Tri-Service

"No Realistic Chance" For Cyprus Reunification Before April

It was hoped that last week’s meeting in Geneva between the Greek and Turkish sides of Cyprus would end with an historic agreement.

However, the two leaders were unable to agree on some issues, particularly security.

Hubert Faustmann the associate professor of History and Political Science at the University of Nicosia has published numerous books and articles on the Cyprus Problem and watched events in Geneva with a close eye.

He told Forces TV:

"We are at the final stage of the final stage... but I don't think there is a realistic chance of a settlement before April this year".

Last week’s talks, brokered by the UN, were the culmination of 20 months of intense negotiations.

For the first time, the island’s guarantor powers; Greece, Turkey and Britain took a seat at the table.

Some points within the talks have been agreed, however, issues particularly about security remain a stumbling block.

According to Professor Hubert Faustmann the main issue is that the Turkish are insisting that there should be a Turkish right of guarantee to protect the Turkish Cypriots from the Greek Cypriots, and there should be a Turkish Military presence on the island. This still needs to be negotiated.

After the Turkish invasion in 1974 there was a population exchange. Hundreds of thousands of Cypriots abandoned their homes and land and moved, the Greeks to the Republic in the south and the Turks to the north.

This means the Greek Cypriots had to leave their homes in the North but there is also Turkish Cypriot property in the South, who should have rights the current user or the previous owner, this problem remains unresolved.

The talks in Geneva were described as the last chance for agreements to be made. Professor Hubert Faustmann disagrees. He believes nothing will be resolved until April as that is when the Turkish Referendum is happening. Then, all sides will pull together for a deal.

"A deal is possible, but, anything but certain".

This week the talks have continued behind closed doors as life in Europe’s last divided city goes on. Many in this troubled but resilient island are still hopeful a solution can one day be found.