The European Union has today welcomed the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders’ decision to launch talks in order to find a solution to the long-standing Cyprus problem.
As European Commission President, José Barroso and the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, said in a statement: “The European Union welcomes the agreement announced today by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders on a Joint Declaration, which lays a solid foundation for resumption of negotiations for a fair and viable comprehensive settlement of the long-standing Cyprus problem. This Joint Declaration should help them to swiftly address matters of substance and to achieve rapid results in the negotiations.”
They also added: “As previously announced, the European Commission is keen to play its part in supporting the negotiations, conducted under UN auspices and to offer all the support the parties and the UN find most useful… The European Union also supports the efforts to reach an agreement between the two parties on a package of Confidence-Building Measures which can help to create momentum towards a settlement to the benefit of Cypriot people.”
Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders met for the first formal encounter in almost 18 months at an airport compound in the capital Nicosia in order to seek ways to resolve the conflict that started in 1974.
Nicos Anastasiades, president of the internationally recognized Cypriot government, and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu requested a U.N. envoy to read out a joint statement outlining the issues that need to be addressed during the negotiations. Talks are likely to last for months.
The Cyprus problem
The Cyprus problem originated in 1974 when Turkey invaded Cyprus's north after a Greek inspired coup. Since then, the island is divided between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots.
The island’s division is also causing problems to its EU membership because Cyprus is represented in the EU only by its Greek Cypriots. Finally, the conflict is also an obstacle to Turkey’s EU accession.