Turks Disclose ‘Breakthrough’ in Cyprus Talks

The Turkish ambassador to the United States reported a “major breakthrough” Wednesday in the conflict over Cyprus, saying that the island’s Greek and Turkish leaders are ready to sign a unification agreement.

A spokesman for the Greek Cypriot government warned that nothing will be signed unless the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island is assured in advance, but he added that “there is cautious optimism for the first time since 1964.”

Turkish Ambassador Sukru Elekdag said the leaders of the two Cyprus communities--President Spyros Kyprianou, who is Greek, and Rauf Denktash, the Turkish leader--will meet in New York today to conclude an agreement “on all essential elements” for the establishment of a federated republic, ending nearly two decades of division.

Sovereignty, Home Rule The preliminary agreement calls for the central government to have sovereignty over the entire island, but for each community to be given wide home-rule powers. Preliminary talks aimed at achieving a unification agreement have been held in New York between lower-level diplomats for five months.

Marios L. Evriviades, press counselor of the Cypriot Embassy in Washington, confirmed that the two factions will meet today under U.N. auspices to seek the agreement.

Evriviades, who as a government spokesman represents the Greek Cypriot majority, cautioned, though: “Our problem is simple. We are not willing to sign something that permits Turkish troops to stay.”

Turkey has previously agreed only in principle to remove its estimated 18,000 troops from Cyprus. Greece, which has about 2,000 soldiers in Cyprus supporting the Greek Cypriot National Guard, demands a definite timetable.

Nevertheless, the Greek Cypriot spokesman said, “There is cautious optimism (about a settlement) for the first time since 1964.”

Cyprus, a former British colony, became independent in 1960 under a constitution that gave the presidency and 70% of the seats in Parliament to the Greek majority, and the vice presidency and the remaining 30% of parliamentary seats to the Turkish minority. Greeks make up 80% of Cyprus’ population of about 725,000.

Eight years after independence, the United States was called in to mediate a conflict between the two communities that had brought Turkish and Greek troops temporarily to the island. Turkish troops landed again in 1974--and stayed--when a Greek Cypriot coup overthrew Archbishop Makarios, Cyprus’ first president, and brought a radical Greek government to power.

As Greek inhabitants fled from Turkish territory and Turks from Greek-held areas, the island’s Turks declared a separate state in the north that has never been officially recognized by any country other than Turkey. As part of the proposed agreement, they would abandon this claim to separate nationhood in favor of confederation with the Greeks under one national government.

Through the years, the United States has sought a solution in Cyprus because of the dispute’s divisive effect on Greece and Turkey and the consequent weakening of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, to which both belong. In addition, all the recent secretaries-general of the United Nations have sought peace there, with equal lack of success.

Last month, though, Elekdag said, the Greek Cypriots gave diplomatic “understandings” to their Turkish counterparts at the preliminary talks that made it possible for Kyprianou and Denktash to meet face to face today--their first such encounter in years.

“The parties have agreed that there will be two federated states, united under the roof of a federal state,” the ambassador said. “The federal state will have full authority over the island. A final solution is still not in easy reach, but the signing of a document makes it much more possible.”

The general agreement would provide for the establishment of “working groups” under U.N. auspices to resolve specific issues that continue to divide the two communities. The Turkish ambassador said he hopes the groups will complete their assignment soon, although Greek Cypriot spokesman Evriviades predicted the task could take up to two years.

Indeed, Evriviades emphasized the unresolved issues, saying Greek Cypriots are especially concerned by the negotiators’ tentative allocation of 29% of the island’s land to Turks, despite their smaller proportion of the population. When Turkish troops invaded in 1974, they occupied 37% of the island.

Evriviades also accused Turkey of trying to rush an agreement in an attempt to impress the U.S. Congress with its support for peace. Turkish Prime Minister Turgut Ozal has scheduled a visit to Washington in April and will be seeking the renewal of U.S. military aid for his country.