To mark the end of the year, we’ve asked our contributors to preview some of the possible stories of 2017. In this contribution, James Ker-Lindsay writes on the potential for a settlement to be agreed in Cyprus by the summer

Ker-Lindsay, James

LSE Research Online

29/12/2016Look ahead to 2017: A potential Cyprus settlement?blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2016/12/29/look-ahead-to-2017-a-potential-cyprus-settlement/To mark the end of the year, we’ve asked our contributors to preview some of the possible stories of2017. In this contribution, James Ker-Lindsay writes on the potential for a settlement to be agreedin Cyprus by the summer.After a turbulent 2016, Cyprus may prove to be an early bright spot in 2017. For the past two years,the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci,have been working towards a settlement of the dispute that has divided the two communities forover five decades and seen the island physically divided since 1974.So far, it appears the two sides have managed to reach agreement on a range of issues concerning governance.However, the key sticking points of territory and security remain to be tackled. These will be the focus of meetingsthat will take place in mid-January 2017. If successful, a reunification referendum could take place sometime in late-spring or early summer.On the other hand, the failure of talks could take Cyprus into uncharted waters. Although the UN would almostcertainly be required to continue its efforts to reach an agreement, observers increasingly believe that this is the lastrealistic chance to reunite the island.Given that it is unlikely that any UN members will recognise the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’, speculation isgrowing that Turkey may decide to annexe the north. This would inevitably kill off the country’s EU accession hopesand lead to a period of heightened tensions. However, Ankara, having observed international reactions to Russia’sannexation of Crimea, could well reach the conclusion that the EU will eventually move on and adopt a morepragmatic line.Please read our comments policy before commenting .Note: This article gives the views of the author, and not the position of EUROPP – European Politics and Policy, norof the London School of Economics. Featured image credit: Douglas H. Wheelock / NASA (Public domain)Shortened URL for this post: http://bit.ly/2hALlco _________________________________About the authorJames Ker-Lindsay – London School of EconomicsJames Ker-Lindsay is a Senior Visiting Fellow at LSEE-Research on South Eastern Europe,European Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science.1/1

Look ahead to 2017: a potential Cyprus settlement?

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