The Greek and Turkish populations of Cyprus have once again failed to agree on a United Nations-sponsored proposal to reunify the two populations, who have been divided since 1974.
In that year, pro-Greek Cypriots tried to overthrow the government led by Greek Cypriot Archbishop Makarios, in order to join Cyprus with Greece.
In the chaos and inter-communal violence that followed the takeover attempt, spearheaded by Greek army officers serving in the Greek Cypriot National Guard, Turkey intervened with 40,000 troops to safeguard the endangered Turkish-speaking Cypriots.
The revolt, supported by the Greek generals in Athens, resulted in the creation of two separate Cypriot governments, one in the north, fundamentally Turkish-speaking and Muslim, and another in the south, essentially Greek-speaking and Christian.
A UN buffer zone was created between the two societies, operated by UN peacekeeping forces. About 40,000 Canadian troops have served in Cyprus, the second-largest contingent among the 18 or more countries providing peacekeepers.
Attempts to reunite the communities failed, despite the efforts of the UN, Britain, the U.S. and others.
In 2004, the two sides came close to reaching agreement on a UN-backed deal on which the two communities voted in separate plebiscites. But despite strong support for the proposed deal from Turkish Cypriots, it was rejected by Greek Cypriot voters for reasons that included contested land claims, as well as opposition to the continued stationing of Turkish military units on Cyprus.
On this latest occasion, despite considerable progress in talks since January in Switzerland, the negotiators could not reach an agreement.
Not surprisingly, one issue blocking an agreement was the continued presence of Turkish troops — reportedly about 30,000 — based in the Turkish-controlled north.
The controversial current leader of Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is accused of supplying clandestine military aid to extremist groups such as ISIS and of undermining Turkey’s democratic system and human rights, reportedly refused to withdraw his forces until Greece withdrew its own.
While United Nations Secretary General António Guterres made a last-minute attempt to persuade Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci to resolve the remaining differences, his efforts failed, along with a similar attempt by U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence to “seize this historic opportunity.”
There clearly are contentious issues that people on both sides of the UN demarcation line insist must be resolved. This includes sensitive and complex land- and property-rights questions.
Other factors could also continue to play a role in undermining the prospect of an agreement. A key issue would involve a new equitable voting system that would provide checks and balances to safeguard the two communities’ fundamental rights.
(Differences between the two sides regarding the issue of Turkish citizens brought to northern Cyprus by the Turkish government to work in the agricultural sector could also remain, including the question of their families’ citizenship status.)
But even if a phased-in approach to achieve a settlement is admittedly far from perfect, it nevertheless could be a step forward in reducing the deep divisions and mistrust, some based on still-festering historical grievances going back centuries to the Ottoman Turks’ long rule in Cyprus.
Despite the recent setback, the Greek- and Turkish-speaking Cypriots have compelling trade and economic reasons to put the troubled past of their shared island behind them.
As most present-day Canadians are increasingly aware, respecting the value and rights of all the diverse members of society can be an extremely positive force for enriching the lives of everyone.
Harry Sterling, a former diplomat, is an Ottawa-based commentator. He served in Turkey and has written on UN attempts to re-unify Cyprus.
