"The Cyprus question, which led to the suspension of talks between Turkey and the European Union (EU) in December 2006, still hangs over negotiations on Turkish membership of the EU, which will be back on the agenda at the next European summit in December. Despite a European ultimatum, Ankara is, in fact, still resolute in its stance: it refuses to recognize the Republic of Cyprus (an EU member since 2004) or to open its ports and airports to it. In this context, Jean-François Drevet goes to the heart of the problem – namely, the geopolitical situation of the island, which is divided into two entities: the Republic of Cyprus in the south, the only authority recognized by the international community, and, in the north, the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. He goes on to analyse the terms of a possible reunification. Throughout his article he makes reference, in this connection, to the Annan Plan, proposed by Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. In a referendum in 2004 this was accepted by the residents of the north, but rejected by those in the south and has since been abandoned. However, a number of the proposals in that plan could now come in for renewed consideration."

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