JOY vs SHOCK

The statement brought joy to thousands of Cypriots who want a solution to the Cyprus problem that would reunify their homeland and allow many to get on with their lives without the restrictions of divisions. The status quo of division leaves Turkish Cypriots isolated in the north, while Greek Cypriots are blocked by Turkey in international organizations, while neither community has a solution to their property claims. Any change in the status quo would if anything changes this untenable situation.

The joint statement also received a positive reaction from Turkey.  In a written statement issued this week, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said it expected full-fledged negotiations to establish a new partnership state in Cyprus to start as soon as possible. "Turkey expects the two leaders in Cyprus to start direct talks under the UN secretary-general's good will mission to find a comprehensive and a fair settlement which will be based on bi-zonality and political equality of the two founding states" the statement said.

Yet the same statement came as a shock to some Cypriots; an uneasy truth that few have had to tackle before. Firstly, Ahmet Yonluer, chairman of the Politics for the People (HIS) Party accused the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat of being passive during the new process and blamed him for not promoting the TRNC. Scaremongering, UBP leader Mr Tahsin Ertugruloglu referred to the Christofias-Talat meeting on Friday and alleged that Mr Talat is "putting in danger the state, the gains and the security of the Turkish Cypriots for the sake of the image and the power."  Talat faced similar attacks in nationalist media in northern Cyprus and by well-known nationalists in his community who played the myth that the Turkish Cypriots might now be in danger. But Talat was not alone, the reaction to the joint statement has caused an a mirror effect reaction in the south. Demetris Christofias too was predictably criticised by Tassos Papadopoulos and DIKO, the architects of the Annan Plan rejection that has retained the status quo, and by well known nationalists in his community.

MYTH MAKING

The internal attacks on the two leaders is far from unexpected. It is only natural considering that Cypriots have been indoctrinated by myth making for decades. Cypriot children are often taught of the 'terrible Turk' or 'bloodthirsty Greek,' which poses a 'threat to them. Such bias accounts of history lead to the blame game. Many Cypriots whom justice has failed for past crimes, who have suffered, who have lost loved ones or properties are vulnerable to the blame game. Sealed off from one another for 33 years, for the two larger Cypriot communities the result of the blame game is the demonization of the 'other.' For others, hate grows deep roots that lead to opinions of the 'other' that often fall short of racism.

As expected, a cocktail of indoctrination, blame game and stereotypes has led to two opposing polarised views of what a solution would entail often playing upon historical animosity, sectarianism and stereotypical views of the perceived 'other.'

On the Greek Cypriot side, the statement made by the two leaders killed off an earlier myth that Cyprus is Greek and that a solution will reduce the Turkish Cypriots to a minority and that power sharing would be very limited. It also killed off a myth that Turkish Cypriots are only 500 year 'guests.' Similarly on the Turkish Cypriot side the statement killed off any prospects of TRNC recognition, self-inflicted isolation and a 'confederal' solution that misinterprets the Swiss cantonal system. It also killed a myth of creating a super Turkic state from Siberia to the Black Sea.

We have seen that for decades, each 'ideal solution' favoured by each of the two opposing nationalisms, Hellenism and Pan-Turkism seem to be backed only by believers of each group with each believer convinced that the 'other' side will suddenly concede defeat, while they triumph.

For years, such myths have shaped the image that we have constructed of ourselves (the victims, the righteous) and the 'other.' Like all myths, it has very little basis in reality. But that is not important to believers of myths after all as Jean Cocteau once said: "Man seeks to escape himself in myth, and does so by any means at his disposal. Drugs, alcohol, or lies. Unable to withdraw into himself, he disguises himself. Lies and inaccuracy give him a few moments of comfort."

MYTHS FIGHTING BACK A SOLUTION

Preserved by decades of deadlock in talks myth making as opposed to progress making has had consequences for ordinary Cypriots. Some Cypriots have wasted decades waiting for TRNC recognition in order to plan their future while others still believe there will actually be a sudden return to the pre-1974 days.  Myths can be cruel. At times such myths have long burdened, complicated and undermined our peace process causing our elected leaders great difficulty. As the peace process advances, myths are being exposed for being myths and destroyed by the swiftly moving forces of peace, while the creators of these myths – Cyprus' dinosaur nationalists will be increasingly sidelined and ignored both in Cyprus and by Greece and Turkey.

DISMANTLING MYTHS

It is only natural that after decades of myth building that some Cypriots that have long been indoctrinated will now become disillusioned with what is really going on, but dismantling myths is just as important as dismantling the wall of iron that separates Nicosia into two halves. Myths are dangerous, as  John F Kennedy once said: "The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive and unrealistic."  Dismantling myths is a part of the peace process and should not be overlooked by the Cypriot leaders who in turn should always inform ordinary Cypriots of the reality of a bi-communal bi-zonal federation. As expected, there will be desperate nationalist opposition to the peace process in the coming months or years but this should not deter the Cypriot leaders and other peace makers in Cyprus. Indeed, the real test will be if Mr Talat and Mr Christofias will be strong enough to withstand these attacks within their respective areas as they negotiate and design the future United Federal Republic of Cyprus. They have come along way in such a short space of time, and as the US ambassador said hope has been renewed for the first time since 2004. Let them rest assured that at some point in the foreseeable future the fuel that keeps myth making alive will run out... as peace making builds up momentum. After decades of waiting for false solutions to arrive, the Cypriot people are tired of myth making and want to build the foundations of their own future in their own Cyprus that is at peace with itself and its neighbours.