For 45 years, Cyprus is divided. The EU election could help both sides to bring together. For the first time a candidate from the Turkish North to be effective for a Greek-Cypriot party. From Famagusta Sira Thierij.
Not far from Famagusta and the divided city of Nicosia: the border between the Republic of Cyprus and Northern Cyprus
Nowhere in Cyprus, the conflict is as visible as in Famagusta, a seaside town about 80 kilometres East of Nicosia, to the North of the divided Mediterranean island. Since the Turkish Invasion in 1974, a whole district, military restricted area: Varosia, a Ghost town with abandoned Hotels, cinemas, banks, and about 3,000 smaller, empty shops is here. Not far from here, within the ancient city walls of Famagusta, gathered about 40 young Turkish Cypriots. Somewhere the Muezzin calls to prayer. The students have only one theme: the European election.
Buffer zone: an Abandoned building in the North of Nicosia, on the border with the Republic of Cyprus
The reason is a Meeting with Niyazi Kızılyürek, the first of the Northern Cypriots with realistic chances of getting a seat in the EU Parliament. As of Turkish origin, he is running for the biggest Greek Cypriot opposition party AKEL – also there was in Cyprus. As the only candidate, he visited the whole island. “This is a real opportunity for me, both pages together. I’m like a connector, because I was always involved with two communities,” says Kızılyürek. For many years, the 60-Year-old is an advocate for peace in Cyprus: as a Professor, author, film-maker. And now as a politician.
Northern Cypriots are citizens of the EU
In his campaign appearances in the North, it is only by the way, advertising for the own party. In the first line Kızılyürek want to explain to the people that they, too, are part of the EU. At the last European elections, fewer than 2,500 people voted from the North-East, i.e. only three percent of those who are listed in the electoral register. “I knew, to be honest, not even that we may ever choose, and I never knew the candidates. There were always people from the other side,” says biology student Ceyhun Ipekcioglu. “Now there’s someone who understands us, understands the youth, and knows the problems that we deal here,” adds his well-Known Buse Ozkan. “We want to be part of the EU, a part of Europe.”
Election campaign in Greek and Turkish: Niyazi Kızılyürek in the election campaign in Famagusta
Officially also the North of Cyprus to the Union territory belongs to, but the EU law is suspended here. The Turkish Republic is recognised only by Ankara as a state. Nevertheless, some 100,000 Turkish Cypriots with a European passport living here in the North of the island – a right to all of the, whose ancestors also come from Cyprus. So that you can participate in the end of may to the elections, the Greek Cypriot government’s 50 polling stations along the Green line, a buffer zone, which is guarded always by about 1,000 UN soldiers.
Cold Peace
Since Turkey has occupied for more than four decades, the North, the isolated, the people here largely. Only in 2003 the borders between North and South were opened. Nevertheless, the separation remains obvious: There are two currencies, two phone networks, two languages. Surveys show that more than half of all Cypriots for a United island, but the peace process is at a standstill. “There is no violence. It is something like a cold peace here,” says Mete Hatay, researcher at the peace research Institute Oslo in Nicosia. “Life is largely normal in a totally abnormal Situation. That scares people, but in spite of urgency to change something is missing from the inside.”
Cold peace – a hopeful Graffiti in Nicosia
Esra Aygin reported for more than 20 years on the conflict in their homeland. With the candidacy of Niyazi Kızılyürek could change something about this, it is hoped that the young journalist from the North of Cyprus. “The people here have always believed, that the Turkish Cypriots can never represent a Greek Cypriot. Or is that an idea, which is to the North of Cyprus, well, it must be bad for the South. He breaks all of these taboos,” she says. “Even if he is not elected, he writes history.”
But there is also criticism.Because Kızılyürek a candidate for a Greek-Cypriot party, does not believe in the North that he is advocating for their interests. Besides, his party had voted in favour of AKEL 15 years ago in the peace negotiations for the Annan Plan, the UN should unite the two sides.
Always with the people in the contact: Niyazi Kızılyürek (l.) during the election campaign
Soon Turkish in the European Parliament?
Niyazi Kızılyürek drives almost every day in a different village in order to reach as many people as possible. His election campaign he leads both Turkish as well as Greek. For the European Parliament, he needs at least 17,000 votes, no matter from which side. Surveys suggest that in these elections a lot more people from the North vote as of 2014 approximately 80 percent of these for Kızılyürek. “Who chooses me, chooses an idea,” says the candidate. “Every vote for me is not only a voice for someone that wants Parliament to Europe, but a vote for peace, reconciliation and a common life.” For Kızılyürek this also means a step in the direction of the same part: If he is elected, he wants to keep his plenary talk in Turkish.