Cyprus dispute

An official says talks between the heads of Cyprus? Christian and Muslim communities and the leaders of the ethnically split island?s Greek- and Turkish-speaking communities give ?great hope? that religion can better contribute to peace.

Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlio?lu called for sincerity in talks for the reunification of Cyprus during his first official trip abroad in his new post on Sept. 7.

The Istanbul pogrom, known in Greece as Septembriana, took place on September 6-7, 1955. Anti-Greek riots were orchestrated by the Tactical Mobilization Group, the Counter-Guerrilla and the National Secuρity Service.

The United Nations senior official on Cyprus has expressed he was more ?optimistic and hopeful? for ongoing talks between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders compared to previous negotiations between the two parties. 

A senior United Nations official for Cyprus held meetings in Ankara with Turkish officials on Aug. 13 amid cautious optimism about a possible deal to reunify the island.

Cleaning the field is a must after the harvest so that it can be prepared for the new season and new harvest. Like in most countries, burning stubble is prohibited in both the Turkish Cypriot north and the Greek Cypriot south of the island.

The leader of the Turkish-Cypriot community, Mustafa Akinci expressed his optimism that a solution to the Cypriot problem could be reached within the next months. Akinci posted a tweet stressing that the this (Cypriot talks) was a negotiating process which had been ongoing from 1968, adding that he did not have a magic wand.

Should Turkish Cypriots try to defend their own interests even if that amounts to hurting Turkey's interests? Or should they defend Turkish interests even if that requires their own interests be sacrificed? This is not an egg and chicken story, but a very serious issue that deserves a very serious evaluation. The question is of course also related to who the Turkish Cypriots are.

An allegory by Christos Michaelides, the chairman of the Greek Cyprus? top business body, who told Hürriyet Daily News that the divided island can become to Turkey what Hong Kong is to China if peace is achieved, has sparked controversy and criticism. 

Kudret Özersay is a former Turkish Cypriot negotiator. He held the title of chief negotiator until last October when he was removed from duty after he announced he would run as a candidate in April?s presidential elections. Özersay, who had been involved in the negotiations since 2003, was replaced by Özdil Nami after Mustafa Ak?nc? won in the April elections.