Unification For North Cyprus - Why the Time is Now

After the 2004 referendum on the Annan Plan was unsuccessful in its efforts to reunify North Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus - the Greek Cypriots voted against the measures - a number of cynics deemed the prospects of the island ever uniting slim indeed.

True, the warming of the E.U towards North Cyprus following their positive voting made some progress, but many saw that as a minor concession for a serious problem.

But when Dimitris Christofias came to power in Greek Cyprus this year, hopes were renewed, and several individuals, commentators and groups came round to the idea that Cyprus had the means to reunite after all; Christofias and TRNC president Mehmet Ali Talat have maintained a close correspondence and developed a strong friendship and working relationship.

They are now meeting weekly to hammr out a consitution for reform and bring the island to reunification in what could be as early as the start of 2009.

The pairing of the two leaders have brought with it much renewed optimism. The International Crisis Group (ICG), one of the most respected non-governmental political groups in the world, has suggested that the situation is right for a new push, and has published several reports on the subject. The ICG cites advantages and benefits for all involved; Turkey, The E.U and the U.N, and of course, North Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus.

In Reversing the Drift to Partition it had this to say:

"One more major effort, strongly encouraged by the UN and European (EU), should be made in 2008 to resolve the long-running dispute between ethnic Greeks and Turks on Cyprus and achieve a comprehensive settlement to reunify the island. All sides have much to gain from such a settlement. For all the Greek Cypriots, it would end lingering insecurity, give them access to the Turkish economy, the most dynamic in the region, and increase their service industry's value as an eastern Mediterranean hub. For Turkish Cypriots, it will mean being able to enjoy the benefits of EU citizenship of which they are presently deprived. for the EU, the unresolved Cyprus problem now hampers its functioning on issues as diverse as cooperation with NATO in Afghanistan and Chinese shoe imports. And for Turkey a settlement would overcome a major obstacle to its convergence with the EU".

What is clear then, is that the political and diplomatic importance of unification is abundant indeed. But it will also have repercussions on culture, and society.

Of course, as the ICG report outlines, it will also have vastly positive economic impacts; this can be seen in the North Cyprus property boom and all that has been gained there, even since 2004 when a unification attempt was tried but failed.With reunification proper, then, property in Cyprus looks set to rise considerably, and it is just another example of the numerous positive effects of reunification on the island, the E.U and U.N.

So as prices rise beyond the £30,000 per donum mark, it is impossible to ignore the importance of the North Cyprus property boom in the world of real estate and North Cyprus property markets.