Will Germany Solve the Division in Cyrpus?

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The island of Cyprus has been divided between Greece and Turkey since 1976, and now its president is asking Germany for help in resolving the crisis.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier became the first German president to visit Cyprus. In a meeting on Monday, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides asked him to lead the European Union in taking on a greater role to solve Cyprus’s division.

He said, “The republic of Cyprus is an ardent supporter of closer relations between the EU and Ankara, which are going through the developments and the resolution of the Cyprus problem. It is in this context that we consider a more active involvement on the part of the EU ….”

Christodoulides and Steinmeier discussed setting up a United Nations special envoy to mediate negotiations between Turkey and Cyprus. Steinmeier said, “It is high time to work with renewed courage on a solution to the Cyprus question.” He said Turkey’s actions in Cyprus could impact its ability to obtain EU membership.

In the Trumpet’s January issue, editor in chief Gerald Flurry explained the strategic significance of Cyprus and how the power that really rules the island nation is Germany. “Germany rules the EU and has made sure that it dominates Cyprus,” he wrote. “This tiny island nation, after entering the EU and adopting the euro, became dependent on the German economy.”

Cyprus asking Germany to mediate a deal with Turkey highlights this relationship. You can read more about it in Mr. Flurry’s article “As You Watch Gaza—Watch Germany.”