Cyprus Untold
A podcast produced by a former army captain is attracting attention from around the world, writes Jan Woolley
During his time in the army, Ribble Valley-based Samuel Lewis-Blanc served worldwide, including operations across Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, but it was his time spent in Cyprus, working as part of the United Nations, that led him to commentate on the Mediterranean island for ‘Cyprus Untold’, the podcast: “I have had messages from Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots living all around the world since launching the podcast. It has sparked a lot of interest,” says Sam, who launched the podcast this year – the 50th anniversary of a conflict that quite literally split the island in two back in 1974, when the Turkish invasion of Cyprus happened amidst a background of historic unrest.
Turkish forces went on to capture a third of the island with thousands of Greek Cypriots in the north displaced to the south, and Turkish Cypriots in the south displaced to the north: “It tore families apart,” says Sam.
The invasion and mass migration ended in a ceasefire line being created, which was to become the United Nation ‘buffer zone’, commonly referred to as the ‘green line’, which still exists to this day as does the UN peacekeeping force that Sam joined in 2019: “I was the first to hold the post as UN Continuity Liaison Officer – it was a new role and a fast, learning curve for me.”
Over the centuries, Cyprus has had a series of historic rulers: “It goes way back,” says Sam. “The island has long been regarded as very desirable for its strategic location – hence why the British still have bases there.”
Today the northern part of Cyprus remains mainly Turkish Cypriot while south of the buffer zone is mainly Greek Cypriot.
When Sam was posted to the island to be part of the UN peacekeeping force, he and wife Hannah, along with their young family, lived on the site of the now-derelict Nicosia airport: “The airport hasn’t been touched for 50 years, except for a collection of around 20 houses retained by the British for the families serving on the UN mission.
“We had a lovely colonial era house, with a garden and pool but weirdly, it’s situated literally, within ‘no-mans land’ – the buffer zone. Just behind our back fence there was a Turkish watchtower to the north and abandoned buildings everywhere,” recalls Sam, who being part of the UN and wearing the recognisable blue beret, had frequent meetings speaking and negotiating with Greek and Turkish Cypriots. He played a major part briefing Commanding Officers and the UN Chief of Staff, attending senior engagements and top-level meetings: “My job was to bridge the gap. I had to do a lot of research on the history of the island and the conflict – but quite often the research didn’t match the reality on the ground.”
Since the conflict, there have been many attempts to unite the island. The buffer zone has existed since 1974, and Sam got to know it in detail: “One of the on-going problems is that the UN troops change every six months, so new ones would come in and they weren’t familiar with the ceasefire boundaries. As a result, the demarcation lines would creep forward or back over time, land would get stolen and barbed wire would appear overnight. If the buffer zone moves a couple of metres every year – over 50 years you see huge pieces of land lost.
“This peace-keeping mission is the longest UN mission in the world. It’s never been resolved – it’s come close a couple of times, but it’s never happened. Personally, I think the island will always be divided in some form,” adds Sam, who returned to civilian life in 2022 to work in cyber security: “I had travelled all over the world but with young children, it was time to settle down.”
Originally intending to write a book about his time in Cyprus, the history of the island and the background to the controversial conflict, Sam changed his mind and started ‘Cyprus Untold’ that takes the listener inside the buffer zone to discover why the Cyprus problem still endures: “I thought it would be interesting for people to know the reality. It’s very tricky for people to understand the situation so the podcast brings people up to date on the modern-day buffer zone.
“We loved our time on the island. With diplomatic immunity we were able to travel freely to the north and south to experience both sides.
“The people are wonderful, they are very friendly and family orientated so for us, a couple in their mid-twenties with young children, it was an amazing adventure,” recalls Sam.
Having received plenty of positive feedback from the podcast, Sam says: “It’s been phenomenal. I have received so many messages of support from Cypriots on both sides of the island, it’s been overwhelming! A lot of Brits have responded too, as many have served in Cyprus.
“Everyone asks the same question, ‘Why is this still going on?’ People call it a frozen conflict – that means it could melt at any time. And, sadly, as time goes on it’s becoming more likely that unification isn’t going to happen. Perhaps the podcast will help people understand why.”
