THERE have been several failed rounds of talks to reunify Cyprus since 1974, so scepticism about the latest is in order. Yet this round seems the most propitious to date. Speaking at The Economist’s Cyprus conference on November 1st, President Nicos Anastasiades expressed optimism that a deal would be done by the end of the year. The United Nations special envoy, Espen Barth Eide, added that more progress had been made than in any previous talks.
Mr Anastasiades and his Turkish-Cypriot counterpart, Mustafa Akinci, have agreed on a structure for a loose bizonal, bicommunal federation. Next week they move to Switzerland to talk about territory. This will be tough for Mr Akinci, as the Turkish-Cypriots, who make up some 20% of the population, must give up some of the 37% of the island they control. The Greek-Cypriots want the region of Morphou, a dusty town surrounded by lemon groves, as well as Varosha, a ruined beach resort outside Famagusta, and they may bristle at being offered the rugged Karpas peninsula. Yet observers reckon the two leaders would not be going to Switzerland unless they were confident of agreement.
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