Military history of Cyprus

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has said the Cyprus talks, which are due to resume in Geneva on Nov. 20, have made considerable progress but there is still distance to cover before a final deal.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chair Öztürk Yılmaz has urged the government over the ongoing Cyprus reunification talks, saying it must not give concessions on key issues like Turkey's guarantor status, territory and property. 

Current peace talks on reuniting the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus are a "last chance" and five-party negotiations that include Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom should start swiftly, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Nov. 13.

Current talks on reuniting the divided island of Cyprus are a "last opportunity" and five-party negotiations that include Turkey, Greece and the United Nations should start swiftly, Ankara's foreign minister said on Sunday.

Mevlut Cavusoglu made the comment at a joint news conference with his Chinese counterpart in Ankara.

Five days of U.N.-sponsored talks on ending the decades-old division of Cyprus have adjourned without a breakthrough but negotiators vowed Nov. 12 to press on for a deal this year.

The talks between Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci in Switzerland, far from the pressures of Cyprus, allow us to hope that a solution may be near. The road will be long but the fact that the thorny issue of territory is being discussed is encouraging.

Why are Greek Cypriots so offensive? Why do they attack and insult anyone who dares write something to their displeasure? Where is their tolerance to others' opinions in the Greek Cypriot democracy? In so many letters, as well as in discussion groups, there were incredible accusations against me.

A deal to unify Cyprus is within reach, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Nov. 7 as he opened a latest round of negotiations.

"The prospect of a solution in Cyprus is within their reach," said Ban as he opened a round of talks in a snow-bound hotel overlooking Lake Geneva in Switzerland on Nov. 7. 

"Expectations in both communities are high," he added. 

Turkey's input will be pivotal in overcoming key obstacles preventing a deal reunifying ethnically divided Cyprus, the island's president said Friday ahead of crucial talks in Switzerland next week.

In the middle of a turbulent region, a glimmer of hope has appeared for a solution of the Cyprus problem after five decades of division. The next rounds of talks to hammer down the details of the most difficult issues in the negotiations - i.e. security, territory and the guarantees - will take place in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland, on Nov. 7-11.