To the editor:, As my family and I walked down the streets of downtown Nicosia, the capital city of Cyprus, I took in the vibrant life of people going about their daily chores and business. Whether it were Cypriot citizens playing backgammon at a coffeeshop or tourists enjoying their vacations, the city gleamed with excitement and activity. However, few around the world know that Nicosia is the only divided capital city in the world, separated by a demilitarized United Nations Buffer Zone. Over 40 years of history is frozen in this zone, where countless dilapidated and abandoned buildings and homes exemplify the unrest that has plagued the country, which forced many Cypriots to flee Turkey’s violation of human rights., Since 1974, Cyprus has been unofficially divided in two. While both sides identify as Cypriot, the southern part is ethnically Greek and the northern part is ethnically Turkish, with both sides obeying different governments. This is the basis of the Cyprus Problem, when in 1974, Greece’s military junta backed a coup of the new Cyprus government after Cyprus won its independence from Britain in 1960. The coup was supported by the majority of Cypriots, as there was a movement at the time to reunite with Greece, called “Enosis,” since Cyprus has been mostly ethnically Greek. In response, however, Turkey invaded Cyprus five days later and captured 37 percent of the island, using the coup as an excuse to invade., The Turkish invasion violated the UN Charter and all principles of international law with impunity. Thousands of Greek Cypriots were killed, misplaced, and forcibly expelled from their homes as a result of the invasion, becoming refugees in their own country and deprived of the right to return to their homes up to this day. About 1,500 Greek Cypriots went missing and what became of them remains unknown. Furthermore, 200,000 Greek Cypriots, approximately one third of the population, have been misplaced from the occupied northern part, which represented 70 percent of the island’s economic potential. Turkey’s aggression and violation of international law was further shown through keeping 40,000 troops in the occupied area and its unilateral declaration of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” in 1983, which is only recognized by Turkey and no other country., Being a Greek Cypriot, it is disheartening that such a violation of human rights and international law which essentially separated Cyprus was allowed to occur and that the issue is still unresolved. Despite peace talks and efforts of reunification initiated by the UN and the Cypriot government since 1975, a peaceful settlement seems unlikely. Nonetheless, Cyprus is doing all it can to negotiate a solution. In essence, the international community must take action to restore human rights in Cyprus and discuss a peaceful solution to the Cyprus Problem with the same determination that has been demonstrated elsewhere. Such a solution would possibly include the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the occupied area, the restoration of basic freedoms of all Cypriots, and the affirmation of the sovereignty, reunification, and demilitarization of Cyprus. However, international cooperation is needed for a solution, especially from Turkey and Cyprus., The importance of solving the Cyprus Problem with international cooperation is essential to maintaining peace throughout the rest of the world and demonstrating that violations of international law will result in dire consequences. All human rights violations should be addressed by the international community, such as in Syria today. Why has the Cyprus Problem been pushed aside for so many years? As a Greek Cypriot, it is my hope that I can visit the country of my heritage, Cyprus, as a reunified, thriving country., Phivos Christodoulides, Hillsborough
