FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: JONATHAN CLARKE

January 27, 1998 No. 05/98

THE CYPRUS PROBLEM:
THE CHALLENGE FOR U.S. FOREIGN POLICY

U.S. and international efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem are likely to intensify in 1998. Accession negotiations with the European Union begin on March 30. These discussions may provide the catalyst to progress. In the United States, there is bipartisan agreement that the status quo is unacceptable. The Administration has appointed Ambassador Richard Holbrooke to lead an American initiative on Cyprus. In the region Greece and Turkey have reached a series of bilateral agreements under NATO and U.S. auspices. These may facilitate progress on Cyprus.

As with all long-running international disputes, the Cyprus problem has a detailed history and a specialized vocabulary. This guide sets out the background to the issues, including historical notes, the role of the international community, the U.S. interests, and the major components of previous initiatives.