Reunification Talks End in Failure

Talks in Switzerland on the eventual reunification of Cyprus ended in failure after the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders clashed over the issue of the Mediterranean island’s entry to the European Union. Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader, threatened to pull out of the talks if the EU delayed its plans to start entry talks for Cyprus early next year. Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf R. Denktash vowed to walk out if the plan went ahead. Cyprus has been partitioned since 1974, when Turkey sent troops to occupy the northern third of the island after a coup by supporters of union with Greece.