Cyprus leaders begin new peace effort

The leaders from both sides of Cyprus’s divided society have met for the first time in more than four years in a new effort to break the deadlock in talks regarding the future of the island.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and seized 37% of the Mediterranean island. Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot President, and Rauf Denktash, the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state, are meeting today because Cyprus is expected to join the EU by 2003.

Every country in the world except Turkey recognises Clerides’ regime as the legitimate Cypriot government. The Greek Cypriot President supports EU accession, but the move is opposed by Turkey and its puppet government in northern Cyprus. Few expect the two leaders to make any progress at today’s talks.