Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive

Vincent Morelli
Section Research Manager

Attempts to resolve the Cyprus problem and reunify the island have undergone various levels of negotiation for almost 40 years. Prospects for a settlement that would end the political division of Cyprus appear to be on the verge of total stalemate and perhaps even a period of retrenchment possibly dominated by harder-line views by both sides and more difficult negotiations. 

Despite a positive and concerted effort over the past 18 months and through close to 60 meetings between Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias, a Greek Cypriot, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to reach some type of acceptable solution, time and politics appear to be no longer on either's side. On April 18, 2010, Turkish Cypriot leader Talat faces reelection as "president" of northern Cyprus, which by all accounts by observers of the Cyprus issue, he could have a difficult time winning. His likely successor, Dervis Eroglu of the National Unity Party (UBP), while insisting that negotiations would continue, appears to have taken a harder-line posture toward a negotiated settlement, and there are even some in his party who are advocating a permanently divided island and international recognition for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). 

For his part, Republic of Cyprus President Christofias has recently experienced his own internal political difficulties as one of his governing coalition partners, the Socialist Party (EDEK), quit the governing coalition on February 9, 2010, reportedly over disagreements with the President's negotiating strategy. Almost immediately following the EDEK decision, hard-liners in the other coalition partner, the Democratic Party (DIKO), forced a vote of the party's central committee on whether to abandon the coalition as well. DIKO hard-liners had also criticized Christofias for what they considered to be too many concessions to the Turkish Cypriot side. In the end, DIKO voted to remain in the coalition, but the outcome of both votes could indicate that Christofias was no longer guaranteed support for whatever negotiated solution he could achieve in the near term. 

Despite these political setbacks, and although both sides appear to remain far apart on the most critical issues for any settlement, both Christofias and Talat have pledged to continue the negotiations and have scheduled several more formal sessions through the end of March. At that point, Talat will likely leave the negotiations in order to step up his political campaign in a final attempt to win reelection. Some observers are hoping that at the last negotiating session of this term, scheduled for March 30, a joint statement would be issued by both sides outlining the extent to which progress has been achieved on the major issues under consideration. 

The United States has long maintained a position of strong support for a negotiated settlement. This has been reaffirmed by the Obama Administration. Many Members of Congress have continued to maintain their interest in Cyprus during the 111th Congress, partly due to keen constituent concern. Hearings could be anticipated on the future of the negotiations in the aftermath of the April elections in northern Cyprus.


Date of Report: March 23, 2010
Number of Pages: 14
Order Number: R41136
Price: $29.95

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