Research findings were
reflected in UNSG reports and UN Security Council resolutions
There is desire but no
belief
For Turkish Cypriots
the biggest benefit from solution is economic growth, for Greek Cypriots it’s
the properties and territory
Turkish Cypriots want information
on effective participation, Greek Cypriots want information on troops
Communities want to
live under the administration of their own community
Both communities fear
a possible conflict in the event of solution
In non-solution,
Turkish Cypriots fear deterioration of economic conditions, Greek Cypriots fear
de-facto recognition of the Turkish Cypriot community
ESRA AYGIN
According
to the research commissioned by the United Nations on both sides of the island,
the majority of Greek Cypriots want the settlement negotiations to resume and
believe in the urgency of a solution.
Negotiations should
resume
The
research on the attitudes, levels of trust, fears and concerns of the Turkish
Cypriot and Greek Cypriot community, 70% of the Greek Cypriots wish that the
negotiations resume and 62% feels that a solution is urgently needed. The
percentage of Turkish Cypriots, who wish that negotiations resume, is 51%.
Among the Turkish Cypriot respondents, 46% feel that a solution is urgently
needed, while 43% feel that there is no urgency.
There is desire but no
belief
According
to the research conducted among 500 Turkish Cypriots and 500 Greek Cypriots at
the end of 2018, although the majority of Greek Cypriots desire the resumption
of negotiations and believe in the urgency of a solution, only 21% believe that
there will be a solution to the Cyprus problem. Forty-four per cent of Turkish
Cypriot respondents believe that there will be a solution.
The
respondents in both communities with inter-communal contacts have much higher belief
that there will be a solution. While only 14% of Greek Cypriots with no contact
with the other community believe that there will be a solution, this percentage
goes up to %29 among those, who do have contact with the other community.
Only 16% of
Turkish Cypriot with no contact with the other community believes that there
will be a solution, while among those, who do have contact with the other
community, the percentage goes up to 58%.
For Turkish Cypriots
the biggest benefit from solution is economic growth
In the
research by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on
Cyprus, respondents were also asked about the potential benefits from a
solution. For Turkish Cypriots, the biggest possible benefit from a solution is
‘economic growth.’ This is followed by ‘an end to uncertainty,’ ‘exploitation
of hydrocarbons,’ ‘territorial adjustments,’ ‘preservation of our culture,’ and
‘return of properties to refugees.’
For Greek Cypriots the
biggest potential benefits from solution are properties and territory
According
to the research, for Greek Cypriots, the biggest potential benefits from a
solution are ‘return of properties to refugees’ and ‘territorial adjustments.’ These
are followed by ‘exploitation of hydrocarbons,’ ‘withdrawal of foreign troops,’
‘economic growth,’ and ‘safety/security.’
There is lack of
information
The
research, which included face-to-face interviews and focus groups and was
conducted by Prologue in the northern part of Cyprus and CyMar in the southern
part of the island, revealed that the majority from both communities do not
feel adequately informed about the process. In response to how informed they
feel about the process, %79 of Turkish Cypriots and 77% of Greek Cypriots said ‘only a little,’ and ‘not at all.’
Turkish Cypriots want information
on effective participation
Greek Cypriots want
information on troops
In the
research that was also reflected in the reports of UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres and UN Security Council resolutions, respondents were also asked on
which aspects of the solution they would desire information. Turkish Cypriots
expressed desire for more information on ‘how power will be shared to ensure
effective participation of both communities in the central government,’ and ‘how
the equivalent treatment of all Greek and Turkish nationals in Cyprus will be
achieved.’ These were followed by ‘what will be decided on the issue of Greek
and Turkish troops on the island,’ ‘what will be decided on the issue of the
Treaty of Guarantees,’ and how the property and territory issues will be
solved.
Greek
Cypriots, who participated in the research, expressed desire for information on
‘what will be decided on the issue of Greek and Turkish troops on the island.’
This was followed by ‘what will be decided on the issue of the Treaty of
Guarantees,’ ‘how power will be shared to ensure effective participation of
both communities in the central government,’ ‘how the equivalent treatment of
all Greek and Turkish nationals in Cyprus will be achieved’ and how the
property and territory issues will be solved.
Communities want to
live under the administration of their own community
As part of
the research, which contains important information about the communities’
approach to the Cyprus problem, solution and inter-communal relations, the
respondents were asked under which administration/constituent state they would
prefer to live in the event of a solution. Seventy five per cent of the Turkish
Cypriot respondents and 82% of the Greek Cypriot respondents said
They will
prefer to live under the administration of their own community.
Seventy-seven
per cent of Greek Cypriots did not believe that the members of their own
community would move to the other side and live under the administration of the
other community. Sixty-eight per cent of Turkish Cypriots did not believe that
the members of their own community would move to the other side and live under
the administration of the other community. However, 65% of Greek Cypriots said
they believed that Turkish Cypriots would move to the Greek Cypriot
administration.
Both communities fear
a possible conflict in the event of solution
The
research also revealed the fears of Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots in the
case of a solution.
In the case
of a solution, both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots fear ‘conflict/fighting
between members of the two communities.’ For Turkish Cypriots, this fear is
followed by ‘becoming a minority, ‘lack of autonomy in decision making’ and
‘political and social instability.’
For Greek
Cypriots, the fear of a ‘conflict/fighting between members of the two
communities’ is followed by ‘increasing influence of Turkey in Cyprus,’
‘becoming a minority,’ and ‘political and social instability.’
In non-solution,
Turkish Cypriots fear deterioration of economic conditions
Greek Cypriots fear
de-facto recognition of the Turkish Cypriot community
According
to the research, which also demonstrated the fears of the communities in the
case of non-solution, Turkish Cypriots are most fearful of the ‘deterioration
of economic conditions.’ This is followed by ‘the Turkish Cypriot community
being absorbed by Turkey,’ ‘loss of employment,’ and ‘political isolation.’
Greek Cypriots are most fearful of ‘de facto recognition of the Turkish Cypriot
community,’ followed by ‘the Turkish Cypriot community being absorbed by
Turkey,’ ‘status quo remaining,’ and ‘war/armed conflict’ in the case of
non-solution.
The public needs to be
informed and included in the process
Ninety-three
per cent of Turkish Cypriot and 87% of Greek Cypriot respondents believe that
the public should be consulted on major policy decision and on the peace
process. Fifty-eight per cent of Turkish Cypriots believe that the leadership
should inform the public and also receive feedback from the public. Sixty-four
per cent say the Civil Society should become more representative with a
meaningful role in the peace process. Seventy-nine per cent of Greek Cypriots
believe that the leadership should inform the public and also receive feedback
from the public. Seventy-eight per cent say the Civil Society should become
more representative with a meaningful role in the peace process.
RELATIONS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES
‘Peacefully living together is possible’
According
to the research, which also looks at the relations between communities and
compares data from the last ten years, for the first time since 2009, the
majority in both communities believe that the Greek Cypriots and Turkish
Cypriots can peacefully live together. Fifty-one per cent of Turkish Cypriots
and 61% of Greek Cypriots believe that the two communities can peacefully live
together.
Again,
compared with data from the previous years, the research revealed that acceptability
of having neighbours and friends from the other community among Turkish
Cypriots and Greek Cypriots is increasing.
For 65% the
respondents from the Turkish Cypriot community and 70% of the respondents from
the Greek Cypriot community, it is acceptable that their children or siblings
are going to mixed schools. Acceptability of having a common university is 75%
for the Turkish Cypriot community and 77% of the Greek Cypriot community.
Sixty-one
per cent of the Turkish Cypriots and 57% of the Greek Cypriots are open to
mandatory teaching of the other language.
Despite increased
crossings, contact is not enough
According
to the research, although the number of people, who have crossed to the other
side, increased consistently over the last years, personal contacts between the
members of the two communities remains limited. During the last year 56%
of Greek Cypriots, who crossed to the northern part of the island, and 35% of
Turkish Cypriots, who crossed to the southern part of the island, did not have
any contacts with a member of the other community.
Communities don’t know
each other, there are prejudices
During the
research, Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots were also asked what they think
is the biggest barrier to closer contact and communication between the two
communities. According to the findings that revealed how little the communities
know each other, Turkish Cypriots said they see ‘distrust of the other
community,’ ‘legal barriers,’ and ‘desire to live apart’ by the Greek Cypriot
community as barriers to closer contact and cooperation. Greek Cypriots saw
‘distrust of the other community,’ ‘fear of the other community,’ and ‘desire
to live apart’ by the Turkish Cypriots
as barriers to closer contact and cooperation.
To analyse
the perception of fear in detail, the respondents were asked if they agree with
the statements: ‘The other community has nothing to fear from us,’ ‘we have
nothing to fear of the other community,’ and ‘I understand why the other
community might fear us.’
Sixty-two
per cent of Turkish Cypriot respondents agreed that ‘the other community has
nothing to fear from us.’ Those who agreed with ‘we have nothing to fear of the
other community,’ was 69%, and those who agreed with ‘I understand why the
other community might fear us’ was 56%.
When Greek
Cypriot respondents were asked to do the same, 73% of them agreed that ‘the
other community has nothing to fear from us.’ Those, who agreed with ‘we have
nothing to fear of the other community,’ was 38%, and those, who agreed with ‘I
understand why the other community might fear us’ was 49%.
Trust is increasing
According
to the research, there is a positive trend over the last 12 years of increased
trust in both communities. However, more than half of both communities do not
trust the other community. Forty-six per cent of the Turkish
Cypriot
respondents said they trust the member of the other community, while 49% of the
Greek Cypriot respondents said they trust the member of the other community.
Turkish Cypriots want
the mobile phones to work
Greek Cypriots want
joint excursions
The
research also revealed the Turkish Cypriots’ and Greek Cypriots’ approach to
confidence building measures. Turkish Cypriots supported respectively ‘lifting
of the roaming restrictions,’ ‘island-wide excursions for Turkish Cypriots and
Greek Cypriots to visit places of interest,’ ‘cooperation between businesses in
the two communities,’ ‘jointly produced education material by Turkish Cypriots
and Greek Cypriots to all schools,’ ‘opening of more crossing points,’ and
‘student exchange programs.’ Greek Cypriots supported respectively ‘island-wide
excursions for Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots to visit places of
interest,’ ‘cooperation between businesses in the two communities,’ ‘lifting of
the roaming restrictions,’ jointly produced education material by Turkish
Cypriots and Greek Cypriots to all schools,’ and ‘student exchange programs.’
Only 37% of Greek Cypriot respondents however, said they support ‘opening of
more crossing points.’
Support for
cooperation with the exception of natural resources
Respondents
of both communities said they would like to see closer cooperation in areas of ecologic
and environmental issues, economic cooperation, cultural and sport events,
addressing natural disasters, water management, electricity management and
education. However, the majority of Greek Cypriots did not approve closer
cooperation in the management of natural resources. Sixty-nine per cent of
Turkish Cypriots supported closer cooperation in ‘managing natural resources,
including gas and oil reserves,’ while only 36% of Greek Cypriot supported it.
Research findings were
reflected in UNSG reports and UN Security Council resolutions
The
research findings have been reflected in the UN Security Council resolutions
and the reports of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
The UN
Security Council, in its resolution 2453 on 30 January 2019 called on the sides
to promote peace education across the island, prepare the communities for
a settlement through public messages on convergences, increase and strengthen
the participation of civil society in the process, and encourage inter-communal
cooperation, contact and dialogue.
UN
Secretary General Guterres, in his latest report published on 14 April 2019,
called on the leaders to prepare the communities for a solution and stated that
research shows that a large majority in both communities felt little or not at
all informed about what a settlement plan would look like. Guterres also
underlined the communities’ desire to be included in the process. Based on the
research findings that reveal that both communities are open to cooperating in
many fields, the Secretary General called on the leaders for increasing
opportunities for bi-communal cooperation and underlined the importance of the
interoperability of mobile phones.
The
Secretary General also stated that the research revealed the fears of the
majority in both communities regarding the implications of a continued failure
to reach a settlement including fears about the political, economic and social
costs.
