Daily Archives: March 6, 2012
Turkey says it could annex northern Cyprus
06/03/12
Source: Reuters
Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Derviş Eroğlu have made little progress in negotiations to reunite the island, divided in 1974, since the United Nations persuaded them to renew efforts late last year (see background).
Bağış told Turkish Cypriot newspaper Kıbrıs that Turkey would support any agreement reached by the two sides, but said that was only one of several possible outcomes.
Bağış told Kıbrıs during an interview in London that the options “on the table” include ”reunification under a deal that [the two] leaders could reach, creation of two independent states after an agreement between the two leaders if they are unable to reach a deal for reunification, or annexation of the KKTC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] to Turkey.”
Many Turkish Cypriots oppose the notion of annexation. Turkey’s NTV news channel quoted Özkan Yorgancıoğlu, leader of the main opposition Republican Turks Party (CTP), as saying the idea was unacceptable.
The division of Cyprus has been used to slow Turkey’s efforts to join the EU. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is opposed to Turkey joining and German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she favours a “privileged partnership” for Turkey.
Frustrated by the lack of progress, Turkey has said if there was no solution by 1 July, when Cyprus takes over the European Union presidency, it would suspend dialogue until the presidency passes to another EU member in 2013.
Turkey has stationed troops in the north since invading in 1974, after a coup in Cyprus orchestrated by a military junta in Athens.
Northern Cyprus is only recognised only by Ankara and its only air link is with Turkey. It is also excluded from international sport, finance and trade, and it has been heavily subsidised by Ankara.
The dispute took a serious turn in September when Cyprus allowed gas exploration drilling to commence. That prompted Turkey to dispatch naval ships to the Eastern Mediterranean, saying that any gas found would belong to all Cypriots.
14th THESSALONIKI DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL – Images of the 21st Century
06/03/12
Source: Filmfestival
March 9 – 18, 2012
The Greek crisis and its many facets are at the forefront of this year’s versatile local documentary production: politics, the Greek financial crash, unemployment, demonstrations, immigration, environmental consequences and the relationship of the citizen to the damaged urban landscape are only some of the issues explored in approximately 75 Greek films to be screened during the 14th TDF, features and shorts.
Included in the International Program as well as the Greek Panorama and Spotlight sections, these films record social realities that constantly change and evolve. In addition, local filmmakers expand their vision outside Greece, by travelling the world in search of fascinating subjects: shooting films from Italy to Palestine and from Ghana to Argentina, Greek documentarians are more than ever, a part of the global documentary community.
Spotlights
As previously announced, the spotlight to Angelos Abazoglou presents the body of work of a Diaspora filmmaker who focuses on cultural and historical relations between Mediterranean countries, and the way these relations often transcend geographical boundaries. In addition, a spotlight to the TV show Docville acquaints us with daily life in various Greek cities today, while the collection of films entitled Meeting with Remarkable People, all directed by Menelaos Karamaghiolis, focuses on remarkable personages from the arts and sciences, both in Greece and abroad.
Highlights
On the much-discussed Greek crisis shed light films such as Krisis by Nikos Katsaounis and Nina Maria Paschalidou, 155 SOLD by Yiorgos Panteleakis, Children of the Riots by Christos Georgiou and Oligarchy by journalist Stelios Kouloglou, which explores its birth and evolution from a global perspective. The reality of immigration in the country can be seen in Evros, the Other Side by Chronis Pehlivanidis and Waiting for the Barbarians by Kostas Stamatopoulos, while Greektown, New England by Nikos Panoutsopoulos journeys through the Greek-American communities of New England, investigating themes of identity, assimilation and heritage. Documentaries that focus on the environment such as Toxic Crisis by Omiros Evangelinos and Ecological Diaries: A Silent Sea by Yiannis Misouridis explore pressing issues as varied as waste disposal and its mishandling, to nutritional habits in the modern world. History, collective memory and individuals that personify the ideal of the Greek spirit are always themes at the heart of Greek documentary production: Fofo Terzidou’s By-standing and Standing-by is the story of Greek Jews who survived the Holocaust and Sharing an Island by Danae Stylianou brings together six young Cypriots from the two sides of the island and offers them a chance to debate history. Everyday heroes are presented in Metaxa, Listening to Time by Stavros Psyllakis, whose protagonists are the doctors of the Metaxa oncology clinic and in The Blind Fisherman by Stratis Vogiatzis and Thekla Malamou and My Name is Stelios by Yiannis Kaspiris, about ordinary people overcoming extraordinary difficulties.
symban@radiosymban.com.au
