UN 'worried' on Cyprus reunification talks

By Furkan Naci Top

ATHENS

The UN envoy to the divided island of Cyprus said Monday that his concerns over the island’s reunification talks have reached a peak.

Speaking after a 90-minute meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias in the capital Athens, Espen Barth Eide said Cyprus is still "very, very close" to an agreement to reunite the island despite a disagreement in talks last week.

"But I want to share that I am worried. I am more worried than I have been at any time during these last three years that the process is in serious trouble," Eide told reporters.

He said Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci see eye-to-eye on at least five of the six remaining issues.

"[But] we still have this issue of security and guarantees," he added.

The eastern Mediterranean island was divided into a Turkish Cypriot state in the north and a Greek Cypriot administration in the south after an Enosis (Union)-inspired 1974 military coup was followed by violence against the island’s Turks, and Turkey’s intervention as a guarantor power.

The reunification talks -- brokered by Eide -- were launched in May 2015 to discuss a permanent settlement for the divided Mediterranean island.

The two sides have reportedly agreed on most issues in the reunification deal but sticking points -- including a security and guarantees system -- remain unresolved.

Turkey insists 30,000 Turkish troops must remain on the island as part of Ankara’s role as a guarantor power.

Once a final agreement is reached, it would be put to both communities in a referendum. A peace deal was approved by Turkish Cypriots in 2004 but rejected by Greek Cypriot voters.