CYPRUS: Negotiations on the reunification of divided Cyprus appear to have broken down on the issue of security, one of the four core items under discussion.
Today's meeting between President Glafkos Clerides of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, has been cancelled. The two men will hold separate discussions with the UN special envoy, Mr Alvaro de Soto, in an effort to break the deadlock before the next scheduled session on June 25th.
Since the negotiations opened last January they have held 41 biweekly sessions in four rounds of talks, with the aim of agreeing on at least the outline of a settlement by the end of this month.
Although there was considerable optimism on both sides of the dividing "Green Line" at the commencement of the talks, this had faded by April. The UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, visited the island in mid-May to give impetus to the negotiations.
Following the final meeting of this round on July 2nd, Mr de Soto will fly to New York for discussions with Mr Annan.
The Cyprus Government spokesman, Mr Michalis Papapetrou, was reluctant to comment on the situation because of a news blackout. He would admit only that the "direct talks are at a very difficult point". He said that what happens during the next week could determine whether or not Mr Annan submits a report to the Security Council.
The impasse has been caused by two very different visions of a future Cyprus state. The Greek Cypriots and the international community have committed to a bizonal, bicommunal federation with single sovereignty.
But Mr Denktash, backed by Ankara, insists on a weak confederation comprising two separate sovereign states.
On security, he wants to retain the prevailing system of guarantees, which gives Turkey the right to intervene and to station a substantial number of mainland troops in the north.
Mr Denktash said yesterday Greek Cypriots had tried this week to provoke a breakdown in the negotiations, but insisted the talks would "continue until the end".
"There were moments where we just stood waiting for the other side to get up and walk," he told Reuters. "Neither side did and they couldn't afford to."
Mr Denktash cited reports in the Greek Cypriot media that talks were foundering on his intransigence.
Turkey reportedly has added 5,000 troops to the 35,000 already there. The Greek Cypriots call for international guarantees and peacekeepers and demilitarisation of the entire island.
The deadline for a settlement is the end of the year, when Cyprus's application for EU entry is expected to be approved, with accession taking place in 2004.
Turkey has threatened to annex the north if this happens in the absence of a settlement, precipitating major crises with Greece, NATO and the EU.