The Prime Ministers of Greece and Turkey will join with Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and representatives of Turkish Cypriots this week near Lucerne, Switzerland amid increasing gloom about the prospects for success in talks about the island's future.
The first sign of truly serious trouble was the decision of Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to refuse to attend the conference. His hard line was backed by Abdullah Gul, foreign minister of Turkey, who said Cyprus should be exempted from the European Union's "primary laws," which allow freedom of movement and the right to own property anywhere in the EU. Gul and Denktash want requirements for the Greek and Turkish communities to be kept separate, which would have the effect of legitimizing a separate Turkish regime on Cyprus.
Additionally, recent polls among both Greek and Turkish Cypriots suggest each side would reject a plan unless changes are made which the other side would find unacceptable.
It just seemed it was so close.
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