Can an island that has remained divided for more than half a century find its way toward reunification? Who and what stand in the way of a settlement of the Cyprus issue? And how much hope can emerge from the communities themselves when politics seems to have reached an impasse?
Marking the anniversary of the “Oktovriana,” the uprising against British colonial rule that culminated in the burning of Government House in Nicosia on 21 October 1931, “Historical Walks” devotes two episodes to Cyprus’s turbulent history, tracing the roots of one of the most enduring unresolved issues in modern European history.
Joining us for both episodes is Nicos Trimikliniotis, a legal scholar and sociologist, Professor of Sociology, Social Sciences and Law at the University of Nicosia, and head of the university’s Centre for Fundamental Rights.
Situated in the Eastern Mediterranean, at the crossroads of three continents, this small island has been at the center of imperial ambitions, geopolitical rivalries, and conflict from antiquity to the present. It is a place rich in history and culture, where two communities shared the same land for centuries before experiencing violence, displacement, and division.
The first episode traces Cyprus’s history from antiquity through Ottoman and British rule to the anticolonial struggle, independence in 1960, and the conflicts that preceded the tragedy of 1974.
The second episode explores the consequences of the coup and the Turkish invasion, the lives of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots following the island’s division, and a less frequently discussed dimension of the Cyprus issue: its social and economic realities.
How has rapid economic growth been intertwined with the island’s division? What interests have taken shape over the decades, and who might benefit from maintaining the status quo? Why have successive efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue failed to produce an agreement?
The Cyprus issue is not only a national, international, or diplomatic question. It is also deeply rooted in society. It concerns people’s lives, memories, and identities, the economic relationships between them, and the choices that shape the island’s present and future.
Yet beyond the disappointments and political deadlock, there is another Cyprus: one where people meet, work together, and create across the dividing line. Through music, art, and joint social initiatives, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots—particularly younger generations—are seeking to rebuild connections between their communities.
Can these small, often unseen efforts open a different path forward? Is there still hope for a settlement of the Cyprus issue?
Both episodes are accompanied by music from Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, and around the world: traditional songs shared by the two communities, contemporary collaborations between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot artists, and songs of freedom, displacement, memory, and hope.
Produced and presented by Marilena Katsimi
Broadcast: Saturday, 17 October 2026, at 13:00 Athens time (Part I)
Saturday, 24 October 2026, at 13:00 Athens time (Part II)
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