Turkish experts cautiously optimistic about Cyprus talks

Turkish analysts caution whether the long-running dispute concerning the divided island of Cyprus will be resolved soon despite the Turkish president's recent statement of hope for a resolution.

"There are long-embedded issues which are quite complicated for both parties in this Mediterranean island," Idris Gursoy, Ankara-based Turkish expert told Xinhua.

"We should recall that previous peace talks all started with similar vigor but ended with frustration," he added.

On a recent visit to the Turkish community of Cyprus, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots should grab this latest window of opportunity and reach a comprehensive solution.

The visit marked the 41st anniversary of Turkey's incursion into the Island in 1974 to protect Turkish Cypriots after the Greeks staged a coup aiming to unite the island with Greece. The island has been divided since then.

The 1959 and 1960 Zurich and London treaties granted Turkey, Greece and the UK rights of guarantorship over Cyprus.

Countless rounds of negotiations were held under the auspices of the United Nations yet no significant progress was made to unify the island in a mutually acceptable structure.

Talks resumed in May after an eight-months hiatus on negotiations due to a feud between the two parties regarding the island's right for offshore gas and oil exploration.

Renewed hope emerged in April when a center-left politician, Mustafa Akinci, was elected as leader of Turkish Cypriots.

With a new mandate, Akinci engaged in fresh talks with Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiades, tackling core issues for the first time, reporting slight progress.

He said talks may successfully be concluded in months provided the current pace of talks and determination from both sides is maintained.

"Step by step, work is coming to fruition. We managed to achieve progress on issues such as electricity, mobile phones and a few other issues," the president said.

"I find the leaders' statements positive. But we heard similar rhetoric from previous leaders. I think it's wise to adopt cautious optimism," said Memet Hasguler, a long-time expert on Cyprus.

Introducing a new dynamic into the equation, Erdogan discussed the project targeting water transportation via a pipeline from Turkey to northern Cyprus.

Water is scarce on the island which might lend further impetus to the talks.

Erdogan said the pipeline should be finished in one or two months as there remains only 1.5 km of the underwater pipeline to be installed.

"We should not miss this upcoming opportunity. It is time to finalize this issue," he emphasized, adding that "Turkey will do whatever is needed to support this process."

The shape of the new Turkish coalition government, currently under discussion among various political parties, is also expected to impact talks concerning the island.

Acting Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu held a series of meetings with possible contenders in an attempt to form the next government after the June elections stripped his party of super majority in the parliament.

For now, Davutoglu's Justice and Development Party (AKP) seems closer to sealing a deal with the center-left Republican Peoples' Party (CHP).

"The CHP may prioritize the current momentum reached in the Cypriot talks between Turkish and Greek island leadership," Omer Taspinar, Turkish expert in the Brookings Institute, said.

Despite the talks being under UN mediation, the European Union (EU) is equally encouraging both sides to settle disputes.

EU Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, visited the island last week and met both leaders.

"This is a unique opportunity and we should not lose impetus," Juncker said.

Cyprus is an EU member however Turkish Cypriots do not enjoy equal rights as Greek Cypriots.

The main issues under discussion between Turkish and Greek Cypriots comprise of the presidency structure, the federal Parliament, the upper court, security guarantees, future debt and property rights.