Relations between Cyprus and Germany (1960-1968)

Abstract

The present study is largely based on primary sources, mainly the Political Archives of the German Foreign Ministry. The main reasons that the specific Archive is not currently used for research on Cyprus - related issues could be attributed to the following: a) Germany was never considered as a direct stake holder in Cyprus b) the archives - as the usual case is - are only partly released every 30 years, considering always an obstacle c), many scholars are confronted with the language - barrier and d) most of the scholars from the German - speaking space lack any special interest. Personal knowledge on the realities of recent Cyprus history, acquired through the fact that I have spent -with the exception of five years in Germany- all my life in Cyprus, where I have also studied and have been since my early years interested in politics, history and diplomacy, combined with two - year studies and three year experience as a diplomat in Germany were the main guides, during my research in the German Archives. Reading the reports prepared by the German diplomats back in the sixties was often interrupted by the thought of what the reports sent nowadays from Nicosia could be like, since, as already mentioned, some of the issues just recycle. Preparing reports for the Cypriot Foreign Ministry and receiving instructions lead also constantly to the thought how the instructions in the sixties and the reports from Bonn also looked like. Unfortunately, for technical reasons, any research in the respective Cypriot Archives is currently impossible. The conclusion, that the main catalyst still offering the chance for a comprehensive solution of the political problem of Cyprus, namely the accession process to the E.U., which in fact could have started in the 70's, if the Turkish invasion did not occur, was very much owed to the German Foreign policy, encouraged this study in moments of doubting about the importance of the role of the German diplomacy on the island. Re-reading some of the reports and rethinking of the firm stance of Bonn and the fact that a) the German technocrats always possessed valuable knowledge of the Turkish intentions and concepts and b) were not discredited neither for their role on the island nor for their post - war role in world affairs allows to draw the conclusion that more interaction between Germany and Cyprus on the issue could only prove beneficial.