ABSTRACT
Greek Cypriot nationalism, itself a wholly Cypriot phenomenon, essentialized and naturalized the Eurocentric ideology. However, Greek Cypriot nationalism, which was supported by church leadership and the Greek Cypriot educated elite, demanded union with Greece, for that nation's emphasis on Christian Orthodox religion and Greek ethnicity legitimized nationalist ideology. A number of music schools were also established, such as the Cypriot Conservatory by Governor Storrs in 1928 and the Hellenic Conservatory. On one hand Greek Cypriot nationalism and the Cypriot elite were aiming to transform Cypriot culture into a product of the European enlightenment through a more inclusive Greek cultural identity. Negotiations for solutions to Cyprus's political problem have been ongoing, but have thus far provided no feasible solution for the parties involved the Republic of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot community and Turkey. Certainly the European Union significantly influences Cyprus's educational and cultural policies, and invites a definition of Cypriot identity as a member state of the European Union.
