The Forefront: Cyprus | Episode 1: Seeds of Hatred 

There was once a peaceful beautiful island which one could have once called a paradise. I am a British Greek Cypriot who volunteered to join the Cypriot National Guard in 1973-1975, as my family were planning to live back in Cyprus for good. If I returned for good, I could not get out of doing my national service in the Cypriot army. So I decided to get it over and done with. I was 17.5 years old at the time. I knew nothing about the politics or any of the political problems on the island. Growing up in London from 1957 we had both Greek and Turkish Cypriot friends with no animosity between us whatsoever. To this day I still have Turkish Cypriot friends that I communicate with and some I see physically. One can imagine when one year later the coup happened followed by the Turkish invasion was something out of a Hollywood Movie. War is a terrible event for someone to experience at the age of 18.5 years old. One has no choice but to fight in this kind of a situation. It’s simple you fight for your live and the lives of your fellow soldiers. Many people lost their lives, their families their lands, properties and businesses and for what? The destruction of a beautiful and once peaceful island as I saw it as did many others as well. The sad situation that was created by the medalling Americans, British and other external powers, not forgetting the extremists from both Greek and Turkish Cypriots supported by Mainland Greece and Turkey finds us in the unfortunate division of this beautiful island. The unity of Cyprus is a must so the island and its population can prosper together. Stop all wars now!

This documentary "forgets" that Cyprus historically and culturally was Greek for 2.500 years or more.When British empire replaced Ottomans as qonquerors of Cyprus does not mean that Turkish state had any rights on the island.If some inhabitants of Cyprus where Turks , during British occupation,and they where there for 300 years .These Turks where the remants of another occupation .All the temporary rulers of Cyprus found the Greeks and their civilization when they arrived their. It was the British policy in 1955 that brought on the scene of the island the former occupants Turks as equals to the historic inhabitans of the island.

Really looking forward to this series. Thank you so much.

Turkish Cypriots suffered so much between 1963-74 in the hands of the majority Greek Cypriots. 25,000 refugees fled 103 villages at gunpoint for their lives with virtually no Greek Cypriot refugees at that time. Turkish Cypriot patients at Nicosia General Hospital were all killed and their bodies have never been found.

80% population says its a Greek Island, they can have union with whichever country they choose, China doesn't control the UK because there's a few Chinese there.

Very interesting reminder of history.

To everyone watching this, i am cypriot. Please do not start blaming anyone for anything. It will only stir more hate. There has been no killing, no war, no trouble since. Lets keep it that way

Really interesting and enlightening video. It left me a bit confused about Turkey’s position on the affair. As far as I understood Turkey defends that an ethnic minority of 15-20% Turkish Cypriots had the right to have their own state. But then in Turkey’s mainland, they deny the same for the Kurdish minority which is about the same size. I find it contradictory. Shouldn’t the Turkish aim for the creation of a Kurdish state that is about the 40% of Turkey’s mainland? Seems it would be the coherent position. 🤔

Thousands of Turkish Cypriots from the South were displaced in the 60s and 70s by radical Greeks and “EOKA”. They had to leave everything behind them including there Mosques, houses and Maqam’s (Islamic tombs). If Turkey hadn’t military intervened the same thing the Cretan Turks/Muslims went through woud have happened to Turkish Cypriots. And yet they still accepted the Annan plan in 2004 while the Greeks rejected it. But still the Greek republic of Cyprus got accession to the EU freely (which is an imperialist project).

Many thanks ❤

The incident of the killings of the family in their bathroom was proven to be a staged affair as the reputable Turkish photographer who took the photos confessed on Greek and Turkish television years later. This was the family of a Turkish Military officer who suffered from mental problems and killed his family himself. On the orders of the Turkish-Cypriot leadership, probably advised to do so by the British intelligence, it was presented as an intercommunal crime rather than a family affair. The British are experts in this, they had done similar things up and down their empire under their extremely successful divide and rule policy.

ΔΕΝ ΕΙΠΑΤΕ ΤΙΠΟΤΕ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΤΜΤ ;

There are still some statues of fascist eoka members at the southern and occupied part of Cyprus..

The British were given administration of the island by the ottoman as a thank you. Not to annex the island. British started the whole problem which still continues

For the Turkish Cypriots, I'm just recommending to search about " Dervis Ali Kavazoglu kendi sesinden "..! Listen, you all , this Turkish Cypriot hero . is only two minutes time

bad info btw , very biased

I need to stop before the first part finish. Since the time before Osman Ghazi become Sultan he always suggested the pacific coexistence with non - Turks, BUT, in the other side, the Greeks, Eastern Romans and the "Tekfur" were infamous with their extermination campaigns against the Turks.

ΚΑΤΕΧΟΜΕΝΑ

ΠΕΣΤΕ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΣΥΝΘΗΚΗ ΤΗΣ ΛΩΖΑΝΗΣ ;

It should be English dub and in multiple languages especially Indonesia and Philippines language. Come on TRT

I agree Cyprus dispute and difference is unique the love respect both side and no violence and hate is great island full of history and spiritual feeling

Today many people do not know the history of Cyprus. Greeks try to establish the image that "it all started in 1974". This program shows how Greek terrorists attacked Turkish Cypriots while underlying the historical fact that Britain used "Divide and Rule" principle. Greeks were fighting against British soldiers. British made Turkish Cypriots police officers as they could not trust the Greeks. This led to a Greek-Turkish conflict The Constitution of the island was abrogated by Makarios. 1963 and 1974 Turks were forced to live in ghettos As Makarios says Athens .invaded Cyprus on July 15.. Greek diplomat says after the coup d'etat instigated by Athens junta, he was sure that Turkey would intervene. People should watch this twice...Its very informative, objective and well presented.

Everyone should return to and given back confiscated properties and land, including 200,000 non-Turkish Cypriots and 50,000 Turkish Cypriots, and Republic of Cyprus restored.

not the quality I expected to be honest

تركيا تبرز عضلاتها على الدول الضعيفة مثل أرمينيا و قبرص دول لايتجاوز عدد سكانها المليونين نسمة، اين تركيا و قوتها في فلسطين ام في فلسطين تصبح تركيا بسون ؟

ΤΙ ΔΟΥΛΕΙΑ ΕΧΕΤΕ ΣΤΗ ΚΥΠΡΟ ;

Turkish Cyprus Republic we salute you !

America chose Turkey that’s the problem here.

The world is changing the more future politics will be Human to Human religion - race and colour politics is the past

Even the paid englishman that was presented on this propaganda film couldn't get his facts right. The Cypriots contrary to what he said, as the largest community on the Island did not rise up in revolt against the ottoman turks in 1821 but the Cypriot (as there was no terminology in those days to describe a Greek Cypriot) they were reffered to as the Christians, Clergy dis rise up. Archbishop Kyprianos and about 400 other known people were beheaded and they were dragged through the streets of Nicosia, and many monasteries were also destroyed. The 9th of july was a day full of bloodshed. I suggest, that next time TRT wants to make a propaganda film, a "show trial" be more organised and prepared and GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT, because this is meant for the educated english knowing public and not the turkish public that can be fed anything. The turkish Cypriots are completely different in mentality and culture from the mainland turks. Turkish Cypeiots are more similar to their co habitants of Cyprus the Greek Cypriots.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus 🤎🤎🤎🤎

The facts are the Greeks tried to bring Enosis to fruition and failed, while the Turks only called for Taksim as a response and in all but name succeeded!

Cyprus accession to European Union was a huge mistake. This has led a confortable zone, so that Greek Cypriots at least their government and vast majority of their people ignored and voted against every possible settlement agreement. Back in 2004 only after a week Annan referendum they have been appointed as a member “state” actually consider a state in his north there is another one. For 50 years; sovereign and independent and all government institutions are performing. Come on.

Aren't they embarrassed making that video lol, from supporting Palestine to supporting a genocide they made themselves

Now that enosis is off the table, why illegal state "TRNC" and continued military occupation of Republic of Cyprus by "Turkiye"?

Cyprus for Greece🇬🇷 Gaza,Jerusalem and Palestine for Palestinians.

ΠΩΣ ΟΙ ΕΓΓΛΕΖΟΙ ΟΡΙΣΑΝ ΤΙΣ ΤΡΕΙΣ ΕΓΓΥΗΤΡΙΕΣ ΔΥΝΑΜΕΙΣ ; ΚΑΙ ΓΙΑΤΙ ΑΥΤΕΣ ΤΙΣ ΤΡΕΙΣ ;

😂😂😂 Lets see what this propaganda channel will try to 'pass' as 'objective' view...

Turkish Cyprus 😎😎

ΓΙΑΤΙ ΜΙΛΑΤΕ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΚΥΠΡΟ ;

Turkish Cyprus❤🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷

No "monkey mercials," yay!

❣❣❣❣❣

SONSUZA DEK KIBRIS TÜRK CUMHURIYETİ!

Cyprus is Greek 🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷

As an outsider (Egyptian) who has visited both sides of Cyprus, to me it seems BOTH populations don't care about these politics and would acturally prefer to live together on one island as they used to for hundereds of years without any trouble. I'm quite sure this border will come down within the next 20 years as the younger generations won't put up with this stupidity