Several European and international outlets, such as The Times and Het Nieuwsblad, report on negotiations concerning the reunification of Cyprus. Cyprus has been divided in two since 1974 and only Turkey recognises the self-declared state of Northern Cyprus, which takes up approximately one third of the island.
Het Nieuwsblad notes that one is carefully headed towards a reunification of Cyprus. “We are close to a compromise,” states UN Secretary General António Gutierres, adding that the talks are “a historic opportunity for peace on Cyprus.” The Times reports, however, that Mr Gutierres cautioned against expectations of a miracle. The daily notes that currently only Greek Cyprus is recognised by the EU, the Turkish part is considered to be an occupied area.
Given the current EU-Turkey relation, the negotiations promise to be difficult. Greece is pressing for the 30,000 Turkish troops to leave the island over a fixed time frame and for Ankara to end its right to intervene, while Turkey is demanding all Turkish Cypriots receive full rights to EU membership. Each side had submitted a map, outlining proposals for the territorial boundaries of each zone. A Turkish Cypriot spokesman said that both maps conformed to previously agreed criteria over how much of the land would go to the Turkish Cypriot side: between 28.2% and 29.2%, down from the 36% under Turkish control now.
The foreign affairs ministers of Greece, Turkey and the UK are involved in the negotiations, as are High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs Mogherini and President Juncker, who said that a united Cyprus would be fully integrated into the European Union. HR VP Mogherini attended the working lunch later in the day, echoing Mr Juncker’s position, and adding: “Cyprus is the edge of the EU and we are directly concerned with the security system that will be agreed”. Northern Cyprus is not subject to EU regulations in spite of Cyprus being a member of the EU since 2004. In the Netherlands, Algemeen Dagblad comments on the unification negotiations in Cyprus.
The complex negotiations about the return of property, governance, economy and security are progressing faster than expected. Composer Yannis Kyriakides thinks that the future of Cyprus has always been subjected to foreign forces. Turkey, Greece and the UK have interests on the island and the country is a stepping stone to Syria where Mr Putin is making his moves. The mindset of the local population has changed as well. Turkish and Greek Cypriots feel, that their culture is under pressure and their shared love for their island, could bring them closer to each other.
Despite potential benefits, negotiations over the future of Cyprus remain problematic, reports Mike Szymanski in an article for Süddeutsche Zeitung. A solution to the north-south divide would provide a much-needed success story for the European Union. Similarly, Turkey could demonstrate its commitment to EU accession talks and deepen cooperation in the respective chapters. The government’s dependence on nationalists in parliament may however hamper such a move. Moreover, suspicions are not confined to political elites. Following the 2004 “Annan Plan” Southern Cypriots had brought a solution down by referendum.
In contrast, Ioannis N. Grigoriadis states in an interview for ZDF Heute, that a solution to the conflict is possible as negotiators from both sides are moderates. A compromise will be necessary with regard to border demarcation and the possible retreat of guarantor powers and their troops. Time is running out for a compromise as presidential elections are coming up in 2018. Referenda should thus be conducted in 2017 in case of a solution.
Mr Grigoriadis remains sceptical that a solution could make a significant contribution to negotiations for Turkey’s EU accession, although new chapters could be opened.
According to an article in Berliner Zeitung, President Juncker and HR VP Mogherini also took part in the conference. So far no solution has been found to the thorny issue of border demarcation. While it is clear that the Turkish part will have to cede territory, it is not clear how much and where exactly. Greek and Cypriot media expand on the issue in more detail. The ANT1 and Phileleftheros Brussels correspondent, for example, reported that the Commission left open the possibility of a new memorandum on a fiscal adjustment programme, following a solution to the Cyprus problem, depending on the two sides and the relevant decisions made.
According to a fact sheet, the EU focuses on the harmonisation of the Turkish Cypriot community with the EU acquis, the analysis of the provisions in case of a solution, as well as economic issues, as it considers that a smooth transition of the northern part of the island into the Euro is necessary. The Commission also refers to the constitutional reforms of the new federal state, noting the need to examine their compatibility with EU law.
In a related news, Solidarity party leader Eleni Theocharous yesterday announced her departure from Geneva, in protest over President Nicos Anastasiades’ handling of this week’s talks for a settlement of the Cyprus problem. Her move was preceded by a Twitter post Wednesday, after Anastasiades shared the map of the Greek Cypriot side submitted as its proposal on territorial adjustments with the National Council, which media reports translated as the body having “approved” the proposed territorial arrangement. “I deny having approved the map presented to the National Council,” she wrote adding, “in fact, I strongly stressed at the meeting, that I cannot accept the handing of Greek land to Turkey.” She was referring to the fact that, as part of transforming the Republic of Cyprus – a unitary state – to a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation, the Turkish Cypriot component state will administer its own part of the island.
Cypriot MEP, Eleni Theocharous also protested the fact that Thursday’s conference on Cyprus – expanded talks between the island’s two communities, Cyprus’ three guarantor powers and the European Union – is going ahead even though the conditions for the Greek Cypriot side’s participation (an agreement on territory and properties) were not met.
Officials with direct involvement in the negotiations process told Ethnos, that intense confrontations and disagreements took place in Geneva. It appears that Mr Juncker and Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu had a harsh confrontation. Mr Juncker addressed Mr Çavuşoğlu by saying that Turkey wants the EU only for the money, while Mr Çavuşoğlu replied by characterising the EU unreliable. In an intervention, Greek Foreign Affairs Minister NikosKotzias stressed that he considers the guarantees regime obsolete and that guarantees and interventionist rights in an EU Member State cannot exist.
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