Leaders of the Greek and Turkish communities of Cyprus have pledged to engage in discussions about the reunification of the island before its accession to the European Union on May 1. They reached an agreement on Friday after three days of intensive talks in New York, which included the presence of Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations. According to this agreement, Tassos Papadopoulos, the President of Cyprus, and Rauf Denktash, the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, will begin negotiations to resolve the 30-year stalemate under the supervision of the United Nations on Thursday in Nicosia. They have agreed that if these negotiations fail, they will allow Kofi Annan to present his plan for a referendum for the people of Cyprus.
Dialogue Between Greek and Turkish Cypriot Leaders in New York - 2004-02-14
Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders have committed to discussions on reunification before Cyprus joins the EU. The talks, facilitated by Kofi Annan, aim to resolve a long-standing division. If unsuccessful, a referendum plan will be proposed.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Leaders of the Greek and Turkish communities in Cyprus agreed to engage in discussions about the island's reunification before its EU accession. The talks will be supervised by the UN and could lead to a referendum if negotiations fail.
- The discussions are set to begin in Nicosia on Thursday.
- The agreement follows three days of intensive talks in New York.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following a Turkish invasion triggered by a Greek-led coup. The island's reunification has been a contentious issue involving national identities and geopolitical interests.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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