Why is Cyprus divided?

A 50 years conflict you may haven’t heard about

After several centuries of Ottoman and then British colonization, Cyprus became independent in 1960. Despite they lived well side to side for centuries, the independence divided the Turkish and Greek communities. Indeed, the new constitution granted an over-representation to the Turkish minority in the parliament (18% of the population vs 30% of the Parliament’s seats). Rapidly, confrontations raised between both sides on the ground.

In 1974, a coup d’etat aiming to unify Cyprus with Greece prompted Turkey to invade and occupy the north of the country. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot community unilaterally declared independence forming the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized by Turkey only. Since then, the tension between both sides remained strong and the demarcation is still under the supervision of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.

What about now ?

Two years ago, a new series of increasingly promising negotiations started in Switzerland to work toward a reunification. They stopped in January 2017 and resumed in the end of June. However, they happen under UN mediation and in presence of the foreign ministers of Greece, Turkey, Britain and EU and US representatives. Therefore, the stakes go beyond the island borders and commentators see it resolutely:

• Turkish press, Havadis, believes the conflict will be resolved by the forces of major powers. Indeed, it thinks “the US — with the help of the EU — will solve the Cyprus problem by letting Turkey and Greece take control of certain areas in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region”. The Turkish community would comply with the will of the Turkish nation, while the president of the Republic of Cyprus wouldn’t risk to lose the UN military support that prevents the Cyprus’ citizens to face Turkish soldiers. Link.
• That’s why on the other side, Phileleftheros says that solution puts “a gun to Nicosia’s head once more”. According to the Cypriot newspaper, both the success or the failures of the agreements would see the Turkish army remaining on the island. Link.

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