Consistent with this outlook, on 8 July 2006, the
President of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos, and the
leader of the Turkish Cypriot community signed an
agreement on a “Set of Principles” for the solution of
the Cyprus problem. They reaffirmed the
commitment of the two communities to reunify
Cyprus on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal
federation and agreed on procedures to prepare
the ground for comprehensive negotiations towards
that end.
Despite the setback caused by the refusal of the
Turkish side to honour that agreement, the UN
process was revived in 2008, following the election
of President Demetris Christofias, through direct
talks between the leaders of the two communities.
However, this process was interrupted in the spring
of 2012 when the Turkish side refused to cooperate
for the continuation of the talks to resolve
outstanding issues.
Soon after his election, President Nicos Anastasiades
undertook initiatives in order to create a new
impetus in a new round of talks, such as presenting a
package-proposal to restore mutual trust between
both communities, including, inter alia, the return of
the city of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants, under
the auspices of the UN and in line with the 1984 UN
Security Council Resolution 550.
The UN-led peace talks resumed following the
appointment of a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish
Cypriot interlocutor, while the President of the
Republic and the Turkish Cypriot leader agreed on a
Joint Declaration on 11 February 2014, which sets
out the basic guidelines and principles for the
framework of the agreed solution to be reached, as
well as the methodology of the negotiating process.
However, the talks were suspended following
provocative actions by Turkey in Cyprus’ Exclusive
Economic Zone. It is hoped that when the peace
process resumes the Turkish side will reciprocate the
positive, constructive and forward looking approach
of the Greek Cypriot side, in order to achieve the
reunification of Cyprus.
As President Anastasiades underlined while
addressing the UN General Assembly on 26
September 2014:
“Cyprus and its citizens deserve much more than a
divided country. Forty years is more than enough for
all of us, and it is high-time for all those involved to
realise that the artificial complacency related with
the current status quo is to the benefit of no one. A
solution would be to the benefit of all Cypriots,
Turkey, our immediate region, and, evidently, the
international community.”
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