The Cyprus negotiations will resume between President Nicos Anastasiades and President Mustafa Akinci on Tuesday.
The two community leaders who recently returned from New York after meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, are expected to schedule further meetings tomorrow.
Some observers believe that the lack of a timetable could severely diminish the likelihood of a solution by the year’s end.
Although the atmosphere of the talks has been much more cordial since President Akinci was elected, there remain a number of sensitive issues unresolved, despite the best efforts of the negotiators on both sides.
One of the most problematic is the issue of guarantees. Mindful of past inter-communal strife, particularly in the 1960’s, where many were forced into enclaves, the Turkish Cypriots remain adamant that Turkey remains as guarantor, while the Greek Cypriots insist that the idea of third country guarantors is obsolete for an EU state.
However, UN mediators do say that significant progress has been made in the chapters on governance, power sharing, economic issues and property. There have also been brainstorming sessions on security and guarantees and territorial adjustments.
Cyprus Weekly
