After 40 years and no resolution to unifying Cyprus, many are just losing interest, World Hellenic Inter-parliamentary Association president John Pandazopoulos says.
Attending the Cypriot commemorative events marking the 40 year anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus this year, Mr Pandazopoulos says interest to see the island reunified is waning.
Visiting Cyprus and attending events two years ago, Mr Pandazopoulos admits crowd numbers aren’t what they expected.
“When I was there two years ago I was surprised how small the services were, if you take away the politicians and TV crews, there weren’t many people there,” he says.
“This year there were a few extra people, people came from Greece and from the diaspora, but I would probably say after 40 years, my colleagues and I thought it would have been bigger.”
The frustration people feel for the ongoing rift and the inaction of politicians has many losing hope that a resolution will ever be reached.
“I think people are getting frustrated with that and maybe that’s why in Cyprus crowds aren’t as big,” Mr Pandazopoulos believes.
“People are losing faith in the political process and that feeds into the agenda of Turkey.
“Despite all the UN resolutions, only lip service has been paid to international law.”
This Thursday will mark the day Turkish forces commenced the second stage of their invasion operation, known as ‘Atilla-II’, contravening the UN ceasefire.
International pressure to resolve the issue has always been clear, and with world events and more pressing matters like elections taking over the political agenda, hope is fading that a resolution is on the cards.
Talks between Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu to agree on a document outlining key provisions of an envisioned federation ended late July without a result.
Negotiations are set to resume in September but with Turkey’s upcoming elections, many believe the talks won’t get the attention they deserve.
Mr Pandazopoulos at least sees hope in unlikely places. Young Cypriots have been spearheading new initiatives that move away from the politicised atmosphere and brings things back to the human aspect.
Without having lived the events of 1974 they see their Turkish neighbours as friends, not foes.
“Young people are important, because they’re the ones that maybe have a different view than those that were directly affected by the invasion and nationalism of the time,” he says.
“We’re seeing that people are losing faith in the political process but they’re wanting to engage with the other side on their own and try and find people with sympathetic views.”
Initiatives like restoring religious sites – Greek Orthodox churches in the north and mosques in the south – and opening academic dialogue to both sides are making huge inroads in reunification.
Even the football federations have found a common ground and now exist as one joint federation.
“You get a sense, having spoken to a few people involved in bi-communal initiatives, that there will be growth in people to people activities,” Mr Pandazopoulos says.
At least there’s still room for the politics side, even if it’s more delayed. The Cypriot parliament still keeps 30 per cent of its seats empty in parliament, waiting for their Turkish counterparts.