Cyprus reunification

The talks, which are aimed at reaching a deal within the next six months for a reunification of Cyprus, were to be held Thursday between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders. The meeting was seen as an important step in a previously agreed roadmap to reunification.

The latest dispute is over a convoy of over 550 Orthodox Christians from the Greek south of the island. The group was on its way to services in the town of Morphou in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The pilgrims were stopped by Turkish border guards who, according to a senior aid to Greek Cypriot President Demetris Christofias, were overzealous when checking the list of names of those seeking to cross.

The official Greek Cypriot news agency CNA reported that after waiting 90 minutes the convoy began turning back in protest.

The aid, George Iacovou, said he relayed to UN envoy Alexander Downer that, "under the circumstances, it is better if we postpone [the talks] to assess the situation that has been created.

"We were saddened to hear about the way in which these checks were carried out, that any slight difference with the list and the names given led to unacceptable delays," he added.

"Tricks" no good

Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu fired back saying the two sides had agreed that only pilgrims whose names were listed would be allowed to cross the border.

"As a result, when those who failed to obey the procedure were unable to make the crossing, the remaining pilgrims decided to return as well," he said. "It is not right to play tricks to give the impression that the Turkish Cypriots are sabotaging the negotiations. If their aim is to run away from the negotiating table, they should openly say so."

Many of the pilgrims who were turned away had once lived in the town of Morphou, but were forced to flee the north in 1974 when Turkey invaded. The Turkish offensive was aimed at counteracting a Greek Cypriot coup pushing for a union of the island with Greece.

Cyprus has remained divided ever since, with the Greek south becoming a member state of the European Union in 2004, and the Turkish north remaining virtually unrecognized by the international community.

The next round of talks is scheduled to be held Sept. 10. The United Nations, which has been facilitating the negotiations, said Wednesday there was no sign yet that the next meeting would be called off.

dfm/AFP/AP/Reuters
Editor: Nancy Isenson