Turkey Faces New Challenges Over Cyprus
Negotiations between Nicosia and Moscow over gas reserves off the southern Cyprus coast are being watched with concern by Ankara, which does not accept Nicosia’s claim to full sovereignty over these reserves, writes Semih Idiz.
Normally, an article on Cyprus would stir little excitement despite that UN peace keepers have been stationed between the Turkish North and Greek South of the Island for nearly forty years, and a formal peace has not been declared. Cyprus is not, after all, an active conflict zone, and has not been since the present status quo was established in 1974.
That was the year when Turkey invoked its “rights of guarantee” under international agreements and invaded Cyprus, following an Athens-led coup by Greek Cypriots aiming for union with Greece, which has been a historic red line for Turks.
