Cyprus confict - who is responsible?

The setting up of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960 was seen by both the USA and Britain as a mistake. Both powers using divide and rule methods wanted to see an end to this newly formed country. Britain was and still is obsessed with preserving the two bases they acquired on the island and the US did not want the Soviets to have any influence in the area. So the Atchison plan was promoted in 1963 which divided the island between the Greek and the Turkish minority. Worth noting that what we actually mean when referring to these two communities is the Christian and Muslim minorities. 80% Gerek or Christian and 20% Muslim or Turkish. The majority of Cypriots have the same genetic make up so the division on ethnic lines was an idea promoted to serve external interests.

So the US and Britain promoted the Atchison plan which they did not manage to implement. The opportunity arose when the CIA promoted military regime in Greece led by the superbly stupid and totally moronic Ioanides (which the Americans supported) made the mistake of trusting Kissinger and Sisko and went ahead with the coup in Cyprus against Makarios on July 15th 1974. Ioannides was given a guarantee by Kissinger that the Turks would not invade which of course they could not keep. The Turkish army invaded 5 days later a fact that proves that they were very well prepared and knew of the coup long before the 15th of July. So I don't believe that Ioannides was a traitor but simply a total bloody idiot with no experience in international relations. He put his trust in the USA and Britain and fell on his sword not realising that no one would give a toss about deceiving a dictator no matter what the consequences were!! What a total idiot! So a war crime was committed by Kissinger against a small country that did not matter to him. He should have been tried for his involvement but of course he never will be as small nations do not matter!!


nick venedi

Cyprus conflict - British involvement

Another myth relating the illegal invasion of Cyprus in July 1974 by the Turkish army is around Britains involvement. There is no way that the British government were not aware of Turkeys intention to invade. In fact they encouraged this. Papers released relating to discussions between Kissinger and James Callaghan prove this. In one extract James Callaghan tells Kissinger who would in today's standards be seen as a war criminal, that the Turks had some justification in taking the action they took. Callaghans only concern was the protection of the bases on the island.

Britain was one of the 3 powers guaranteeing the integrity of the republic and has an obligation to intervene but chose not to which in legal terms means they are in 'breach of contract' which could question the legitimacy of the 1960 agreement. This needs to be looked at today.

nick venedi

Cyprus conflict

A lot has been said by many who have an interest in what happened in 1974 and the illegal invasion about opening the Cyprus files stored at the Greek Parliament. This is on my opinion a gesture barking against the wrong tree. The reality is that at the time there was military regime in Athens serving their own interests and that of the USA. There is absolutely no way these animals would have kept any documents that could prove their involvement with the huge conspiracy. They destroyed anything that could prove their guilt. Why the hell would they keep any documents?? I find the quest as a waste of time. They were in control and nothing would have stopped them ensuring that any evidence disappeared a thing. I have no idea why an otherwise great politician like Marinos Sizopoulos of EDEK insists that the answer is in the files??


nick venedi

Lambeth diaries

I am now Convenor for the Directorate of Management Services with a membership of around 300. Half of these people were facing the threat of redundancy. I had to learn fast and I think I did. I organised my new team of shop stewards and brought some discipline into the process. I held meetings and managed to get the then leader, Joan Twelves to agree that those facing redundancy could have assimilation rights to any existing jobs within the Council. The appeal process also came into force. Dr Reg Race seemed to agree with me so the system of voluntary Severance came in. Many took the offer that was on the table. This helped reduce the number of those in danger.

nick venedi

Lambeth diaries

So the Service Plan comes in between 1989-90 many jobs deleted severe pressure from central government so I agree with a large group of co workers to serve as Convenor for the union (NALGO) to help with the process. I am voted in by a large majority at a meeting where a vote of no confidence against the two Convenors took place. The Branch Secretary Mike was in favour of me taking over anyway so the process was easier. I did not like the unpleasant atmosphere that came with the process but I learn the lesson. Politics and bringing in change can be tough.

nick venedi

Cyprus conflict

It was apparent from the start and following the establishment of the republic in 1960 that the constitution which gave the 18% Turkish minority the power of veto,  would have to be changed or amended There is also a lot of evidence that the British government deliberately used the famous divide and rule method to divide the two communities in order to sustain its presence on the island through the establishment of two bases. The same methods used in Palestine and India.

nick venedi

Cyprus conflict

The republic of Cyprus was established in 1960 the constitution was agreed at Zurich and it established some sort of power sharing between the Greek majority, 82% of the population and the other communities including the Turkish, 18 % and others. The information I have found indicates that the first President was more or less forced to accept this difficult to work with constitution. There is one entry that I have not been able to verify, claiming that President Makarios was blackmailed into accepting the 'deal'.


nick venedi

Cyprus conflict

I have spend the last 8 years researching what happened before the illegal invasion of the Republic of Cyprus in 1974. I looked at more than 300 documents and around 50 documentaries plus information easily available via Wikipedia and WikiLeaks and have come to some conclusions. I shall publish these finding on this blog. Some of the findings are shocking...


nick venedi

Lambeth diaries

So I quickly became aware of the fact that Lambeth was in chaos in 1988. Linda Bellos took over for a brief period but was constantly undermined both by those in her own ranks and outsiders. It was a battle ground in the mean time the good people of the borough and those working in support services were suffering.


nick venedi

Lambeth diaries 1988

So I am posted to central services as a fiancé officer specialising in sorting out the famous LAFIS system which I personal liked and understood but many using it were openly hostile to it probably because they didn't understand its many benefits (useless in todays internet currency but was good in the late 80s)

nick venedi

Lambeth diaries

So here I am a young 27 year old looking for inspiration in the Republic of Lambeth and for that I left a promising career with the civil service ( Economic and Social Research Council) but I soon found out that my arrival to Lambeth was like walking into a bloody war zone! If only I knew before!

So the long adventure starts. There is something called the Service Plan driven by the then director of DMS John Mawale. Total war zone...

nick venedi

Lambeth diaries

Apologies for leaving it so late, have been busy with several projects including moving back to London which I managed to do end of May.

Will start where I left the diaries soon


nick venedi