Cyprus later entered the EU as a divided island.

Greece has long been at odds with its close neighbour, Turkey, over territorial disputes in the Aegean and the divided island of Cyprus.

And on my next visit to the divided island, I plan to give my undivided attention to the other half of Cyprus: the Turkish north.

Europe is reluctant to take on board a divided island with myriad problems, including United Nations peacekeepers stuck between Turkish and Greek troops.

Mr. Judd wrote, "The divided island has for too long been contorted by tensions between Turkey and Greece."

I have said here on more than one occasion that coming as I do from a divided island we understand very fully how difficult it is to heal the rifts.

It is clear now that the Union must move swiftly to replace the United Nations as the principal force for peace and reconciliation upon that sad, divided island.

It cannot be united in peace for as long as Cyprus remains a divided island.

With new talks to reconcile the divided island expected to take place this year, Pyla, the only officially mixed community in Cyprus, finds itself under a national microscope.

This was 1970 and Berlin was a divided island in a heavily armed communist dictatorship.