Cyprus: Status of U.N. Negotiations and Related Issues

Abstract

Cyprus has been divided since 1974. Greek Cypriots, 76% of the population, live in the southern two-thirds of the island and lead the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus. Turkish Cypriots, 19% of the populace, live in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognized only by Turkey, with about 36,000 Turkish troops providing security. United Nations peacekeeping forces (UNFICYP) maintain a buffer zone between the two. Since the late 1970s, the U.N., with U.S. support, has promoted negotiations aimed at reuniting the island as a federal, bicommunal, bizonal republic. The U.N. Secretary-General' April 5, 1992, Set of Ideas was a major, but unsuccessful, framework for negotiations for a settlement. Next, both sides accepted U.N. confidence-building measures only in principle and they were not recorded or implemented. The prospect of Cyprus s European Union (EU) accession and its eventual membership intensified and complicated settlement efforts. On November 11, 2002, Secretary-General Kofi Annan submitted a comprehensive settlement Plan based on Swiss and Belgian government models, but the two sides did not agree on it. After more negotiations, Annan announced on March 11, 2003 that his efforts had failed. Cyprus signed an accession treaty to join the EU on April 16. The December 14, 2003, Turkish Cypriot parliamentary elections produced a new government determined to reach a settlement. The U.N. led negotiations from February 19-March 22, 2004, and continued in Switzerland, with Greek and Turkish leaders present. Annan presented a final, revised Plan on March 31. In referenda on April 24, 76% of Greek Cypriot voters rejected the Plan, while 65% of Turkish Cypriot voters accepted it. Annan blamed (Greek) Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos for the result. Cyprus joined the EU on May 1, 2004.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 02, 2008
Accession Number
ADA488188

Entities

People

  • Carol Migdalovitz

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

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  • Agreements
  • Commerce
  • Congress
  • Department Of State
  • European Communities
  • European Union
  • Governments
  • International Organizations
  • Law
  • Military Personnel
  • National Governments
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  • Negotiations
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Fields of Study

  • Political science

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  • International Relations and Conflict Resolution