This work traces the attempts by the United Nations to bring about the reunification of Cyprus prior to the island's accession to the European Union on 1 May 2004. In addition to charting the course of previous efforts to solve the Cyprus issue, the book recounts the direct discussions between the two sides from January 2002 through to April 2004, when a UN-sponsored peace plan was defeated in a referendum. The book pays particular attention to the ways in which the positions of the main protagonists - Turkey, the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots - changed during the two and half years of negotiations and analyses how the best chance to solve the Cyprus issue in thirty years eventually failed despite the best efforts of the United Nations, the European Union and the United States.

Introduction
Historical Background
Direct Talks
The Annan Plan
Opening the Line
Restarting the Process
The Final Phase
Epilogue
Conclusion
Chronology
Appendices
Bibliography

JAMES KER-LINDSAY is Director of Civilitas Research and an associate fellow of the Royal United Services Institute, where he previously served as the co-ordinator of the Greek-Turkish Forum. A frequent commentator on regional affairs, he has also covered Greek and Cypriot politics for the Economist Intelligence Unit.