Talks falter as Turks pull out

Talks to reunify Cyprus have suffered a blow after the leader of breakaway Turkish Cypriots backed out of a meeting aiming to push forward negotiations.

Cyprus president Nicos Anastasiades expressed regret that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci told the UN he would not attend today’s meeting. “I’m ready to continue negotiations at any time,” said Mr Anastasiades.

Although both sides insist talks have not collapsed, the setback erodes confidence in the 22-month peace process to reunify the island as a federation.

Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of union with Greece. More than 35,000 troops are stationed in the north where Turkish Cypriots

“I’m ready to continue negotiations at any time”

have declared a breakaway state recognised only by Turkey.

Mr Akinci pulled out amid Turkish Cypriot anger over recent legislation that made the commemoration of a 1950 vote for Cyprus’s union with Greece mandatory in Greek Cypriot schools.

Turkish Cypriots see a drive by the majority Greek Cypriots for union with Greece as the root of all the island’s ills.

Mr Anastasiades said it was a mistake to pass the legislation at a time when peace talks are at their most sensitive and because the drive for union with Greece is already celebrated as a public holiday. But he lamented the talks were being jeopardised by a “minor issue”.

The Cypriot government claims Turkey is stalling because its demand to keep military intervention rights and troops on the island after reunification is falling on deaf ears.