GREEK AND Turkish Cypriot leaders are set to resume talks a week late due to the cancellation of a pilgrimage by Greek Cypriots to a church in the north, occupied by Turkey in 1974.
This has soured the atmosphere ahead of the crucial second round of negotiations which could determine whether or not the island will be reunified or remain divided.
The new round was scheduled to begin on September 3rd, a year after the president of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat launched negotiations on a settlement involving the creation of a bicommunal, bizonal federal Cyprus.
Hopes have been pinned on this round, because 17 months after the two men began to meet in preparatory and substantive negotiations, the sides have produced 30 papers on three out of six main issues, but have failed to reach final agreement on any.
The leaders are under pressure to achieve a breakthrough before the EU summit in December, when Turkey could be sanctioned for refusing to honour a 2006 pledge to open its ports and airports to Cypriot carriers.
Mr Christofias and Mr Talat want to reach a deal before next April when the Turkish Cypriots are to hold presidential elections which could be won by a right-wing candidate opposed to a settlement.
Mr Christofias refused to attend this week’s meeting because the Turkish Cypriots failed to abide by an agreement for the unimpeded passage of 670 Greek Cypriots through the Turkish-occupied north to the St Mamas Church in Morphou for a service celebrating the saint’s day.
The pilgrimage was cancelled, with Turkish Cypriot police taking two hours to check the identities of people on two of the 27 buses.
This is the only occasion during the year when Greek Cypriots can worship in the church. No Cyprus Orthodox churches in the north are open for regular services.
Free passage for the pilgrims was meant to reciprocate for similar treatment granted last month to 200 Turkish Cypriots and mainland Turks. They were allowed through territory controlled by the government of the republic to the Kokkina enclave to mark a political event considered important by the Turkish side.
The pilgrims’ unhindered passage was intended to formalise the opening of the new Limnitis crossing between the internationally recognised republic in the south and the breakaway north.
The future of this crossing, still under construction by the UN, is now in doubt.