In the mean time, Cyprus peace talks: “all you need to know”

Rival leaders of the Mediterranean island, which has been split since 1974, are meeting in Geneva for a summit

The purpose of the Geneva talks is to end the partition of the island between the predominantly Turkish north and Greek south, so that the whole island has a unified – if federated – political structure and can be recognised by the European Union. At present only the south is recognised by the EU, and UN troops oversee a buffer zone across the island. Any agreement would have to be sanctioned by the UN and put to a referendum on both sides of the island, probably in the late spring.