Formation of joint military proposed in Cyprus peace talks

Turkish and Greek Cyprus have agreed to form a joint military, Greek Cypriot Defense Minister Christoforos Fokaides reportedly told the Phileleftheros newspaper.

According to the daily's interview with Fokaides, the sides had agreed to form a professional armed forces in which current active duty officers will continue their jobs and compulsory military service will be abolished on the island. Showing the United Nations as his source, the minister said leaders of both sides of the divided island agreed in principle to form a joint military.

Cyprus reunification talks could see a breakthrough later this year, Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akıncı said last month. "It may be seen as an ambitious date to talk about 2016, but if we continue with this determination after the elections in Greek Cyprus, we can have a breakthrough, we can conclude an agreement on the main principles," Akıncı said in Berlin.

He made the remarks at a panel discussion at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation following talks with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. There will be elections in Greek Cyprus in May and Akıncı said he hoped both sides will achieve further progress on the settlement, leaving minor details to next year. "If we conclude everything within months on the political side, on the basic principles, on the territory issue, on the security issue, property and other remaining main issues, then it is not very important if we extend into 2017 certain other parts that will be worked out," he said.