Cypriot

As peace talks between the supposedly most pro-solution leaders of the divided island of Cyprus have collapsed; the answer to "what now" lingers in the air.

Were federation prospects dead in Cyprus? Can it be claimed that whatever may be done the two people of the island cannot be geared towards creating a working and sustainable federal resolution? If all prospects of a federal solution were exhausted, what kind of a settlement might be possible in Cyprus?

In 2004, the UN negotiated the Annan Plan for Cyprus. The Turkish side had accepted the return of the Güzelyurt (Morphu) region which was almost entirely inhabited by Greek Cypriots before the division of the island.

After the collapse of the Cyprus intercommunal talks and with the Greek Cypriot side insisting on taking unilateral actions in utilizing the offshore wealth of the island, tension started to build up with the start of drilling by French Total in Cyprus' offshore Block 11 on July 13.

The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its “dismay” over the decision of the Turkish-Cypriot leadership to hold the annual celebrations that commemorates the 1964 bombing by the Turkish Air Force (THK) of Tillyria in Cyprus!

Athens lashed out Tuesday against the annual celebrations of Turkish Cypriots marking 53 years since Turkish jets dropped napalm bombs on the island.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the celebrations, with the participation of Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, were an "affront to international justice."

Everyone has an idea about the intractability of the Cyprus problem as well as the need to find a resolution for it. What kind of settlement should the island have? More than 50 years of intercommunal talks have failed many times in many attempts to resolve the problem.

Up to 20,000 refugees from the fenced city of Varosha, and three Maronite villages in Famagusta, may be allowed to return under Turkish-Cypriot administration said Turkish-Cypriot media.

According to Turkish-Cypriot newspaper Detay, the Turkish-Cypriot and Turkish side are preparing to make unilateral steps after the collapse of the Conference on Cyprus in Crans-Montana.

As the collapse of the Cyprus reunification talks showed that Greek Cypriots were not interested in a negotiated agreement, Turkey is left with no option but to act alone, a retired Turkish ambassador has said.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has blamed “Greek Cypriot intransigence” for the collapse of peace negotiations at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana on July 7.

“The Greek Cypriot side responded with intransigence to our position of good will and sincerity,” said Erdogan.