Cyprus

The Cyprus conflict has got new prominence since the EU decided in 1997 to accept the Republic's application for full membership as a (legally) unified state at the Luxembourg summit. This analysis demonstrates that today, the core of the issue is not re-unification. It is a problem of security of those concerned, that is, the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. However, to achieve this target, a process of de-securitisation of the political debate is needed, especially in Turkey. The Greek Cypriots could contribute to such a process by renouncing the fictitious aim of unification. They would gain greatly by concentrating on achieving objectives like indemnisation and de-militarisation of the island, leaving the Turkish Cypriots to aims and objectives which are determined by their own needs.