#Europe criticises #Russia for creating frozen conflicts in #Georgia, #Moldova and #Ukraine, yet Europe is quieter about their own case of #Cyprus, an #EU member, that is divided in two, with the two main communities, the #Greek #Cypriot and #Turkish Cypriot, separated by force on either side of the #GreenLine and #BufferZone. Once #multicultural mixed Cyprus has resulted in two unnatural ethnic zones that the majority of the locals are not happy with. T he unrecognised north and the recognised south (that represents the whole #island), have come together numerous times to negotiate a #solution and a #reunification package, to no avail as yet. The Cyprus division is #FrozenConflict that is now 50 years old. To resolve it, compromises have to be made and immediate major confidence building measures are needed (read Varosha, Ercan/Tymbou, free trade, religious and cultural monuments restoration, free movement, perforating the Green Line, compensation, missing person identification etc) The February 2014 joint declaration re-outlined a long accepted formula of a solution and reunification along the lines of a #bizonal, #bicommunal #federation with #political equality between the two districts. #UN envoy, Espen Barth #Eide, and Republic of Cyprus President and Greek Cypriot leader, Nicos #Anastasiades (who backed the #Annan plan) are eager for a deal. Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis #Erolgu claims the same, yet the difference in the understanding of the February declarations text is only growing. The #economic situation for all Cypriots would benefit positively with the gains a settlement would offer. One study suggests an annual growth of 2.8% higher for 20 years, adding €12,000 to average incomes as a result. That is before factoring in the offshore #gas reserves in the east #Mediterranean. Eide talks of a slippery slope of mutual recrimination, adding that, although he finds lots of agreement on the future, there is none on the present. The past and the future need to be bridged in the present, with interim committees and technical executive committees that have teeth and can contribute to the process of reunification of the island, the blending of authority at the federal level and the normalisation of affairs. It cannot happen one day to the next, but it must happen rapidly to not lose momentum. Is there an alternative? It is worrying that many Cyprus-watchers are looking for one. A report by the International Crisis Group in March touted the option of two separate states within the EU, going against the very ideals of European integration and all UN resolutions on Cyprus. It is a formula not many would accept nonetheless. Most essays in the new book (“Resolving Cyprus: New Approaches to Conflict Resolution”, edited by James Ker-Lindsay) are sceptical about a settlement, and several suggest a far looser federation or even partition. Of course, the political leaders need to read these signals and move forward and draw attention to these possible negative outcomes of further stagnation. Eide says that, although a federation is the best outcome, no solution at all is the worst. I think everyone would agree with this. Changing the template now and discussing division and other options will only send the Cyprus problem down another 40-50 year old path of negotiations and negativity. economist/news/europe/21635025-hopes-settling-cyprus-problem-are-starting-look-unrealistic-intractableor-insoluble?fsrc=scn/tw_ec/intractable_or_insoluble_
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 10:42:49 +0000
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