past atrocities. Efforts of national reconciliation and advocacy should be speeded up if the two sides have to reach any substantive agreements. The media and the political divide of either two groups should take a different stand of understanding the stalemate and work towards the restitution of the problem. There should be honoring of the peace agreements and treaties that have been advanced. Veto powers like Britain and USA should also oversee the implementation of a constitution that will serve all Cypriots without leading to lose of identity and impartiality in the governance and subjection to the rule of law. It is under the generation of peaceful and well informed foreign relations that the stalemate and cross border conflict will cease. This will oversee the peaceful sharing if the national cake and possible political tranquility.
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