For over fifty years, the Cyprus Problem has been a byword for an intractable ethnic conflict. Despite many efforts to broker an agreement, the UN has been unable to resolve the dispute between the island’s Greek and Turkish communities.

In the early hours of Friday, 7 July, UN sponsored talks aimed at the reunification of Cyprus broke up without agreement. After ten days of discussions in the Swiss mountain resort of Crans Montana, the UN Secretary-General was forced to conclude that no settlement was possible. It was a bitter blow for the many observers who felt that this latest negotiation process be-tween the Cypriot leaders had been the best chance to resolve the long-standing division of the island.