Turkish, Greek Leaders on Cyprus Agree to New Talks

Turkish and Greek leaders from the bitterly divided island of Cyprus, aiming to create a unified federal republic, on Wednesday launched their first negotiations in more than three years and agreed to resume talks next month in the Cypriot capital.

U.N. officials, encouraged by a recent thaw in relations between Turkey and Greece--traditional enemies on the Cyprus question--say they are convinced that the new round of talks may be the best chance ever to reach a settlement.

After a day of meetings monitored by U.N. Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and Cyprus President George Vassiliou agreed to restart talks Sept. 15 in Nicosia.

“The two leaders expressed their willingness to meet without any preconditions and to attempt to achieve by June 1, 1989, a negotiated settlement of all aspects of the Cyprus problem,” Perez de Cuellar announced.

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders have met unsuccessfully dozens of times since 1963, when the island erupted in ethnic violence and a U.N. peacekeeping force was deployed to keep order. Talks were continued periodically after a 1974 coup by Greek Cypriot military officers favoring enosis , or union with Greece, which prompted intervention by Turkish military forces.

But the last round of talks fell apart in 1985, mainly over the issue of the 29,000 Turkish troops who remain in the northern area, recognized by the Turkish government since 1983 as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. An undetermined number of Greek soldiers are also stationed on the island.

However, several factors give hope that the latest talks may succeed where others have failed.

The main new element is the improved relationship between Athens and Ankara, which has come about after the two countries nearly went to war during a dispute over oil drilling in the Aegean Sea.

To try to resolve their differences, the two prime ministers--Turkey’s Turgut Ozal and Greece’s Andreas Papandreou--met in Davos, Switzerland, last January. In June, Ozal became the first Turkish leader to visit Athens in 36 years.

Another key factor in the new detente is Turkey’s fervent hope of being accepted in the European Communities--even if it means withdrawing its troops from Cyprus to win admission.

Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, would be forced to comply with Turkey’s wishes, although he is fiercely opposed to the withdrawal of Turkish troops. He and other Turkish Cypriots see the troops as their only line of defense against potential genocide at the hands of the Greek Cypriots.

On the Greek Cypriot side, the main new factor is the personality of Vassiliou, a wealthy businessman new to politics who was elected president in February, two years after last round of talks failed.

Sources who were present in the preliminary negotiating session Wednesday reported that Vassiliou deftly avoided a confrontation with Denktash, who began by listing allegations of Greek atrocities.

“We are entering into an era when regional problems are being solved,” Vassiliou said hopefully during an interview Wednesday night. “A better climate has been created for peace. Turkey is realizing the importance of improved relations with Greece. All Cypriots, Greeks and Turks realize this conflict is not benefiting anyone.”