Thursday evening i met with Yiannis Papadakis, author of “Echoes from the Dead Zone :Across tthe Cyprus Divide” to discuss the current situation in Cyprus.
The book is written in a very personal style yet surprisingly objective. The author research does not take “sides” but questions everything and everyone from both sides. Practically a “borderlands hero” as he crossed the divide in 1996 when the border was totally closed; the book has been published in both greek and turkish – a testimonial of Papadakis’objectivity and honesty on the subject.
During the evening he made a very interesting comment about the north-cyprus society and its relation to turkey: turkish compose the highest and the lowest ends of society. Turkish occupy the higher positions, due to the stronghold of turkey on north-cyprus. Furthermore there is the influx of workers from turkey, which constitute cheap labour and the poorest part of society. This is very unique, as in most society a specific group occupies a specific position, but in north cyprus turkish occupy the higher and the lowest.