Cyprus
The U.N. has blamed Turkish Cypriot leader Raul Denktash for the failure of a peace plan that would have reunited Cyprus. The island has been divided in two since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied the ethnic Turkish north after a coup by those who wanted to make the island part of Greece. Talks on reunification, under a peace plan brokered by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, broke down last month, and the Security Council issued a resolution this week blaming “the negative approach of the Turkish Cypriot leader.” Cyprus has applied to join the European Union. That will not be possible as long as 40,000 Turkish troops continue to occupy its northern third.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.