When DISY, the biggest party in Cyprus, and its leader Anastasiades who wants to be the next president of Cyprus, and the former presidents of Cyprus Cleredes and Vassiliou supported the Annan plan, why Papandreou, who was not even the Prime Minister back then, could not do the same? The politicians in both Greece and Cyprus act in no different way. I agree with some I disagree with others.
As far as EU goes, Cyprus would have never been accepted with the Cyprus Problem unsolved if it wasn't for Greece.
Lastly, there is the issue that some observers regard as the unexploded bomb beneath the whole enlargement process: Cyprus. At present, the island is divided into a Turkish-occupied and a Greek-occupied part. The EU is negotiating only with the Greek part, but has made it clear that it is extremely reluctant to admit a divided island to membership. The hope is still that the prospect of enlargement will spur a Cyprus settlement, allowing the Union to welcome a reunited island as a member. But so far there is no sign of progress in the peace talks.
This confronts the Union with a dilemma. Admitting a divided island would enrage and possibly destabilise Turkey, an important strategic partner. That is reason enough for many existing members to oppose the idea; indeed the Dutch Parliament has passed a resolution saying that it would vote against any enlargement that included a divided Cyprus. But the Greeks are equally adamant that their bit of Cyprus must be allowed into the Union. The Greek Parliament would very likely veto any enlargement that keeps Cyprus out.
The top ranks of the EU are utterly divided on what to do. One senior EU official says that, faced with the certainty of a Greek veto of enlargement, the EU would have to let in a divided Cyprus because “we simply cannot let the whole of Central Europe be held hostage by the Cyprus question.” Across the road, another top official says it is “inconceivable” that the EU would let in a divided Cyprus.
http://www.economist.com/node/622819The EU is a battleground for the long and bitter dispute between Greece and Turkey.
Recently, Turkey warned that if the divided island of Cyprus became an EU member, it would annex the north.
Greece, for its part, has threatened to block all the EU's enlargement ambitions if Cyprus is not included in the first round of expansion.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1694326.stm
