Abstract:

The United Nations, the European Union, Greece and the Greek Cypriot side on the one hand, and Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on the other differ on how to solve the Cyprus question. According to the international community, creating a bi-zonal and bi-communal new Cyprus state would suffice to bring a lasting peace to the island; however, with the support of Turkey the Turkish Cypriot side rightly insists on the recognition of the TRNC as a precondition to unite its future with the Greek side. Given both the Turkish-EU economic integration process and Turkey’s lack of political support from the international organizations coupled with its economic conditions, the best approach to solving the Cyprus question seems to be the rapprochement between Turkey and Greece. Since this rapprochement may take some time, it is understandable that negotiations on the island will continue in the near future. If the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey feel desperate to join the EU and so concede the ‘twostates’ idea to the Greek side, in the long run this may worsen intercommunal relations on the island

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