Negotiations officially launched

The negotiations for a solution of the Cyprus problem were officially launched yesterday in a ceremony in the UN area at the old Nicosia airport led by Acting Head of the UN in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar, who said the inaugution was, like the opening of the Ledra Street crossing, “one of many markers on the road to reconciliation”. She added that “when you look… at the heads of the technical committees and working groups… you see the reason for this optimism. They are the evidence of the commitment and determination of the two leaders, Mr Christofias and Mr Talat to reach a comprehensive settlement”.

Iacovou and Nami, the representatives of the two communities' leaders, both shared Spehar’s sense of history and optimism. Iacovou said: “As I look to the coming week, I cannot but feel a sense of elation. I also feel a certain sense of history. Our work could be, and indeed we hope will be, the real beginning of a solution to the Cyprus problem. The two leaders expect us to develop ideas on which they can base their direct negotiations under the auspices of the U.N. Secretary – General”.He urged the negotiating teams to regard their opposite numbers “not in any kind of confrontational spirit, but as fellow-workers with a common cause” namely a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality as provided by Security Council resolutions in a country of peace and prosperity for all its people.Nami was also upbeat saying that “what could not be achieved in 20 months has been achieved in 20 days”. He admitted however that forming the groups and committees was “the easy part”, the “new challenge” was “much more ambitious”. “Together we have to achieve what could not be achieved in 44 years and reach a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus issue”. This would only be possible if both sides “change our ways” and “start thinking as a team and not as rivals”. “Learn to hear the interests while listening to positions,” he urged, concluding that “getting emotional, angry, intransigent will be luxuries we cannot afford”.

The official list of committees and names of leaders are as follows:

WORKING GROUPS
Governance and Power Sharing Headed by: Andreas Mavromatis and Hilmi Akil
EU Matters Headed by: George Vassiliou and Erhan Ercin
Security and Guarantees Headed by: Sotos Zakheos and Fazil Can Korkut
Territory Headed by: Alekos Siambos and Ahmet Erdengiz
Property Headed by: Erato Marcoullis and Hasan Findik
Economic Matters Headed by: Michael Sarris and Vargin Varer (standing in for Hasan Ali Bicak)TECHNICAL COMMITTEES
Crime and criminal matters Headed by: Andros Kapardis and Hakki Onen
Economic and Commercial Matters Headed by: Dionysis Mavronikolas and Hasan Kilic
Cultural Heritage Headed by: Takis Hatzidemetriou and Ahmet Erdengiz
Crisis Management Headed by: Marios Lysiotis and Dogan Sahali
Humanitarian Matters Headed by: Symeon Matsis and Sadettin Topukcu
Health Matters Headed by: Charis Charalambous and Asaf Senol
Environment Headed by: Kostas Kadis and Mustafa Alkaravli

The committees and working groups will start work on Monday.

Savvas Iacovides in Simerini says the Annan plan is about to be cemented. He goes through the list of names of people on the technical committees and working groups pointing out all the ones who were in favour of the Annan plan – starting with Toumazos Tsielepis, who he says was the main orchestrator of the plan, and naming Sotos Zakheos, Takis Hadjidimetriou, Michalis Sarris, Praxoulla Antoniadou (who was even the author of a recent study by the famous PRIO that promised each of us thousands of euros), Michalis Attalides, Simeon Matsis, Eratou Mrkoulli, (even though she was Foreign Minister under Tassos she supported the Annan plan), and not forgetting George Vasiliou, arch Annan supporter. He concludes by asking who does the government think it’s fooling when it tells us the Annan plan is history? The Annan plan is obviously coming back poste haste to be cemented.