logo
Rival leaders of split Cyprus make inroads to work together but rift remains

Rival leaders of split Cyprus make inroads to work together but rift remains

Independent02-04-2025

The rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus made some progress Wednesday on fostering trust between their conflict-riven Greek and Turkish speaking communities, agreeing to delve deeper into the dangers posed by minefields and working together on environmental initiatives.
But the two sides still have a long way to go to formally restart moribund peace talks, with both leaders alluding to the ongoing fundamental rift on the kind of a peace deal each side expects.
In a joint statement following the United Nations-hosted meeting, Ersin Tatar, the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots and Nikos Christodoulides, the island's Greek Cypriot President, said they also agreed on restoring neglected cemeteries and setting up a joint group of young people from both sides of the divide to discuss issues relevant to them.
The measures echoed those the two leaders agreed to pursue in a meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Geneva last month that aimed to breathe new life into a peace process on hiatus for nearly eight years. Guterres said he will appoint an envoy tasked with getting formal peace talks restarted.
The Mediterranean island was divided when Turkey invaded the northern part in 1974 following a failed coup by supporters of a union with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence, and has more than 35,000 troops in the island's northern third.
Although Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, only the Greek Cypriot south, where the internationally recognized government is seated, enjoys full membership benefits.
There was no agreement Wednesday on two key trust-building initiatives: building solar energy parks inside sections of a 180 km (120 mile) long U.N. buffer zone cutting across the island, and adding to the nine existing crossing points along that dividing line.
Tatar said that he's hopeful 'in time we will be able to achieve' progress.
'My friend Nikos, he's got his own principles, I want our principles. What is important is to exchange and be positive so that we can achieve things together,' Tatar said.
Christodoulides suggested Tatar was using the issue of solar energy parks to promote his vision of a partitioned Cyprus. The leaders agreed to meet again later this month.
The leaders' remarks pointed to the wide gulf between how the two sides envision a future peace settlement.
Tatar and Turkey insist a two-state deal is now the only way to resolve one of the world's most intractable disputes since the 'old' model — a federation made up of Greek and Turkish speaking zones — is no longer viable after decades of failure.
Greek Cypriots say any deal that entrenches the island's partition is a non-starter as it contravenes long-held U.N. resolutions endorsing a federation.
They also reject a Turkish and Turkish Cypriot demand for a permanent Turkish troop presence and military intervention rights under any accord, as well as giving the minority Turkish Cypriots veto power over all federal-level government decisions.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Le Pen: EU signed ‘deal with devil' to wipe out European culture
Le Pen: EU signed ‘deal with devil' to wipe out European culture

Telegraph

timea day ago

  • Telegraph

Le Pen: EU signed ‘deal with devil' to wipe out European culture

The EU has signed 'a deal with the devil to flood Europe with migrants, dilute the population and wipe out European culture', Marine Le Pen said on Monday. Addressing a gathering of European nationalists outside Paris, she claimed Brussels's migration and asylum pact stripped 'states of their most sacred right, that of deciding who enters and who remains on their soil'. Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister, was also among the speakers at the event, which was held to mark the first anniversary of Ms Le Pen's National Rally (RN) coming first in European Parliament elections. Taking the stage, Mr Orban, who dubbed himself 'Brussels's nightmare', likened EU migration policy to 'an organised exchange of populations to replace the cultural base' of the continent. He boasted of having been able to 'push back migrants' in Hungary, even if it meant incurring sanctions from Brussels. 'We will not let them destroy our cities, rape our girls and women, kill peaceful citizens,' he told the several thousand present. Ms Le Pen said a 'woke and ultra-liberal' European Union was a 'graveyard of politically unfulfilled promises'. Power 'back to the people' 'We don't want to leave the table. We want to finish the game and win, to take power in France and in Europe and give it back to the people,' she told the crowd. The meeting saw leaders from Patriots of Europe, a Right-wing European parliamentary group, convene in the tiny village of Mormant-sur-Vernisson. Out of the hamlet's 144 residents, some 90 per cent backed the RN candidate for parliament in the second round of last year's legislative elections. The attendees included Matteo Salvini, Italy's deputy prime minister and leader of the League party; Santiago Abascal, the leader of Spain's Vox party, and Andrej Babis, the former Czech prime minister. Ms Le Pen also attacked Mr Macron over apparent security failings after Paris Saint-Germain's win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Munich last month. Two people died and hundreds were arrested across France, including 491 in Paris, as fans celebrated the victory. 'Barbarian hordes can ransack the capital of France with complete impunity from the media and the courts,' she said. 'Who can seriously believe that Emmanuel Macron's France could wage a large-scale war when it is already incapable of managing the chaos that reigns on match nights 200 metres from the Élysée Palace?' she added, referring to the president's tough talk on threats from Russia. Ms Le Pen, who leads RN in the French parliament, hopes to succeed Mr Macron as president when his second five-year term ends in 2027. Her ambitions were, however, dealt a major blow in March when she was banned from standing for public office for five years after being found guilty of embezzling EU funds to pay party staff. Ms Le Pen is appealing the verdict, but RN's likely 'plan B' candidate if she cannot run is the party's president, Jordan Bardella. He was also present at the event and said: 'We reject the Europe of Ursula von der Leyen... We reject the Europe of Macron... We represent the rebirth of a true Europe.' Mr Orban promised, as he did when Donald Trump was elected for a second term, to pop the champagne corks should either Ms Le Pen or Mr Bardella clinch the French presidency. 'Without you, we will not be able to occupy Brussels (...) We will not be able to save Hungary from the Brussels guillotine,' he said. EU pact on migration The EU's migration pact, which took the brunt of criticism at the RN event, was approved in 2024 and aims to create a common asylum policy at EU level. Critics have said its provisions undermine national sovereignty and are not strong enough to deter illegal migration. The nationalist gathering sparked uproar among the Left and unions, with some 4,000 people staging a protest in the nearby town of Montargis, according to organisers. They vowed to 'build resistance' and proclaimed the nationalist leaders were 'not welcome'. 'You have here the worst of the racist and xenophobic European far Right that we know only too well,' said French hard-Left MEP Manon Aubry. RN remains hugely popular and the latest polling suggests it would win more seats in parliament than it currently has if snap elections were held now. Ms Le Pen's electoral ban has, however, reportedly hit morale among its MPs.

Freedom Flotilla gives statement as Israel 'illegally seizes' Madleen
Freedom Flotilla gives statement as Israel 'illegally seizes' Madleen

The National

timea day ago

  • The National

Freedom Flotilla gives statement as Israel 'illegally seizes' Madleen

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition spoke through its Telegram channel after its ship the Madleen was captured by Israel. The 12 people on board – including Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan and Al Jazeera correspondent Omar Faiad – have been imprisoned. The Madleen had been sailing under a UK red ensign, meaning it was under UK jurisdiction in international waters, when Israel attacked it. The move has been described as a 'clear breach' of international law by the Turkish government, while the UK's has remained silent. READ MORE: UK Government sends spy plane over Gaza as Freedom Flotilla ship threatened by Israel The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said: 'It's time for our governments to do their jobs and sanction Israel. Its illegal attack on 'Madleen' while sailing in international waters is a small extension of their war crimes in Gaza. 'Governments, institutions, media, and corporations must stop protecting Israel, now. They must stop prioritising profit over human lives, now. 'Protect our volunteers while protecting Palestinians in Gaza and wider Palestine.' On the abduction of MEP Hassan, the group said it was 'not only an attack on civilians, but a direct assault on international law, parliamentary immunity, and the principle of free humanitarian access'. It went on: 'Israel must be held accountable. The European Parliament must formally demand her immediate release and Israel's legal accountability. 'This interception is a direct result of the international community's ongoing failure to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes. Activists pictured on the Madleen, which was sailing under a UK flag (Image: Freedom Flotilla) 'A state currently on trial for genocide must not be allowed to dictate whether life-saving aid reaches the very people it stands accused of trying to destroy.' The Freedom Flotilla Coalition pointed to the 2010 raid on their ships by the Israeli military, which also occurred in international waters and left 10 volunteers dead. The group said: 'No state has the authority to enforce an unlawful blockade, especially one whose primary purpose is to starve civilians and obstruct humanitarian relief. 'Israel's threats and attacks against peaceful ships like 'Madleen', carrying essential aid and international human rights defenders, are part of its broader pattern of impunity and disregard for international norms.' The unlawful seizure of the Madleen The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said of the boat seizure: 'At 3:02AM EEST, 110 nautical miles from Gaza, the 'Madleen' was illegally boarded by the IOF [Israel Occupation Forces] in international waters. 'Prior to their abduction, quadcopter drones flew in close range before attacking the 'Madleen' with a white chemical-like substance, harming their eyes. Signals were jammed, and disturbing audio was broadcast to interfere with communication over the radio system as the IOF boarded. 'Our volunteers were attacked and taken against their will while sailing lawfully toward Palestinian territorial waters, where Israel has no right to control. 'The 'Madleen' has reportedly been seized, and our aid, including baby formula, food, and medical supplies, has also been taken.' CCTV image shared by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (Image: FFC) Sharing security footage timestamped 2:02AM, the group added: 'This is the last moment that the Freedom Flotilla Coalition ground team saw their friends, comrades and family members while they were being illegally intercepted, boarded and abducted by the Israeli military. Their whereabouts remain unknown. 'At this time, we are urgently working to locate the 11 international volunteers and one journalist abducted from 'Madleen'. 'According to the Israeli Immigration Authority, they are not yet in its custody. FFC lawyers in occupied Palestine have repeatedly contacted Israeli military officials, but are yet to receive any response to inquiries since the early hours of the morning.' Who is on board the Madleen? There are twelve civilian crew members on board the ship, which is flying the UK flag. The crew members are: Greta Thunberg, Swedish climate and social justice activist Baptise Andre, French physician Omar Faiad, French journalist with Al Jazeera Reva Viard, French climate activist Rima Hassan, French member of the European parliament, representing La France Insoumise party Yanis Mhamdi, French journalist with independent media outlet Blast Pascal Maurieras, French activist Suayb Ordu, Turkish activist Marco van Rennes, Dutch marine engineering student Sergio Toribio, Spanish crew member, a member of marine conservation NGO Sea Shepherd Thiago Avila, Brazilian journalist, social activist and politician Yasemin Acar, German activist of Kurdish descent Israel's statements Israel's defence minister Israel Katz said the Madleen was being taken to the port of Ashdod, which is around 17 miles north of Gaza. Katz said: "I congratulate the IDF for the quick and safe takeover of the 'Madleen' flotilla to prevent them from breaking the blockade and reaching the shores of Gaza. "I instructed the IDF to show the flotilla passengers the video of the horrors of the October 7 massacre when they arrive at the port of Ashdod. "It is appropriate that the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas supporters see exactly who the Hamas terrorist organisation they came to support and for whom they work is, what atrocities they committed against women, the elderly, and children, and against whom Israel is fighting to defend itself. "The IDF will continue its war against the Hamas murderers with all its moral righteousness until they are subdued, all the hostages are released, and the security of the State of Israel is ensured." Separately, Israel's foreign ministry called the boat a "selfie yacht' and claimed the "show is over". All the passengers of the 'selfie yacht' are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over. — Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 9, 2025 It went on: "While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity — and which included less than a single truckload of aid — more than 1200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza. "There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies. Israel is preparing to hold the 12 unlawfully detained activists in separate cells in Givon Prison in Ramla, media in the country is reporting. The far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is said to have ordered officials to block the detainees from having any pro-Palestine symbols or access to any electronic communications equipment.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store