The process of mediation for a Cyprus settlement between 1999 and 2004 and the cause of failure : a case study of the annan plan for Cyprus

Abstract

Since the Cypriots achieved their independence in 1960, there have been incidents characterised by clashes of interests and the rising of tensions between the parties and, more accurately, the two major communities, present in the country. The main problems in Cypms arose as a result of huge levels of mistrust between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots that have been at loggerheads with each other since independence, a phenomenon that became even more pronounced in 1974 when the Republic of Turkey invaded Cyprus. The situation in Cyprus has always been given some importance by the international community and this prompted several international bodies as well as states to try to come up with a peaceful settlement in Cyprns. One of the most mentioned and well-known mediationefforts in Cyprns has been that of the Annan Plan for Cyprns that took place between 1999 and 2004. An analysis of the Plan will help in trying to discover the reasons why such a hopeful mediation process was rejected by one of the communities, the Greek Cypriots. Conflict resolution and mediation is a very delicate subject as it deals with relationships and conflicts between or within regions, states and communities and, thus, it is very easy to come up with inaccurate and wrong presumptions. The dissertation will, therefore, carefully analyse the causes of the Cyprns dispute and will then look into why the process for a peaceful settlement in the countiy between 1999 and 2004, with particular emphasis given on the Annan Plan, failed to achieve the expected outcomes. From the results gathered, it could then be concluded whether the mediation process in Cyprns has failed as a result of the third party involved in the mediation process or whether other factors beyond the mediator's control, mainly the internal factors of the state in question, have hindered theestablishment of an effective peaceful settlement in the country. The final part of the dissertation will then look into the prospects for the future regarding the conflict in Cyprus and will attempt to provide the possible solutions that might be pursued by future mediators aspiring to establish a peaceful settlement between the two communities on the island.