Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
U.N. chief vows to help Cyprus reunite
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations secretary-general promised Sunday to lend his personal support to rival Cypriot leaders who are locked in complex talks aimed at reunifying the ethnically divided island nation.
Ban Ki-moon said he and the U.N. will personally do “our utmost” to assist Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and breakaway Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci resolve the decades-old problem. Ban, who met with both leaders Sunday, called on them to “make the most” of the time ahead to overcome hurdles still impeding an accord.
A key obstacle that’s complicating negotiations is a Turkish Cypriot demand for Turkey to retain military intervention rights on the island. Greek Cypriots say intervention rights have no place in an envisioned federated Cyprus and insist such a demand would scotch any agreement.
Cyprus was divided into a Turkish-speaking north and a Greek-speaking south in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup that aimed to unite the island with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence. Although the island joined the European Union in 2004, only the internationally recognized southern part enjoys full membership benefits.
“The period ahead will be crucial for Cyprus,” Ban said after the meeting. “Time is of the essence.”