Cyprus : history and mutual perceptions

Abstract

The Cyprus Problem has been on the international agenda for more than four decades. Cyprus is a well-studied issue of International Relations. Yet the island's geo-strategic importance, the fact of a multitude of actors involved and external factors which stem from the nature of the international political system have prevented an impartial assessment of the Cyprus Problem. Most significantly, the issue of writing a commonly acceptable history of the problem and understanding the mutual perceptions involved has largely been tainted with political motives. The issue of mutual perceptions, how they were formed and developed is of crucial importance on the road to a solution to the problem. A pre-condition for overcoming the current stalemate in Cyprus requires a thorough understanding of the island's history and the mutual perceptions both in Cyprus and in the two mother countries. This thesis attempts to illustrate the historical sources and origins of current self-perceptions and perceptions of the other side. It also tries to demonstrate that one of the'key factors in a future solution to the Cyprus problem lies in the eventual comprehension of both sides' perceptions of events in the past and present.