Today Jean-Claude Juncker the European Commission president attends Cyprus peace talks in Geneva considering it as a ‘very last chance’ between divided island to united, however he expected it to be a success. His participation is framed in an observer status.

The Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders come together to reunification talks in Geneva this week, but both sides do not expect a quick fix in protracted dispute. Turkey’s prime minister is to join international diplomats at Cyprus peace talks in Geneva, amid signs of progress towards reuniting the divided island.

The Geneva talks also involve UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his Greek and Turkish counterparts. It will be a first foreign trip in his capacity as UN chief  for Antonio Guterres.

The Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot communities have been split since 1974. Cyprus joined the European Union on 1 May 2004, and  on 1 January 2008  the euro zone. There are six Cyprus MEPs in European Parliament; a Cypriot Christos Stylianides is the  Commissioner on Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management; EU funds help the Turkish Cypriot community prepare for the reunification of Cyprus.

Any negotiated deal would come into force if both Cypriot communities approve of it in separate referendums.

(Source: European Commission)

Photo: illustration