Cyprus solution hangs in the balance

Many in Nicosia, Athens, Brussels and Washington are confident - and some concerned - that the Cyprus issue may be resolved by the end of the year. In the US, especially, top officials are eager for this to happen by the end of 2016, as every US government likes to wrap up as many international affairs as possible before their term ends so as to boost its legacy. US Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry are the key players pushing for a solution in this case.

I do not share their conviction that this will happen for a number of reasons, foremost of which is that it is a particularly complex affair. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan feels no particular pressure regarding Cyprus and will not make any major concessions, it seems, and strict red lines have been drawn on both sides. Greek-Cypriot public opinion could back a solution if financial...