The five-year period that elapsed between the 1998 and 2003 elections was marked by numerous events that significantly shifted the general context in Cyprus. In internal Turkish Cypriot politics, Derviş Eroğlu and his National Unity Party – UBP continued in power, this time with a new coalition partner, the Communal Liberation Party – TKP, led by Mustafa Akinci. The two parties had already shared power, for one year, in mid-1985, again under Eroğlu, with TKP under its founder Alpay Durduran. One week after the signature of Cyprus’ accession treaty to the European Union, the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktaş announced the lift of movement restrictions across the line dividing the island since 1974.
Negotiations for the accession of Cyprus to the European Union that started in 1998 continued and were completed during 2002. There had been no Turkish Cypriot participation in the process.
TO BE continued…