Vincent Morelli
Section Research Manager
Attempts to resolve the Cyprus problem and reunify the island have undergone various levels of negotiation for over 45 years. On October 3, 2010, after almost two years of intense negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, attempts to reach an acceptable solution for reunification had failed and the Republic of Cyprus celebrated its 50th anniversary as a divided country with a permanent solution far from being achieved.
Since the beginning of 2011, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu have continued the negotiation process even though the talks appear to have produced little progress, have increasingly exposed differences and frustrations between the two leaders, and now seem to lack a clear urgency to achieve a final solution. On January 28, 2011, Christofias and Eroglu traveled to Geneva to meet for a second time in three months with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in what appeared to be another inconclusive attempt by the U.N. to boost momentum for the talks. Ban’s subsequent March 2011 report to the U.N. Security Council on the progress in the talks again noted the slow pace of the negotiations and the lack of any significant movement toward a resolution on any of the major issues.
On March 18, 2011, the 100th meeting between the two sides, dating back to 2008 when Christofias began negotiations with then-Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, took place with little fanfare. After the meeting that preceded the 100th session, Christofias noted that nothing new or positive had come out of the meetings. The first 15 or so negotiating sessions between Christofias and Eroglu focused entirely on the difficult issue of property rights, an area where both sides have long-held and very different positions. Since then the talks have shifted to settlers and citizenship where again there are significant differences and neither side seems willing to make necessary concessions.
With Greek Cyprus now entering a parliamentary election period that will end on May 22, and Turkey approaching national elections that will be held June 12, there is little expectation that any progress can be made until both election periods are concluded. It has been reported that when U.N. Secretary-General Ban recently phoned both leaders suggesting that they plan to meet with him again in June, Christofias replied that the Turkish Cypriot positions in the negotiations have not been helpful and that Eroglu may have suggested that there was little hope for a settlement.
The United States Congress continues to maintain its interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue; the 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 U.S. interest in maintaining a relationship with Turkey that can be useful in addressing many of the issues involving the greater Middle East as well as throughout the Black Sea/Eastern Mediterranean region. Congressional interest will likely continue throughout the 112th Congress as the talks continue.
This report provides a brief overview of the early history of the negotiations, a more detailed review of the negotiations since 2008, and a description of some of the issues involved in the talks. A side issue involving trade between the European Union and Turkish Cyprus is also addressed.
Date of Report: April 7, 2011
Number of Pages: 21
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 over 45 years. On October 3, 2010, after almost two years of intense negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, attempts to reach an acceptable solution for reunification had failed and the Republic of Cyprus celebrated its 50th anniversary as a divided country with a permanent solution far from being achieved.
Since the beginning of 2011, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu have continued the negotiation process even though the talks appear to have produced little progress, have increasingly exposed differences and frustrations between the two leaders, and now seem to lack a clear urgency to achieve a final solution. On January 28, 2011, Christofias and Eroglu traveled to Geneva to meet for a second time in three months with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in what appeared to be another inconclusive attempt by the U.N. to boost momentum for the talks. Ban’s subsequent March 2011 report to the U.N. Security Council on the progress in the talks again noted the slow pace of the negotiations and the lack of any significant movement toward a resolution on any of the major issues.
On March 18, 2011, the 100th meeting between the two sides, dating back to 2008 when Christofias began negotiations with then-Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, took place with little fanfare. After the meeting that preceded the 100th session, Christofias noted that nothing new or positive had come out of the meetings. The first 15 or so negotiating sessions between Christofias and Eroglu focused entirely on the difficult issue of property rights, an area where both sides have long-held and very different positions. Since then the talks have shifted to settlers and citizenship where again there are significant differences and neither side seems willing to make necessary concessions.
With Greek Cyprus now entering a parliamentary election period that will end on May 22, and Turkey approaching national elections that will be held June 12, there is little expectation that any progress can be made until both election periods are concluded. It has been reported that when U.N. Secretary-General Ban recently phoned both leaders suggesting that they plan to meet with him again in June, Christofias replied that the Turkish Cypriot positions in the negotiations have not been helpful and that Eroglu may have suggested that there was little hope for a settlement.
The United States Congress continues to maintain its interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue; the 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 U.S. interest in maintaining a relationship with Turkey that can be useful in addressing many of the issues involving the greater Middle East as well as throughout the Black Sea/Eastern Mediterranean region. Congressional interest will likely continue throughout the 112th Congress as the talks continue.
This report provides a brief overview of the early history of the negotiations, a more detailed review of the negotiations since 2008, and a description of some of the issues involved in the talks. A side issue involving trade between the European Union and Turkish Cyprus is also addressed.
Date of Report: April 7, 2011
Number of Pages: 21
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.
