Solving the EU-Turkey-Cyprus Triangle

INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP - NEW MEDIA RELEASE
Solving the EU-Turkey-Cyprus Triangle: New Crisis Group webpage

Istanbul/Brussels, 23 February 2009: The International Crisis is pleased to announce the launch of a new frequently updated webpage covering the nexus of issues surrounding Cyprus, Turkey and the European Union: “Solving the EU-Turkey-Cyprus Triangle”.

This is a critical year for Cyprus as efforts to resolve the long conflict gather steam, and for Turkey as frustration with EU enlargement fatigue weighs heavy on its chances of approaching membership. With Cyprus a member state of the EU and troops from NATO-member Turkey still in the northern half of the island, the inter-relationships are many.

Will Turkey’s efforts to join the Union be formally blocked if it does not normalise its relations with Cyprus by autumn? Will other EU member states that have a negative stance towards Turkey’s membership continue to argue that Turkey has no place in the Union? Will such moves turn Turkey away from the EU, stifle ongoing reform and push Ankara towards other allies? Will the EU’s need to diversify energy sources and the Nabucco pipeline plans affect thinking in Brussels and member state capitals? And how will all these factors affect the search for a final peaceful settlement between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, elusive for so many decades?

“Solving the EU-Turkey-Cyprus Triangle”, the new Crisis Group webpage, is an effort to continually revisit these questions and others with frequently updated analysis and commentary following the situation as it unfolds. The point is not to respond to every new diplomatic twist and turn, but to make a reasoned and considered assessment of events and offer recommendations to the key actors with greater immediacy than can be done with a longer report.

Part of the reasoning behind this new webpage comes from the results of the online survey Crisis Group conducted a few weeks ago. Through that poll, we learned that 74% of our subscribers find our themed pages on specific conflicts useful -- our most popular website feature. More than half of the over 11,500 survey respondents said they would like Crisis Group to produce more frequently updated analysis and commentary on our website. Almost as many said they wanted more information from the field.

This new webpage will meet these expectations, with updates and new material once or twice a week from Crisis Group Europe Program Director Sabine Freizer in Brussels and Turkey/Cyprus Project Director Hugh Pope in Istanbul. With these frequent inputs into the public debate, we intend to play our part in the peaceful resolution of the Cyprus conflict in a way that can draw Turkey and the EU closer together.

Contacts: Andrew Stroehlein (Brussels) +32 (0) 2 541 1635Kimberly Abbott (Washington) +1 202 785 1601
To contact Crisis Group media please click here

Turkish Cypriot leader optimistic about reunification

"All the elements of the Cyprus problem are known, so it is possible to solve [it] by the end of this year," says Mr Talat (Photo: European Commission)

ELITSA VUCHEVA
10.09.2008 @ 17:27 CET

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat on Wednesday (10 September) expressed optimism about the in-depth talks on the reunification of Cyprus formally due to start tomorrow, saying he hoped that a solution for the divided island can be found at the latest by June next year.

"My vision was to finish the negotiations by the end of this year and I believe it is possible," Mr Talat said at a conference organised by the Brussels-based European Policy Centre think-tank.
"All the elements of the Cyprus problem are known, so it is possible to solve [it]" by the end of 2008, or at the latest, "before the election of the European Parliament, meaning June 2009."
"Hopefully, we will do it," he added.

See: http://euobserver.com/9/26722

CYPRUS PEACE PROCESS

Cyprus peace process: Lokmaci crossing in Nicosia opened
The New Anatolian / Ankara
03 April 2008

Lokmaci gate (Ledra Street crossing), which remained closed for 45 years since the start of communal conflict in Cyprus in 1963, opened to pedestrian crossings on Thursday.

It was seen as a new positive development for mending fences between Turkish and Greek Cypriots on the island.

Speaking at the ceremony to mark the opening of the gate, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat's Special Representative for EU and UN talks Ozdil Nami said the opening was symbolic, "both parties will overcome the problems as long as there is a will.

Another impediment has been eliminated for the unification of the two sides."

Repair works started at Lokmaci gate after Talat and newly elected Greek Cypriot President Demetris Christofias met on March 21, and agreed to set up working groups and technical committees which would strive for comprehensive negotiations. Tradesmen of the region are reportedly happy over the opening of the gate to crossings and expect business to flourish.

The reopening of Ledra Street comes amid a new drive for reunification Crossing reopening

"We still have a long way to go," said the mayor of Nicosia, Eleni Mavrou. "This is the first step. We hope many more will follow."

Towards reunification of CYPRUS

Cyprus leaders seek fresh talks


The leaders of the divided Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities have voiced optimism that they can make progress towards reunification of the island.

The Cyprus President-elect, Demetris Christofias, said he had asked the UN to arrange a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

Mr Christofias was speaking just hours after his election victory.