0`07 K
No-one pays any attention to the hole in the wall. For 28 years now the wall has snaked along the invisible dividing line between Turkish Cyprus to the North, and Greek Cyprus to the South.
The so-called Green Line passes through here, Nicosia. Greeks and Turks are decamped all along the so-called armistice line. Soldiers eyeball each other, hurl insults, occasionally shoot at each other. The Greeks call it the Zoni Nekri, death zone. Many call Cyprus The Island of Bitterness
0`46 K
The fate of thousands of missing Cypriots from both sides is still unclear. In photos tell the gruesome tale of the victims of the Summer of 1974, when the Turkish Army first occupied Northern Cyprus. 1480 Greeks went missing: the Turks mourned thousands, they tell us. Now in the tussle of political negotiation, everyone is hoping for a bit more clarity.
1`10 OT Nik Theodosion, President Missing Combination
We Greeks started 1963/64, and 1974 were not the angels, were not guilt free. Both sides committed atrocities. Clarifying exactly what those atrocities were is an important first step, to reduce the exaggeration. Above all, the fate of the missing has to be clarified.
Mother:
I expected an answer whether my son was murdered, or whether he was captured, or whether he is still alive and if so, then where, and if not, where he is buried. We can then identify our relatives with DNA analysis, and give them a proper burial. Only then can we die in peace.
2`15 Archive, Cyprus August 1974
It was the most torrid phase in the seemingly everlasting stand-off between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Turkish Units poured into northern Cyprus, to prevent annexation by Greece. The Turkish minority had to be protected. A delicate game of chess on military and strategic grounds followed
2`40
Since the bloody days of the summer of 1974, 30 000 Turkish soldiers have been stationed in the North of Cyprus.
2`55
Now both sides are divided by the Green Line, a buffer zone more or less across the middle of the Island. From here the UN watches over a fragile peace.
3`05 K
The former Turkish town of Petrofani, stands as a microcosm of the whole of Cyprus. In 1963 bitter clashes between Greek and Turk Cypriots erupted here. The residents of Petrofani left hand over foot. Since then time has stood still. An example of the fate of so much of the island. Expulsion, hate, discord. Common emotions for Cypriots.
3`35 K
Fighting against the political impasse are two political warhorses. Glafkos Klerides, President of the Greek side of the island, and Rouf Denktasch, leader of the Turkish Cypriots. The Greek islanders propose splitting the existing state into two zones. Denktasch wants a loose federation of two sovereign states. Progress is slow.
4`05 OT Andros Karayiannis, Greek-Cypriot Peace activist
Recently I had a private meeting with the political leaders of the greek and Turkish Cypriots. It was made clear that new steps needed to be made. The way forward is to admit that there have been issues, issues that our both are people have neglected to deal with.
4`55 K
Reconciliation in the prosperous areas of southern Cyprus is monitored with great tension and enthusiasm. From an economic standpoint, the south is more developed than Greece or Portugal. The Greeks would like a firmer grip on the North if a partnership were ever to materialize.
But the green line is still a barrier between the two lands. How long is this going to last?
5`35 K
According to the island's impoverished, not much longer. The vast majority of Turkish Cypriots would like to join the EU. Rouf Denktasch, however, would rather first see a coalition between the North and Turkey. But Europe offers subsidies, and Cypriots wait to see if the call of the eurodollar is strong enough. The stakes are high. Now consideration is being given to whether or not Cyprus should join the EU, an issue which had here to for been given little flexibility. Psychology plays a significant role. People must consider both the concerns raised by the Turks and also how mistrustful people are of others. After reunification, the Greeks intend to buy up most of the tourist areas.
6`10 K
Activist groups from both islands met at the buffer zone in Pyla to try to rid the world of reservations. Pyla is not just any place; here the people live peculiar lives, similar to the way theyve always lived on the whole island. Even now you would not get in their way; they hardly talk to one another and are under 24 hour surveillance by the UN. There is always a danger people will attack each other. Behind raised hands, we are told people treat each other with cold indifference.
6`43 OT Prof.Niyazi Kizilyürek, Political Scientist, University of Nikosia
A solution to the problem requires everyone to think about it the European Union needs that, as does Cyprus, turk Cypriots, Turkey. Perhaps were close to worldwide Greek - Turkish reconciliation, if not then were heading for a big crisis, which isnt in anyones interest.
7`20 K
Cyprus will divide unless both sides get a fair hearing. Greeks and Turks are both fiercely proud of their heritage- a past of mistrust and hatred. The decision to break the barriers of Europes last divided capital city, will come in autumn. Whether or not the wall will come crashing down is more questionable...
Reporter: Alexander Steinbach
Camera: Vassili Stojannis
No-one pays any attention to the hole in the wall. For 28 years now the wall has snaked along the invisible dividing line between Turkish Cyprus to the North, and Greek Cyprus to the South.
The so-called Green Line passes through here, Nicosia. Greeks and Turks are decamped all along the so-called armistice line. Soldiers eyeball each other, hurl insults, occasionally shoot at each other. The Greeks call it the Zoni Nekri, death zone. Many call Cyprus The Island of Bitterness
0`46 K
The fate of thousands of missing Cypriots from both sides is still unclear. In photos tell the gruesome tale of the victims of the Summer of 1974, when the Turkish Army first occupied Northern Cyprus. 1480 Greeks went missing: the Turks mourned thousands, they tell us. Now in the tussle of political negotiation, everyone is hoping for a bit more clarity.
1`10 OT Nik Theodosion, President Missing Combination
We Greeks started 1963/64, and 1974 were not the angels, were not guilt free. Both sides committed atrocities. Clarifying exactly what those atrocities were is an important first step, to reduce the exaggeration. Above all, the fate of the missing has to be clarified.
Mother:
I expected an answer whether my son was murdered, or whether he was captured, or whether he is still alive and if so, then where, and if not, where he is buried. We can then identify our relatives with DNA analysis, and give them a proper burial. Only then can we die in peace.
2`15 Archive, Cyprus August 1974
It was the most torrid phase in the seemingly everlasting stand-off between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Turkish Units poured into northern Cyprus, to prevent annexation by Greece. The Turkish minority had to be protected. A delicate game of chess on military and strategic grounds followed
2`40
Since the bloody days of the summer of 1974, 30 000 Turkish soldiers have been stationed in the North of Cyprus.
2`55
Now both sides are divided by the Green Line, a buffer zone more or less across the middle of the Island. From here the UN watches over a fragile peace.
3`05 K
The former Turkish town of Petrofani, stands as a microcosm of the whole of Cyprus. In 1963 bitter clashes between Greek and Turk Cypriots erupted here. The residents of Petrofani left hand over foot. Since then time has stood still. An example of the fate of so much of the island. Expulsion, hate, discord. Common emotions for Cypriots.
3`35 K
Fighting against the political impasse are two political warhorses. Glafkos Klerides, President of the Greek side of the island, and Rouf Denktasch, leader of the Turkish Cypriots. The Greek islanders propose splitting the existing state into two zones. Denktasch wants a loose federation of two sovereign states. Progress is slow.
4`05 OT Andros Karayiannis, Greek-Cypriot Peace activist
Recently I had a private meeting with the political leaders of the greek and Turkish Cypriots. It was made clear that new steps needed to be made. The way forward is to admit that there have been issues, issues that our both are people have neglected to deal with.
4`55 K
Reconciliation in the prosperous areas of southern Cyprus is monitored with great tension and enthusiasm. From an economic standpoint, the south is more developed than Greece or Portugal. The Greeks would like a firmer grip on the North if a partnership were ever to materialize.
But the green line is still a barrier between the two lands. How long is this going to last?
5`35 K
According to the island's impoverished, not much longer. The vast majority of Turkish Cypriots would like to join the EU. Rouf Denktasch, however, would rather first see a coalition between the North and Turkey. But Europe offers subsidies, and Cypriots wait to see if the call of the eurodollar is strong enough. The stakes are high. Now consideration is being given to whether or not Cyprus should join the EU, an issue which had here to for been given little flexibility. Psychology plays a significant role. People must consider both the concerns raised by the Turks and also how mistrustful people are of others. After reunification, the Greeks intend to buy up most of the tourist areas.
6`10 K
Activist groups from both islands met at the buffer zone in Pyla to try to rid the world of reservations. Pyla is not just any place; here the people live peculiar lives, similar to the way theyve always lived on the whole island. Even now you would not get in their way; they hardly talk to one another and are under 24 hour surveillance by the UN. There is always a danger people will attack each other. Behind raised hands, we are told people treat each other with cold indifference.
6`43 OT Prof.Niyazi Kizilyürek, Political Scientist, University of Nikosia
A solution to the problem requires everyone to think about it the European Union needs that, as does Cyprus, turk Cypriots, Turkey. Perhaps were close to worldwide Greek - Turkish reconciliation, if not then were heading for a big crisis, which isnt in anyones interest.
7`20 K
Cyprus will divide unless both sides get a fair hearing. Greeks and Turks are both fiercely proud of their heritage- a past of mistrust and hatred. The decision to break the barriers of Europes last divided capital city, will come in autumn. Whether or not the wall will come crashing down is more questionable...
Reporter: Alexander Steinbach
Camera: Vassili Stojannis