Geneva talks on reunification of Cyprus have broken (though presumably not broken down) for the weekend. Difficult to imagine a positive result, though. International commentators talk cheerfully about remaining details to be filled in but fail to really see the bone deep hostility in much of the Greek Cypriot community, much of it based on a deeply flawed knowledge of history. What to an outsider is a question of land exchanges and boundaries is to many Greek Cypriots my father's stolen house. They probably don't know and certainly wouldn't care that many, many other Europeans have had to rise above the traumatic aftermath of war and occupation, and that no justice is ever precise. Meanwhile sanctions continue to cripple the future of the north. If and when there is an agreement, it is to be followed by referenda on each side. Not much cause for optimism.
