Intl crisis group calls on Turkey, Greece to settle Aegean disputes

Despite difficulties resolving the Cyprus issue, Turkey and Greece should settle the longstanding Aegean problems between them, says the International Crisis Group (ICG) in a new report. "The deadlocked Cyprus problem is still a factor, but both sides have distanced themselves from the idea that its solution is a precondition for an Aegean settlement," states the report "Turkey and Greece: Time to Settle the Aegean Dispute. "Since Cyprus is peaceful [despite its contentious division], they should further delink it from Aegean issues, although progress in the Aegean could positively impact talks on a Cyprus settlement." The report argues that both countries would benefit from a foreign policy success, and the Aegean's problems persistence has been an "expensive, outdated and stressful stand-off over Aegean Sea maritime zones and related issues," so resolving them could "capitalise on twelve years of normalization" between Turkey and Greece.