Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday began a two-day official visit to Cyprus, his first overseas visit since assuming office on July 7.
Mitsotakis's visit, described as "of the utmost importance" by his government spokesperson, takes place at a crucial period when efforts are underway to push forward the stalled Cyprus peace talks. Many wonder if his visit signals a possible resumption of the talks.
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades (R) meets with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, Cyprus, July 29, 2019. /Reuters Photo
What happened two years ago?
Cyprus has been divided into the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities since 1974 after Turkish troops mounted a major military action in response to a coup by the military rulers of Greece at the time, marking the start of one of the world's longest and most intractable problems.
The last round of negotiations took place two years ago at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana. The talk, presided over by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, was attended by the two Cypriot communities and three guarantor powers, the UK, Greece and Turkey, with the European Union represented as an observer.
The talks floundered inconclusively after 10 days of negotiations. Both sides were "close but not close enough" to reaching a consensus, according to UN special adviser Espen Barth Eide. The crux of the collapse lies in power-sharing and security arrangements.
Elizabeth Spehar, UN special representative and head of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus attends a meeting with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades (R) and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci (L) at the old Nicosia airport, October 26, 2018. /VCG Photo
Accounting for about 20 percent of the population, the Turkish Cypriots demanded political equality in order to make any decision valid by all executive, judicial and legislative organs of a future federal state. While the majority Greek Cypriots fear that the Turkish Cypriots would use the veto power to hamper the functioning of the state.
Another sticking point lies in the maintaining of military intervention rights as Turkey insisted under a tripartite "guarantor power" security system which was conceived when Cyprus won independence from the UK.
The Greek Cypriots demanded that Turkey must abandon guarantee and intervention rights, and pull out troops it sent to Cyprus since 1974, viewing it "unacceptable for a third state to have the unilateral right of [military] intervention" in an independent EU state, said Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Stratos Efthymiou.
Turkey refused the request, saying that "for Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side it is not acceptable for troops to be withdrawn," according to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Insistence from both parties led to the breakdown of the talks and a two-year halt due to lack of grounds for the resumption. With Mitsotakis's visit and his repeated claim to push forward the reunification of Cyprus, together with the planned meeting between leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities scheduled in early August, many believe preconditions are in place for the peace talks.
Supporters of the peace process hold placards during a gathering ahead of a round of talks aimed at ending the division between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, in Crans-Montana, June 28, 2017. /VCG Photo
A possible breakthrough?
Mitsotakis chose Cyprus as the first country to visit after he took leadership and vowed to "end the occupation of the divided island's north by Turkey" as a "top priority" during his visit. The move, in many experts' view indicates that Greece may take a more proactive approach to address the long-lasting issue.
Before his visit, the Greek prime minister also pledged to "stand by our Cypriot brothers in their struggle for the reunification of Cyprus" in a tweet, on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the coup.
Cyprus Mail viewed Mitsotakis's visit could serve as an indication of how relations between the two governments as well as Greece-Turkey relations will develop in the coming months. Considering his recent remarks, the Cypriot media suggested that the newly-elected prime minister may abandon the old approach of "Cyprus decides and Greece supports" and play a more proactive role, and may even take the lead in trilateral relations.
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades (R) and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis shake hands outside the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, Cyprus, July 29, 2019. /Reuters Photo
Regarding the potential impact the new prime minister and his visit may have on Cyprus issues, Cyprus Mail reminded readers of the important role Turkey has played in the peace talks, suggesting that the future development of Cyprus issues also depends on the type of relations Greece’s new government wants to pursue with Turkey, which, was also the main topic Mitsotakis discussed with his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiadis "during a period of particular tension."
The tension refers to Turkish drilling activities over the exploitation of gas and oil fields in the seabed south of Cyprus which has escalated the tension in the region. Speaking of Greece-Turkey relations, Mitsotakis signaled that he would take the change of government as a chance to reshape Greek-Turkish relations as long as Turkey shows "good will" in the interview with Greek media.
The Turkish side responded by claiming that it had realized "the necessity to stop energy exploration or drilling ships in the region for now," as Cavusoglu said in a statement, a conciliatory move in many analysts' view.
The change of Greek government together with the new prime minister's visit to Cyprus may serve as a good opportunity to restart the peace talks. Considering the recent statements made by the two sides, many believe that the resumption of the negotiations is possible, though no obvious compromises have been made on the Cyprus issues.
(Cover: Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis waves as he leaves the presidential palace in Athens, Greece, July 9, 2019. /VCG Photo)