Post-conflict Peacebuilding in Cyprus

Summary

The case of the Cyprus conflict differs radically from many other “conflicts”which are analyzed using post-conflict analysis because, unlike conflicts inplaces like Sri Lanka and El Salvador, the conflict in Cyprus is a frozen conflictwhich has devolved into a situation where two populations, Greek and TurkishCypriot, live in separate states – one recognized internationally, the other apariah state with no international recognition other than that of its patron – Turkey. The two states are almost completely mono-ethnic and theirexistence represent the end result of the use of population exchanges as amethod of halting, if not ending, conflict based on religion or ethnicity.When analyzing the Cyprus conflict’s peacebuilding phase we are thereforeleft with a situation which defies the neat analysis applied to other conflicts. Today a situation like the one is Cyprus exists nowhere in the world(excepting perhaps Abkhazia and South Ossetia). The Cyprus conflict is notan active, on-going conflict involving hostilities, it is not a conflict ended bythe military victory of one side or by a peace treaty acceptable to both sides.Because the conflict has lasted so long (since 1963 and in its most moderniteration, since the Turkish invasion of 1974) it has become not only a frozenconflict but one which is also stale

1

– lacking in new ideas, energy andinitiatives engendered to bring about a permanent solution to the problemsunderlying the situation. Analyzing the conflict, therefore, proves difficult

1

I will elaborate on the delineation of “stale” vs. “frozen” later in the report.

2

within the context of contemporary peacebuilding models such as those usedby the World Bank, the United Nations or other multilateral institutions. This report will identify and analyze horizontal inequalities and verticaldilemmas present in the Cyprus conflict. Following the identification andanalysis portions suggestions will then be offered for remediation of horizontal inequalities as well as vertical dilemmas. In keeping with therestricted nature of the analysis the report will try and focus on the humansecurity and international political economy dimensions of the Cyprus conflictand in particular focus on the issue of property rights and ownership on bothsides of the divided island. This report will focus, in particular, on theEuropean Court of Human Rights’ recent decision on property rights withinCyprus and explore the ability of the decision to act as a “warming agent” onthe conflict –leading to the settlement of long outstanding issues which havekept the conflict frozen for decades up until today.

Horizontal Inequalities in Cyprus

When the Turkish army began its invasion and subsequent partition of Cyprusin 1974 the island had only experienced, at that point, a little longer than onedecade of independence. But much like the partition and frozen conflict thatwere to follow the independence of Cyprus was also afflicted with frozendynamics, both horizontal and vertical. The period after the 1960 independence declaration was supposed to usherin an era of consocialistic governance and peace between the two constituent

3