EU help in healing Cyprus’ ethnic split could bring benefits to all, officials say

Nicosia, Cyprus (AP) – The European Union can help resolve the old ethnic division of Cyprus by stressing all the parties in the dispute that a peace agreement would bring with advantages and a significant improvement in relations with the 27 -member block, officials announced on Tuesday.

Johannes Hahn, the EU Envoy for Cyprus, held his first meeting on Tuesday with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in his new capacity, who, in officials, will gain momentum towards the recovery of negotiations in standby by the United Nations.

Cyprus was cleaned along the ethnic lines in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup which aimed to unify the island with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a declaration of Cypriot Turkish independence from 1983 in the third north of the island where Turkey maintains more than 35,000 soldiers.

Hahn said after the discussion with Christudoulides on Tuesday that he would contact all stakeholders, including Turkey, to help strengthen confidence and support for Maria Angela Holguin, who directs peace efforts as a Cyprus, representing the Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

When asked how the EU could help fill what seems to be diametrically opposed positions occupied by the Cypriot Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot, Hahn said that “all parties have special interests linked to the European Union and that is exactly what I try to understand in all my meetings.”

Although Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, only the South Greek Cypriot party where the internationally recognized government is seated benefits from full members.

Turkey began the talks of EU members in 2005, but they blocked its refusal to recognize the Cypriot government as the sole legal authority of the island. Turkey remains eager to conclude discussions on the liberalization of visas with the EU which started in 2013.

Cyprus supports the bonds closer to the EU-Turkey as long as there is clear progress on Cyprus peace talks, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said.

The main obstacle to restart peace talks is the Cypriot Turkish and Turkish insistence on an agreement that would recognize two states on the island. This goes against a peace plan approved by the United Nations Security Council which provides a federated Cyprus with areas of Greek and Turkish language.

Greek Cypriots reject any agreement that would formalize the partition, fearing that Turkey seeks to control the whole island in the light of its request to maintain a presence of permanent troops and military intervention rights in Cyprus. Turkey also insists that minority Turkish Cypriots should have veto rights on all decisions of the federal government.