Representatives from Cyprus’ estranged Greek and Turkish communities, along with their guarantor powers Greece Turkey and the UK, have embarked on an historic effort to reunify the island.

The attempt at reunification comes more than four decades after the Mediterranean’s largest island was divided. The UN has taken the unprecedented step of signalling it will end the island’s peacekeeping mission, UNFICYP, if talks collapse again. The force is the world’s longest-running peace operation.

‘If we miss this opportunity, I am sceptical as to whether it will come round again’



Christiana, 26, London born Cypriot

Both my parents are from the northern part of the island and my mum became a refugee at age 18. Her and her family, and countless others, spent months in tents whilst the situation settled and housing could be arranged. She left with nothing - no one expected to go back. Photos, valuables, and their belongings all stayed in their houses. So many people had to rebuild their lives from scratch. In London, we were all raised with continuous reminders of what happened in Cyprus in 1974, with many discussions on who was to blame .

The subject has not died down or gone away in the 40 or more years since the occupation. All conversations around Cyprus have always led back to when will the island reunify, and if we miss this opportunity I am sceptical as to whether it will come round again.

All my Cypriot family is waiting for the day when they can go home and rebuild their towns and villages for the future. But this isn’t the case for everyone; lots of people don’t believe in reunification, preferring the status quo - especially southerners who have gained a lot from the division.

Whatever happens, it will be a divided community, both between Greek Cypriots themselves, and the Turkish Cypriots. It will be a huge challenge for all of us to make any reunification work. For me personally, it is the opportunity to finally go back to where generations of my family have lived and reclaim something of what was lost. It is something that we were starting to believe would never happen.

‘Both sides need to remove the poison of nationalism from every part of society’



Stavros, 27, structural engineer, Nicosia, Cyprus

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A woman walks with an umbrella under an empty Greek Cypriot guard post in Nicosia, Cyprus. Photograph: Yiannis Kourtoglou/Reuters

I grew up on a fourth floor apartment in Nicosia from where I “enjoyed” the view of the Turkish flag on the Pentadaktylos mountain all my life. People eventually become numb and used to seeing that sight however, I am of the opinion that we should never normalise putting up gigantic flags on the sides of mountains.

There is a clear economic interest in resolving the Cyprus problem and I think it will help to create a lot of jobs especially in the construction, shipping and the energy industries. Despite being able to cross the green line freely, I still feel uncomfortable going to the north. First, because of the enormous Turkish flags everywhere, and also it feels wrong to support the economy of a rogue state. This has nothing to do with not wanting to live with Turkish Cypriots - on the contrary - but both sides need to remove the poison of nationalism from every part of society.

I want to be able to live, work, study and start a business anywhere in Cyprus whilst feeling proud about being a Greek-Cypriots and for Turkish-Cypriots to feel the same - but at the same time feel proud for being, above all, Cypriots. Is this too much to ask?

‘Younger generations are becoming more indifferent to the problem’



Christos, 35, economist, Cyprus

I was born in Cyprus and went to school and army on the Greek side. I was told to hate the other side and when I came to the UK to study it took a while to remove the chip on my shoulder of hating the other side. Living abroad you stay away from propaganda.

When I go back for holidays, I see the difference in opinion on this matter between me and my friends. You have to step away from the problem or else it becomes poison. Unfortunately the two communities in many cases will not trust each other.

The younger generations are becoming more indifferent to the problem as time goes by. Only problem is the school and army which teaches both sides not to trust each other.

I would definitely want a solution with one government with no Turkish or Greek nationality. I want equality for all and definitely not guarantors – Greece, Turkey and UK should all step away. People should not assume that violence will kick in the moment the guarantors are gone. East and West Germany has done it so why not a small island?

For many people it will mean for opportunities for everything including peace and economic development. Overall while I would like to see a solution I don’t see this happening, There is not enough goodwill or appetite. People have become used to the status quo.



