| Submit your comments on this article |
| Europe |
| Cyprus Unification Talks Near, Annan Says |
| 2004-02-04 |
| WASHINGTON (AP) - New talks on ending the 30-year division of Cyprus could resume soon under a plan pushed by the United Nations, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Tuesday. Annan said he has spoken with all interested parties except Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash about reviving negotiations. "Everyone Cheez, U Thant wasn’t this clueless. Annan spoke to reporters after meeting at the White House with President Bush, who he said was supportive of Annan’s plan to find a way to reunite the eastern Mediterranean island. "Sure, knock yerself out, Coffee." "Thank you, Mr. President." Cyprus has been split into a southern region controlled by Greek Cypriots and a Turkish-occupied north since Turkey invaded in 1974. It said the invasion was necessary to protect ethnic Turks in Cyprus because of an abortive coup by colonels trying to unify the majority Greek island with Greece He didn’t see any vigorish for him. U.S. officials pressed the parties to cooperate with Annan. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said, "We believe such a settlement will bring greater security and prosperity to all people on Cyprus and Turkey and in Greece, as they deepen their integration into Europe." ’course, deeper integration with the EU could be seen as a bug, not a feature Right Aris? Cyprus is scheduled to join the European Union in May. EU leaders have said failure to reunify the island before then would restrict the benefits of union membership to southern Cyprus and could hurt Turkey’s chance of joining the European Union itself. Long a candidate for membership, talks on its membership are scheduled to begin around the end of this year. Not that the Turks will ever be admitted to the EU ever, but it’d be a shame to let this issue hang over them. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #7 See? And we thought the UN ran from Iraq to the safety of Cyprus because they were shirking their duties. Turns out they came to Cyprus to do real work. ;) |
| Posted by: Gasse Katze 2004-2-4 6:16:53 PM |
| #6 , there's always one easy to rule out answer - usually D. Ah sh*t that explains the last 20 years. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-4 5:52:21 PM |
| #5 That's the thing about multiple choice tests, there's always one easy to rule out answer - usually D. |
| Posted by: VAMark 2004-2-4 12:51:46 PM |
| #4 I'm far from an expert on Cyprus so perhaps someone can fill me in. Why did the Turks stop in 1974? I mean if you're gonna invade part of the island, why not boot the Greeks off and claim it 100%, solve the problems in the future? Was it fear of war with Greece? Nato pressure? UN Pressure? or the kindness of their hearts? |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2004-2-4 10:10:01 AM |
| #3 So, the Turks need to push for a unified Cyprus under a weak central govn't - how would that structure work and what's the make up of the central govn't? Second, by doing so, the Turks are guaranteed consideration into the EU but not guaranteed membership at this point. By not doing so, Turkey is out and Southern Cyprus under Greek auspices is in. Is that the deal? |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-2-4 9:12:36 AM |
| #2 I wait with much anticipation,Ship. The Last Mu-rat vs.Aris lash-up was both informative and entertaining. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2004-2-4 8:56:55 AM |
| #1 Could it be time for the 2nd Annual RantBurg Troll Fight? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-4 7:38:24 AM |