Cyprus: On the road to reunification?

Will the ‘Cyprus problem’ soon be solved? After years of tension and stalemate, UN-brokered talks over Cyprus are ongoing between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders and many signs are pointing toward a thaw in the conflict. The island has been divided since 1974 when supporters of a union with Greece staged a coup. Turkey subsequently invaded a part of the island, in support of Turkish Cypriots. Days of furious fighting left many dead and thousands displaced. The UN established a 180 km buffer zone that still separates the island, and its capital Nicosia. However, relations between the two sides are better today than they’ve been in the past four decades. Some even say the recent election of Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci was a game changer. Confidence building measures from both sides are underway, but major issues remain unresolved, including governance, property rights and security. And there is the question of Turkey and its influence. So what does the future of Cyprus look like, and what will it take to get there?

In this episode of The Stream, we speak with: ​

Ozdil Nami @ozdilnami
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republican Turkish Party

Mustafa Cirakli @M_Cirakli
Researcher, Lancaster University
lancaster.ac.uk 

Christiana Erotokritou @DIKO1976
Spokesperson, Democratic Party in Cyprus
diko.org.cy 

Andromachi Sophocleous
Political theory graduate

What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.