Overcoming the mental barriers

By Mike Kelly

As the diplomatic heavyweights start their warm-up exercises in preparation for next year's planned big push on the Cyprus problem, there is one question that has not been asked.

While those in interested in the situation have concentrated most of their thoughts on the political mechanics of a possible solution, how many have actually considered whether the two communities in Cyprus are indeed ready for the momentous change which may soon come about?

Benjamin Broome, Fulbright Resident Scholar in Cyprus, fears that at the moment the answer is 'no'.

He explains that this is because so much energy has been concentrated on the past and on the question 'why don't we have a solution?' and not on the more pressing and relevant question 'what happens when...?'

What's it got to do with him? you might wonder; what does he know?

As Resident Fulbright Scholar in Cyprus, Benjamin has spent over two years on the island. He arrived to head and help coordinate a Conflict Resolution Trainers' Group.

This is made up of a core group of 30 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot conflict resolution trainers and project leaders who took part in problem solving and design sessions focused on peace-building efforts in Cyprus.

From September 1994, when Benjamin arrived, to the summer of 1995, they met over a nine-month period on a weekly basis, sometimes at weekends, both in separate community meetings and in bi-communal settings.

He helped guide them through three phases of problem solving: Definition of the situation, vision of the future, and the development of a strategic set of projects for promoting peace-building activities in Cyprus.

Referring to phase one, Benjamin commented: "We found the Greek Cypriot perception of barriers (to peace) were different from the Turkish Cypriot perception."

For example, according to Greek Cypriots, if the Turkish army left, everything would be fine. However, the Turkish Cypriots fear that, if that were to happen, their security would be taken away and they would be massacred by Greek Cypriots. Neither proposition is true, according to Benjamin.

For phase two, they looked at goals for peace-building efforts which led to a "collective vision statement". The bi-communal groups were able to develop a list of goals for both communities, related these goals to one another, and a document was published. It is something of which Benjamin is very proud.

"It was the first example I know of the two communities coming together since 1963 to produce a collective view of the future."

He referred to it as a "unique document," and added that he hoped it was an example of what people could do together. Published in the Spring of 1995, he said it has been a source of inspiration and comfort to the bi-communal groups.

For the third phase, over 200 possible projects designed to work towards the vision for the future were proposed, and 15 of these were eventually selected for implementation during the next year.

Bi-communal groups set up include the Young Business Leaders, Youth Leaders, Women's Group, Citizens' Group, Educators' Group, and the University Students' Group. It is hoped that funding will be found to create a bi-communal activities' centre for common meeting place for these groups.

Those not directly involved don't understand the significance of these activities, according to Benjamin. He says these bi-communal initiatives with their guiding principles of promoting tolerance, understanding and learning will be of paramount importance if the eventual political solution to the Cyprus problem has a chance of working.

"I really believe very strongly that this kind of work is going to become most important when an agreement is reached," he says.

It is something he cannot stress enough and, he says, after a pretty lukewarm response in the beginning, people in a position of authority are beginning to come round to the same way of thinking. Up to now, he says, the most disheartening part of his job is that when tension builds up, bi-communal meetings have to be called off, sometimes at the last moment, when permissions for participants to go to the Ledra Palace is withdrawn.

He explained it's not just the amount of time that has been spent in organising the event, or even the money spent on refreshments for those taking part. It was the more fundamental aspect of morale.

"It's frustrating because people have hopes and expectations," he said.

And what sort of encouragement have those groups had? Unfortunately, not what they deserve, especially from us in the media. One seemingly simple suggestion - that articles by Greek Cypriot journalists be printed in the Turkish Cypriot press and vice versa - never got off the ground. To some, it appeared, the printing of such articles would have been tantamount to treason.

To Benjamin, this showed the extent of the Cyprus problem "as clearly as any example could.."

"One of the basic things about the Cyprus problem is that it seems to consume people's thoughts," he said.

On December 30, Benjamin's time is up. He has already spent a year longer in Cyprus than he was supposed to, as he managed to persuade those who hold the purse strings to let him have some extra time here. He tried to get a further extension this year, but it was time to leave. However, his post is to be taken up by a new Fulbright Resident Scholar to keep up the good work.

I ask him what he will miss. He talks of the friends he has made and his travels around the island -- watching the sunset over Ayios Georgios and Chlorakas, the view from Mount Olympus, the walks in the Akamas.

He adds: "The people of Cyprus have some wonderful qualities that don't exist very often the rest of the world, in their kindness, their eagerness to engage in conversation and have an interesting time together, talking and eating, singing and dancing, joking.

"My time has been very enjoyable, primarily because I have been in the company of friends," he said.

He also says he will miss the work: "Certainly it is not complete, but I know it will continue," he says.