Cyprus peace talks called off amid mounting war of words

A planned meeting between rival Cypriot leaders scheduled for tomorrow has been called off as a war of words over a nationalist commemoration in Greek Cypriot schools threatens reunification talks.
There was no immediate statement from the United Nations, which has been hosting the talks, but the Cyprus government said that Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades had been informed today that the meeting would not go ahead.
The row threatens nearly two years of UN-backed negotiations on ending the island's decades-old division that many had seen as the best chance for a settlement since Greek Cypriots rejected a UN reunification plan in 2004.

A meeting last Thursday broke up in acrimony with Anastasiades and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Mustafa Akinci accusing each other of walking out.
UN envoy Espen Barth Eide had voiced confidence that this week's meeting in Nicosia would go ahead regardless, but the climate of trust between the two leaders has deteriorated.
The head of the UN peacekeeping force on the island, Elizabeth Spehar, had shuttled between the two sides to try to broker a compromise, meeting Akinci yesterday and Anastasiades today but to no avail.

Anastasiades said the meeting's cancellation was regrettable and that he remained ready to return to the table.

"I regret the decision of Mr. Akinci not to attend the meeting tomorrow. I am ready to continue the dialogue at anytime," he said on Twitter.
Akinci's spokesman also confirmed the cancellation.
Tensions have soared over the February 10 approval by the Cyprus parliament for Greek Cypriot schools to commemorate a 1950 referendum on "Enosis", or union with Greece.
The unofficial referendum -- staged before Cyprus won independence from colonial ruler Britain -- overwhelmingly approved Enosis but had no legal value.
Almost 96 per cent of the majority Greek Cypriots signed up in favour of union with "motherland" Greece in the poll held in churches and coffee shops, according to its organisers, the Cyprus Greek Orthodox Church.

The amendment to schools legislation, sponsored by the far-right Greek nationalist ELAM party, essentially calls for secondary students to mark the anniversary by learning about the referendum and the Enosis cause.
Akinci's spokesman said he was ready to return to the negotiating table but that steps first needed to be taken to overturn the amendment.