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Increased Bicommunal Contacts Auspicious for Divided Cyprus
Contacts between Greek and Turkish Cypriots in divided Cyprus have increased noticeably in recent months as leaders of the sides are engaged in proximity talks for possible reunification.
Figures showed that bicommunal meetings have quadrupled since September last year thanks to the uplift of political atmosphere in the island country, which has been divided into Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities since 1974 when Turkey invaded and seized the northern third of the island following a pro-Athens coup.
Turkish Cypriots in 1983 proclaimed a breakaway republic, which is recognized only by Turkey.
U.N. has been trying for decades to reunify the island by a bicommunal, bizonal federation formula. But Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, angered by the European Union's (EU) decision to deny Turkey a EU candidacy, walked out of peace talks with Cypriot government and banned almost all the bicommunal contacts.
The devastating earthquakes that hit Turkey in August and Greece in September last year brought out detente in the two countries' relationship. The two countries have offered aid and condolences to each other and the "earthquake diplomacy" finally led to Greece's drop of opposition to Ankara's candidacy.
Three rounds of U.N.-brokered proximity talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been conducted since last December, and the fourth round will start in New York Tuesday.
Most of the contacts occurred in events arranged with the help of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in the buffer zone, involving individuals, groups and political parties.
A rapprochement fair at Pergamos park in the eastern part of the island was organized by Greek Cypriot left-wing AKEL party and Turkish Cypriot Patriotic Unity Movement earlier this year, attracting 2,000 participants from both sides.
Party leaders of both sides also met several times this year to exchange views on the developments of the Cyprus issue.
The bicommunal activities are widely welcomed on the island, although there are so far different views about the contacts. Some groups and political parties believe that these contacts help build up trust between the sides.
AKEL, active in the contacts, has expressed that although the rapprochement efforts in themselves could not solve the Cyprus issue, they could create a positive climate between the communities to ensure the viability of a solution.
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