Download PDF | (Historical Dictionaries of Europe) Farid Mirbagheri - Historical Dictionary of Cyprus -The Scarecrow Press, Inc. (2009).
289 Pages
Editor’s Foreword
Cyprus is known for several things, some good, others considerably less so. It is certainly strategically located, in the midst of the Mediterranean, which has had both positive and negative consequences. On the one hand, it encouraged trade and made it a precious bastion for certain alien powers, but this also created enmity with others, and it was repeatedly fought over until it finally became independent in 1960. In its latest metamorphosis, the island was shared by two rather different communities—the Greeks and the Turks—along with assorted minorities, but they lived together in close proximity if not necessarily harmony.
However, after a coup d’etat and an invasion in 1974, the country was split in two, with what for all practical purposes are two different states (although only one is broadly recognized), and despite attempts at reconciliation and largely desultory negotiations, the Republic of Cyprus remains that way today. The fact that it became part of the European Union in 2004 has not changed things decisively, and any movement toward reunion is painfully slow. Nonetheless, the island has prospered economically due to trade, tourism, shipping, and other activities, and the Greek part at least boasts a rather lively democratic system. And all its inhabitants have become accustomed to this rather odd split personality, which no one really likes, but no one seems able to change.
This long and sometimes glorious history, as well as the rather complex situation at present, are just two of many important reasons to require a periodical updating of this historical dictionary. This time it was written by Farid Mirbagheri, who was born in Iran and studied in Great Britain before moving to Cyprus about a decade ago. Since then, he has been teaching at the University of Nicosia, where he holds the Dialogue Chair in Middle Eastern Studies at the Department of International Relations. He is also the Director of Research at the Centre for World Dialogue in Nicosia. His book, International Peacemaking in Cyprus, came out in 1998. In addition, he was the editor of The Cyprus Review from 1999 to 2006 and remains on its editorial board. This is an excellent position from which to survey the often confusing past and present of Cyprus, and his focus on dialogue certainly gives him exceptional insight into the unusually complicated situation of this rather special country. The results of his study and contacts can be amply seen in this completely new edition of the Historical Dictionary of Cyprus.
Like all other historical dictionaries, this one consists largely of a dictionary section, which includes hundreds of entries on the history, politics, economy, and culture of the country. Many of these deal with particularly prominent persons and political parties, while others cover significant events and major locations. They are amply crossreferenced, so readers can focus on specific aspects but also piece together the overall picture. This task is facilitated by an introduction, which spans the whole period and looks more closely at the major events and turning points. A long and complicated history can be grasped more readily through the chronology, tracing the many important steps from the earliest days to the present. The list of acronyms is a handy tool for reading not only this book but other works on Cyprus. And, since readers may very well want to learn more than can be provided in just one book, the bibliography points them in the right direction.
Jon Woronoff Series Editor
knowledgments
It is difficult, if not impossible, to list the names of all those who have directly or indirectly assisted me in compiling this work. Therefore, I would like to express my appreciation to all of them and apologize if their names are not mentioned here.
First and foremost, I would like to thank the A.G. Leventis Foundation, whose generous and unremitting support of the Dialogue Chair in Middle Eastern Studies afforded me the time and the space required to complete this work. My dedicated group of researchers, Maria Kouppi, Arzu Izveren, and Alexia Sakodaki, deserve to be noted and thanked for their efforts. Arzu Izveren was very helpful with regard to information on Turkish Cypriots. Maria Kouppi, in particular, devoted much time and energy and assisted me tirelessly in visiting different places to collect information. I owe them my gratitude.
The Press and Information Office of the Republic of Cyprus also spared no effort in providing me with the required information; nor did the relevant authorities of the Turkish Cypriot community. I am grateful for their cooperation.
My learned colleague Naya Roussou and the Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies, University of Nicosia, as well as the United Nations Mission in Cyprus, should also be thanked for their help.
I am indebted to my erudite colleague and historian, Emilios Solomou at the University of Nicosia, who provided invaluable comments on this edition. His suggestions on the various aspects of this work were most useful. This volume has undoubtedly benefited from them.
Louise Carroll has been an indispensable part of this project, without whom its completion would have been a near-impossible task. Her precise and unfailing organization of data was pivotal to this book. She consistently labored through chunks of material and endured my editorial comments and squabbles, patiently reproducing draft after draft. Iam deeply appreciative for her persistent organization and very insightful comments, especially when family matters demanded her attention. Anna Zobnina offered her time and skills lavishly toward the end of this work, for which I thank her. This work has also benefited greatly from the meticulous and systematic approach of my assistant, Sladjana Simic, at a time when it was very much needed. Her incisive comments have been most helpful. I owe her special thanks for those and for her generosity of character.
I should also thank Jon Woronoff, the series editor, who put up with my delays in producing this work. His comments were sharp and to the point and saved me much time and effort.
Scarecrow Press should most definitely be thanked for having provided me with the opportunity to prepare and complete this project. Their approach all along was nothing less than professional.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my wife, Maria, and our children, Danial David and Ariana Michelle. Their support, encouragement, and understanding enthused me throughout. The work on this project was made possible because they allowed family time and space to be used elsewhere. I am forever grateful to them.
Any mistakes, factual or otherwise, however, are mine and mine alone.
Preface
Cyprus is the third largest Mediterranean island, the most eastern frontier of the European Union, and placed at the intersection of three continents. Situated north of Egypt, south of Turkey, west of Lebanon, and east of Greece, this island boasts a mixture of the East and the West. The strategic position of the island has since ancient times been the cause of many of its troubles. Cyprus has attracted the attention of whichever power was at any time dominant in the Eastern Mediterranean. The demography of the island reflects to a good degree its internal discord.
Comprised mainly of Greek Cypriots (around 80%) and Turkish Cypriots (around 18%), with the remaining 2 percent made up of Armenians, Maronites, and others, this small island of about 10,000 square kilometers hosts a culture that mirrors an Eastern heart but reflects Western rationality. The legacies of past conquests and defeats by the ruling powers of the globe have left their mark on Cyprus. The current political stalemate that Cypriots of different ethnicities find themselves in relates very much to the troubled history of the island.
Now safely anchored in the European Union, Cyprus and the Cyprus problem appear to play an important part in the progress of Turkey’s European ambitions. The much-publicized Annan Plan of 2004, which aimed to deliver a long-awaited solution to the Cyprus problem, received a resounding vote of no confidence from the majority Greek Cypriots. Ever since, the sympathy of the international community, hitherto enjoyed by Greek Cypriots, seems to have slowly shifted in favor of Turkish Cypriots. The realities on the ground, however, namely the presence of more than 30,000 Turkish troops in the northern occupied section of the island and the relative degree of security the EU has afforded Greek Cypriots, appear to pull in different directions as regards both the essence and the content of a solution.
The history of the Cyprus problem clearly indicates that violence cannot and will not resolve the problem. If anything, it was violence that caused the de facto division and the separation of the two communities in the first place. Vision and courage are required to bring about the reunification of the country.
Economically, however, Cyprus has experienced an impressive degree of prosperity. Millions of tourists flock to its shores every year in search of sun, sea, and sand, all in abundance on the island. It has also become a favorite destination for many from the Middle East as a second place of residence. Political stability, together with promising economic prospects boosted by EU membership, adds to the attraction of the island.
In a world where divisions are increasingly marked along identity lines, Cyprus can offer a chance to bridge differences and celebrate variety in the human community rather than engage in violence in pursuit of political goals. This last aspect renders Cyprus and its heritage a place of hope in the face of adversity and conflict that have engulfed our world.
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