Cyprus reunification talks resume in Switzerland

 

 

GENEVA: -- Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders have gathered in Switzerland to try to resolve the final issues that could see the island reunified after four decades of division.

 

The two-day negotiation is being overseen the the UN’s special adviser on Cyprus.

 

The two leaders met earlier this month and are said to have made progress towards agreement.

 

The talks overlooking Lake Geneva are the latest in a series of discussions that resumed in May last year.

 

Any agreement will mean redrawing current boundaries and potentially moving thousands of people from their homes.

 

Many were displaced when the island was first split more than 40 years ago.

 

The Turkish Cypriot government currently runs almost a third of the island.

 

If a deal is reached on territory, a final summit also involving Greece, Turkey and the UK will likely be held.

 

That meeting will focus on security, especially the presence of 30,000 Turkish troops who remain on the island after a 1974 military coup was followed by Turkey’s intervention.

 

A final agreement would be put to both communities in a referendum.

 

A peace deal was approved by Turkish Cypriots in 1974 but rejected by Greek Cypriot voters.

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-11-21

The ironic bit is that most people involved in clearing this today were in their 20s when it happened.

nstead of referring to Greek Cypriots or Turkish Cypriots the islanders should be referred to what they really are - Cypriots (and nothing to add to this). 

Maybe the Cypriots also query if their country (a historic cradle of civilization dating back 12'000 years) really needs to be a part of the monetary union, the Eurozone and of the EU single market. 

I wish Cyprus the best of luck for its future; I was always a friend of the islanders and spent memorable time there. 

The Turks and Greeks hate each other too much for reunification to happen...