UN worried Turkey coup attempt might stall Cyprus talks
July 21, 2016
UN envoy Espen Barth Eide suggested on Thursday that there was concern among the international community over how the failed coup in Turkey could impact a reunification deal in Cyprus.
"We have all been rather concerned about the recent developments in Turkey," Eide said at a press conference following his meeting with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades.
The diplomat went on to emphasize that there was no evidence suggesting Erdogan had changed his position on the peace talks, which have been going on for years but which have seemed to reach a turning point over the past year. Both Anastasiades and the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, Mustaka Akinci, have expressed willingness to reach a settlement agreement, which would bring an end to the island's four-decade-long division.
An end to divisions?
Still, Eide said he "would not be honest" if he didn't express concern about how the failed coup in Turkey last week could impact the talks. Since then, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has cracked down heavily on those allegedly involved in the coup attempt, even declaring a three-month state of emergency.
On the other hand, the Norwegian envoy said, the turmoil in Turkey could also push the two Cypriot leaders to the table. "I think the best thing we can do is to not ignore, but to reduce the influence of external circumstances," Eide said.
Cyprus was divided in 1974, after Turkish troops occupied the northern third of the island in response to a coup organized by those sympathetic to Athens. The two sides are divded by a UN-monitored buffer zone.
blc/kl (AP, AFP)