THE DIASPORA is currently holding the 16th annual conference of overseas Cypriots in Nicosia. Eminent Cypriots from around the world have descended on the homeland to discuss the plight of the island, bringing with them a US senator among others.
The diaspora of any country or ethnic group will always have a huge role to play in a people’s development. It can play a positive role, like the Armenian musicians who report on their musical genius through the thousands of concerts performed around the globe. But it can also complicate matters. Some argue that the conflicts in Northern Ireland during the Troubles and the Balkans in the 1990s were fuelled by the logistical and financial support of the respective diaspora of each ethnic group.
Compared to its size, Cyprus has a massive diaspora, spreading across America, UK, Canada, Europe, Africa, Australia and beyond. Like all groups, the Cypriot diaspora is not monolithic. Take London for instance. There are Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who share memories and friendship in the capital’s legendary Green Lanes. And then there are those whose unwavering dedication to the “motherlands” leaves no space for that sort of co-existence.
This year’s conference has been given much notice among local players and the media. President Demetris Christofias opened the conference on Monday, and in doing, crossed swords with the Archbishop and House President.
The Cyprus Mail passed by the official home of the five-day conference yesterday, the Hilton, to hover through the halls and corridors and see what’s cooking. On arrival, party leaders were addressing a crowd of around one hundred in Ballroom A.
A mere coincidence perhaps, but Marfin Laiki Bank was holding a photographic exhibition in the same hall, titled “Memories of Cyprus”. Another subtle hint from Marfin’s Andreas Vgenopoulos?
Facing the 100-odd delegates and a fair splattering of journalists was a 15-member platform, seating representatives of overseas Cypriot federations and branches from the USA, UK, Africa, South Africa, Australia, Europe and Canada.
The last speaker for the morning was AKEL’s Andros Kyprianou who released a few jabs on those critics “unfairly” accusing the president of selling out. No sooner had the communist leader wrapped up, DISY’s Nicos Anastassiades lit up inside the conference hall, pipping others to the spot as “Number One Potential Violator” of this January’s draconian smoking laws.
As the delegates, old and young, mostly male, walked out the conference towards lunch, their chatter betrayed accents affected by decades spent away from home in new lands. Some offered a refined version of the Queen’s English while others adopted a more casual American slant.
“Hey, how you doin? Did you make it to the thing last night?” “Oh no, I couldn’t. My foot hurt.”
It was clear that the ties with the older generation of overseas Cypriots have been kept strong. The delegates oozed confidence and familiarity with the local politicians, old and young.
A number of delegates approached one of the organisers to complain that the mood among the local politicians was a little too partisan for their liking, referring specifically to the closing speech. The conference should not be used as a platform to take pot shots at opposing camps, they argued. The organiser dismissed the criticism, responding: “What are we sheep and we can’t express an opinion?”
While the multitude of delegates scrambled for lunch, a number of political players stayed behind, gathering around a hub of TV cameras like wasps around a jam pot.
Political elites in most countries are less familiar with queues but the thousands of weddings our local elite are obliged to attend prepare them well for waiting one’s turn for a few moments on the box with impeccable politeness and patience.
The journalists quizzed speakers on the intricacies of the Cyprus talks before asking each one to dabble with destiny and comment on APOEL’s chances against FC Copenhagen tonight at the GSP Stadium.
Unknown to most, a few walls away, a group of FC Copenhagen players were eating lunch by the swimming pool, biding time till the game. If there was ever a chance to promote Cyprus as a breeding ground of footballing excellence, yesterday lunchtime was it. But the Hilton kitchen staff seemed to have missed the chance, as the players rubbed their stomachs in sunny satisfaction with the day’s menu.
