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eveals that in one year, 1964, there was no inter communal co-operation in grain
production, and in at least another year, 1966, there was very little co-operation.
Ozalp Sarica acknowledges however that between 1964-74, inter-communal trading
links were sporadically maintained, although he emphasised that from 1964 to 1968
it was restricted by controls on the movement of "stratégie" goods and periodically
of people too, The controversy as to the level of inter-communal co-operation and /
or the autarkic nature of the Turkish-Cypriot economy, can be summarised and
possibly resolved with a head count; how much of the Turkish-Cypriot population
was confined to the enclaves and the more hermetic enclaves at that? 65
The fouryear
period that followed December 1963 was undoubtedly the worst period for
Turkish-Cypriots, when a forceful and consistent element of Government policy was
economic warfare against the enclaved 66 . Essential materials sometimes ran
desperately short when increased inter-communal tension led to the Checkpoints
being closed at a point where supplies were already low 67 . The Turkish-Cypriot
leadership responded by stock-piling and, according to Attalides made things worse
by maintaining a "buy Turkish [Cypriot] campaign" 68 . This suggests that there was
something to buy that was of Turkish-Cypriot origin and therefore something of a
Turkish-Cypriot economy.
Düring the whole period, gainful employment and thus productivity in the Turkish-
Cypriot community plummeted, due to the pressure of the embargo, the lack of
65 This is more complieated than it sounds. Patrick, 1976. op. cit., a politicai geographer, refrains
from aggregating numbers in his authoritative 500 page text on the "Politicai Geography of the
Cyprus Conflict: 1963-1971".
66 0n the 29/6/1966, the Cyprus Mail reported that the International Confédération of Free Trade
Unions had sent a message to Cypriot President Makarios, expressing their concern with the
restrictions of movement imposed on Turkish Cypriots.
67 For example, it was reported in the Cyprus Mail from the beginning of 1965 to the end of 1966
that the Turkish Cypriot "quarter" of Nicosia was sealed off between 16 April 1965 and the 3 May
1965, checks onpersons intensified 18 March 1966. The Turkish Cypriot "quarter" of Nicosia was
sealed off again between 1 June 1966 and 4 June 1966, re-imposed 20 June 1966, lifted again 29
June 1966.
68 Attalides 1977. op. cit., p. 88.
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