Optimism as Cyprus launches peace talks
LEIGH PHILLIPS
03.09.2008 @ 09:28 CET
Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders today launch formal talks on reunifying their island, divided for 34 years, as the EU's only communist head of state, Dimitris Christofias, meets his Turkish Cypriot counterpart, Mehment Ali Talat, also a leftist, in the no-man's land of Nicosia's deserted former airport.
Both sides are in an optimistic mood heading into peace talks (Photo: European Commission)
The ideological similarities and shared trade union background of the two men has given analysts hope that this time, finally, negotiations may bear fruit.
In 1974 following an attempted Greek Cypriot coup d'etat sponsored by the Greek military junta seeking to annex the island, Turkey invaded and occupied one-third of Cyprus, leading to the establishment of a separate Turkish Cypriot political entity in the north.
The Turkish-occupied area in the north refers to itself as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but is recognised only by Turkey.
Although nationalists in the south are opposed to any deal, ordinary people seem to have changed their minds since they rejected a UN-negotiated agreement in a referendum in 2004. Mr Christofias, of the leftist Akel Party, won last February's vote promising to revive peace talks and settle the three-decades old dispute and still retains a 70 percent approval rating.
Wednesday's meeting is largely symbolic, with serious talks to start next week with the aid of UN special envoy former Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer.
Despite the high expectations surrounding this latest attempt at peace talks, there have been a total of 15 UN envoys appointed with the same task since the 1974 events.
Wanting to prevent Greek Cypriot dominance of any potential bi-zonal such federation, the Turkish Cypriots are hoping to achieve a substantial degree of decentralisation. Turkish Cypriots number some 265,000 out of the island's roughly 1 million inhabitants.
Mr Christofias, however, prefers a more centralised federation, worried that substantial autonomy for the north could leave the door open to partition.
Mr Talat has said he hopes to reach a deal by the end of the year, while his Greek Cypriot counterpart has refused to set any deadlines.
The two sides also remain divided over property rights for Greek Cypriots displaced during the initial conflict and intervention rights for Greece and Turkey.
Turkey, for its part, knows it cannot join the European Union as long as it occupies part of a member state.