On the seventh anniversary of Cyprus' accession to the EU, once again the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders prepare for another round of 'talks', sponsored by UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon, says Baroness Hussein-Ece.
UN peacekeeping forces have been in Cyprus since 1964, after tension between the two communities resulted in the outbreak of violence on the island on December 21, 1963. Forty-eight years have elapsed since then. The United Nations was invited to mediate for a solution to the problem. It has made incessant efforts to assist the opposing sides to come to an agreement. Yet, till the present day, there has been no progress.
Many people who are new to the 'Cyprus problem' don't realise that inter-communal talks to resolve the issue have been continuing intermittently since 1967.
In 2004 the UN made a huge effort to get both sides to agree a peace settlement, with the Annan Peace Plan before Cyprus joined the EU. The UN's plan, to make Cyprus a federation of two states with a loose central government, was put to the vote on April 24, 2004. The Turkish Cypriots voted in favour, the Greek Cypriots voted against. The Republic of Cyprus duly joined the EU as a divided island. The Turkish North remains isolated politically and economically. Nicosia is the last divided capital.
How much more time and effort can the international community continue to invest in Cyprus with no results to show whatsoever? Is it not time to accept that there will never be a solution based on a bi-communal, bi-zonal framework based on political equality?
Cyprus is preparing to take over the presidency of the EU in June next year. If no solution is arrived at by then, we will see the unique situation of a divided country taking over the presidency, where it will deal with issues facing the EU and member states; including resolving any problems, and upholding human rights. Surely many will say that Cyprus needs to resolve its own significant problems before it takes up this role?
The EU and a number of key players in the international community have expressed their wish for Cyprus to take over the EU Presidency as a reunited country. Can it be that a time may be approaching when we have to think the unthinkable in relation to Cyprus?
Meral Hussein Ecewas raised to the peerage as Baroness Hussein-Ece, of Highbury in the London Borough of Islington in 2010. She previously worked as a special adviser to Nick Clegg MP on community cohesion and minority ethnic communities and in 2009 was appointed as a commissioner to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
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