Cyprus reunification hopes edge toward reality
- 9 years ago
There is growing optimism that stalled peace talks in Cyprus might resume. A dispute over offshore gas reserves led to their suspension last year. The UN Special Adviser on Cyprus, Norwegian Espen Barth Eide, has said he sees no obstacle, once the elections in the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are over.
Since 1974, when Turkey invaded in response to a Greek Cypriot coup backed by the junta then ruling in Athens, Cyprus has been divided into the Turkish Cypriot-inhabited north and the Republic of Cyprus, with only the Greek Cypriots enjoying international recognition.
The UN has kept peacekeepers along a line that cuts through Europe’s last divided capital, Nicosia.
Turkey keeps some 30,000 troops in the north.
In November last year, the Turkish Cypriots celebrated the 31st anniversary of their unilateral statehood declaration.
But more than 40 years of trying to solve many disagreements have not born fruit.
In April 2004, a plan drafted by then UN S
Since 1974, when Turkey invaded in response to a Greek Cypriot coup backed by the junta then ruling in Athens, Cyprus has been divided into the Turkish Cypriot-inhabited north and the Republic of Cyprus, with only the Greek Cypriots enjoying international recognition.
The UN has kept peacekeepers along a line that cuts through Europe’s last divided capital, Nicosia.
Turkey keeps some 30,000 troops in the north.
In November last year, the Turkish Cypriots celebrated the 31st anniversary of their unilateral statehood declaration.
But more than 40 years of trying to solve many disagreements have not born fruit.
In April 2004, a plan drafted by then UN S