There is every indication that Cyprus is willing to reunify, but their leaders are coming up against serious difficulties. This week's events have shown once again differences between Greek and Turkish leaders. President of Turkey Abdullah Gül said in a joint news conference with Turkish Cypriot president Mehmet Ali Talat that he aims at reaching an agreement over reunification and putting it to referendum by the end of 2009.

The Greek Cypriot government has dismissed the proposal by declaring that it is not feasible to decide on a new settlement before December as the Turkish Cypriot side is delaying discussions. According to Today's Zaman Turkish newspaper, Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias have held more than 30 rounds of talks since September 2008. After a promising onset, the process has been fading away as controversial issues such as land property and deployment of foreign armies were raised.

This week's newspaper headlines are clear example of how complex it is to make any progress in the peace process. Turks and Greeks have shown their willingness to make steps towards reunification (Greek Cypriot side want reunification of Cyprus and Turkey calls for Cyprus referendum by end-2009), but display of force by both sides is not uncommon. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is not to "make any territorial concessions", Ali Talat warned last week with reference to the territory occupied by the Turkish army and claimed by the Greeks. Christofias, on the other hand, has rejected recently any peace deal that would allow Ankara to keep the right to military intervention in case Turkish people come under threat of attack.

According to the talks that have been held recently, it is most likely that Cyprus will be reorganized as a federation with a single sovereignty and citizenship, but made up of two entities retaining a large degree of self-government. The United Nations, the international institution that is sponsoring the peace talks, has declared in several occasions the process should be brought to a close by early 2010.

Further information:

• Kathimerini: Cyprus president rejects Turkey's right to intervene militarily as condition for island's reunification
• MónDivers: El líder turcoxipriota avisa que no farà grans concessions territorials
• Hürriyet Daily News: Greek Cypriots see no solution, referendum by end of 2009
• Turkish Weekly: Differing Agendas for Cyprus Reunification
• Nationalia:Talks on Cyprus reunification enter critical stage