Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive

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. Throughout 2011, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu have continued the negotiation process but have thus far failed to reach a mutually agreed settlement.

Although both sides have intimated that some convergence of views have been achieved in the areas of governance, economy, and EU issues, Christofias and Eroglu have not found common ground on the difficult issues of property rights, security, settlers, and citizenship, areas where both sides have long-held and very different positions and where neither side seems willing or able to make necessary concessions. This stalemate has resulted in a solution for unification far from being achieved and has raised the unfortunate specter of a possible permanent separation.

On July 7, 2011, Christofias and Eroglu traveled to Geneva to meet for a third time with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in another attempt by the U.N. to boost momentum for the talks. Ban suggested that the negotiations conclude by October so that an international conference could be held to discuss security issues and that referenda could be scheduled in both the north and south by the spring of 2012. The hope among some is that a reunified Cyprus can assume the rotating presidency of the EU on July 1, 2012.

Over the course of the summer, four events have raised serious doubts regarding a settlement being reached even by the end of 2011, let alone by the October target. The results of parliamentary elections held in Greek Cyprus in May initially appeared to have had no bearing on the status of the negotiations. Recently, however, the last remaining partner in the governing coalition, the DIKO Party, withdrew from the coalition, leaving President Christofias without a majority in Parliament and isolating him in the negotiations. On July 11 a tragic munitions explosion at the Mari naval base killed several people and damaged a major power generating station. Christofias has borne the wrath of the Cypriot people for this tragedy and has been forced to reshuffle his cabinet and defend his Presidency. Third, in mid-July, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, on a visit to northern Cyprus, warned that an agreement needed to be achieved by the end of 2011 or the island could remain split and stated that no security or territorial compromises by the Turkish Cypriots would be acceptable. He also stated that Turkey would essentially freeze its relations with the EU during the Cypriot presidency of the EU if there were no solution to the Cyprus issue because Ankara could not accept the presidency of South Cyprus, which it does not recognize. These comments led Cypriot President Christofias to state that there could be no prospect for peace if this was also the position of the Turkish Cypriots. Finally, the Government of Cyprus announced that it would soon begin drilling for natural gas off the southern coast of Cyprus prompting both Ankara and the Turkish Cypriots to protest that such a move would jeopardize the settlement negotiations.

The United States Congress continues to maintain its interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue. Language expressing continued support for the negotiation process has been included in the House FY2012 Foreign Assistance Authorization bill.

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.


Date of Report: August 23, 2011
Number of Pages: 23
Order Number: R41136
Price: $29.95

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