Germany calls for Cypriots to show willingness in unification talks

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Tuesday called upon Greek and Turkish Cypriots to seek compromise in settling their differences, after meeting Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu in Berlin.

‘Turkish as well as Greek Cypriots should lead the negotiations over the reunification of their island seriously and with a real will to unify,’ Westerwelle said.

‘This calls for a willingness to compromise and requires the absolute desire to reach a solution,’ the foreign minister added.

The leaders’ talks focused on the reunification of Cyprus, which since 1974 has been divided into an internationally recognised Greek Cypriot south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north, after Turkey invaded in response to a Greek-inspired coup.

The issue forms a key stumbling block for Turkey’s accession talks with the European Union.

Westerwelle called upon Eroglu to display the greatest degree of flexibility to lead the negotiations to a successful conclusion.