The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: April 12, 2025
Today: April 12, 2025

Rival Cypriot sides to work on removing landmines, other peace initiatives

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, who leads Cyprus's Greek Cypriot community, and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar are seen during a meeting in the presence of UN Cyprus representative Colin Stewart in the U.N. buffer zone in the capital Nicosia
April 02, 2025
Reuters - Reuters

(Reuters) - Greek and Turkish Cypriots will cooperate on removing landmines between their estranged communities and undertake initiatives on the environment and climate change, their leaders agreed on Wednesday, weeks after the U.N. hailed the first meaningful progress in years in talks on the future of the divided island.

The announcement was made in a statement on behalf of Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar released by the United Nations mission in Cyprus following a meeting between the two.

The two communities, who live on separate sides of Cyprus, also plan to establish a technical committee to address youth issues as part of a package of confidence-building measures between the two sides, the statement said.

Rival Cypriot sides to work on removing landmines, other peace initiatives
Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides, who leads Cyprus's Greek Cypriot community, and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar talk before a meeting in the U.N. buffer zone in the capital Nicosia

Cyprus was split by a Turkish invasion in 1974 after a brief Greek-inspired coup, following years of sporadic violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots almost immediately after independence from Britain in 1960. The island is a key source of disagreement between NATO allies Greece and Turkey.

The two sides had a "constructive exchange" on increasing the number of civilian crossing points between the two sides, as well as plans to create a solar farm in the U.N.-controlled buffer zone between them, the statement said.

Reunification talks collapsed in 2017 and efforts to start a renewed peace process had been stalled since.

But Christodoulides and Tatar met for informal talks two weeks ago in Geneva, after which U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said progress had been made for the first time in years.

Rival Cypriot sides to work on removing landmines, other peace initiatives
Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides, who leads Cyprus's Greek Cypriot community, and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar are seen before a meeting in the U.N. buffer zone in the capital Nicosia

Despite agreeing to confidence-building measures, the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides are still at odds over how any settlement would work.

Greek Cypriots want a federation, a model prescribed by U.N. resolutions, while Turkish Cypriots advocate for a two-state solution, arguing that decades of failed negotiations have proven a federal model unworkable.

(Reporting by Michele Kambas; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Share This

Popular

Environment|Political|US

White House aims to eliminate NOAA climate research in budget plan

White House aims to eliminate NOAA climate research in budget plan
Business|Environment|US

Southern California Edison lays out $925 million plan to rebuild after LA wildfires

Southern California Edison lays out $925 million plan to rebuild after LA wildfires
Environment|Europe|Political|World

Greenland appoints first Arctic ambassador, pledges sustainable development

Greenland appoints first Arctic ambassador, pledges sustainable development
Education|Environment|Health|Political|US

CDC denies Milwaukeeโ€™s request for help with unsafe lead levels in public schools

CDC denies Milwaukeeโ€™s request for help with unsafe lead levels in public schools

Political

Crime|Political|US

Pennsylvania man charged over threats to kill Trump, immigration agents

Pennsylvania man charged over threats to kill Trump, immigration agents
Business|Economy|Finance|Political|Stock Markets|US

Broadening asset volatility intensifies worries for tariff-tossed US stocks

Broadening asset volatility intensifies worries for tariff-tossed US stocks
Environment|Political|US

White House aims to eliminate NOAA climate research in budget plan

White House aims to eliminate NOAA climate research in budget plan
Crime|Political|US

US seeks release of ex-FBI informant who admitted fabricating Biden claims

US seeks release of ex-FBI informant who admitted fabricating Biden claims

Access this article for free.

Already have an account? Sign In