Furthermore. though Turkey holds only 36 percent of Cyprus. the troops control an area responsible for 70 percent of the gross national product. since the northern occupied section is also the richest. This has led to disruption of the economy and the populace. Over 200.000 Greek Cypriots. onethird of the population. have been driven from their homes by the military. forced to become refugees in their own land. 2.000 Greek Cypriots have been left unaccounted for. The presence of the Turkish troops in Cyprus is a constant reminder of the intercommunal strife which has plagued this small island since it first gained independence in 1960. The armed forces constitute the greatest impediment to a peaceful solution. Both sides report that the negotiations are finally approaching a fruitful stage. In the last 6 months the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot interlocutors have both submitted comprehensive proposals for the others attention. Among the crucial issues considered negotiable are territorial arrangements. power sharing. and the number of refugees who will be allowed to return to their homes. The progress in these negotiations has been slow. but it has been coming. We cannot risk losing this progress by allowing the Turkish armed forces to remain.
Keywords matched
refugees