Thinking and acting monoculturally is necessary at times, but it in a complex and shared tragedy like Cyprus it is in many ways like thinking mono-lobally, or using only half your brain. Logic some might say, using half one’s capacity inevitably leads to fulfilling only half of one’s expectations. Irrefutably in order to comprehend Cypriots and to grasp a long lasting solution for Cyprus by Cypriots, the mind needs to be stretched beyond its current limits to permit bi-lobal thinking.  

 
SOLUTION BY CYPRIOTS FOR CYPRIOTS

This week I had the honour to be invited to attend a meeting organised by the National Federation of Cypriots in parliament which was attended by twelve other Turkish Cypriots including some prominent community figures. The event was organised and chaired by Peter Droussiotis, the President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK and was attended by the British Cyprus Envoy Joan Ryan and a panel of British MPs, which included  Alan Meale, Roger Gale, Rudi Vis, David Burrowes, Theresa Villiers, Andrew Dismore and David Amess, as well as former MP Tom Cox. The National Federation and many of the Cypriots present conduct most of the lobbying for Cyprus in Britain. 

With good behaviour and good will all round, there was no repetition of last year's provocation. A truly multi-communal event the audience was not the usual composition of 100% Greek Cypriots and included members of the Maronite community too. A forward thinking Cypriot, Peter Droussiotis who is a good friend of mine has worked hard since we met to reach out to progressive Turkish Cypriots in order to lobby together. In his opening speech Mr Droussiotis said that a "solution is a prize for all Cypriots to enjoy."  His words were echoed by British Cyprus envoy Joan Ryan MP who declared that a Cyprus solution had to be designed for Cypriots by Cypriots. Sadly though, not everybody got it… 

BLAME GAME 

In the midst of a peace process where both Cypriot leaders are working hard to secure a solution, I was taken aback by the assertion by a minority of MPs and guests that the Cyprus problem is just a 1974 issue of invasion and occupation. Assuming that only Greek Cypriots had attended, certain MPs focused only on the Greek Cypriot missing and the property lost in 1974. There was no mention of the pre-1974 inter-communal conflict or the suffering endured by Turkish Cypriots. The attempt was obvious, to butter up dispossessed Greek Cypriot constituents some of whom were sitting in the audience. Some older audience members heard what they wanted to hear and clapped, which aroused the MPs further…

But although the events of 1974 were a Stunde Null (Zero hour) to all Cypriots, the aim of these particular MPs was clearly not to condemn this shared tragedy and help find a shared solution but to apportion blame on Turkey for everything that had gone wrong. Turkey bashing in the company of Greek Cypriots is the way such MPs with their self-serving knowledge in Cyprus and Cypriots have long sought to help their British Cypriot constituents. As always, each MP pretends to be a ‘friend’ of Cyprus, but I wonder with so many friends why it is that their promises to punish Turkey and ‘liberate’ lands have never been fulfilled.  

Bias, the situation is sadly one created entirely by Greek and Turkish Cypriot in Britain who as constituents have long lobbied monocommunally excluding the 'other' community and the fact that the Cyprus issue like Cyprus itself is shared both in its cause, responsibility and effects.  For decades Cypriots in Britain have played the blame game and still Greek and Turkish Cypriot lobby groups today attempt to apportion blame on the ‘other.’ Free history lessons are handed out like condoms by people often born after 1974. Armed with this knowledge of the past, many community lobby groups attempt to exclude the other community using their ‘friendly’ MPs. What is overlooked as always is HOW a solution is going to be reached without all Cypriots? 
 

THE WIDER PICTURE

Fortunately, during this event, there was no shortage of good will and logic among the majority of people present – this re-lifted my spirits.  Challenging the false perception of some of the other MPs present, Andrew Dismore MP made a very short but impressively significant point. A Yorkshireman with the virtue of speaking his mind and with honesty, Dismore argued that yes 1974 is important, yes we all want a Cyprus solution, solution for Cypriots by Cypriots and human rights and property but that without a democratic Turkey on a path to EU membership, there would be little hope for a Cyprus solution. Aware of the influence the wider region has on a Cyprus solution, Dismore reminded the audience that the current ruling AK Party in Turkey faces possible closure and that no real progress can be made without engaging Turkey. Even if Cypriots agreed Turkey still has to agree to a solution too, Mr Dismore reminded guests.

 Dismore was joined several Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots too stood up and argued that 1974 was indeed dreadful but it is not the only part of the Cyprus issue. A simple message but one not always understood, these speakers reminded the more bias MPs that all Cypriots suffered. They asked these MPs not to take sides but to support the two Cypriot leaders in their efforts during the current peace process. No doubt there were Cypriots who wanted to blame one community but with little appetite for blame games by the British Cypriots themselves, even the MPs who made these assertions earlier on soon changed. After all they were being addressed by the most powerful of all - their constituents. 

Alan Meale MP who had previously offended a few Turkish Cypriot members of the audience changed his tone. He spoke of joint suffering and the need for a solution by Cypriots, after which they can live together again one more. Long accused by Turkish Cypriots of bias, Mr Meale even interrupted one Greek Cypriot from claiming that the Cyprus issue is an issue of invasion / occupation. Mr Meale told Elefteria's Michalis Elenas not to overlook Turkish Cypriot suffering before 1974 which was equally important or dismiss the missing Turkish Cypriots as well, which are equally as tragic. It is funny how MPs change according to their company but Meales come back was bliss to my ears. The process which took us to bi-lobal thinking perhaps took 30 minutes, but from then on suddenly, logic and rationalism prevailed…

NEED FOR BI-LOBAL THINKING

Rather than play or encourage their MPs to play the counterproductive blame game where they go around in circles everlastingly, Cypriots and their friends need to adopt a more reconciliatory way of thinking. On the one hand it is natural that Greek or Turkish Cypriots keep the needs of their individual community close to their heart but on the other they need to empathize with all other Cypriots and support the two Cypriot leaders in finding a common solution. 

Contrary to expectations, the persistence in thinking and acting mono-communally will not help Cypriots or even individual Cypriot communities. We can never have a Greek Cypriot solution or a Turkish Cypriot solution for Cyprus. A solution can only be a shared solution designed by all Cypriots for Cyprus and also one approved by all signatories. Cypriots need to look at the wider picture for finding such a solution and Turkey must be engaged in this process rather than blamed. British Cypriots need to get it, they have to rise above blame games, they must open their minds, realise the possibility of peace and the prosperity it will bring, giving peace a chance, or face an eternity of partition.