Cyprus at a Glance_EN

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 in 2013, 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. 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 then Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu, agreed on a Joint Declaration on 11 February 2014, that set the framework and the basic principles for a settlement of the Cyprus problem and clarified the methodology to be followed. However, the talks were suspended after provocative actions by Turkey in Cyprus’ EEZ and were re- launched on 15 May 2015, following the election of Mr Mustafa Akinci to the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community. Up to June 2017, negotiations proceeded intensively and significant progress was reached on an important number of issues. Regrettably, the international Conference on Cyprus, which was mainly focused on security and guarantees post-settlement, (Crans Montana of Switzerland, 28 June – 07 July 2017), concluded without result, due to Turkey’s insistence to have the right to unilaterally intervene in Cyprus, to retain an anachronistic system of guarantees and to permanently maintain troops in Cyprus after the settlement. President Anastasiades has repeatedly vowed to work tirelessly in order to end the unacceptable status quo in Cyprus and reach a functional and comprehensive settlement that will not only enhance the country’s regional role, but will also contribute to the stability and prosperity of the region, turning Cyprus into a paradigm of peaceful coexistence in a turbulent neighbourhood. It is aspired that a viable, lasting and functional settlement will ensure that Cyprus will remain a modern EU and UN member-state, enjoying full sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. 22