Eurasia Group: Breakthrough in Cyprus talks likely in early 2016

A breakthrough in the Cyprus negotiations is likely early new year 2016, despite concerns over property and security issues, a report by the international risk consultancy company Eurasia Group predicts.

Significant developments on the issue of territory are likely in the first three months of 2016. This will give added impetus to a reaching a workable agreement on unifying the island next year.

The Eurasia Group report says that the problem of abandoned properties, which remain since the displacement of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots, must be solved.

The report suggests three potential solutions:

“There are three ways to resolve this issue: 

1. The previous owner will either be given back the property, 
2. Offered some compensation for its value 
3. Given the option to swap it with another piece of property on the other side of the island.”

However, the report also writes that this problem cannot be solved immediately because of the technicalities required to classify property and ownership and public sensitivity about the topic.

Credit: Daily Sabah