Turkish and Greek Cypriots remain optimistic, despite collapse of talks
While Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots blamed each other for last week's collapse in negotiations, many see positive signals because of shifts that took place in the talks.
NICOSIA, Cyprus — Cypriots got on with their lives this week — disappointed by the failure of the umpteenth UN negotiation to reunite their island, but not dejected.
Greece and Greek Cypriots on the one hand and Turkey and Turkish Cypriots on the other blamed each other for the collapse in negotiations announced by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Switzerland on July 7. Hard-liners on both sides were relieved that no concessions would have to be made.
But academics and peace activists on both sides of the Green Line that has divided Cyprus since the 1974 Turkish invasion saw positive signals in what had transpired. Yes, two years of hard bargaining had come to naught, but positions had shifted in the conference chamber — if only for a few hours.
For the first time, Turkey had shown flexibility on its right to intervene militarily in Cyprus, a privilege Greek Cypriots have long sought to abolish. Greek Cypriots were prepared to accept a Turkish Cypriot president of a reunited Cyprus.
