Politics of Cyprus

A solution to the Cyprus problem is possible within months, the Turkish Cypriot chief negotiator in UN-brokered talks that resumed this week on reunifying the island said on Saturday.

The two administrations on the divided island of Cyprus decided May 15 to remove visa requirements as a goodwill gesture amid ongoing negotiations over the island's future.

Visa applications will be lifted effective as of May 16 for people living on the island, said a statement issued on May 15 by the Interior Ministry of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

U.N.-sponsored talks resumed on May 15 after an eight-month stalemate with Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders agreeing to adopt confidence-building measures, in a new drive to settle the island's decades-old conflict. 

Turkey and Greece have expressed hope over soon-to-begin reunification talks in Cyprus, welcoming a decision by both parties to restart negotiations after pro-solution Mustafa Ak?nc?'s election as the new Turkish Cypriot president.

The presidential election held on April 26, 2015, in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) brought a moderate leftist politician to the presidency. Mustafa Ak?nc?, who ran as an independent, became the fourth president of the TRNC with 60.5 percent of the votes in the runoff while his rival Dervi? Ero?lu, the incumbent president, got only 39.5 percent.

Negotiations between the Turkish Cypriot government and the Greek Cypriot administration to find a solution to the ongoing dispute over the divided island are to resume, the recently elected Turkish Cypriot president has announced.

The newly elected president of Turkish Cyprus, Mustafa Ak?nc?, will pay his first official customary visit abroad to the Turkish capital city of Ankara this week.

Ak?nc?, who took oath on April 30, will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Özdil Nami during his one-day visit on May 6, the press office of the Turkish Cypriot presidency said over the weekend. 

Foreign Minister Özdil Nami is to represent Turkish Cypriots in negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side, the newly-elected President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Mustafa Ak?nc?, has said in a statement.
      
"An important window of opportunity to resolve the Cyprus issue" is available, according to the May 1 statement of Ak?nc?.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry congratulated Turkish Cypriot President-elect Mustafa Ak?nc? for his victory in last week?s elections on April 30.

?[Kerry] wished him well as he assumes his role as leader of the Turkish Cypriot community,? U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said during a daily briefing on April 30. 

On the telephone, the voice of new Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Ak?nc? was rather energetic, determined and to the point: "Enough my friend? Few things were said; it is over. No merit in continuing discussion."