Turkish Cypriots: Crisis Could Delay Settlement The leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots says the financial woes currently being experienced by the Greek Cypriots could delay a settlement to the island's nearly 40-year division. Dervis Eroglu told the AP on Wednesday that the Greek Cypriot president, Nicos Anastasiades, might end up focusing his energy on resolving the financial issues and devote less time to peace talks. The talks, which are currently stalled, have made little headway in the last decades. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup sparked by an attempt to unite the island with Greece. The state Turkish Cypriots declared in the north is recognized only by Turkey, which maintains about 35,000 troops there. The island is represented internationally by the southern Greek Cypriot government, which Turkey doesn't recognize.