Turkish Cypriots

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.

It was not so much a straw in the wind as a cheese in the wind. It's a chewy, salty cheese that is delicious grilled: halloumi, as they call it in the Greek-speaking Republic of Cyprus, or hellim, as it is known in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus.

I know quite a number of Turkish elites who, frustrated with developments in Turkey, decided to settle in Turkish Cyprus over the course of the last decade. 

Following the failure of the 2004 Annan plan, I had found this choice a bit odd, as pessimism reigned over Turkish Cyprus. 

If a lasting and functional peace is reached in Cyprus, the reunited island can become to Turkey what Hong Kong is to China, said the head of Greek Cyprus? top business body, while speaking on the role the business community could play in finding a solution on the divided island. 

Turkey is displaying a largely hands-off attitude to the current Cyprus negotiations, according to Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Emine Çolak. Turkey's stance at the moment is devoid of any manipulation or interference, she says Ankara is allowing the two sides in the Cyprus dispute to pursue negotiations to unify the island in peace, according to the north's foreign minister.

A statement by Espen Barth Eide, the United Nations? Cyprus envoy, on the return of land has triggered unrest in the Turkish side of the divided island. 

?Regarding property, the leaders agreed that the individual?s right to property is respected,? Eide said earlier this week, in a statement issued on their behalf.

The business communities of the two sides of Cyprus have for the first time agreed to make their cooperation official by setting up the "Cyprus Business Forum," in a sign displaying optimism for a solution which will reunite the divided island in the near future.

Perhaps time has come to try to convince the two peoples of Cyprus that what the two leaders and negotiating teams have been discussing ?discreetly?

A ?United Cyprus Federation? has been on the agenda of resumed negotiations with the Greek side of the divided island, Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Ak?nc? has said.

The re-started talks in Cyprus offer an opportunity for both parties, visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an said while addressing the crowd during a ceremony in Nicosia to mark the 41st anniversary of the Turkish military intervention on the island following a pro-Greek coup.