The Forefront: Cyprus | Episode 1: Seeds of Hatred

The Forefront: Cyprus documentary series unravels the island's turbulent past, from the Bloody Christmas of 1963 to the Turkish operation, covering decades of inconclusive negotiations. In just six episodes, stories of division and resilience will unfold.
The Cyprus conflict is one of the longest-running disputes in modern history. In the first episode of this six-part documentary, we go back to the beginning and explain why. The Forefront: Cyprus Seeds of Hatred tells the story of how the Turkish and Greek Cypriots came into conflict in the first place.
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[@linosantoniades901]

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!

[@CCRmusicfan]

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

[@crimsonerrant]

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. 🤔

[@chriskw4362]

Great point. Also to add Turkey just like Greece and Britain was a guarantor. As this was in the 1960s Britain and the US were afraid that an independent state at such a vital position could become a puppet of the soviets. However, Turkey had its own agenda based on Nihat Erim and the Millî Misak. With the Republic’s 1st president being neutral during the Cold War and the illegal coup by Paramilitary organizations the Turkish government reacted. Again however instead of protecting the citizens of the republic and attack the paramilitary organization, assisting the Cypriot army the Turkish government declared a full scale war to the republic. Death, rapes and the dislocation of 200,000 people followed by the Turkish army. The republic is restored but the Turkish army is still here. Just like Ahmet Davutoğlu stated in his book “Even if there wasn't a single Muslim Turk there, Turkey should have maintained a Cyprus issue. No country can stay indifferent to such an island located in the heart of its vital space.”

[@MustafaAkman1965]

Many thanks ❤

[@user-mm2yy4ve2n]

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

[@Shameofoccupiers]

ΔΕΝ ΕΙΠΑΤΕ ΤΙΠΟΤΕ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΤΜΤ ;

[@eddiesavrin1454]

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

[@andrigeogiou8420]

Well, According to my 0pinion, the KEY word about the Cyprus issue is..RESPECT. The main reason that the Republic of Cyprus enters the EEU, is right exactly for the quarantee and respect ,of ALL it's citizens human rights . ALL CYPRIOTS human rights Greeks, Turks, Maronites, Armenians, Latin, ..British...etc

[@user-yf7kz3pj5l]

walla i respect you for this message

[@Musthecrazygooner]

The main reason for being peace on the island is because of turkey, it’s the simple truth and people don’t want to hear it.

[@ismailak2771]

Sen türk değilsin türkler asla taviz vermezler şehit oluruz gazi oluruz fakat yalama olmayız

[@fahrizihni4693]

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.

[@tombuddy100]

The same and even worse happened to non-Turkish Cypriots between 1958-1974

[@Musthecrazygooner]

@@tombuddy100LOL copying everything I say? Non Turkish Cypriots suffered at the hands of Greek extremists, im laughing at you and your uneducated self.

[@KenanTurkiye]

Greeks killed Greeks too.

[@user-wy7em9fm2c]

Where did tou read all those "trusths"? Did they told you as well that toy came from mongolistan, or they told you are "native"?

[@andrigeogiou8420]

NO , NO.... You mast never forget that it was the Turkish Cypriots, whom, even if they get ..over rights..with the establishment of our common state, as about their participation in the islands rulings and functions, YET, they blew them up following instructions from Turkey. They actually took the arms against their own state. WHY ?

[@Shameofoccupiers]

ΤΙ ΔΟΥΛΕΙΑ ΕΧΕΤΕ ΣΤΗ ΚΥΠΡΟ ;

[@Shameofoccupiers]

ΠΕΣΤΕ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΣΥΝΘΗΚΗ ΤΗΣ ΛΩΖΑΝΗΣ ;

[@Shameofoccupiers]

ΚΑΤΕΧΟΜΕΝΑ

[@YoussefDaanBenAmor]

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).

[@Musthecrazygooner]

Perfectly said!

[@tombuddy100]

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.

[@Musthecrazygooner]

@@tombuddy100 no thank you, the Greeks missed out on that in the last 49 years with 17 rejected solutions.

[@giorgismaximos8662]

The Turkish Cypriot separatists - terrorists fought against the state following Turkey's orders Many of them were displaced after the invasion and Turkey's demand that they move north The occupation forces destroyed the churches in the occupied part UN resolutions were in force since 1974 before the Annan plan, but Turkey never respected them and still are Cyprus is a member of the EU, while the Turkish Cypriots are prevented from joining by the Turks

[@giorgismaximos8662]

@@Musthecrazygooner UN resolutions still valid The occupier doesn't make the rules

[@halukkabaalioglu8764]

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.

[@andrigeogiou8420]

You can search for.... " Rauf Denktash shocking confession " " Dervis Ali Ksvazoglu kendi sesinden " ..you will get an idea about how things started

[@hasansarpsomel9414]

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

[@Shameofoccupiers]

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

[@Shameofoccupiers]

ΓΙΑΤΙ ΜΙΛΑΤΕ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΚΥΠΡΟ ;

[@Escrieg89]

❣❣❣❣❣

[@el.grantelbart]

not the quality I expected to be honest

[@geraldmantel4955]

No "monkey mercials," yay!

[@tombuddy100]

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

[@Musthecrazygooner]

LOL what? Military occupation? Lol says who you? The Greeks have lived there best lives since 74, that’s down to turkey bringing peace to the island!

[@tombuddy100]

@@Musthecrazygooner 200,000 non-Turkish Cypriots cannot return to their properties and land in the northern part of Republic of Cyprus.

[@Musthecrazygooner]

@@tombuddy100 the Greeks should of thought about that before waging a war from early as 1958, the Turkish Cypriots have lands built over illegally by the Greeks, namely larnaca airport, mckenzie beach strip is Turkish Cypriots lands, all built over illegally.

[@giorgismaximos8662]

@@Musthecrazygooner The whole world says ,UN says, turkish troops are still there against UN resolutions , Greek cypriots still displaced , many lost their lives by the occupying forces that recently attacked UN . EU citizens have a good living unlike turkish cypriots under turkish occupation We don't want your " peace " leave the island

[@Musthecrazygooner]

@@giorgismaximos8662 I couldn’t care less what the UN says, we have always been there and we have the right to self determination, that is our right! Now move on mate.

[@SaddamHussein-dq9bf]

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

[@KenanTurkiye]

You need to eat more vegetables and drink plenty of water, them folds up there are drying out and becoming britthle.

[@KenanTurkiye]

Turkish Cyprus Republic we salute you !

[@andrigeogiou8420]

Stolen lands. What are you people, finally are ...?

[@meowpoosaymeow]

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

[@Musthecrazygooner]

Supporting a genocide? LOL deluded fools, you can’t fool anyone, the Greeks are the best at paid propaganda.

[@KenanTurkiye]

Palestine will be free my dearest Israeli, learn to live with it.

[@meowpoosaymeow]

@@KenanTurkiye TRT bot

[@KenanTurkiye]

@@meowpoosaymeowSo anyone who holds a diff perspective to you is a bot? Classical racist Israeli rebuttal.

[@KenanTurkiye]

@@meowpoosaymeow We know you, the world nows you. You did a fine job showing the entire universe how racism is the backbone on Israel.

[@evilkhamzat]

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!

[@andrews102]

The greeks are 80% of population and settled in the bronze age.... its a democratic right.

[@edaaslan7347]

​@@andrews102The fact that the majority of the island's population is Greek or that the Greeks came to the island before the Turks does not justify the Greeks trying to commit genocide against the Turks. Currently, the majority of the island consists of Turks.

[@anlll3346]

Turkish Cyprus❤🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷

[@a.p.3004]

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.

[@tombuddy100]

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.

[@KenanTurkiye]

Turkish Cyprus Republic is real.

[@user-wy7em9fm2c]

Turkomongologypsy republic of what? Go to mongolistan, that's where your republic is

[@Hasanbas-rv3vm]

😂😂😂😂😂 maybe when natives get their lands back 😊

[@user-wy7em9fm2c]

@Hasanbas-rv3vm ...define "native" ! They(whomever) sprouted from the ground ? Nope, I don't think so, evolution makes us natives, through blood, fire, steel and progress. The "worthy" inherit all...

[@Hasanbas-rv3vm]

@@user-wy7em9fm2c than turks are native to germany cyprus uk from now on 💪🏼

[@etemkonus9115]

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus 🤎🤎🤎🤎

[@KenanTurkiye]

Eternally. But I think it should drop the ''northern'' part.

[@user-wy7em9fm2c]

Yes, you should relocate to mongolistan

[@Hasanbas-rv3vm]

@@user-wy7em9fm2c😂😂😂 cry we stay😊

[@altanurug6467]

SONSUZA DEK KIBRIS TÜRK CUMHURIYETİ!

[@istanbullet]

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.

[@alparslankorkmaz2964]

Turkish Cyprus 😎😎

[@kenmasters2034]

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

[@Musthecrazygooner]

Propaganda 😂😂😂 everything said in the videos are facts you muppet.

[@Musthecrazygooner]

Theirs literally an ex Greek ambassador in this video saying it how it is lol propaganda when it suits you guys 👏🏼

[@user-wy7em9fm2c]

...bakshish guzel turkomo gologypsyler budaler jenicarler budaler