III. Perceptions of Cypriot political elites of the piecemeal approach as a supplementary tool towards a comprehensive solution B y Yücel Vural and Nicos Peristianis A number of political opinion makers associated with political parties, civil society organizations and official institutions from the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities were contacted and interviewed during May-June 2014, in order to ascertain the main attitudes towards the piecemeal model as an instrument for preparing the ground towards achieving a comprehensive solution. In most cases, the basic model for gathering the views on the issue was face-to­face interviews, which were recorded. In addition, when deemed necessary, the respondents clarified and confirmed their arguments through written responses to the interviewers. 15 The survey data were also enriched through findings obtained from focus group discussions. In all cases, the respondents were clearly informed that the survey aimed at producing a policy paper on the possibility of implementing “a number of confidence building measures as complementary elements of a comprehensive solution” in Cyprus. The interviewers presented four issues as the first wave of such goodwill gestures:“the restoration of institutional religious rights”;“normalizing international air transportation to and from the northern part of Cyprus”;“the opening of Varosha”; and“unifying the administration of football in Cyprus”. 16 From the analysis of the survey data, it became obvious that the responses, reactions and arguments of the various respondents towards the possibility of implementing goodwill measures in Cyprus are affected and shaped by a number of beliefs and assumptions, as described below: 1. Beliefs and assumptions of the Greek Cypriot opinion makers towards the implementation of goodwill gestures Greek Cypriot Belief 1: • Most of the Greek Cypriot opinion makers, especially those who are closer to the official decision-making organs, share the common belief that the political/geostrategic preconditions have not been supportive of a comprehensive solution in Cyprus. This belief is justified by the assumption that the“asymmetric balance of power has increased the politico-military influence of Turkey in the region since 1974”. Thus, “since the international community has failed to deter Turkey to bring the fait accompli created in 1974” to an end,“Turkey has been freed to impose its own solution on the basis of the 1974 geostrategic status quo”. Based on such arguments, most Greek Cypriot opinion makers conclude that“the success of any goodwill measure requires a kind of fair balance of power and the constructive involvement of Turkey in the peace process.” 21