How does one begin to study a city whose large part now resembles Pripyat, the ghost town near Chernobyl? How do we revive such a city respecting the memories that its people have created and left in every part of it. How can it function again as a modern city in which Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots live together? How can the people of Famagusta get involved in the planning process of their city in a real and not fake way?
All these are documented through the study-research in the framework of the doctoral dissertation of the urban planner-engineer Nectarios Christodoulou. Nektarios Christodoulou is from Famagusta, originally from Assia. He graduated with honors from the Department of Spatial Planning, Urban Planning and Regional Development of the Polytechnic School of the University of Thessaly (2010) and holds a Master's degree in Urban Regeneration from the University of Cambridge. He has participated in numerous spatial studies in Cyprus and abroad and for the last five years has been completing his doctorate at the University of Cyprus, on the subject of spatial and social challenges that Famagusta will face in case of solution.
The study did not deal with the architectural design of the buildings and the urban development of the abandoned area. However, he recorded the memories and expectations of the people, both Greek Cypriot refugees and Turkish Cypriots, who continue to live in the city and what the two communities are willing to share at the spatial and administrative level in case of a solution.
Through the answers, a number of issues arise which, unfortunately, are rarely discussed in the public sphere. Such as, for example, the divisive phenomena that the city exhibits, which are clearly reflected in the way Famagusta has developed over the last 42 years.
"The doctorate, which I have been doing for the last five years, explores the social and spatial challenges that the city will be called upon to face in case of a solution to the Cyprus problem and the return of the Greek Cypriots to the city," explains Nektarios Christodoulou, who hails from Famagusta and specifically from Assia. "In the context of the doctorate, a bi-communal research was carried out on the city, the results of which I believe can and should inform both the discussion about the urban future of the city, as well as the ongoing negotiations for the settlement of the Cyprus problem. The research was conducted on a representative sample of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and included 485 individual interviews lasting 90 minutes each. It was conducted by the Department of Architecture, in collaboration with the Department of Social Psychology of the University of Cyprus ", he states.
"As part of the research, we had asked the participants to design the urban fabric of the city, placing on a map the most important, in their opinion, buildings, streets and areas of Famagusta. At the same time, the participants were asked to describe-narrate memories of their trials or those of their relatives from specific parts of the city. These two questions combined to provide a database that is, in my opinion, extremely useful for any study concerning or dealing with the urban future of the city. The reason is because it can contribute to bridging two seemingly incompatible design priorities or needs. The first is the need to create a city that will meet modern urban needs. The second is, undoubtedly perhaps, the need to preserve those tautological elements of the city that make it recognizable by its inhabitants "he adds.
An important element that emerged from the analysis of perception maps and memories, according to Mr. Christodoulou, is that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots from Famagusta perceive the urban fabric of their city in a very different way. "It is characteristic that the perceptual maps of the Greek Cypriots focus, mainly, on the southern part of the city, while on the contrary the maps of the Turkish Cypriots on Famagusta in the north.
This comparative analysis, on the one hand, highlighted the divisive tendencies that the city shows, but also the common elements, the common spatial reference points, on which a common urban vision for a united Famagusta could be based ".
Different cities from Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot
"After the end of the research, we took the 485 maps and located in satellite images of the city the places that the people of Famagusta had placed in them," says Mr. Christodoulou. As he explains, one element that came out of the analysis of the maps was that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots from Famagusta were essentially planning two different cities. "At the same time, studying the urban development of the city for the last 42 years, we found that the city after 1974 developed mainly due to the north. According to the study, about 80% of all buildings erected in the city after 1974 were built north of Larnaca Road. This decision lacks any spatial, environmental, economic or other logic and only makes sense through the effort of the Turkish Cypriot Famagusta not to be on the wrong side of the city in case of a solution to the Cyprus problem.
The city moving north was forced to develop within a very small area bordering camps, e.g. the camp of Karaolos and the camp of the United Nations, the lake of Agios Loukas and the delta created by Gialias and Pithkias "he states.
He explains that the reason the city moved north is largely due to the territorial adjustments proposed by the Annan plan. The Annan plan provided that the areas of the city located on the Larnaca road and below would be controlled by the Greek Cypriot state and by the Larnaca road and above the Turkish Cypriot one.
That is why I say that the urban development of the city is more related to the effort of the Turkish Cypriots of Famagusta not to be in the wrong part of the city in case of a solution, than to spatial or environmental criteria.
The next day in case of solution
Also noteworthy is how the two communities view Famagusta after the solution. Asked where the Greek Cypriots from Famagusta should return in case of a solution, the Turkish Cypriots prefer the option of returning only to the currently enclosed part of the Varosia area while the Greek Cypriots, in their vast majority, want to return to the whole Municipality. Famagusta. The questionnaire had included another option: The return of the Greek Cypriots from Famagusta to the currently enclosed part of Varosia and to lower Varosi. In the majority, both communities seem to disagree for this reason, of course, for different reasons.
Commenting on the above results, the researcher said that "the city of Famagusta shows divisive tendencies - intensity and form - which justify the view that if we do not work now and in cooperation with the Turkish Cypriots to alleviate the phenomenon, the city will be "After the solution - faced with challenges and problems that Belfast, for example, has been trying to solve for decades."
In parallel with the above, it is noted that the Greek Cypriots participating in the survey were statistically significantly more in agreement with the possibility of a municipality that will be controlled by a proportion of the population of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. On the contrary, the Turkish Cypriot participants were statistically significantly more in favor of the possibility of having a municipality that would be controlled equally (50-50) by Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, as well as statistically significantly more in terms of the possibility of two municipalities with some municipalities. where necessary.
"In other words, the answers of the two communities largely follow the central political positions and aspirations of one and the other side in relation to the character that the federal state should have in case of a solution," he states.
Sharing of spaces: “But beyond the responsibilities, we asked the participants which spaces they would be willing to share with members of the other community. The research focused on 11 different categories of spaces. From parks, squares, hospitals, shops, entertainment venues, etc., to neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, universities and so on. " says Mr. Christodoulou. "The Greek Cypriots are more positive than the Turkish Cypriots in Famagusta in all the areas that were evaluated, but this does not mean that the Turkish Cypriots have a negative attitude. Characteristically, we mention that both ethnic groups "Agree" or "Agree Completely" in percentages ranging from 59,4% to 68,2% for T / Cs and for E / Cs in percentages from 83,1% to 91,1, XNUMX% that the two communities should share universities, squares / parks, cultural venues, hospitals, shops, public transport, sports venues and entertainment venues.
However, it is important to note here that the percentage differences between the two ethnic groups increase when the questions concern areas that are typically used most in a city: residences, workplaces and schools. More specifically, the Greek Cypriots "Agree" or "Completely Agree" in a percentage of 66,4% by living in the same neighborhoods with TK, in a percentage of 81,1% by working in the same workplaces with T / C and in 59,7% by sending their children to the same elementary, high schools or lyceums. The same percentages for the T / C Famagusta are 35,3%, 44,1% and 31% respectively ". It is also noteworthy that when asked whether or not the Greek Cypriots from Famagusta should return to the city as M.O.E. Before the overall solution was reached, the Greek Cypriots from Famagusta were statistically significantly more positive than the Turkish Cypriots. More specifically, the Greek C / C participants in the survey evaluated this possibility positively or extremely positively at a rate of 75,9%, while the Turkish Cypriots from Famagusta evaluate this possibility positively or extremely positively only at a rate of 30%. Finally, when asked how the two communities view the bi-communal initiatives that have been developing recently around the issue of Famagusta, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriots evaluate these initiatives positively or extremely positively at a rate of 74,2% and 67,2% respectively.
It is clarified that the answers of the participants in the research differ significantly depending on the political attitude, the income, the gender and the age of the participants.
The participation of the Famagusta people
The international literature warns researchers who wish to conduct research that is so long-term that they should consider themselves lucky if one in ten people with whom they communicate chooses to participate in the research. Nektarios Christodoulou states that this was not the case in Famagusta. "Eight out of ten people we contacted agreed to take part, which highlights, on the one hand, the love of the people of Famagusta for their city and, on the other hand, their desire to participate in the debate on the urban future of Famagusta." "After all," as he characteristically states, "any study or plan for Famagusta that does not have the moral and political legitimacy of its inhabitants, is doomed to fail." In closing, he says "I want to thank all those who participated in the research and those who helped in its execution and in the analysis of its results".
Reconstruction Council
The conclusions of the study of Nectarios Christodoulos are utilized by the Council for Reconstruction and Resettlement within the relevant interdisciplinary Study Advisory Group of Famagusta - Urban Approach that has been established for the city. The Council, as its President Nikos Mesaritis informs us, has also set up other - relevant - study groups:
>> The team involved in updating the Famagusta Extraordinary Action Plan "ELEFTHERIA",
>> The Famagusta Study Advisory Group - Cultural Heritage and Memory,
>> As well as the Famagusta Study Advisory Group - Security Control and Building Repair.
At the same time, for issues related to the need for unified planning of the city of Famagusta, the SAE. cooperates with the Turkish Cypriot Union of Chambers of Engineers and Architects, which is the homologous organization of the Scientific Technical Chamber and which has been operating since 1963. Through this cooperation, the successful completion of the supervision of the maintenance of the homes of trapped Greek Cypriots in the occupied .
Source: Liberal