Mr Stewart Grainger is currently a Master’s student in History at Teesside University. He has a long-term interest in the events surrounding the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in July 1974 and decided, for one of his essays, to focus on both the lead-up to the invasion and its aftermath. As part of his research, he sought to speak with people from all sides in the conflict, including from the Greek Cypriot community, in order to learn about their personal memories of that time—how the events affected them, their personal recollections, and whether they had kept any memorabilia from the period.
Stewart contacted Father Nikita, who forwarded his request to Kiki Haines. She persuaded her Greek Cypriot friend, Niki Lazarou, to break her silence of more than 50 years and speak to Stewart about her memories of that time.
The Cyprus conflict in 1974 was part of the larger, long-standing political and ethnic divisions between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Cyprus had been under British colonial rule until it gained independence in 1960. However, tensions between the two major ethnic communities—Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots—escalated over time, partly due to the influence of external actors such as Greece and Turkey.
In the early 1970s, political instability in Cyprus intensified, particularly after the rise of the Greek military junta in Athens in 1967. The junta supported the idea of "Enosis"—the union of Cyprus with Greece—which was opposed by the Turkish Cypriot community and the Turkish government. In 1974, the situation reached a crisis point when the then-Greek Cypriot president, Archbishop Makarios, was overthrown in a coup orchestrated by the Greek junta. This move was viewed as an attempt to push for Enosis and further alienated the Turkish Cypriots.
In response, Turkey—claiming it was protecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriots—launched a military intervention in Cyprus in 1974. This led to the partitioning of the island, with Turkish forces occupying the northern part and Greek Cypriots controlling the southern part. The conflict resulted in widespread displacement, human suffering, and the establishment of a de facto divided state that persists to this day. The 1974 invasion marked a critical turning point in the Cyprus conflict, which remains unresolved. Political and territorial disputes continue between the two communities and their respective supporters. The conflict remains a central issue in Cypriot politics, affecting relations between Greece, Turkey, and the international community.
Niki was one of four people interviewed by Stewart, who later completed his essay Public Histories – Collective Memories. War and Memory: How Cyprus 1974 is Remembered. His essay was awarded a distinction.
Stewart concluded that pain was experienced by both sides:
No one has a monopoly on grief, for grief knows no borders. Our memories remain with us until we die, but in an attempt to prevent further suffering, they should be recorded for posterity and act as a warning to those who seek to inflict suffering upon the innocent in pursuit of their own narrow-minded agenda.
On 6 April 2025, Stewart visited our church to personally thank Father Nikita, Niki Lazarou, and Kiki Haines. He was grateful for the interest shown by members of our congregation.
*Report by Mrs Kiki Haines