It’s official: we mean business

Greek Cypriot daily, Politis, says there are few Turkish Cypriots now who doubt that Christofias and his colleagues want a solution. It gives prominence to statements by Talat to the paper in which he said that he now believes that Christofias wants a solution, is dead against partition becoming permanent and is willing to do his utmost to change the situation. He also praised the good understanding between Iacovou and Nami. Talat’s spokesman Ercakica also told the paper that he welcomed the good atmosphere and the method that has been found to bring up the points on which the two sides agree. He said the opening of Ledra came about as a result of this methodology. “We hope this methodology will lead to a solution”, he said.

The paper contrasts this with statements earlier by Christofias in which he said, differentiating between the T/Cs and Turkey, that he is not yet convinced that Ankara has given the green light for a compromis in Cyprus. He warned expectations were “very high” and counselled cautious optimism. “We shall be flexible and show understanding for the problems the Turkish Cypriot community is facing, in the hope that they will reciprocate and understand our problems too,” he said. He added that “the main goal is to find ways of understanding each other, something which will depend on several factors, mainly on the Turkish leadership.” He said, however, “I do not attribute bad intentions to Talat but the Turkish leadership has not convinced us that indeed it gives the green light for us to proceed. This will become clear in due course”.

The messages from Britain, meanwhile are of support for the reunification of Cyprus, but that the solution has to be found locally. The British Foreign Secretary David Miliband speaking in the House of Commons conveyed his government’s determination to ensure the resumption of talks for a Cyprus settlement. “The consistent message that we have given to both of them is that we want to do everything possible to support the determination of the new Government in Cyprus to exploit the opening that now exists for a bi-zonal, bi-communal solution in that area”. The Cyprus Mail reports that Miliband speaking elsewhere also highlighted that decisions on solving the Cyprus problem had to be taken locally, by the leadership and the people of Cyprus. “We can support it, but it is going to have to be done locally by leadership”.

The British High Commissioner in Cyprus Peter Millett echoed the same messages in an interview on CyBC tv's lunchtime news programme. Speaking perfect Greek He said that Britain supports the reunification of the island and is willing to do all it can to support the process but that any solution found will be a solution of the Cypriots for the Cypriots.