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. Nevertheless, on October 3, 2010, the Republic of Cyprus celebrated its 50th anniversary as a divided country and with a permanent solution far from being achieved.
On April 18, 2010, Turkish Cypriot voters selected a new leader, Dervis Eroglu of the National Unity Party (UBP), in part due to the fact that after almost two years of intense negotiations between former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias, a Greek Cypriot, attempts to reach an acceptable solution for reunification had failed. Despite predictions by some of difficult times ahead for the negotiations as a result of the elections in the north and by a growing lack of unity among the Greek Cypriot political leadership whose opposition to Christofias’s negotiating strategy had been growing, new talks began on May 26, 2010.
Since the May resumption of talks, technical committees and working groups with representatives from both sides have met regularly. Christofias and Eroglu have met 15 times, focusing entirely on the difficult issue of property rights, an area where the sides have long-held and very different positions. Although the negotiations continue, they appear to have produced little progress and have increasingly exposed differences between the two leaders. In September, Eroglu expressed his frustration with the process and accused the Greek Cypriots of treating Turkish Cypriot positions with contempt. In October it was reported that Eroglu had become so fed up that he may have suggested that Turkish Cypriots no longer believed in the possibility of a mutually agreeable settlement. For his part, Christofias told the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September that both sides were not coming closer to a settlement. On October 21 Ban apparently called both Christofias and Eroglu to express his concerns over the slow pace of the negotiations and lack of any progress.
Pressure on both Christofias and Eroglu to achieve significant progress toward an agreement has come from both internal and external sources. While Christofias and Eroglu have repeated their desire to reach a solution, Eroglu has stated that such an agreement must be achieved by the end of 2010. Christofias has rejected any such timetable. Turkey faces national elections in the spring of 2011 and has called for a settlement by the end of 2010. By the end of 2010 Turkey will also receive the next set of progress reports on its EU accession negotiations, which will include an assessment of Turkey’s role in trying to promote a Cyprus solution. The United Nations Secretary-General has indicated that he will issue a status report on the progress of the negotiations in mid-November that could determine the future role of the U.N. in the negotiating process. Finally, the European Commission introduced a formal regulation proposing direct trade between the EU and Turkish Cyprus. The proposal was rejected by the European Parliament but has not been withdrawn by the Commission. This issue caused considerable problems for the Greek Cypriot side, and the outcome a good deal of disappointment for the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey.
The United States Congress continues to maintain its interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue; lack of a negotiated settlement continues to affect relations between Turkey and the EU, Turkey and Greece, and the EU and NATO. The situation also warrants attention because of the U.S. interest in a strong relationship with Turkey. Congressional interest will likely continue into the 112th Congress as the talks continue.
Date of Report: October 26, 2010
Number of Pages: 19
Order Number: R41136
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
Section Research Manager
Attempts to resolve the Cyprus problem and reunify the island have undergone various levels of negotiation for almost 40 years. Nevertheless, on October 3, 2010, the Republic of Cyprus celebrated its 50th anniversary as a divided country and with a permanent solution far from being achieved.
On April 18, 2010, Turkish Cypriot voters selected a new leader, Dervis Eroglu of the National Unity Party (UBP), in part due to the fact that after almost two years of intense negotiations between former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias, a Greek Cypriot, attempts to reach an acceptable solution for reunification had failed. Despite predictions by some of difficult times ahead for the negotiations as a result of the elections in the north and by a growing lack of unity among the Greek Cypriot political leadership whose opposition to Christofias’s negotiating strategy had been growing, new talks began on May 26, 2010.
Since the May resumption of talks, technical committees and working groups with representatives from both sides have met regularly. Christofias and Eroglu have met 15 times, focusing entirely on the difficult issue of property rights, an area where the sides have long-held and very different positions. Although the negotiations continue, they appear to have produced little progress and have increasingly exposed differences between the two leaders. In September, Eroglu expressed his frustration with the process and accused the Greek Cypriots of treating Turkish Cypriot positions with contempt. In October it was reported that Eroglu had become so fed up that he may have suggested that Turkish Cypriots no longer believed in the possibility of a mutually agreeable settlement. For his part, Christofias told the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September that both sides were not coming closer to a settlement. On October 21 Ban apparently called both Christofias and Eroglu to express his concerns over the slow pace of the negotiations and lack of any progress.
Pressure on both Christofias and Eroglu to achieve significant progress toward an agreement has come from both internal and external sources. While Christofias and Eroglu have repeated their desire to reach a solution, Eroglu has stated that such an agreement must be achieved by the end of 2010. Christofias has rejected any such timetable. Turkey faces national elections in the spring of 2011 and has called for a settlement by the end of 2010. By the end of 2010 Turkey will also receive the next set of progress reports on its EU accession negotiations, which will include an assessment of Turkey’s role in trying to promote a Cyprus solution. The United Nations Secretary-General has indicated that he will issue a status report on the progress of the negotiations in mid-November that could determine the future role of the U.N. in the negotiating process. Finally, the European Commission introduced a formal regulation proposing direct trade between the EU and Turkish Cyprus. The proposal was rejected by the European Parliament but has not been withdrawn by the Commission. This issue caused considerable problems for the Greek Cypriot side, and the outcome a good deal of disappointment for the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey.
The United States Congress continues to maintain its interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue; lack of a negotiated settlement continues to affect relations between Turkey and the EU, Turkey and Greece, and the EU and NATO. The situation also warrants attention because of the U.S. interest in a strong relationship with Turkey. Congressional interest will likely continue into the 112th Congress as the talks continue.
Date of Report: October 26, 2010
Number of Pages: 19
Order Number: R41136
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
