Greeks and Turks agree

last updated 8 January 2015

Nicosia, Cyprus

The Greek and Turkish halves of divided Cyprus made a long-awaited breakthrough this week in their quest to reunite. Leaders of the two sides agreed to follow a U.N. plan that envisions a loose federation of two mostly autonomous states sharing a central government. On any issue that they can’t settle themselves, they will abide by the decision of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Cyprus has been split since 1974, when Turkey occupied the north in response to a Greek coup in the south. Both sides want to reunite before May, when the Greek half is scheduled to enter the European Union. “The timetable for negotiations is tight,” said Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, and requires “plenty of goodwill.”