UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called upon Dervis Eroglu, the President of Turkish Northern Cyprus to sit down with Greek Cypriot President Demetris Christofias to discuss the reunification of Cyprus.
According to SE Times “Ban expressed hope that Eroglu and Cypriot President Demetris Christofias would make serious advances in the coming months, understanding that this would require compromises on both sides. Eroglu reiterated his commitment to finding a solution, possibly by the end of this year.”
Cyprus was a united country with both Greek and Turkish citizens living under a single government until 1974. In that year, Turkey invaded Cyprus, setting up the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north of the once united island. Since then, almost all Cypriots, Greek and Turkish, live in separate jurisdictions. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey.
Since 1974, there has been a policy of encouraging mainland Turks to settle in Northen Cyprus. The Northern Cyprus government claims that a majority of its estimated 265,000 people are indigenous Turkish Cypriots. The Southern Cyprus government claims that native Turkish Cypriots in the north are outnumbered by Turkish settlers. Whatever the actual percentages are, the Turkish settlers will make a peace agreement between Greek and Turkish Cypriots far more complicated. The Turkish government has encouraged such settlement over the years.
Hopefully a just peace can be reached that will not involve further bloodshed on the troubled island.
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