{ "id": "R41136", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R41136", "active": false, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, CRSReports.Congress.gov, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 596325, "date": "2019-04-15", "retrieved": "2019-10-21T22:31:22.709061", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "Four months into 2019, unification talks intended to end the division of Cyprus after 55 years as a politically separated nation and 45 years as a physically divided country have remained suspended since July 2017. Attempts by the United Nations to find common ground between the two Cypriot communities to resume the negotiations have not been successful. The talks have fallen victim to the realities of five decades of separation and both sides\u2019 inability to make the necessary concessions to reach a final settlement. As a result, the long-sought bizonal, bicommunal, federal solution for the island has remained elusive and may no longer be attainable. \nCyprus negotiations typically exhibit periodic levels of optimism, quickly tempered by the political reality that difficult times between Greek and Turkish Cypriots always lay ahead. In June 2018, in an attempt to jump-start the talks, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Jane Holl Lute as his new adviser for Cyprus. Her mission was to consult with the two Cypriot leaders, Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci, and the three guarantor parties (Greece, Turkey, and Great Britain) to determine if sufficient conditions existed to resume U.N.-hosted negotiations and, if so, to prepare a comprehensive \u201cterms of reference\u201d document by the end of 2018. This document was supposed to include a version of a 2017 \u201cframework\u201d proposed by Guterres, previous \u201cconvergences\u201d both sides had reportedly reached on many issues, and a proposed road map for how the negotiations would proceed. \nLute conducted her first consultations in September 2018 and a second round in October. Although the talks reportedly were \u201cproductive,\u201d they did not result in an agreement to resume the talks and Lute announced she would have to return to the island in early 2019, reaffirming the difficulty many thought she would encounter in trying to reach agreement on the provisions of the \u201cterms of reference.\u201d Lute\u2019s initial return in January 2019 was short and inconclusive.\nSubsequently, Lute returned to meet with Anastasiades and Akinci on April 7. What Lute apparently found was that both sides were seemingly farther apart. Aside from the long-standing disagreement on security guarantees, a big sticking point was Akinci\u2019s insistence that the Turkish Cypriots have political equality, demanding that on all issues taken up at any new federal level, a positive Turkish Cypriot vote would be necessary. Anastasiades expressed a willingness to discuss Akinci\u2019s proposal for some issues but rejected the demand claiming, it would give the Turkish Cypriots an absolute veto over all policy issues, potentially resulting in gridlock. At the same time, Anastasiades resurrected an old proposal that the new government be a cross between a presidential system, in which the president would be a Greek Cypriot, and a parliamentary system in which a prime minister would rotate between the two communities. Akinci rejected this proposal, claiming it reinforced his view that the Greek Cypriots will always see the Turkish Cypriots as a minority and not a coequal partner. \nLute\u2019s fourth attempt failed to achieve an agreement between the two Cypriot leaders on how to restart the talks and suggested that negotiations were likely to remain suspended indefinitely.\nThe United States historically has held an \u201chonest broker\u201d approach to achieving a just, equitable, and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue. However, some observers have seen recent actions within Congress and the Administration in support of Cyprus\u2019s unfettered energy development in the Eastern Mediterranean and lifting of restrictions on arms sales to Cyprus as an admission by the United States that an equitable solution has become more difficult. These policy directions also suggest that U.S. interests in the Eastern Mediterranean have moved on to security and energy concerns for which closer relations with the Republic of Cyprus have become a higher priority.\nThis report provides an overview of the negotiations\u2019 history and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "ffad201c341e5a71a6801e230ddcdadf24296c89", "filename": "files/20190415_R41136_ffad201c341e5a71a6801e230ddcdadf24296c89.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R41136_files&id=/0.png": "files/20190415_R41136_images_e3dbc44e7505d2e8d449aea360a0d26f9cc66191.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "bedfef146cb73a992376dc7843c50056a1495ed0", "filename": "files/20190415_R41136_bedfef146cb73a992376dc7843c50056a1495ed0.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "retrieved": "2020-09-05T09:21:01.498129", "id": "R41136_92_2019-01-29", "formats": [ { "filename": "files/2019-01-29_R41136_8737017ac4cb9d7350c15a48eb4b530c1ad7c0fd.pdf", "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R41136/92", "sha1": "8737017ac4cb9d7350c15a48eb4b530c1ad7c0fd" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2019-01-29_R41136_8737017ac4cb9d7350c15a48eb4b530c1ad7c0fd.html" } ], "date": "2019-01-29", "summary": null, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "typeId": "R", "active": false, "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=R41136", "type": "CRS Report" }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 589208, "date": "2018-12-20", "retrieved": "2019-01-03T14:13:38.907398", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "At the close of 2018, unification talks intended to end the division of Cyprus after 54 years as a politically separated nation and 44 years as a physically divided country remain suspended. The stalemate began in July 2017, when talks held at Crans Montana, Switzerland, between Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci collapsed. The talks again fell victim to the harsh realities of five decades of separation and both sides\u2019 inability to make the necessary concessions to reach a final settlement. As a result, the long-sought bizonal, bicommunal, federal solution for the island remains elusive. New negotiations may not resume until well into 2019, if at all.\nCyprus negotiations typically exhibit periodic levels of optimism, quickly tempered by the political reality that difficult times between Greek and Turkish Cypriots always lay ahead. Such has been the case since Crans Montana. After one year of stalemate, in June 2018 U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Jane Holl Lute as his new U.N. adviser for Cyprus. Her mission was to consult with the two Cypriot leaders and the three guarantor parties to the Cyprus issue (Greece, Turkey, and Great Britain) to determine if sufficient conditions existed to resume U.N.-hosted negotiations. Lute concluded her consultations in September 2018. It appeared to many observers that both Lute and Guterres found little change in the positions that have prevented a solution for decades, leaving Guterres little new ground with which to address the resumption of the negotiations. \nIn October 2018, Guterres directed Lute to conduct another round of consultations with all parties and to prepare a more comprehensive \u201cterms of reference\u201d document by the end of December 2018. This document supposedly would include a version of the Guterres \u201cframework,\u201d previous \u201cconvergences\u201d both sides had reportedly reached on many issues, and a proposed road map for how the negotiations would proceed. If this process was more successful than previous attempts to end the stalemate, Guterres would then propose perhaps one last attempt to resume the talks. \nLute concluded her second round of consultations by mid-December. Although the talks reportedly were \u201cproductive,\u201d Lute announced she would have to return to the island in early 2019, affirming, for some, the difficulty she had encountered trying to reach agreement on the provisions of the Guterres \u201cframework.\u201d \nThe political environment in Cyprus also has become more muddled. In fall 2018, Anastasiades surprised many when he floated the idea of a \u201cdecentralized federation.\u201d This caused Akinci to complain that Anastasiades was undercutting Akinci\u2019s position on a federation and was trying to circumvent the Turkish Cypriot demand for political equality. The proposal also led some of Anastasiades\u2019 political opponents to question whether he had given up on a federation. More importantly was an increase in public discussion of a confederation or even a \u201ctwo-state\u201d solution by Turkey\u2019s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and some Turkish Cypriots. \nFurther complicating the talks was an announcement by Ankara that it intended to build a naval base in north Cyprus, which suggested that Ankara had no intention of agreeing to any solution that did not permit a Turkish military presence on the island. \nThe United States has continued to affirm its long-standing interest in a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue. The U.S. Congress also has expressed its support for Cyprus\u2019s unfettered energy development. Some have called for the United States to lift restrictions on arms sales to Cyprus and to increase the U.S. military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. \nThis report provides a brief overview of the negotiations\u2019 history and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "4e6a8681c82d0017cca92d38dbf4a847335d9e54", "filename": "files/20181220_R41136_4e6a8681c82d0017cca92d38dbf4a847335d9e54.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R41136_files&id=/0.png": "files/20181220_R41136_images_e3dbc44e7505d2e8d449aea360a0d26f9cc66191.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "67968e3249a872de6cb942a2ff57491e97536af6", "filename": "files/20181220_R41136_67968e3249a872de6cb942a2ff57491e97536af6.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 586447, "date": "2018-10-19", "retrieved": "2018-10-22T22:04:20.050562", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "As 2018 winds down, unification talks intended to end the division of Cyprus after 54 years as a politically separated nation and 44 years as a physically divided country remain suspended. Recent developments, however, suggest the negotiations could resume before the end of 2018. Nevertheless, the long-sought bizonal, bicommunal, federal solution for the island remains elusive and new options have begun to surface. \nThe negotiations were suspended in July 2017, when talks held at Crans Montana, Switzerland, between Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci collapsed over the sensitive issues of Turkish troop levels on the island, future security guarantees, and political equality sought by the Turkish Cypriots. Cyprus negotiations typically have been characterized as exhibiting periodic levels of optimism, quickly tempered by the political reality that difficult times between Greek and Turkish Cypriots always lay ahead. Such was the case at Crans Montana, as the optimism expressed before the negotiations fell victim to the harsh realities of five decades of separation, mistrust, misunderstanding, and, in some cases, both sides\u2019 inability to make the necessary concessions to reach a final settlement. \nFollowing a long period of \u201creflection\u201d by both sides after Crans Montana, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Jane Hull Lute as his new U.N. consultant for Cyprus in July 2018. Her mission was to consult with the two Cypriot leaders and the three guarantor parties to the Cyprus issue (Greece, Turkey, and Great Britain) to determine if sufficient conditions existed to resume U.N.-hosted negotiations. Lute concluded her consultations in September 2018 and presented her report to Guterres. After consulting with both sides during the U.N. General Assembly meetings in September, Guterres presented his assessment to the U.N. Security Council, which will discuss the report and its findings by the end of October. \nIt is unlikely that Lute heard much beyond the known positions or beyond what U.N. Representative Elizabeth Spehar reported after her meetings with the two leaders in early July. The issues that have separated the two communities and prevented a solution for decades have been clearly defined for a long time, and they have been repeatedly presented, debated, and, in some cases, rejected by both sides. Nevertheless, both Anastasiades and Akinci appear to have found enough (though not all) to like about Lute\u2019s findings after their discussions with Guterres that both leaders suggested they meet informally to discuss the next steps. Anastasiades and Akinci subsequently agreed to an informal meeting on October 26. Guterres suggested the possibility of a new round of negotiations remained alive. \nAkinci has long maintained that simply resuming the talks where they left off at Crans Montana will not result in a solution. He reportedly likes what he believes will be a U.N. position that any new round of talks must have a deadline for a solution. Anastasiades reportedly believes the U.N. will reinforce his position that Turkish military forces will have to withdraw from the island and future security guarantees for the island will have to take another form. Interestingly, Anastasiades has begun to speak more of a \u201cloose\u201d federation, with more powers devolved to the two constituent states. For his part, Akinci seems to remain resistant to an Ankara-proposed \u201ctwo-state\u201d solution, even though some suggested he may have been temporarily sidelined as Anastasiades met with the Turkish foreign minister in September 2018. \nSome observers believe that for both sides to resume negotiations and plan a course to govern the island as equal partners under some form of a federal structure, trust between the two leaders, and between the Greek Cypriots and Ankara, must be restored. Some believe that if the negotiations were to resume, presumably under the six-point \u201cframework\u201d proposed by Guterres in July 2017, both sides should defer the security-related issues to the U.N. and guarantor powers and first resolve the governance-related issues that remain in disagreement (e.g., federal structure, presidency, voting, citizenship, property, economics, and territory of the states). These observers note that both sides should emphasize the convergences achieved thus far and begin to test the waters of public opinion on a settlement. If troop levels and security guarantees continue to dominate the discussion, both sides will have little room for a potential solution.\nThe United States continues to affirm its long-standing interest in a just, lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue, in part because of the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including a united Cyprus, can play an important role in contributing to regional stability and because of potential energy development in the region. The Administration and Congress also have expressed support for the republic\u2019s right to explore for energy resources in its territorial waters free from provocations by Turkey. The U.S. position could be tested later in 2018 as Exxon-Mobil prepares to explore for new gas reserves off the coast of Cyprus. Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Wess Mitchell, who has expressed the U.S. view on several occasions, appears to be planning a visit to Cyprus before the end of October. \nIn Congress, recent legislation introduced in both the House and the Senate has called for the United States to lift restrictions on arms sales to Cyprus. \nThis report provides a brief overview of the negotiations\u2019 history and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "9199171d8369e81c43add9e8a3fccfddbf006fb9", "filename": "files/20181019_R41136_9199171d8369e81c43add9e8a3fccfddbf006fb9.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R41136_files&id=/0.png": "files/20181019_R41136_images_e3dbc44e7505d2e8d449aea360a0d26f9cc66191.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "8d5c0e0acbd9277b371e23508a42bb2ed7bca0ed", "filename": "files/20181019_R41136_8d5c0e0acbd9277b371e23508a42bb2ed7bca0ed.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 583150, "date": "2018-07-24", "retrieved": "2018-08-07T13:51:28.735053", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "Almost eight months into 2018, unification talks that were intended to end the division of Cyprus after 54 years as a politically separated nation and 44 years as a physically divided country remain suspended until sometime in fall 2018. The long-sought bizonal, bicommunal, federal solution for the island remains elusive and, for some, looks to be in doubt. \nThe negotiations were suspended in July 2017, when talks held at Crans Montana, Switzerland, between Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci collapsed over the sensitive issues of Turkish troop levels on the island, future security guarantees, and political equality sought by the Turkish Cypriots. Cyprus negotiations typically have been characterized as exhibiting periodic levels of optimism, quickly tempered by the political reality that difficult times between Greek and Turkish Cypriots always lay ahead. Such was the case at Crans Montana, as the optimism expressed before the negotiations again fell victim to the harsh realities of five decades of separation, mistrust, misunderstanding, and, in some cases, both sides\u2019 inability to make the necessary concessions to reach a final settlement. \nThe talks have remained suspended despite 12 months of \u201creflection\u201d that followed the collapse of the negotiations; an informal dinner between Anastasiades and Akinci in April 2018 at which the two leaders were unable to determine under what conditions the talks would be revived; and meetings between the U.N. Secretary-General\u2019s Special Representative in Cyprus, Elizabeth Spehar, and Anastasiades and Akinci. National elections held in June 2018 in Turkey, which holds a key to a final solution, also contributed to the delay. \nOn July 23, 2018, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres\u2019s new U.N. envoy to Cyprus, Jane Lute, arrived in Nicosia to conduct consultations with the two Cypriot leaders. She will then meet with the three guarantor parties to the Cyprus issue to assess all of the perspectives and to determine if sufficient conditions exist to resume negotiations. It is unlikely that Lute heard much beyond the known positions or what U.N. Representative Spehar likely reported after her meetings with the two leaders in July. The issues that have separated the two communities and prevented a solution for more than four decades have long been clearly defined, and they have been repeatedly presented, debated, and, in some cases, rejected by both sides. Anastasiades likely repeated his willingness to resume the negotiations from where they left off in July 2017, and Akinci likely noted that resuming the talks where they left off will not result in a solution. After consulting all sides, Lute will report to Secretary-General Guterres in September on whether she sees constructive reasons for the U.N. to propose another round of U.N.-hosted negotiations. Guterres is expected to discuss the Lute findings with both Anastasiades and Akinci during the U.N. General Assembly meetings in September 2018 and then to decide whether to offer his good offices for a new round of talks.\nFor some observers, the issues that led to the talks\u2019 collapse, while not central to the questions of whether and under what conditions both sides could govern as equal partners under a federal structure after such a prolonged political separation, go to the question of trust between the two communities. Some believe that if the negotiations were to resume, presumably under a six-point \u201cframework\u201d proposed by Guterres in July 2017, both sides should agree to first resolve the governance-related issues that remain in disagreement (e.g., federal structure, presidency, voting, citizenship, property, economics, and territory of the states). These observers note that if the federal governance issues cannot be resolved, agreement on the security issues is even less likely. Nevertheless, rather than an emphasis on the convergences achieved thus far, troop levels and security guarantees continue to dominate the discussion. It also appears that concessions on these issues, perhaps along the lines suggested by Guterres\u2019s framework, may have become a prerequisite for resuming the talks, leaving little room for a potential solution.\nThe United States continues to affirm its long-standing interest in a just, lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue, in part because of the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including a united Cyprus, can play an important role in contributing to regional stability and because of potential energy development in the region. Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Wess Mitchell and others from the Administration have visited Cyprus in 2018 to receive updates on the prospects that talks will resume and to reiterate the Administration\u2019s support for a solution. The Administration also has expressed its support for the republic\u2019s right to explore for energy resources in its territorial waters free from provocations by Turkey. Assistant Secretary Mitchell expressed this view in a June 2018 speech at the Heritage Foundation and again before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Europe. Recent legislation introduced in both the House and the Senate has called for the United States to lift restrictions on arms sales to Cyprus. By contrast, the United States appears to want to downsize the U.N. peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and to tie its continuation to progress toward a final solution.\nThis report provides a brief overview of the negotiations\u2019 history and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "82cfbc694d6da863035e174f5e87ce10fb19a423", "filename": "files/20180724_R41136_82cfbc694d6da863035e174f5e87ce10fb19a423.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R41136_files&id=/0.png": "files/20180724_R41136_images_e3dbc44e7505d2e8d449aea360a0d26f9cc66191.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "2f38738afe5aa4980994d1fbcc552d73192fb12a", "filename": "files/20180724_R41136_2f38738afe5aa4980994d1fbcc552d73192fb12a.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 581752, "date": "2018-06-07", "retrieved": "2018-06-12T14:02:17.109932", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "Six months into 2018, unification talks that were intended to end the division of Cyprus after 54 years as a politically separated nation and 44 years as a physically divided country remain suspended until sometime after the June 24 (or July 8 second-round) national elections in Turkey. The long-sought bizonal, bicommunal, federal solution for the island remains elusive and now looks to be in doubt, as Ankara, and some in the Turkish Cypriot community, speak more of pursuing a \u201cconfederation\u201d of two separate states, an option rejected by the Greek Cypriots and not likely to be acceptable to most of the international community.\nOn April 16, 2018, Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, after nine months of \u201creflection\u201d that followed the collapse of negotiations at Crans Montana, Switzerland, in July 2017, met over an informal dinner hosted by the United Nations (U.N.). The dinner was designed to discuss the road ahead for the island. Although expectations for the meeting were low, the dinner was reportedly cordial, with a frank and open exchange of views. Nevertheless, the two leaders were unable to determine under what conditions the talks would be revived or when.\nCyprus negotiations typically have been characterized as exhibiting periodic levels of optimism, quickly tempered by the political reality that difficult times between Greek and Turkish Cypriots always lay ahead. This pattern has repeated since the April dinner, as both sides disagree over the starting point for a new round of negotiations. Akinci, despite initial comments about the need for a new format for the talks, agreed to resume the talks at the point they collapsed at Crans Montana and suggested that the framework proposed by U.N. Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres on June 30, 2017, become the document from which the talks would resume. Anastasiades countered that a framework proposed by Guterres on July 4, 2017, be the starting document. The deadlock continues.\nThe negotiations between Anastasiades and Akinci, viewed with optimism by many throughout 2016 and until Crans Montana, have succumbed to growing pessimism since the collapse of the negotiations. The talks again fell victim to the harsh realities of five decades of separation, mistrust, misunderstanding, and in some cases indifference to the need for both sides to make the necessary concessions to reach a final settlement and unification of the island. The stalemate has been exacerbated as the republic continues to exercise its right to explore for natural resources in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), amid Turkish Cypriots\u2019 insistence that the republic take no further action on the energy issue without their participation and Turkey\u2019s periodic deployment of warships into the Cypriot EEZ in an attempt to stall further exploration. Turkey also has indicated that it plans to conduct its own gas exploration in parts of the Cypriot EEZ that Turkey also claims.\nThe negotiations at Crans Montana centered on, and eventually collapsed over, the sensitive issues of Turkish troop levels and security guarantees. For some, these issues are not central to the question of whether and under what conditions both sides could govern together under a federal structure after such a prolonged political separation. Some believe that if the negotiations were to resume, both sides should agree to first resolve the internal governance issues to answer the growing question of how close the two sides have come to agreeing on how to govern a unified island. These observers note that if the domestic governance issues\u2014including perhaps more specifics on how energy resource decisionmaking will be shared\u2014cannot be resolved, agreement on the security issues would be even less likely. Nevertheless, troop levels and security guarantees continue to dominate the discussion on both sides, leaving little room for a solution.\nThe United States continues to affirm its interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue, in part because of the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including a united Cyprus, can play an important role in contributing to regional stability and to energy development and supply. The Trump Administration has pledged to support the negotiations with the goal of a settlement. Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Wes Mitchell and others from the Administration have visited Cyprus since April 2018 to receive updates on the prospects of a resumption of the talks and to reiterate the Administration\u2019s support for a solution. The Administration also has expressed its support for the republic\u2019s right to explore for energy resources in its territorial waters free from provocations by Turkey. This view was expressed by Assistant Secretary Mitchell in a recent speech at the Heritage Foundation. In July 2017, 36 Members of Congress signed a letter to then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson supporting Cyprus and its right to develop its energy resources in the Mediterranean. Recent legislation introduced in both the House and the Senate has called for the United States to lift its restrictions on arms sales to Cyprus. \nThis report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "a3c5483d2565e64d81e327a6a3a81ce413da86db", "filename": "files/20180607_R41136_a3c5483d2565e64d81e327a6a3a81ce413da86db.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R41136_files&id=/0.png": "files/20180607_R41136_images_e3dbc44e7505d2e8d449aea360a0d26f9cc66191.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "0cd29034517794835722badf649dcff29ea88264", "filename": "files/20180607_R41136_0cd29034517794835722badf649dcff29ea88264.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 580515, "date": "2018-04-23", "retrieved": "2018-05-10T10:28:09.866156", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "Four months into 2018, unification talks that were intended to end the division of Cyprus after 54 years as a politically separated nation and 44 years as a physically divided country remain suspended. The long-sought bizonal, bicommunal, federal solution for the island not only remains elusive but also, for some, now looks to be in doubt. \nOn April 16, 2018, Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, after nine months of \u201creflection\u201d that followed the collapse of negotiations at Crans Montana, Switzerland, in July 2017, met over an informal dinner hosted by the United Nations (U.N.). The dinner was designed to discuss the road ahead for the island. Anastasiades has long insisted he was ready to resume the negotiations from the point at which they were suspended at Crans Montana. Akinci agreed to meet with Anastasiades not to restart the negotiations but to try to determine exactly what Anastasiades was prepared to negotiate and how long it might take. \nAlthough expectations for this meeting were low, the dinner was reportedly cordial, with a frank and open exchange of views. And while the meeting did result in an agreement to open additional border crossings in 2018, no progress was reported on whether the negotiations would resume; both sides admitted that differences remained on several issues. It appears that Akinci may not have met his objectives of agreeing on a common definition of bizonal, bicommunal federation; setting a deadline to conclude the talks if they were to resume; or determining whether a new framework for the talks was needed.\nIt also was reported that after the two leaders were unable to agree on the conditions that would allow the negotiations to resume, they apparently considered asking U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a personal envoy tasked with trying to look into the chances of resuming the stalled peace talks. Given that the two leaders themselves were unable to determine how the talks would be revived\u2014and given the disagreements on several issues and the solutions proposed over the past four decades that repeatedly have been presented, debated, and rejected by each side\u2014it was unclear why the two leaders felt another U.N. envoy would be any more successful.\nCyprus negotiations typically have been characterized as exhibiting periodic levels of optimism, quickly tempered by the political reality that difficult times between Greek and Turkish Cypriots always lay ahead. The negotiations between Anastasiades and Akinci, viewed with optimism by many throughout 2016 and at the beginning of 2017, have succumbed to growing pessimism since the negotiations collapsed in mid-2017, again falling victim to the harsh realities of four decades of separation, mistrust, misunderstanding, and in some cases indifference to the need for a final settlement and unification of the island. The stalemate has been further exacerbated over the republic\u2019s exercise of its right to explore for natural resources in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Akinci\u2019s insistence that the republic take no further action on the energy issue without Turkish Cypriot participation, and Turkey\u2019s deployment of warships into the EEZ in an attempt to stall further exploration. \nThe previous negotiations at Crans Montana centered on, and eventually collapsed over, the sensitive issues of Turkish troop levels and security guarantees. For some, these issues are not central to the question of whether and under what conditions both sides could govern together under a federal structure after such a prolonged political separation. Some believe that if the negotiations were to resume, both sides should agree to first resolve the internal governance issues to blunt a growing question of how close the two sides have come to agreeing on how to govern a unified island. Some observers note that if the domestic governance issues\u2014including perhaps more specifics on how energy resource decisionmaking will be shared\u2014cannot be resolved, agreement on the security issues would be even less likely. \nThe United States continues to affirm its interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue, in part because of the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including a united Cyprus, can play an important role in contributing to regional stability and in energy development and supply. The Trump Administration has pledged to support the negotiations with the goal of a settlement. Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Wes Mitchell visited Cyprus to receive an update and again stated the Administration\u2019s support for a solution. The Administration also has expressed its support for the republic\u2019s right to explore for energy resources in its territorial waters. In July 2017, 36 Members of Congress signed a letter to then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson supporting Cyprus and its right to develop its energy resources in the Mediterranean. \nThis report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "c100552c04337c6a3248c6b73734a23810338c22", "filename": "files/20180423_R41136_c100552c04337c6a3248c6b73734a23810338c22.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R41136_files&id=/0.png": "files/20180423_R41136_images_e3dbc44e7505d2e8d449aea360a0d26f9cc66191.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "1332a54f89f72a314bc2e7391962494b01256615", "filename": "files/20180423_R41136_1332a54f89f72a314bc2e7391962494b01256615.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 578500, "date": "2018-02-14", "retrieved": "2018-02-21T14:05:39.101826", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "Two months into 2018, the negotiations to end the division of Cyprus, after 54 years as a politically separated nation and 44 years as a physically divided country, remain suspended. After a promising 2017 ended without a negotiated solution, the long-sought bizonal, bicommunal, federal outcome for the island remains elusive. The circumstances under which negotiations might resume appear uncertain. \nNational elections in the Republic of Cyprus in early 2018 resulted in the reelection of President Nicos Anastasiades after a second-round victory over Stavros Malas. Both candidates were considered more pronegotiation than the other candidates. Anastasiades quickly reiterated his readiness to resume the talks under United Nations auspices and invited Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci to sit down with him informally to discuss the road ahead. In the north, the Turkish Cypriots also voted for a new government. A four-party coalition, which includes two former Turkish Cypriot negotiators (Kudret Ozersay and Ozdil Nami) in the Cabinet, was cobbled together. Akinci was not up for reelection, but the outcome could suggest that he may have a more supportive government behind his positions and efforts at the negotiating table if and when there is agreement to resume the talks. \nCyprus negotiations typically have been characterized as exhibiting periodic levels of optimism, quickly tempered by the political reality that difficult times between Greek and Turkish Cypriots always lay ahead. The negotiations between Anastasiades and Akinci, viewed with optimism by many in 2016 and at the beginning of 2017, now seem to be viewed with some pessimism after the talks collapsed in mid-2017, again falling victim to the harsh realities of four decades of separation, mistrust, misunderstanding, and in some cases indifference to the need for a final settlement and unification of the island. \nThe last round of negotiations at Crans Montana, Switzerland, in July 2017, centered on, and eventually collapsed over, the sensitive issues of Turkish troop levels and security guarantees. For some, these issues are not central to the question of whether both sides could actually govern together under a federal structure after such a prolonged political separation. Some believe that if the negotiations are to resume at all, both sides may have to agree to first resolve the internal governance issues to blunt a growing question of how close the two sides actually had come to agreeing on how to govern a unified island and to refute U.N. Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres\u2019s 2017 assessment of the talks that \u201ca breakthrough was not possible due to mistrust and a lack of political will.\u201d If the domestic governance issues cannot be resolved, agreement on the security issues will be unlikely. If an agreement on governance can be reached, another international conference on security convened by the U.N. may be more successful this time around in addressing the difficult security guarantees and troops issues. The differences on these issues, however, have become too high a barrier to be the starting point for the resumption of negotiations. \nAkinci has stated his intention to meet informally with Anastasiades to try to determine exactly what Anastasiades wants to negotiate and how long it might take. Akinci has said that the negotiations cannot resume under the same U.N. parameters that existed before the collapse of the talks; he believes those parameters have yielded little return. It is unclear, beyond setting a deadline for the talks, whether the new \u201cframework\u201d raised by Akinci means a simple review and public agreement on how both sides define a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution or whether Akinci has begun to shift to the idea of a \u201cconfederation\u201d approach. It is also unclear whether the recent and more frequent talk of a two-state solution is gaining credence in the north or is simply a talking point. \nAkinci and Turkish Cypriot government leaders plan to sit down with Ankara for a discussion on the path forward for the talks, presumably after Akinci\u2019s meeting with Anastasiades. The outcome of Akinci\u2019s discussions with Anastasiades and then with Ankara will likely determine whether, when, and how a new round of negotiations could restart. However, the fact that Ozdil Nami stepped down as negotiator and Akinci does not appear ready to appoint a new negotiator may suggest that resumption of the talks could be delayed for some time.\nThe United States continues to reinforce its interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue, in part because of the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including a united Cyprus, can play an important role in regional stability and in energy development and supply. The Trump Administration has pledged to support the negotiations with the goal of a settlement. It also has expressed its support for the republic\u2019s right to explore for energy resources in its territorial waters, an issue that has begun to heat up again in 2018, as Turkey has criticized additional energy exploration off the southern coast of Cyprus. In July 2017, 36 Members of Congress signed a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson supporting Cyprus and its right to develop its energy resources in the Mediterranean. \nThis report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "b5909dc8761e53896e43610a2d2df1003b03f279", "filename": "files/20180214_R41136_b5909dc8761e53896e43610a2d2df1003b03f279.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R41136_files&id=/0.png": "files/20180214_R41136_images_e3dbc44e7505d2e8d449aea360a0d26f9cc66191.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "37aedc60342c43b948e078700b7f956e7b1cb9c9", "filename": "files/20180214_R41136_37aedc60342c43b948e078700b7f956e7b1cb9c9.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 577348, "date": "2018-01-02", "retrieved": "2018-01-05T14:23:21.100620", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "As 2018 begins, negotiations to end the division of Cyprus after 54 years as a politically separated nation and 44 years as a physically divided country remain suspended. After the previous year ended with yet another disappointing no-solution outcome, the long-negotiated bizonal, bicommunal, federal solution for the island remains elusive. Restarting future negotiations also may be in doubt. \nNegotiations during the latter half of 2016 were conducted in an atmosphere of renewed energy and \u201chigh but cautious optimism,\u201d leading many observers to note that the leaders of the two Cypriot communities, Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, appeared to have come closer to reaching a settlement than at any time since 2004. However, historic talks held in early 2017, which included Turkey, quickly deteriorated and ended with both sides blaming each other. The Turkish Cypriots have since suggested that a new \u201cframework\u201d would be needed for any future negotiations rather than simply a return to the long-standing U.N. format that they believe has yielded little return. \nCyprus negotiations typically have been characterized as exhibiting periodic levels of optimism, quickly tempered by the political reality that difficult times between Greek and Turkish Cypriots always lay ahead. Despite the strong commitment, good intentions, and initial warm relations between Anastasiades and Akinci, progress in the talks again fell victim to the harsh realities of four decades of separation, mistrust, misunderstanding, and in some cases indifference to the need for a final settlement and unification of the island. The optimism of 2016 may now have turned to pessimism as 2018 begins. Many Cyprus observers point out that although the issues that have separated the two communities and prevented a solution have long been defined, have not changed significantly since the Annan Plan in 2004, and have repeatedly been presented and debated, the negotiators seem unable to cross that final line from debating the issues to agreeing to them. \nThe last rounds of negotiations centered on, and eventually collapsed over, the sensitive issues of Turkish troop levels and security guarantees. For some, these issues are not central to the question of whether both sides could actually govern together under a federal structure after such a prolonged political separation. Some believe the lack of discussion of these issues suggests the 2017 talks also may have collapsed because several internal issues related to governance may not have been that close to agreement. Some may now believe that both sides may have been using the security issues to mask the inability to agree on how to jointly govern the island in the future. This could have been, in part, what U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres referred to in his October 2017 report assessing the talks, when he stated that \u201ca breakthrough was not possible due to mistrust and a lack of political will.\u201d \nThe breakdown in the talks and the rhetoric that has since arisen, including references to a so-called Plan B, has led some to question how negotiations could restart. Anastasiades has repeatedly stated that he is ready to resume the talks, but his insistence that there be no Turkish security guarantees or troops as a starting point likely has set a barrier too high for Akinci to accept. Akinci has stated that the negotiations cannot resume under the same parameters that existed before the collapse of the talks, and his insistence on political equality and a deadline for an agreement seem to be hurdles Anastasiades appears unable to accept. This has led some to suggest that the oft referenced Plan B, if the negotiations were to somehow resume, would have to include a deadline to resolve the governance issues first, followed by an international conference on security convened by the U.N. \nCampaigns under way in both the north and south for early 2018 elections (for president in the south and a new government in the north) will further complicate and delay the resumption of the negotiations. The campaign rhetoric, especially the antifederation positions of several challengers to Anastasiades, and the outcome of both elections may clarify whether the negotiations will resume at all and under what conditions. \nThe United States has long maintained interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue, in part because of the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including a united Cyprus, can play an important role in contributing to regional stability and in energy development and supply. The Trump Administration has pledged to support the negotiations with the goal of a settlement. It has also expressed its support for the republic\u2019s right to explore for energy resources in its territorial waters. And, in July 2017, 36 Members of Congress signed a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson supporting Cyprus and its right to develop its energy resources in the Mediterranean. \nThis report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "f7b3f06938bbe273d24533653b252e32c9be29ef", "filename": "files/20180102_R41136_f7b3f06938bbe273d24533653b252e32c9be29ef.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R41136_files&id=/0.png": "files/20180102_R41136_images_e3dbc44e7505d2e8d449aea360a0d26f9cc66191.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "c3cb72208f24b8f3fc3ce99f84312f379031a878", "filename": "files/20180102_R41136_c3cb72208f24b8f3fc3ce99f84312f379031a878.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 574159, "date": "2017-10-12", "retrieved": "2017-10-17T14:18:11.236865", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "As 2017 begins to wind down, negotiations that may have ended the division of Cyprus after 53 years as a politically separated nation and 43 years as a physically divided country have been suspended, and the year will likely end with yet another disappointing outcome; the long- negotiated bizonal, bicommunal, federation solution remains elusive. \nIn July 2017, Cypriot negotiators meeting in Crans Montana, Switzerland, under the auspices of the United Nations, and joined by the guarantor powers\u2014Great Britain, Greece, and Turkey\u2014plus the European Union, stood teetering on the edge of reaching a historic agreement. Since the beginning of 2012, a period of renewed energy and an atmosphere of \u201chigh but cautious optimism\u201d led many observers to note that the two Cypriot leaders appeared to have come closer to reaching a settlement first at Mount Pelerine and then Crans Montana than at any time since 2004, when the so-called Annan Plan for the unification of the island was voted on but rejected (by the Greek Cypriots). \nCyprus negotiations, however, typically have been characterized as exhibiting periodic levels of optimism, quickly tempered by the political reality that difficult times between Greek and Turkish Cypriots always lie ahead. Although both sides claimed to have offered concessions, the Crans Montana negotiations ended without an agreement, as neither side appeared ready to make the difficult but necessary final concessions on the sensitive issues of Turkish troop levels, security guarantees, and territorial adjustments, although differences on other issues also were apparently not overcome. As U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated in his October 2017 report assessing the talks, \u201ca breakthrough was not possible due to mistrust and a lack of political will.\u201d \nThe questions of what happens next and of where negotiations go from here are being raised. Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has repeated that he was ready to resume the talks. However, many believe that since he will be consumed with his own 2018 presidential reelection campaign, any decision by Anastasiades to return to the negotiating table\u2014after two failed conferences and without what the Greek Cypriots would consider a serious signal from Ankara that the Turks are ready to deal on security\u2014would likely become progressively more controversial for him as the campaign intensifies. \nMustafa Akinci, leader of the Turkish Cypriots, along with others in the Turkish Cypriot government, and in Turkey, have clearly stated that the negotiations cannot resume, if at all, until after the elections in the south are held in January/February 2018. Even then, there seems to be an evolving consensus among the Turkish Cypriot leaders that a new framework, referred to as \u201cPlan B,\u201d would be needed for any future negotiations rather than simply returning to the long-standing format that they believe has yielded little return. Some have even raised the possibility that Cyprus is facing a possible permanent division. The next four months, depending on the election debate over the unification issue, and measures taken by the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey, may clarify whether the negotiations could resume in spring 2018.\nThe United States has long maintained interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue, in part because of the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including a united Cyprus, can play an important role in contributing to regional stability and in energy development and supply. The Trump Administration\u2019s pledge to support the negotiations with the goal of a settlement, and to support the republic\u2019s right to explore for energy resources in its territorial waters, was reinforced in June 2017, when President Anastasiades traveled to Washington, DC, and met with Vice President Mike Pence and others. It was reinforced again through conversations between U.S. officials and the two Cypriot leaders just before the start of the Crans Montana conference. In early July 2017, 36 Members of Congress signed a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson supporting Cyprus and its right to develop its energy resources in the Mediterranean. \nThis report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "c172bcba255d13ecd23d858ed98390489380279c", "filename": "files/20171012_R41136_c172bcba255d13ecd23d858ed98390489380279c.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R41136_files&id=/0.png": "files/20171012_R41136_images_e3dbc44e7505d2e8d449aea360a0d26f9cc66191.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "6ba18869e86e9ec85b3b75dbdfea21797a798eb0", "filename": "files/20171012_R41136_6ba18869e86e9ec85b3b75dbdfea21797a798eb0.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 463116, "date": "2017-08-07", "retrieved": "2017-08-22T13:32:55.478894", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "In July 2017, Cypriot negotiators stood teetering on the edge of reaching a historic agreement that could have ended the division of Cyprus after 53 years as a politically separated nation and 43 years as a physically divided country. However, attempts to unify the island ended with yet another disappointing outcome, and a permanent solution remains elusive. The question \u201cwhat now?\u201d is being asked by many on both sides. Some have suggested that it could be difficult to restart the negotiations any time soon, and some have even raised the possibility that Cyprus is facing a possible permanent division.\nLong under the auspices of the United Nations, the unification talks progressed from a period of stalemate, suspension, missed opportunities, and general pessimism beginning in 2012 to a period of new energy and an atmosphere of \u201chigh but cautious optimism\u201d by the end of 2016. That progress led many observers to note that the two Cypriot leaders appeared to have come closer to reaching a settlement than at any time since 2004, when the so-called Annan Plan for the unification of the island was voted on but rejected (by the Greek Cypriots).\nThe optimism first reached a peak when Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci, leader of the Turkish Cypriots, engaged in a flurry of intense negotiations between November 2016 and January 2017, in Mont Pelerin and then in Geneva, Switzerland. The Geneva talks were historic because on January 12, 2017, a five-party conference with the participation of the guarantor powers\u2014Great Britain, Greece, and Turkey\u2014was convened. Turkey, for the first time, although only briefly, engaged in a dialogue with representatives of the Republic of Cyprus (even though Turkey does not recognize the republic). The European Union (EU) also participated in the meetings for the first time. \nAlthough the Mont Pelerin and Geneva negotiations eventually failed to secure an agreement, after a period of suspended talks, Anastasiades and Akinci announced that a second five-party conference would be held in late June 2017 in Crans Montana, Switzerland. Some Cyprus observers welcomed the news of a second conference as a sign that a breakthrough may have been in the works and that the sensitive issues of Turkish troop levels, security guarantees, and territorial adjustments finally could be resolved and the island could be unified under a new federal system of government. Others, however, wondered what could be achieved at Crans Montana, given that an ultimate agreement depended on a resolution of the security issues and they had not seen any significant movement by either side with respect to long-held positions on those issues.\nCyprus negotiations typically have been characterized as exhibiting periodic levels of optimism, quickly tempered by the political reality that difficult times between Greek and Turkish Cypriots always lay ahead. Although both sides claimed to have offered concessions, the Crans Montana negotiations ended without an agreement, as neither side appeared ready to make the difficult but necessary final concessions on security, although differences on other issues also were apparently not overcome. \nWhere the negotiations go from here remains unclear. Anastasiades said he was ready to resume the talks. The Turkish Cypriots seem unsure, and some, including in Turkey, have referred to a \u201cPlan B.\u201d Several complications could also make restarting the talks difficult at this time. A new round of hydrocarbon exploration off the southern coast of Cyprus took place peacefully in July 2017 despite protests from Akinci and warnings from Ankara. The results of the drilling are expected in September, which could lead to further exploration and further protests. The republic is also at the beginning of the 2018 presidential election campaign, and any agreement by Anastasiades to return to the negotiating table, after two failed conferences and without what the Greek Cypriots would consider a serious signal from Ankara that the Turks are ready to deal on security, could become progressively more controversial for him. \nThe United States has long maintained interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue, in part because of the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including Cyprus, can play an important role in contributing to regional stability and in energy development and supply. The Trump Administration\u2019s pledge to support the negotiations with the goal of a settlement and to support the republic\u2019s right to explore for energy resources in its territorial waters was reinforced in June 2017, when President Anastasiades traveled to Washington, DC, and met with Vice President Mike Pence and others. It was reinforced again through conversations between U.S. officials and the two Cypriot leaders just before the start of the Crans Montana conference. In early July 2017, 36 Members of Congress signed a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson supporting Cyprus and its right to develop its energy resources in the Mediterranean. \nThis report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "2dde3979bc19d617438cb80bee545fc0aec766ff", "filename": "files/20170807_R41136_2dde3979bc19d617438cb80bee545fc0aec766ff.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R41136_files&id=/0.png": "files/20170807_R41136_images_e3dbc44e7505d2e8d449aea360a0d26f9cc66191.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "eda61f9ab93309bbda6997d852c9a483eeb7a836", "filename": "files/20170807_R41136_eda61f9ab93309bbda6997d852c9a483eeb7a836.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 462592, "date": "2017-07-14", "retrieved": "2017-07-17T16:31:34.023439", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "Seven months into 2017, and after 53 years as a politically separated nation and 43 years as a physically divided country, a permanent solution that would end the division of Cyprus remains elusive. In July 2017, Cypriot negotiators stood teetering on the edge of reaching a historic agreement to unify the island but ended another round of negotiations with yet another disappointing outcome. The question \u201cwhat now?\u201d is being asked by many on both sides. Some have suggested that it could be difficult to restart the negotiations any time soon, and some have even raised the possibility that Cyprus is facing a possible permanent division.\nLong under the auspices of the United Nations, the unification talks progressed from a period of stalemate, suspension, missed opportunities, and general pessimism beginning in 2012 to a period of new energy and an atmosphere of \u201chigh but cautious optimism\u201d by the end of 2016. That progress led many observers to note that the two Cypriot leaders appeared to have come closer to reaching a settlement than at any time since 2004, when the so-called Annan Plan for the unification of the island was voted on but rejected (by the Greek Cypriots).\nThe optimism reached a peak when Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci, leader of the Turkish Cypriots, engaged in a flurry of intense negotiations between November 2016 and January 2017, first in Mont Pelerin and then in Geneva, Switzerland. The Geneva talks were historic because on January 12, 2017, a five-party conference with the participation of the guarantor powers, Great Britain, Greece, and Turkey, was convened. Turkey, for the first time, although only briefly, engaged in a dialogue with representatives of the Republic of Cyprus (even though Turkey does not recognize the Republic). The European Union (EU) also participated in the meetings for the first time. \nAlthough the Mont Pelerin and Geneva negotiations failed to secure an agreement, after a period of suspended talks, Anastasiades and Akinci announced that a second five-party conference would be held in late June 2017 in Crans Montana, just across the lake from Geneva. Some Cyprus observers welcomed the news of a new conference as a sign that a breakthrough may have been in the works and that the sensitive issues of Turkish troop levels, security guarantees, and territorial adjustments could finally be resolved and the island could be unified under a new federal system of government. Others, however, wondered what could be achieved at Crans Montana, given that an ultimate agreement depended on a resolution of the security issues and they had not seen any significant movement by either side with respect to their long-held positions on those issues.\nCyprus negotiations typically have been characterized as exhibiting periodic levels of optimism, quickly tempered by the political reality that difficult times between Greek and Turkish Cypriots always lay ahead. Although both sides claimed to have offered concessions, the Crans Montana negotiations ended without an agreement, as neither side appeared ready to make the difficult but necessary final concessions on security, although differences on other issues also were apparently not overcome. \nWhere the negotiations go from here remains unclear. Although Anastasiades and the U.N. have said they are ready to resume the talks, the Turkish Cypriots seem unsure and some, including in Turkey, have referred to \u201cPlan B.\u201d Several complications will also likely make restarting the talks difficult at this time. A proposed new round of hydrocarbon exploration off the southern coast of Cyprus is likely to begin in July or August 2017, which has already provoked protests from Akinci and warnings from Ankara that the new explorations could face a response from Turkey. The Republic is also at the beginning of the 2018 presidential election campaign, and any agreement by Anastasiades to return to the negotiating table, after two failed conferences and without what the Greek Cypriots would consider a serious signal from Ankara that the Turks are ready to deal, could become progressively more controversial for him. \nThe United States has long maintained interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue, in part because of the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including Cyprus, can play an important role in contributing to regional stability and in energy development and supply. The Trump Administration\u2019s pledge to support the negotiations with the goal of a settlement and to support the republic\u2019s right to explore for energy resources in its territorial waters was reinforced in June 2017, when President Anastasiades traveled to Washington, DC, and met with Vice President Mike Pence and others. It was reinforced again through conversations between U.S. officials and the two Cypriot leaders just before the start of the Crans Montana conference. In early July 2017, 36 Members of Congress signed a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson supporting Cyprus and its right to develop its energy resources in the Mediterranean. \nThis report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "7ba960de3e0a5124368de015d466db304f02e3bd", "filename": "files/20170714_R41136_7ba960de3e0a5124368de015d466db304f02e3bd.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "499fff50c8b045d0f7ebeb64acb7a633c65464f7", "filename": "files/20170714_R41136_499fff50c8b045d0f7ebeb64acb7a633c65464f7.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 462057, "date": "2017-06-19", "retrieved": "2017-06-26T15:53:55.492824", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "As 2017 began, Cyprus entered its 53rd year as a politically separated nation and its 43rd year as a physically divided country. Six months into the year, a permanent solution that would end the island\u2019s division has remained elusive and, at the moment, Cypriot leaders stand teetering on the edge of reaching a historic agreement or ending this round of serious negotiations with yet another disappointing outcome, or as some suggest, a permanent end to the negotiations. \nLong under the auspices of the United Nations, the unification talks progressed from a period of stalemate, suspension, missed opportunities, and general pessimism beginning in 2012 to a period of new energy and an atmosphere of \u201chigh but cautious optimism\u201d by the end of 2016. That progress led many observers to note that the two Cypriot leaders appeared to have come closer to reaching a settlement than at any time since 2004, when the so-called Annan Plan for the unification of the island was voted on but rejected (by the Greek Cypriots).\nThe optimism reached a peak when Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci, leader of the Turkish Cypriots, engaged in a flurry of intense negotiations between November 2016 and January 2017. During that period Anastasiades and Akinci met in Mont Pelerin and then Geneva, Switzerland, with the intention of discussing, for the first time, the sensitive issues of security guarantees and territory, including the presentation of maps noting territorial adjustments. The Geneva talks were also historic because on January 12, 2017, a five-party conference with the participation of the guarantor powers, Great Britain, Greece, and Turkey, was convened. Turkey, for the first time, although only briefly, engaged in a dialogue with representatives of the Republic of Cyprus (even though Turkey does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus). The European Union (EU) also participated in the meetings for the first time. \nCyprus negotiations, however, have typically been characterized as exhibiting periodic levels of optimism quickly tempered by the political reality that difficult times between Greek and Turkish Cypriots always lay ahead. True to form, the Geneva negotiations ended over a dispute on an extraneous issue and as neither side appeared ready to make necessary concessions on security. \nShortly after Geneva, talks between Anastasiades and Akinci resumed but quickly broke down in February 2017. In April 2017, after eight weeks of suspended negotiations, both sides agreed to resume the talks. Little progress appears to have been made since then, leaving the talks again at a point of uncertainty. On June 5, after a dinner hosted by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Anastasiades and Akinci announced that a new \u201cGeneva\u201d conference would be held later in June, now set for June 28 in Crans Montana, just across the lake from Geneva. \nCyprus observers welcomed the news of a new conference as a sign that a breakthrough may be in the works. Others, however, wonder what could be achieved at Crans Montana, given that they have not seen any significant movement by either side with respect to their positions on the issues of troop levels, security guarantees, or territorial adjustments. \nTime and politics have once again entered into the calculus for a solution. Anastasiades is already facing the start of the upcoming 2018 presidential election campaign in the republic and any concessions he makes to secure a settlement, seen as unacceptable by the opposition, could become progressively more controversial. A referendum vote on a solution, only likely now in fall 2017, would likely be controversial for some and could be significantly influenced by the election campaign. In addition, a proposed new round of hydrocarbon exploration off the southern coast of Cyprus could begin in July or August. The proposed drilling has already provoked protests from Akinci and warnings from Ankara that unless a solution is achieved in the meantime, the new explorations could face a response from Turkey. \nThe United States has long maintained interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue, in part because of the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including Cyprus, can play an important role in contributing to regional stability and in energy development and supply. The Trump Administration has pledged continued support for the negotiations with the goal of a settlement, but the level of active engagement by the United States in the early part of the new Administration, as compared to U.S. engagement in 2016, has been slow to materialize. This may have been one reason why President Anastasiades, after his dinner at the U.N. in early June, travelled to Washington and met with Vice President Pence and others to seek assurance of U.S. support for the negotiations and for continued energy development.\nThis report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "f495448337f1974150e0c4055132145ac29f823c", "filename": "files/20170619_R41136_f495448337f1974150e0c4055132145ac29f823c.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "c732fb50064ab838a65e1f03d0d9f7fdce4ec4f5", "filename": "files/20170619_R41136_c732fb50064ab838a65e1f03d0d9f7fdce4ec4f5.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 461982, "date": "2017-06-15", "retrieved": "2017-06-16T15:59:09.933207", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "As 2017 began, Cyprus entered its 53rd year as a politically separated nation and its 43rd year as a physically divided country. Six months into the year, a permanent solution that would end the island\u2019s division has remained elusive and, at the moment, stands teetering on the edge of reaching a historic agreement or ending this round of serious negotiations with yet another disappointing outcome, or as some suggest, a permanent end to the negotiations. \nLong under the auspices of the United Nations, the unification talks progressed from a period of stalemate, suspension, missed opportunities, and general pessimism beginning in 2012 to a period of new energy and an atmosphere of \u201chigh but cautious optimism,\u201d by the end of 2016. That progress led many observers to note that the two Cypriot leaders appeared to have come closer to reaching a settlement than at any time since 2004, when the so-called Annan Plan for the unification of the island was voted on but rejected (by the Greek Cypriots).\nThe optimism reached a peak when Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci, leader of the Turkish Cypriots, engaged in a flurry of intense negotiations between November 2016 and January 2017. During that period Anastasiades and Akincibi met in Mont Pelerin and then Geneva, Switzerland, with the intention of discussing, for the first time, the sensitive issues of security guarantees and territory, including the presentation of maps noting territorial adjustments. The Geneva talks were also historic because on January 12, 2017, a five-party conference with the participation of the guarantor powers, Great Britain, Greece, and Turkey, was convened. Turkey, for the first time, although only briefly, engaged in a dialogue with representatives of the Republic of Cyprus (even though Turkey does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus). The European Union (EU) also participated in the meetings for the first time. \nCyprus negotiations, however, have typically been characterized as exhibiting periodic levels of optimism quickly tempered by the political reality that difficult times between Greek and Turkish Cypriots always lay ahead. True to form, the Geneva negotiations ended over a dispute on an extraneous issue and as neither side appeared ready to make necessary concessions on security. \nShortly after Geneva, talks between Anastasiades and Akinci resumed but quickly broke down in February 2017. In April 2017, after eight weeks of suspended negotiations, both sides agreed to resume the talks. Little progress appears to have been made since then, leaving the talks again at a point of uncertainty. On June 5, after a dinner hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Anastasiades and Akinci announced that a new Geneva conference would be held later in June, now set for June 28. \nCyprus observers welcomed the news of a new conference as a sign that a breakthrough may be in the works. Others, however, wonder what could be achieved at Geneva II, given that they have not seen any significant movement by either side with respect to their positions on the issues of troop levels, security guarantees, or territorial adjustments. \nTime and politics have once again entered into the calculus for a solution. Anastasiades is already facing the start of the upcoming 2018 presidential election campaign in the Republic and any concessions he makes to secure a settlement, seen as unacceptable by the opposition, could become progressively more controversial. A referendum vote on a solution, only likely now in fall 2017, would likely be controversial for some and could be significantly influenced by the election campaign. In addition, a proposed new round of hydrocarbon exploration off the southern coast of Cyprus could begin in July or August. The proposed drilling has already provoked protests from Akinci and warnings from Ankara that unless a solution is achieved in the meantime, the new explorations could face a response from Turkey. \nThe United States has long maintained interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue, in part because of the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including Cyprus, can play an important role in contributing to regional stability and in energy development and supply. The Trump Administration has pledged continued support for the negotiations with the goal of a settlement, but the level of active engagement by the United States in the early part of the new Administration, as compared to U.S. engagement in 2016, has been slow to materialize. This may have been one reason why President Anastasiades, after his dinner at the UN in early June, travelled to Washington and met with Vice President Pence and others to seek assurance of U.S. support for the negotiations and for continued energy development.\nThis report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "09bd391ad2ee6d32a779b8274d35956f787bb904", "filename": "files/20170615_R41136_09bd391ad2ee6d32a779b8274d35956f787bb904.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "e45ea65ad479647de29847b08db464501138a414", "filename": "files/20170615_R41136_e45ea65ad479647de29847b08db464501138a414.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 460508, "date": "2017-04-18", "retrieved": "2017-04-21T14:56:04.119459", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "As 2017 began, Cyprus entered its 53rd year as a politically separated nation and its 43rd year as a physically divided country. \nLong under the auspices of the United Nations, unification talks progressed from a period of stalemate, suspension, missed opportunities, and general pessimism beginning in 2012 to a period of new energy and an atmosphere of \u201chigh but cautious optimism\u201d by the end of 2016. This optimism was due to the apparent personal relationship between Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci, leader of the Turkish Cypriots, and their commitment to achieving a settlement.\nA permanent solution to end the island\u2019s division has remained elusive. However, a flurry of intense negotiations between December 2016 and January 2017, when Anastasiades and Akinci met first in Mont Pelerin and then Geneva, Switzerland, led many observers to note that the two Cypriot leaders appeared to have come closer to reaching a settlement than at any time since 2004, when the so-called Annan Plan for the unification of the island was voted on but rejected (by the Greek Cypriots).\nThe Mont Pelerin and Geneva meetings were critical to a settlement because for the first time formal discussions took place on the sensitive issues of territory, including the presentation of maps noting territorial adjustments, and security. The Geneva talks also were historic because on January 12, 2017, a five-party conference was convened with the participation of the guarantor powers, Great Britain, Greece, and Turkey. For the first time, Turkey engaged in a dialogue with representatives of the Republic of Cyprus (even though Turkey does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus). The European Union (EU) also participated in the meetings for the first time. \nCyprus negotiations, however, typically have been characterized as exhibiting periodic levels of optimism quickly tempered by the political reality that difficult times between Greek and Turkish Cypriots always lay ahead. True to form, the Geneva negotiations ended over a dispute on an extraneous issue and because neither side appeared ready to make necessary concessions on security. Some also believed that the breakdown was due to the fact that Ankara could not seriously negotiate on security guarantees and troop withdrawals until after a mid-April vote on a constitutional referendum in Turkey.\nAfter Geneva, talks between Anastasiades and Akinci resumed but quickly broke down in February 2017, when the Greek Cypriot legislature passed a bill instructing schools to remember a 1950 Greek Cypriot-led referendum on enosis (the union of Cyprus with Greece). The Turkish Cypriots reacted with outrage, and Akinci refused to continue the talks unless the enosis legislation was reversed. In early April, the Greek Cypriot parliament partially reversed the enosis legislation, and on April 11, 2017, after eight weeks of suspended negotiations, both sides agreed to resume the talks and scheduled additional meetings into May. \nWith the referendum vote in Turkey concluded, time has again become an important factor in the negotiations. First, it is unclear where the Cyprus negotiations fall on Ankara\u2019s priority list as the Turkish leadership begins to implement the provisions of the newly amended constitution. Some believe the positive outcome of the vote, which will strengthen the Turkish presidency, will harden Ankara\u2019s positions on Cyprus. Others say the fact that the majority of Turkish voters in north Cyprus voted \u201cno\u201d to the changes may lessen Ankara\u2019s interest in Cyprus for a while. Second, a proposed new round of hydrocarbon drilling approved by the republic could begin in July. This possibility has already provoked protests from Akinci and warnings from Ankara. Finally, the start of the upcoming presidential elections campaign in the republic for an early 2018 vote will soon be well under way, making any concessions by Anastasiades toward a settlement of the Cyprus issue more controversial. \nThe United States has long maintained interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue. Internal developments in Turkey, the continued threat from the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, and the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including Cyprus, can play an important role in regional energy development and supply have added to the urgency to achieve a solution. The Trump Administration has pledged continued support for the negotiations with the goal of a settlement. However, the level of active engagement by the United States in the early part of the new Administration has not yet been as high as the level of U.S. engagement in 2016. \nThis report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "3af400e0f02dddea9d3e720079efcc0df6b52070", "filename": "files/20170418_R41136_3af400e0f02dddea9d3e720079efcc0df6b52070.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "145b0f942bfab20506c5649746f5eb2db9e4c960", "filename": "files/20170418_R41136_145b0f942bfab20506c5649746f5eb2db9e4c960.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 458461, "date": "2017-01-24", "retrieved": "2017-02-03T19:12:53.793689", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "As 2017 begins, Cyprus enters its 53rd year as a politically separated nation and its 43rd year as a physically divided country. \nLong under the auspices of the United Nations, unification talks progressed from a period of stalemate, suspension, missed opportunities, and general pessimism beginning in 2012 to a period of new energy and an atmosphere of \u201chigh but cautious optimism,\u201d at least among the negotiators, since the April 2015 election of Mustafa Akinci as leader of the Turkish Cypriots.\nAlthough a permanent solution to end the island\u2019s division has remained elusive, a flurry of intense negotiations between Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Akinci during the latter part of 2016, including meetings in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland, to discuss territory adjustments and security issues for the first time, led many observers to note that the two Cypriot leaders had come closer to reaching a settlement than at any time since 2004, when the so-called Annan Plan for the unification of the island was voted on but rejected (by the Greek Cypriots).\nBetween January 9 and 11, 2017, Anastasiades and Akinci met in Geneva to discuss and wrap up unresolved issues and then to present their respective proposed maps for a territorial adjustment. On January 12, a five-party conference with the participation of the guarantor powers, Great Britain, Greece, and Turkey, was convened with the intention of laying the groundwork for a settlement of both the territory issue and the future of the island\u2019s security, paving the way for a final agreement. This meeting was historic in that Turkey was, for the first time, engaged in a dialogue with representatives of the Republic of Cyprus (even though Turkey does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus). The European Union (EU) also participated in the meetings for the first time. \nAlthough Cyprus negotiations have typically been characterized as exhibiting periodic levels of optimism, that optimism has often been tempered by the political reality that difficult times between Greek and Turkish Cypriots always lie ahead. Such was the case as 2016 came to an end and as the conference in Geneva was convened.\nThe negotiations in Geneva appeared to start out on a positive note but, as expected, the well-known and long-held positions of both sides on the difficult issues of security guarantees and territorial adjustments proved to be too much to overcome. The conference ended without a clear indication of how far both sides were from a final solution. It was clear, however, that Turkey appeared adamant in its demand to retain a security role in north Cyprus and as Greece was adamant that Turkey\u2019s military role had to end. \nEach side expressed disappointment in the other, especially over their respective maps and the security issues. Nevertheless, in concluding the conference, both sides agreed to establish a working group to continue to sort out the differences and to set the stage for further negotiations between the two Cypriot leaders. The working group met in in Mont Pelerin during the week of January 16, 2017.\nEqually important to the two sides\u2019 inability to overcome long-standing differences was the fact that opposition to the two leaders\u2019 negotiating positions has begun to increase. Although opponents of the talks on both sides were invited to Geneva, four of the five major Greek Cypriot political parties took issue with President Anastasiades over his positions. Akinci fared no better, with leaders of the Turkish Cypriot government objecting to the map he presented. \nTime now plays an important role in the negotiations, especially for Anastasiades, as the window for a solution begins to close with respect to the Republic of Cyprus\u2019s upcoming presidential elections in 2018.\nThe United States has long maintained interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue. Recent internal developments in Turkey, the continued threat from the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, and the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including Cyprus, can play an important role in regional energy development and supply have added to the urgency to achieve a solution. The prospect of a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus issue also warrants attention in Congress. Among other things, a potential settlement could involve some form of a U.S. financial assistance commitment, and the 115th Congress could be asked to consider helping in the implementation of such an agreement. \nThis report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.s", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "557d7bb2234d24d127ab298be2bf898799a967bb", "filename": "files/20170124_R41136_557d7bb2234d24d127ab298be2bf898799a967bb.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "a5dcd66de176130e3813c5ac1dba537e6e99333b", "filename": "files/20170124_R41136_a5dcd66de176130e3813c5ac1dba537e6e99333b.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 457688, "date": "2016-12-15", "retrieved": "2016-12-22T16:30:45.183001", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "As 2016 comes to a close, Cyprus\u2019s 52nd year as a politically separated nation and its 42nd year as a physically divided country also come to an end. A permanent solution to end the island\u2019s division remains elusive.\nLong under the auspices of the United Nations (U.N.), unification talks progressed from a period of stalemate, suspension, missed opportunities, and general pessimism beginning in 2012 to a period of new energy and an atmosphere of \u201chigh but cautious optimism,\u201d at least among the negotiators, since the April 2015 election of Mustafa Akinci of the small, center-left Communal Democratic Party (TDA), as the new leader of the Turkish Cypriots.\nThroughout 2016, a positive atmosphere surrounding the negotiations provided a good deal of optimism that a final agreement to reunify the island was achievable. Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci had declared that they would try to reach a settlement by the end of 2016 that would allow for an island-wide referendum to vote on the agreement by early spring 2017. To achieve this goal, the Greek and the Turkish Cypriot sides accelerated their negotiations, with eight intense sessions held in late August and September. The idea was to achieve enough progress on many of the basic issues in advance of the U.N. General Assembly meeting in mid-September that both sides would then ask the U.N. Secretary-General to convene a five-party conference (with the two Cypriot communities, Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom) in December to discuss the issue of security guarantees and to finalize an agreement. \nAlthough no five-party conference was announced at the U.N. meeting, the two leaders returned to Cyprus and agreed to another series of accelerated sessions in October and November, including meetings in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland, to further address the issue of territory and to move to a multi-party conference on security guarantees with the intention of finalizing an agreement. Despite the progress in areas such as economic affairs, EU affairs, citizenship, and governance and structures, serious differences on territory and the sensitive chapter on security guarantees\u2014the first time these issues had been formally discussed since the 2004 Annan Plan\u2014remained wide enough to prevent an actual agreement from being achieved during those sessions. \nNevertheless, not wanting to lose the momentum or to have the talks end, Anastasiades and Akinci on December 1, 2016, after a dinner hosted by the U.N Special Adviser on Cyprus, agreed to meet as necessary in December and early January 2017 to bridge the gaps and the remaining disagreements on several issues. The two leaders further agreed to meet in Geneva on January 9, 2017, to discuss and wrap up all pending issues, then to meet on January 11 to present their respective proposed maps for a territorial agreement. Finally, on January 12, a five-party conference with the participation of the guarantor powers, and possibly others as observers, would be convened to discuss and settle both the territory issue and the future of security guarantees, paving the way for a final agreement.\nTo most observers, the two leaders have come closer to reaching a settlement than at any time since 2004, when the so-called Annan Plan for a settlement and unification of the island was voted on but rejected (by the Greek Cypriots). However, although Cyprus negotiations have typically been characterized as exhibiting periodic levels of optimism, that optimism is often subsequently tempered by the political reality that difficult times always lay ahead. Such has been the case as 2016 comes to an end. \nThe United States has long maintained interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue. Recent internal developments in Turkey, the continued threat from the Islamic State, and the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including Cyprus, can play an important role in regional energy development and supply have added to the urgency to achieve a solution. The prospect of a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus issue also warrants attention in Congress. Among other things, a potential settlement could involve a U.S. financial assistance commitment for the implementation of such an agreement, which the 115th Congress would be asked to consider. \nThis report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "9a8534fd1579c78809439a7cc88a5f06699d4a2f", "filename": "files/20161215_R41136_9a8534fd1579c78809439a7cc88a5f06699d4a2f.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "7b893520b874c3bafb28daca0d87a15f622ed418", "filename": "files/20161215_R41136_7b893520b874c3bafb28daca0d87a15f622ed418.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 456462, "date": "2016-10-13", "retrieved": "2016-10-17T19:15:59.219514", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "As 2016 began, Cyprus entered its 52nd year as a politically separated nation and its 42nd year as a physically divided country. With the end of 2016 fast approaching, both the Greek and the Turkish Cypriot sides have accelerated negotiations in the hopes of finding a permanent solution to end the division of the island, which is still proving elusive. \nLong under the auspices of the United Nations (U.N.), unification talks progressed from a period of stalemate, suspension, missed opportunities, and general pessimism beginning in 2012 to a period of new energy and an atmosphere of \u201chigh but cautious optimism,\u201d at least among the negotiators, since the April 2015 election of Mustafa Akinci of the small, center-left Communal Democratic Party (TDA), as the new leader of the Turkish Cypriots.\nWhen negotiations resumed in spring 2015, Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci suggested that they would try to reach a settlement by the end of 2015. The leaders developed a close personal relationship, which has underscored the reportedly positive atmosphere surrounding the meetings. Although the 2015 target was missed, according to observers, productive negotiating sessions have taken place, including an intense period of at least eight sessions in August and early September 2016, in advance of the U.N. General Assembly meeting. Both sides hinted that a significant level of \u201cconvergences\u201d had been reached, mostly on the issues of EU affairs, governance, economics, and citizenship. However, serious differences on the difficult issues of property and territory and the extremely sensitive chapter on security guarantees\u2014the first time these issues had been formally discussed since the 2004 Annan Plan\u2014appear to remain wide enough to prevent an actual agreement from being achieved. Nevertheless, after the U.N. meetings, both sides resumed a series of 8 to 10 additional meetings between October and November 2016 intended to finalize additional convergences and further address the more difficult issues. \nCyprus negotiations typically have been characterized by initial levels of optimism that are subsequently tempered with the political reality that difficult times always lay ahead. Such is the current case, as the hoped-for agreement has now slipped to only a possibility that an agreement can be reached by the end of 2016 in time to hold a referendum vote in both communities in early spring 2017. \nDespite the two leaders\u2019 positive pronouncements, it appears that normal frustrations are mounting over the two sides\u2019 inability to establish an end point at which time an agreement\u2014not perfect, but acceptable to both sides\u2014would be reached. Some Turkish Cypriot leaders, including Akinci, have begun to suggest that this current round of talks could be the last if an agreement is not reached. Outside the negotiating room, changes in the government in north Cyprus and the results of parliamentary elections in the south have raised a more audible discussion on issues considered \u201credlines\u201d and questions regarding the level of political support the two leaders enjoy with respect to their efforts. \nThe United States has long maintained interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue. Recent internal developments in Turkey, the continued threat from the Islamic State, and the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including Cyprus, can play an important role in regional energy development and supply have added to the urgency to achieve a solution. August phone conversations between Vice President Joe Biden and the two Cypriot leaders\u2014followed by a meeting of the two leaders with the Vice President and Assistant Secretary of State for Europe, Victoria Nuland, at the U.N. General Assembly in September 2016\u2014have suggested that positive momentum continues and that there was a reenergized U.S. interest in moving negotiations to a conclusion before the end of the current U.S. Administration.\nThe prospects for a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus issue also warrant attention in the Congress. Among other things, a potential settlement could involve U.S. financial assistance for the implementation of the agreement. The 114th Congress has thus far continued a modest but increasing level of interest as prospects for a potential solution grow. \nThis report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "e844b5335e5ae8e0e9f62f85deebc72ffc50772b", "filename": "files/20161013_R41136_e844b5335e5ae8e0e9f62f85deebc72ffc50772b.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "02fe30b7d4fec0c822a0dc07617b05e3e6b2a2d9", "filename": "files/20161013_R41136_02fe30b7d4fec0c822a0dc07617b05e3e6b2a2d9.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 455354, "date": "2016-08-25", "retrieved": "2016-09-09T18:36:15.753416", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "As 2016 began, Cyprus entered its 52nd year as a politically separated nation and its 42nd year as a physically divided country with a permanent solution to end these divisions still proving to be elusive. \nLong under the auspices of the United Nations, unification talks throughout 2014 and into the early part of 2015 had gone through periods of stalemate, suspension, and missed opportunities. Although both sides insisted that \u201cconvergences\u201d on the difficult issues of EU affairs, property, governance, economics, and citizenship had been reached, no apparent actual agreement acceptable to both sides was forthcoming. This resulted in a sense of pessimism surrounding the stalled negotiations and at the time led some to question the ability of the two community leaders, Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, to reach a comprehensive agreement.\nIn April 2015, after a second round of national elections in North Cyprus, Mustafa Akinci of the small, center-left, Communal Democratic Party (TDA) surprisingly became the new leader of the Turkish Cypriots. Although Akinci and Anastasiades quickly resumed the negotiations, and Akinci declared his intention to reach a settlement by the end of 2015 in order that a referendum on the agreement could be held on the island by the spring of 2016, that timetable has now been slipped to a possible agreement by the end of 2016 and a vote in early 2017. \nSince the election of Akinci, a new energy has been seen among the negotiators, and an atmosphere of \u201ccautious optimism\u201d has been maintained throughout the continuous, and according to many, productive negotiating sessions that have taken place. It also appears that both leaders have developed a close personal relationship that has underscored the reported positive atmospherics surrounding the meetings. At the same time, both sides have also pursued positive confidence-building measures as an additional sign of a renewed commitment to a successful settlement. Some of those measures have since gone into effect and others, such as two additional border crossings, are moving forward. \nAlthough at least one recent report out of Cyprus has suggested that perhaps close to 90% agreement has been reached on most issues, more than reported in the past, apparently not enough has yet been reached to achieve a comprehensive solution. And while both sides continue to suggest that 2016 may become the year that a solution could be achieved, what has typically characterized these negotiations is the fact that the optimism referred to by many is often tempered with political realities and the understanding that difficult times always lay ahead. This scenario may have already begun to take shape with a change in government in the north, parliamentary elections in the south, and political turmoil in Turkey.\nAfter a brief August recess, Akinci and Anastasiades have begun an intense period of at least seven sessions, projected to be held until September 14, to achieve as much progress as possible before the United Nations General Assembly convenes in September. These sessions will include discussions on the extremely sensitive chapters of territory and security guarantees, the first time these issues will have been formally discussed since the 2004 Annan Plan. These issues will be a real test of the talks, as these are issues on which Turkey has been very vocal and where Ankara and the Greek Cypriots strongly disagree.\nThe United States has long maintained interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue. Recent internal developments in Turkey, the need to continue to address the threat from the Islamic State in the Middle East, and the growing prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including Cyprus, could play an important role in regional energy development and supply have added to the urgency to achieve a solution. Multiple visits to Cyprus by Vice President Biden, Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Victoria Nuland, and then-Secretary of State Kerry; upbeat comments in a June 2015 speech on Cyprus to a conference in Washington by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Amanda Sloat; the speedy nomination of a new U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus in early summer 2015; and an August phone conversation between Vice President Biden and the two Cypriot leaders have suggested that positive momentum did exist and that there was a reenergized U.S. interest in having the negotiations move to a conclusion. \nThe prospects for a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus issue also warrant attention in Congress as, among other things, a potential settlement could involve U.S. financial assistance for the implementation of the agreement. In the 113th Congress, legislation (H.Res. 187) was introduced supporting the Republic of Cyprus, and letters regarding the settlement talks were sent to the White House and others by Members of Congress sympathetic to both Greek and Turkish Cypriot views of the problem. The 114th Congress has thus far continued a modest but increasing level of interest as prospects for a potential solution grow. \nThis report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "43301423c3f5c09fad10ed150b41f824355d577c", "filename": "files/20160825_R41136_43301423c3f5c09fad10ed150b41f824355d577c.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "767b535c7e580103186990129042198b2b0f992b", "filename": "files/20160825_R41136_767b535c7e580103186990129042198b2b0f992b.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4636, "name": "Europe: Regional Policy, Bilateral Relations, and Key Issues" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 448460, "date": "2016-01-05", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T17:36:28.584698", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "As 2016 begins, Cyprus enters its 52nd year as a politically separated nation and its 42nd year as a physically divided country with a permanent solution to end these divisions still proving to be elusive. Long under the auspices of the United Nations, unification talks entered a period of frequent and often intense negotiations in 2008 and again in 2015. Nevertheless, attempts to resolve the Cyprus problem and unify the two communities have met with numerous missed opportunities over this period. Thus far a succession of Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, including the current leaders, have been unable to achieve agreement on the difficult issues of territory, property, governance, citizenship, and security guarantees, acceptable to both sides.\nFrom the beginning of 2012 through the beginning of 2015, negotiations between Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and former Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu had gone through periods of active negotiations, stalemate, and suspension with no apparent agreement on any issue, leading many to question the ability of the leaders to reach a comprehensive agreement.\nSome of the pessimism surrounding the stalled negotiations seemed to ease on April 26, 2015, when in a second round of voting, Mustafa Akinci of the small, center-left, Communal Democratic Party (TDA) won the election to become the new leader of the Turkish Cypriots, defeating Dervis Eroglu. Akinci and Anastasiades quickly confirmed that the negotiations would resume as soon as possible. Akinci also declared his intention to reach a settlement quickly in order that a referendum on the agreement could be held on the island by the spring of 2016, perhaps before the Greek Cypriot parliamentary elections. In addition, both sides stated that they would pursue positive confidence-building measures as a sign of a renewed commitment to a successful settlement. Some of those measures have since gone into effect. \nThroughout the latter half of 2015, a new energy was seen in the negotiations, and an atmosphere of \u201ccautious optimism\u201d emerged as the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities met in continuous, and according to many, productive negotiating sessions. In a joint holiday appearance in late December, Anastasiades and Akinci broadcast a televised message expressing holiday greetings in both Turkish and Greek, along with the hope that the New Year would bring a peace settlement. This was a first for both leaders and underscored the reported positive atmospherics surrounding the meetings of the two leaders thus far and the personal relationship that appears to have developed between Anastasiades and Akinci.\nAlthough the most recent negotiations seemed to indicate that more common ground had been found on several of the issues, not enough has yet been reached to achieve a comprehensive solution. On the other hand, reactions by several Greek Cypriot political leaders to a late December television interview in which Mr. Akinci seemed to outline his perspectives for an agreement suggest that the optimism referred to by many has to be tempered with some political reality and that difficult times still lay ahead. Nevertheless, both sides seem to indicate that 2016 could become the year that a potential solution could be reached as long as there is a will to do so on both sides. \nThe United States has long maintained interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue. Visits to Cyprus by Vice President Biden and others in 2014, quick congratulations to Akinci on his election, upbeat comments in a June 2015 speech on Cyprus to a conference in Washington by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Amanda Sloat, the speedy nomination of a new U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus in early summer 2015, and September and December 2015 visits to the island by both Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, Victoria Nuland, and then Secretary of State Kerry, seemed to suggest that positive momentum existed and that there was a reenergized U.S. interest in having the negotiations move to a conclusion. \nThe lack of a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus issue warrants attention because of U.S. interests in a strong relationship with Turkey, especially as both countries confront the threat from the Islamic State, and because of the prospects that the Eastern Mediterranean, including Cyprus, could play an important role in energy development and supply. In the 113th Congress, legislation (H.Res. 187) was introduced supporting the Republic of Cyprus, and letters regarding the settlement talks were sent to the White House and others by Members of Congress sympathetic to both Greek and Turkish Cypriot views of the problem. The 114th Congress has thus far continued a modest level of interest. \nThis report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations, a review of the negotiations since 2008, and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41136", "sha1": "f9119307211a0727936ad5257fe18744df11e4a4", "filename": "files/20160105_R41136_f9119307211a0727936ad5257fe18744df11e4a4.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41136", "sha1": "194ab97ec84f6dfbc4f0197a9841babd51d525ef", "filename": "files/20160105_R41136_194ab97ec84f6dfbc4f0197a9841babd51d525ef.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4636, "name": "Europe: Regional Policy, Bilateral Relations, and Key Issues" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc743512/", "id": "R41136_2015Sep10", "date": "2015-09-10", "retrieved": "2015-10-20T21:35:54", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "This report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, a review of the negotiations since 2008, and a description of some of the issues involved in the talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20150910_R41136_a60e1d422a1924a3831d16ff96501af64930ea3d.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20150910_R41136_a60e1d422a1924a3831d16ff96501af64930ea3d.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Divided government", "name": "Divided government" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Cyprus", "name": "Politics and government -- Cyprus" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Cyprus reunification", "name": "Cyprus reunification" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc627019/", "id": "R41136_2015Apr29", "date": "2015-04-29", "retrieved": "2015-06-15T14:46:40", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "This report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, a review of the negotiations since 2008, and a description of some of the issues involved in the talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20150429_R41136_77d1bfe1158aae6e74f04061c4bda3209324aca3.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20150429_R41136_77d1bfe1158aae6e74f04061c4bda3209324aca3.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Divided government", "name": "Divided government" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Cyprus", "name": "Politics and government -- Cyprus" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Cyprus reunification", "name": "Cyprus reunification" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc503481/", "id": "R41136_2015Mar06", "date": "2015-03-06", "retrieved": "2015-04-30T17:37:21", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "This report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, a review of the negotiations since 2008, and a description of some of the issues involved in the talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20150306_R41136_60d6b9671a1ba1d040b5aa0923c92e42dd21b83d.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20150306_R41136_60d6b9671a1ba1d040b5aa0923c92e42dd21b83d.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Divided government", "name": "Divided government" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Cyprus", "name": "Politics and government -- Cyprus" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Cyprus reunification", "name": "Cyprus reunification" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc462161/", "id": "R41136_2014Sep23", "date": "2014-09-22", "retrieved": "2014-12-05T09:57:41", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "This report discusses attempts to resolve the political division of Cyprus that have occurred over the last 45 years. Current issues include the Republic of Cyprus receiving EU presidency in July 2012 and a recent discovery of natural gas deposits off the southern coast of Cyprus.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20140922_R41136_da0c3d8b9a1f7e1fdf25e7f31b9abcb1dbfae54a.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20140922_R41136_da0c3d8b9a1f7e1fdf25e7f31b9abcb1dbfae54a.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Cyprus reunification", "name": "Cyprus reunification" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Divided government", "name": "Divided government" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Cyprus", "name": "Politics and government -- Cyprus" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc462200/", "id": "R41136_2013Mar05", "date": "2013-03-05", "retrieved": "2014-12-05T09:57:41", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "This report provides a brief overview of the history of the reunification negotiations, a review of the negotiations since 2008, a description of some of the issues involved in the talks, and where things stand today.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20130305_R41136_1a13a16da2366959fa488e13fe6a78bb9cf22b82.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20130305_R41136_1a13a16da2366959fa488e13fe6a78bb9cf22b82.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Cyprus", "name": "Politics and government -- Cyprus" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Divided government", "name": "Divided government" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Cyprus reunification", "name": "Cyprus reunification" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc491535/", "id": "R41136_2013Jan03", "date": "2013-01-03", "retrieved": "2015-01-27T19:40:46", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "This report discusses attempts to resolve the political division of Cyprus that have occurred over the last 45 years. Current issues include the Republic of Cyprus receiving EU presidency in July 2012 and a recent discovery of natural gas deposits off the southern coast of Cyprus.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20130103_R41136_5c39a2ea31170c30a142e189d23dac4474915d65.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20130103_R41136_5c39a2ea31170c30a142e189d23dac4474915d65.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Cyprus reunification", "name": "Cyprus reunification" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Cyprus", "name": "Politics and government -- Cyprus" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Divided government", "name": "Divided government" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc814880/", "id": "R41136_2012Aug13", "date": "2012-08-13", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120813_R41136_68191bad970acbd8221341d09be3b644008beef0.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120813_R41136_68191bad970acbd8221341d09be3b644008beef0.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc93830/", "id": "R41136_2012Jun01", "date": "2012-06-01", "retrieved": "2012-07-24T12:39:36", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "This report discusses attempts to resolve the political division of Cyprus that have occurred over the last 45 years. Current issues include the Republic of Cyprus receiving EU presidency in July 2012 and a recent discovery of natural gas deposits off the southern coast of Cyprus.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120601_R41136_41adedca4d21d824a42f7039b780b3cc4e553991.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120601_R41136_41adedca4d21d824a42f7039b780b3cc4e553991.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Cyprus", "name": "Politics and government -- Cyprus" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Divided government", "name": "Divided government" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Cyprus reunification", "name": "Cyprus reunification" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc87153/", "id": "R41136_2012Feb22", "date": "2012-02-22", "retrieved": "2012-07-03T07:51:21", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "Attempts to resolve the political division of Cyprus and reunify the island have undergone various levels of negotiation for over 45 years. The United States Congress continues to maintain its interest in a resolution of the Cyprus issue. Language expressing continued support for the negotiation process had been included in the House FY2012 Foreign Assistance Authorization bill. The chairman of the House Europe Subcommittee also led a delegation to Cyprus during a late 2011 recess to assess the peace process. This report provides a brief overview of the early history of the negotiations, a more detailed review of the negotiations since 2008, and a description of some of the issues involved in the talks.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120222_R41136_b6996c4eb566ad50f6fb9d96f11e48742b2424c4.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120222_R41136_b6996c4eb566ad50f6fb9d96f11e48742b2424c4.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government - Cyprus", "name": "Politics and government - Cyprus" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Divided government", "name": "Divided government" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Cyprus reunification", "name": "Cyprus reunification" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc93829/", "id": "R41136_2011Jul26", "date": "2011-07-26", "retrieved": "2012-07-24T12:39:36", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "Attempts to resolve the Cyprus problem and reunify the island have undergone various levels of negotiation for over 45 years. Talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders have thus far failed to reach a mutually agreed settlement leaving the country with a solution for unification far from being achieved and raising the specter of a possible permanent separation. This report provides a brief overview of the early history of the negotiations, a more detailed review of the negotiations since 2008, and a description of some of the issues involved in the talks. A side issue involving trade between the European Union and Turkish Cyprus is also addressed.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110726_R41136_55fee733f871d7c3cce13414297d5971418a16bf.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110726_R41136_55fee733f871d7c3cce13414297d5971418a16bf.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "International relations", "name": "International relations" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Cyprus", "name": "Politics and government -- Cyprus" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "KWD", "id": "European Union", "name": "European Union" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc97985/", "id": "R41136_2011Apr07", "date": "2011-04-07", "retrieved": "2012-08-21T08:46:06", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "This report provides a brief overview of the early history of the negotiations to reunify Cyprus, a more detailed review of the negotiations since 2008, and a description of some of the issues involved in the talks. A side issue involving trade between the European Union and Turkish Cyprus is also addressed.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110407_R41136_2cb8807324ac5385b1423e63fe57572fd78e1895.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110407_R41136_2cb8807324ac5385b1423e63fe57572fd78e1895.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Cyprus", "name": "Politics and government -- Cyprus" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Divided government", "name": "Divided government" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Cyprus reunification", "name": "Cyprus reunification" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc490938/", "id": "R41136_2011Jan05", "date": "2011-01-05", "retrieved": "2015-01-27T19:40:46", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "This report provides a brief overview of the early history of the negotiations to reunify Cyprus, a more detailed review of the negotiations since 2008, and a description of some of the issues involved in the talks. A side issue involving trade between the European Union and Turkish Cyprus is also addressed.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110105_R41136_2c677d6c119a5fb4d443821021b200fbf5fc98d2.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110105_R41136_2c677d6c119a5fb4d443821021b200fbf5fc98d2.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Cyprus", "name": "Politics and government -- Cyprus" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Divided government", "name": "Divided government" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Cyprus reunification", "name": "Cyprus reunification" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc491164/", "id": "R41136_2010Nov29", "date": "2010-11-29", "retrieved": "2015-01-27T19:40:46", "title": "Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive", "summary": "This report provides a brief overview of the early history of the negotiations to reunify Cyprus, a more detailed review of the negotiations since 2008, and a description of some of the issues involved in the talks. 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