By Andrew Warshaw
October 18 – After months of sensitive negotiations, Greek and Turkish Cypriot officials are celebrating securing a landmark meeting with FIFA president Sepp Blatter aimed at possible footballing re-unification on the disputed Mediterranean island.
Earlier this year the leaders of the respective federations announced they were closer than ever to burying their differences after decades of separation and mistrust. In what was described as a crucial breakthrough that could pave the way for ultimate integration, Cyprus Football Association president Costakis Koutsokoumnis met Cyprus Turkish Football Association leader Hasan Sertoglu, whose unofficial CTFA is not recognised by FIFA, to set out a roadmap for a deal that will have ramifications far beyond fans on both sides of the island.
The talks ended with the announcement that the two sides would visit FIFA headquarters to try and finalise a deal but progress appeared to have stalled over the precise wording of a joint approach.
The reality, however, was that both sides were still totally committed to securing enough common ground. Discussions resumed in June but neither federation wanted to reveal too much too soon for fear of upsetting the delicate political environment.
Now, after months of tortuous negotiations, the two federations have announced they have been invited to Zurich on November 5 to jointly meet with Blatter “to discuss and finalise a provisional arrangement for football in Cyprus” based on the FIFA and UEFA Statutes.
“It is expected that at the end of the deliberations the two delegations will sign a document outlining the steps for the progress of football in the whole of Cyprus, with the approval of FIFA and UEFA.
“The arrangement will need to be ratified by the general assemblies of both the Cyprus FA and the Cyprus Turkish FA.”
The joint statements said the Zurich meeting would also be attended by UEFA president Michel Platini.
Turkish Cypriot clubs played together in an all-Island league until 1955 when they were forced to go their separate ways. The island has been divided politically since the 1974 Turkish military intervention and although United Nations efforts at re-unification are still ongoing, they have so far failed to yield results.
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