No 'virgin birth'. No worries

There will be no ‘virgin birth’ and no confederation, only the continuation of the Cyprus Republic in the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, the government said yesterday.Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said this was the objective of a Cyprus solution, commenting on reports that a Cyprus solution based on a new state or ‘virgin birth’ would necessitate rejoining the EU. He said the Republic of Cyprus joined the EU in May 2004 and any notion of having to rejoin would be considered out of the question, he said.A report in Politis yesterday quoted an anonymous EU Commission official as saying that in the event of a new Cyprus state, there would be a question of rejoining the bloc.

Stefanou said he was not aware of such a position as it was reported. But he said he said this was another reason, and not the only one, why a ‘virgin birth’ could not be a possibility in Cyprus. “No virgin birth and no new confederation of two states, but a continuation of the Cyprus Republic is the objective for a solution,” he said.Spokesman Stefanou also referred back to the leaders’ joint statement, saying neither had spoken of two states and two peoples but of a United Cyprus Republic with political equality as described in UN resolutions.“There exists a state and a democracy, the Cyprus Republic that is internationally recognised and a member of the UN since its foundation, and from 2004, a member of the EU. There is only one population in Cyprus, the Cypriot population that is made up of two communities, the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot. This has been agreed and the UN has adopted this agreement in many resolutions and decisions,” he said.Turkey’s stance in insisting on talking about two states, two populations and two democracies was an attempt to legalise unacceptable positions that clash with the UN, he added.

The UN is not unduly concerned over a possible short delay in the resumption of talks between the two Cypriot leaders, the UN Secretary General’s Special representative for Cyprus, Taye-Brook Zerihoun indicated yesterday.“For a conflict that has been around for four decades or more, I think that a month here and a month there, should not be an issue,” he said.
Zeirhoun said the UN was encouraged by the initiative and commitment the two leaders have shown. There was also a new environment, conducive to re-engagement and a commitment to see the process through. He said the UN’s view was that since the March 21 meeting there has been “appreciable movement forward in this process”. He cited a narrowing of some of the gaps and perceptions, and also on issues of substance.“So as long as the commitment is there, because frankly, the political will the parties – the two leaders - have shown is one which has changed the state of affairs of the status quo up to now, so we are very encouraged by the process,” he added.

Alithia says that a meeting of the heads of the technical committees was held yesterday chaired by President Christofias at which progress was affirmed in promoting confidence-building measures. The paper says that Christofias said afterwards that these measures will soon be announced. The paper says the main measures include an agreement on the renovation of Apostolos Andreas and other cultural monuments on both sides, permission for ambulances to cross between the two sides without formalities, crisis management of natural disasters such as fires and the creation of a joint recycling plant.

Alecos Constantinides writing in Alithia says that clearly what worries Diko and Edek is not the content of the joint declaration between the two leaders, which they are desperately trying to turn inside out in the hopes of finding points to criticise, but the fact that the process towards substantive negotiations is continuing, since it put an end to the deadlock of the last few years. As long as this deadlock existed, they weren’t worried. They only started worrying once things started moving and a new climate was created with real prospects for a solution. They weren’t worried when the only prospect was the danger of the status quo becoming permanent, the second best solution, as Tassos said, nor even when the TRNC was on the verge of being recognised. Did you ever hear them announce that they were worried? And I am sure their worries will reach their peak when direct talks begin and when the UNSG appoints a special envoy for Cyprus because that will mean that the process has real chances of producing results. That will really worry the two parties. So what will they do when things reach that point? Will they remain in the Christofias government while simply expressing their worries? Or will they quit in order to wage the final fight against a solution?

EU supports the peace process

The European Union has called on Turkey to clearly commit to the establishment of good neighbourly relations and to the peaceful resolution of disputes, while expressing regret for the lack of progress in smoothing out Ankara’s relations with Cyprus, the non-implementation of the customs union Protocol and the hampering of Cyprus’ accession to international organisations.

These provisions were included in the text of a joint statement of the 27 EU member states presented by the Slovenian Presidency of the EU to the Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, yesterday in the framework of the EU-Turkey Association Council.

President Christofias expressed satisfaction at the joint position of the EU member states and called on Turkey to align itself with these positions.

The EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Mr Olli Rehn, in a speech at a meeting of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, in Brussels, welcomed last Friday’s meeting between Christofias and Talat and noted that it is positive sign that the leaders agree on the basic parameters of a united Cyprus. “Their joint statement shows that the process towards a settlement of the Cyprus issue under UN auspices is well underway”, he said, and encouraged the leaders to continue their efforts to end the deadlock.

“The EU stands behind a renewed UN process. We shall fully support both communities on the island to make the necessary compromises. I trust Turkey will fully contribute to a solution. Reaching a comprehensive settlement will have an immense value to all of us who want to see an end to this 40-year-old conflict on a European soil, and it will certainly have a positive effect on the negotiations with Turkey”, he said.

Presidential Commissioner, George Iacovou, is on a one-day visit to Athens where he met with the Greek Foreign Minister, Mrs Dora Bakoyiannis. Mr Iacovou told the press afterwards that the purpose of his visit was to brief the Foreign Minister on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, through the process that has been adopted since March. He added that the meeting was both friendly and very productive and was looking forward to Ms Bakoyiannis visit to Cyprus on 13 June to continue their exchange of views.

Disy leader Nicos Anastasiades yesterday crossed to the north and met for the first time with the President of the National Unity Party, Tahsin Ertugruloglu. Their meeting lasted three hours. Afterwards Ertugruloglu told the press that while this was their first meeting it surely would not be their last and that while they may have their differences of opinion in the Cyprus problem this should not keep them from talking in an effort to find common ground. He said they were both in opposition but they both wanted to see a lasting and fair solution based on the realities on the island. He said his party supported a solution through talks and through the good offices mission of the UN. He said he was pleased that the first party to come over was the main opposition party and added that dialogue between different parties can only help the solution.

Mr Anastasiades said that their meeting had been constructive, but that they had different views as to the kind of state that should come out of a solution. He added that while both their parties were in opposition the difference was that his party supported Mr Christofias’ efforts, whereas Mr Ertugruloglu’s didn’t support Talat but that what mattered was that the country would be reunited within the EU to the benefit of both communities.

Mr Ertuguloglu then clarified that while his party did support the negotiating process that had begun but disagreed with Talat’s positions. He also expressed his doubts that Mr Christofias was really trying to delay the process rather than seeking to prepare it better.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, gave an interview yesterday in Brussels to the Associated Press and said he was still optimistic that the face to face talks will start next month and that a solution to the Cyprus problem will be reached by the end of the year. He noted that he was really optimistic that the differences between the two sides will be overcome and direct negotiations will begin, because “there is a change on the Greek Cypriot side”. Kibris also reports that Mr Talat met yesterday with Mr Dimitrij Rupel, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovenian presidency of the EU, at whose invitation he was in the European capital. He was also due to meet with Javier Solana.

Alithia’s editorial says that the attacks that were unleashed against the joint statement between Christofias and Talat showed the ignorance of the perpetrators of basic constitutional issues. The reference to two constituent states under a federal umbrella does not abolish either sovereignty, the notion of a single international entity and a single nationality. Besides the content and form of the bizonal federation that Cyprus will have has been clearly interpreted by the Security Council. The recent TV chat shows have shown that the attack against the joint statement has not succeeded in reuniting the rejectionist camp. Quite the opposite, it has fragmented it further. Some people, however, have chosen to put on the mask of political hypocrisy because even they acknowledge that Christofias is acting correctly, something that even Omirou and Garoyian have admitted after the briefing they received from the President.

Simerini says that it seems President Christofias has so far managed to appease the reactions caused by the joint statement after his meeting with Talat. Both the Presidents of Diko and Edek made positive statements after he briefed them, which may have lowered tensions but haven’t removed their worries. So, what with the support of Disy and the support of the leadership of Diko and Edek, Christofias can feel strong enough to proceed. He should know, however, that he’s on borrowed time, and that as he gets to the heart of the Cyprus issue, the slightest compromise he should make on issues that are non-negotiable for the G/C side, will be a cause for war for many G/Cs. The new dialogue does not offer much hope of success. Bitter experience has taught us that Turkey will not give in on issues that we consider life and death for our cause.

Government answers back

The Sunday Mail says that the government is hitting back at a barrage of criticism after Friday's meeting between the two leaders, with President Christofias denying he had given in to Turkish demands. In what the paper calls a reversal of alliances, Christofias has come under fire from his coalition partners while having received support from opposition party Disy. His critics accuse him of selling Cyprus' sovereignty down the river by accepting terms used in the Annan plan and making concessions to the Turkish side. The government issued a statement by Presidential Under-Secretary Titos Christofides reassuring that nothing had changed and nothing had been agreed that was not already covered under UN resolutions and existing negotiating practices. Detractors focused on the use of the terms "constituent states", the reference to political equality and the discussing of military confidence building measures, which they said should only be discussed with Turkey.

The biggest criticism, the paper says, came from former President Tassos Papadopoulos who described developments as "bad" and "a step backwards". He said the use of the word "parnership" was between governments and states, adding that "this does not constitute a satisfactory basis to begin negotiations".

Christofias hit back saying: "The notion of a parnership (between the two communities) existed since 1960, even if some people never want to admit this. And this has already caused untold harm to this country". He said he had nothing further to say to his predecessor except to add that he believed Friday's meeting was a step forward.

Disy leader Nicos Anastasiades described the joint statement as one of "constructive ambiguity" int hat even though there were differences and difficulties the leaders had obviously decided to maintain the good climate so that they could move forward and keep up the momentum for discussion. Referring to Papadopoulos' statement, Anastassiades said that poisoning the atmosphere would achieve nothing.

Alithia says Christofias is determined to clash with the rejectionist camp because when he says he will work hard and with honesty he means it. According to information the paper says Christofias has decided that now is the time to wage the final battle with those forces that give the impression that they want to short-circuit developments in the Cyprus problem. He has decided a) to get to the heart of the Cyprus problem and proceed to discuss all open issues, b) to proceed to substantive negotiations without taking into account views that are purely negative and have nothing constructive to offer and no good will, c) not to leave any criticism unanswered and d) to ask Garoyian and Omirou to clarify their stand. The paper says that in effect the direct talks will be postponed to the autumn The paper also says that from recent contacts, Christofias has received a message that Turkey is ready to solve the Cyprus problem and willing to make a serious effort in this direction.

Politis also says that Christofias is eager to take on the rejectionists. Makarios Droushiotis, analysing Friday's meeting, says it constitutes "a correction" to the course towards a solution. He says there are important conclusions to read between the lines of the leaders' joint statement. First the leaders don't set too much store on the working groups; they were just a way out of the 8 July agreement and to help the direct talks rather than prepare for them. His threat last week that he would not go to direct talks unless progress were made was tactical in order to force a statement on the kind of solution that is being sought. Talat agreed to shelve the 'virgin birth' issue having got Christofias to agree to the political equality of the constituent states rather than of citizens, as his predecessor Tassos Papadopoulos interpreted the meaning of political equality. Now that the parameters have been set the two leaders can start direct talks without needing to wait for the working groups. Their joint statement has already set out the framework of a solution. At their next meeting they will ascertain that progress has been made at the working groups and no matter how many deadlocks the media declare, direct talks will start at the latest by September. The basis of these talks will be the work the UN has done to date. The UN SG would never have agreed to start from scratch, and proof that he is convinced of the leaders' sincerity is that he has already begun to see if the former Australian Foreign Minister would be willing to be his envoy to Cyprus. Clearly the rejectionist camp will react to the start of talks. But Christofias has enough power to stand up to them having the support of the majority of the population which includes the full support of Disy, as well as the moderates in Diko and Edek, not to mention the support of the international community, especially the EU, which is desperate for a solution. The media will not swallow all this easily but reporters depend on the information bank and in this case Christofias is the bank manager. Will all this culminate in a solution? Hard to say. Unless there is a huge upset in Turkey, the probability is high. What is certain is that the Cyprus problem is in a new era and that at the end of this process, either with or without a solution, we shall be living in an entirely new environment.

The Mail's weekly satirical column, Coffeeshop, says he enjoyed the resumption of hostilities over the Cyprob sparked by the commissar presidente's mega-concessions to Talat at Friday's meeting. He says it was reassuring to hear the disciples of the Ethnarch on the morning radio shows analysing texts and issuing warnings of impending doom if the Cyrob was settled before it reached its 50th anniversary. Although they all avoided attacking Christofias directly, focusing on his concessions to the Turkish side instead, there was a marked contrast to what used to happen during the reign of the Republic's saviour when the Disy Fuhrer was the target of the bash-patriotic politicos. Now all has changed. The Fuhrer can no longer be used as punchbag of all the heavyweight patriots half of whom are allies of the treacherous commie presidente who tricked them into electing him by pretending he would oppose the return of the A-plan. The return of the A-plan was confirmed by Friday's communiqe which even used the plan's phraseology, which is no bad thing as we can now all look forward to endless patriotic ranting and raving on the radio shows every morning.

Nicos Koutsou was the best of the panicking radio preachers. The Talat-Christofias agreement "goes beyond the Annan plan" he moaned, as it led to a solution based on the logic of confederation. His most astute remark was that the parnership "will have a federal government but it willnot have a federal state". He did not explain what type of state it would have as it would be produced by "virgin birth". And before the mother has had a scan there was no way of knowing what test-tube state wshe was going to give birth to, especially as the identity of the father is unknown. Diko's Andreas Angelides went beyond the virgin birth and expressed concern that this sexless marriage could end in divorce. The proposed partnership created absolute equality "and this leaves the window open for one of the parners to leave the parnership". True, we do not want our new state to grow up in abroken home, but if people did not get married because of the risk of divorce, the human race would soon become extinct. Perhpas we should insist on a prenuptial agreement if the Turks insist on not having sex with the Republic, as we do not want the Turks leaving the marriage with all our money and custody of a recognised state.

The most pelasant surprise was that the worrying developments forced the Ethnarch to speak out publicly, but talk is cheap and now is time for action. I expect Tassos to put on his Super-ethnarch mask and cape, get the tears with supernatural powers ready and fight to save the Republic. He did it once, he can do it again. His country is counting on him.

Tree-hugger Perdikis has replaced Madsakis as our top loony. He distributed an article to the papers last week complaining that whenever there appeared some slim hope of a breakthrough in the Cyprob, G/C and T/C politicians started having dinner together. He wrote: "I d not know why there is the view that at a dinner someone could relax and agree to unacceptable. Could lamb chops and meat balls hide occupation and uprooting? Could we hide in a pitta of souvlaki and sheftalia the hundreds of missing? The settler? What will we do with settlers? Shall we mix them with the cabbage and greens and the tomatoes and will they disappear in the salad? And the occupation army, will become kokoretsi and partition will turn into a preserved sweet?" Friday's meeting agreed that the virgin birth will become ofto kleftiko but this was not included in the communique in case Perdikis demanded royalties.

Christofias-Talat set the basis of Cyprus solution

The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, Dimitris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat, yesterday reaffirmed their commitment to "a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant UN Security Council resolutions".

“This partnership will have a federal government with a single international personality, as well as a Turkish Cypriot constituent state and a Greek Cypriot constituent state which will be of equal status,'' they said in a joint statement.

However, they differed as to when direct talks on the Cyprus problem should start but decided they would come together again in the second half of June to make a new assessment.

The two men met for three hours at the residence of UN Permanent Representative Taye-Brook Zerihoun. By all accounts the meeting went well and the leaders appeared relaxed and comfortable in each other’s company. Zerihoun said it had been a fruitful and genuine discussion.

Asked by the press afterwards when the talks would start, Talat said: “This is a difficult question, actually. You know that we have different views on this issue, we continue to have our views on this matter, so we are going to make an assessment when we come together in the second half of June.”

When the leaders met on March 21, they had agreed to meet again three months from that date. The Turkish Cypriot side interpreted it as the start of negotiations on June 21, but Christofias has remained non-committal on a starting date, saying progress had been slow in the committees and groups.

“Today we decided that we are going to handle these problems and to push the representatives to work more intensively towards convergence and common positions,” Christofias told reporters after the meeting.

Zerihoun said the two leaders had instructed their representatives to examine the results of the technical committees within 15 days. They also decided to consider civilian and military confidence building measures and would pursue the opening of the Limnitis-Yesilirmak crossing and other crossing points.

Questioned by reporters on whether the international identity of Cyprus would evolve from the Republic of Cyprus or from the idea of the birth of a new state, or virgin birth, as it is called, Christofias said: “I think that we have a common position, that it will be a United, Federal Republic of Cyprus.”

Moreover, the Cyprus Mail reports that Talat’s representative Ozdil Nami told the paper later that he believed the discussions had taken place in an “extremely positive atmosphere” and that all sides were “very pleased” by the outcome of the meeting. “For the first time in history, the two sides are speaking the same language, and it is this that pleases us the most,” he said.

Asked whether the T/C side was concerned about the absence of a definite starting date for direct talks, he said he believed it would be possible to find “a convergence of views” by the second half of June - despite the fact that “the two sides might have different criteria for measuring whether or not progress had been made”. “From our point of view, it is convergence that is needed,” he added.

As for whether a new partnership state would embody a continuation of the Cyprus Republic or the creation of a new political entity, as envisaged by the now-defunct Annan plan, Nami said, “Answers to questions like these will only come out of fully-fledged negotiations between the two leaders.”

The Cyprus Mail's editorial analysing the outcome of the meeting says it was a workmanlike discussion that acknowledged differences and pledged to address them, while keeping the process on track by underlining the commitment towards a common goal. It was a meeting that did not try to paper over the cracks and hide the very real differences that have arisen. As such, it raised no expectations, but crucially it saw the leaders speaking a common language again, after a couple of weeks of edgy, increasingly acrimonious spin on the progress of the working groups and technical committees. For a while, we can hope that yesterday’s meeting will have headed off the blame game, at least until the two leaders meet again in June. It will have dampened expectations, while reassuring us of the continued commitment of both sides to work through difficulties. At this stage, we couldn’t ask for more.

Politis says agreement on this basis for a solution was reached with difficulty because Talat at first did not want specific reference to a bizonal bicommunal federation but the wording is vague as to how the common state is to be set up, ie if it will evolve from the Republic of Cyprus as the G/C side wants, or as the unification of two separate states, by a 'virgin birth' as the T/C side wants. They also left the actual date for the start of direct talks open and it is now almost certain that there will be a slight delay although it is thought they will definitely start sometime in the summer. The paper says the G/C side doesn't mind that the way the new state will be set up was left to be decided at the end, because they believe that the Turkish side will not find support for a 'virgin birth' in the international community, and that it would not be possible for this to happen within the EU.

Alithia says that the two leaders spent a large part of their time yesterday interpreting whether their agreement of 21 March stipulates when direct talks would start and in the end agreed to differ. They paper says the joint statements satisfies both sides. They also decided to stop all statements about 'virgin birth'.

Simerini says that the joint statement caused confusion amongst the G/C political parties and gave rise to contradictory assessments. Former President Tasos Papadopoulos called it a negative development and a step backwards for the G/C side. Akel's spokesman was pleased with the meeting. Disy said it was a step in the right direction. Diko expressed concern at certain terms used, while the party's parliamentary spokesman says it is a complete retreat that smacks of the worst form of the Annan plan. Edek leader Yiannakis Omirou points out that no reference is made to a single sovereignty or citizenship. Evroko's acting president, Nicos Koutsou, told the paper that basically what has happened is that Christofias has accepted covert confederation of two states.

'Something good' may be announced tomorrow

Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou discussed the current developments on the Cyprus problem with the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Mr Lynn Pascoe in New York where he stopped on his way to Washington to attend the annual conference of Greeks of the diaspora (PSEKA).

Stefanou told a gathering of foreign correspondents that progress in the working groups was very important in laying the groundwork for new talks. “Unfortunately on these core issues we do not speak the same language, something we must do if we are to bridge the differences and move on to the next phase of this process,” he said. Stefanou said Turkey had to change its position and allow the Turkish Cypriot side to make its own decisions. “We don’t want Turkey to feel that the solution will be a defeat for her, instead we want the solution of the Cyprus problem to be a win-win situation for everybody, and especially the people of Cyprus,” he said.According to press reports, Mr Stefanou conveyed the G/C doubts but was urged to proceed to direct talks in June irrespective of the progress made at the working groups and committees. The UN official is relying more on the face to face talks between the two leaders and does not believe there needs to be 'sufficient progress', as the G/C side says, for them to start but is also waiting to see what will emerge from tomorrow's meeting between the two. Politis says that Christofias wants Friday's meeting to be a political success and speculates that they may announce 'something good' regarding the opening of Limnitis.


Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris reports that the T/C foreign minister, Turgay Avci, accused President Christofias of being “two-faced”. He said that Christofias' statements abroad show he is trying to usurp the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. He further asserted that Christofias' real objective is not to find a solution to the Cyprus problem, but to exploit the positive atmosphere created by his election in order to block the negotiation process. He claimed that the President is not sincere in his demand to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Kibris also reports that the chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP), Tahsin Ertugruloglu, evaluating the latest developments in the Cyprus problem declared that “spring has ended and strong winds have started blowing”. He urged the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to be very careful on vital issues in the Cyprus problem and before taking any steps that could cause irreparable damages to consult with them and take into consideration their views and their concerns. Moreover, the chairman of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee of the National Struggle Foundation (UMV) and General Coordinator of the National People’s Movement (UHH), Taner Etkin, has declared that the “TRNC” should last forever. “It is out of the question to give up the absolute equality in sovereignty, Turkey’s effective and actual guarantorship, the Turkish people’s rights and interests in Cyprus and in the East Mediterranean and the existence of the TRNC.” The ultimate objective of the Greek Cypriots and Greece is to own the whole of Cyprus, he warned.

Daily Volkan publishes an announcement by the Turkish Cypriot National Existence Council (MVK) under the banner headlines “We will not recognize the fait accomplish”. “Bi-zonal, bi-communal federation is not the Turkish Cypriot people’s vision. Our people’s vision as shown in all the polls is for an independent, sovereign TRNC… which will live forever and if an agreement is going to be signed with the Greek Cypriots this should include the provision of the right to secession based on a confederation of two states.
Volkan also publishes an opinion poll which gives the parties in the north the following percentages:
UBP (National Unity Party): 42.95 %
CTP (Republican Turkish Party): 28.79%
DP (Democrat Party): 12.21%
OP (Freedom and Reform Party): 8.8%
TDP (Social Democrat Party): 4.79%
HIS (Politics for the People Party): 1.39%
BKP (United Cyprus Party): 0.77%
HP (Peoples’ Party): 0.30%

'Virgin birth' is rubbish

President Christofias met today with the heads of the 13 working groups and technical committees. The meeting was aimed at assessing the work done so far and evaluating the situation, in view of Christofias’ meeting on Friday with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Talat. This afternoon the Presidential Commissioner Mr Iacovou met with Mr Nami, the T/C leader’s adviser.

According to the Cyprus Mail, the Turkish Cypriot side said is trying to play down the 'virgin birth' issue saying yesterday that a settlement to the Cyprus problem did not necessarily mean the creation of a new state, and invited Demetris Christofias to come up with “an alternative”. The Turkish Cypriot spokesman Hasan Ercakica told the Cyprus Mail that the proposal for “a virgin birth (creation of a new state) was put forward by a third party during negotiations on the Annan plan as a method for bringing the two existing states together. If Christofias has a better method, then we are ready to listen to him,” he added.

He sought to play down the need for a delay by denying that the Turkish Cypriot side had insisted on a two-state solution, or a the creation of a brand new umbrella state. “When we or Turkish officials talk of two states and two peoples, we are simply talking about the reality as it is now,” he said. “What we do insist on is political equality, which means that we have active participation and equal say in all major state decisions such as foreign policy and taxation.”

The paper says that there are reports that the Greek Cypriot side may ask for a delay in the start of talks, citing of a lack of progress in pre-negotiation discussions. Others believe that the possibility of a delay may stem from Christofias’ fears that Turkish Cypriot demands for the creation of a new state, and insistence onTurkey retaining the right to intervene militarily if it feels the Turkish Cypriot minority is threatened could lead upcoming talks to failure.

Ercakica could not, however, deny that the preservation of the Turkish military guarantee was in fact a red line for the Turkish Cypriot side, but said, “If Christofias doesn’t believe that security is a real concern of the Turkish Cypriot people, I invite him here to carry out a survey and find out for himself”. He added that if Turkish Cypriots ever felt they no longer needed Turkey’s protection, they would themselves ask the military to leave. “The idea that the Turkish army is here against the wishes of the Turkish Cypriot people is ridiculous,” he said.

Ercakica also addressed concerns that ongoing disputes between the military and Turkey’s civilian government could jeopardise negotiations for a settlement by saying, “We are working with all interested parties in Turkey to make sure that the situation there affects us as little as possible. Our aim is to gain us much support as we can for a settlement”.

Looking ahead to Friday’s meeting between Christofias and Talat, Ercakica said he saw no reason why fully-fledged negotiations should not start as planned on June 21. “When we agreed on March 21 to start negotiations in three months, there was no suggestion that the start was conditional upon progress among the working groups,” he said, adding: “As far as we were concerned, the working groups were not set up to negotiate but to brainstorm, exchange ideas and gather a body of work to place before the leaders to help them in their job. Mr Christofias is now talking about a lack of progress, but the fact that we have identified a number of problems is in itself progress. Establishing fixed positions before we start is not practical. But establishing what the problems may be, and then looking for pragmatic ways around them is.”

Moreover, former President George Vasiliou, as a guest on CyBC's lunchtime news programme yesterday in his capacity as leader of one of the working groups (on the EU) on the Cyprus problem, said he believed the whole discussion on the 'virgin birth' issue was unnecessary. He dismissed it entirely explain that such a question does not even arise because a new state is not being born from nothing. "We have already been members of the European Union for four years now. For a new agreement to be made by a new state, that would mean that what we have today must cease functioning and a new application would need to be made to join the EU". He said this was something the T/C and Turkey haven't even thought about.

He also approved President Christofias move to call for a meeting with Talat saying that "the working groups are necessary, but nothing can be agreed without the approval of the leaders".He said the meeting was all the more called for in order to discuss the delays that have takeen place. "As we are now, we're going nowhere", he said "and nobody wants that".

As regards the political situation in Turkey, Mr Vasiliou agreed that it is a cause for uncertainty and doesn't help the negotiations but added that if the two communities show their determination to proceed then this uncertainty could be overcome. "I don't believe Turkey is in a position to bear the brunt of the responsibility for lack of progress in Cyprus", he said.

President Christofias speaking on his return from Peru, where he participated at the EU-Latin America Summit, has said that next Friday he will have the opportunity to discuss with Mr Talat the difficulties in the present phase of the Cyprus problem, as well as the questions created by the persistence of the Turkish Cypriot side to start direct negotiations as soon as possible. “Some groups have moved forward while others have not,” he said.

During a talk in London on Sunday where he stopped on his way back, he said that in order for negotiations with Talat to have any possibility of success, they should be based on real and not fictitious progress at the working groups. He also referred to his forthcoming meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown saying he hoped such meetings would be the rule and not the exception. He talked about the history of relations between Cyprus and Britain and said that some of the handlings of the British government had disappointed the Cypriots. He stressed that his government aimed to overcome such past problems and to improve bilateral relations from now on. He repeated that solving the Cyprus problem was the reason he stood for President and was the vision guiding his government.

According to the Cyprus Mail, Ozdil Nami, the Turkish Cypriot leader's advisor on the working groups and technical committees, outlined the differing interpretations that each side has of the process, which has led to difficulties. The paper adds that international mediators have said the Greek Cypriot side has fielded a high-profile team it hoped would prepare the ground quickly for negotiations. However, the process has been slow because the Turkish Cypriot members of the 13 groups and committees have not been given the same powers. Nami said that “The duties of the working groups are to put forward in a clear manner the positions of the sides and to find out whether these positions could be brought closer or not,” he said. He said some of the agenda issues brought the positions of the sides’ closer and some of them could not. “The duty of the groups is neither to reach an understanding nor to secure a consensus as regards the positions,” he said. “Their duty is to bring closer as much as possible the positions of the sides on possible points. On the issues where no such thing is possible these points would be noted and codified and at the end of the third month will be submitted to the leaders with its pros and cons as a report so that the leaders will use them in their comprehensive negotiations.”Nami said the Turkish Cypriot side was puzzled by Christofias' stance, given that his counterpart at the talks, Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou, did not raise any problem during their meetings. “Mr Iacovou did not paint the pessimistic picture that Mr Christofias painted,” Nami said.

He said issues such as the EU, economy, administration and power sharing had moved closer but it would not be possible for the groups and committees to move closer on the issues of territory, security and guarantees. “The Greek Cypriot side had accepted that the territorial issue, guarantees and security issues will be taken up at a later stage. And also everybody knows that the most complex issue of the Cyprus problem is the property issue. Here one could only present a position and try to bring closer certain issues, what else could one do?” said Nami. He also said the March 21 agreement on when negotiations should begin was very clear, and it led to June 21.

Politis' editorial says that relations between Cyprus and Britain have always been relations both of conflict and cooperation. Politically Nicosia has often clashed with London over its stand in the Cyprus problem. Economically Cyprus always looked to Britain especially in the tourist sector. These relations have never managed to find an equilibrium to benefit the people of Cyprus. On the contrary there have been periods of open hostility such as during Tassos Papadopoulos' rule. However, the reality is that they have a role to play. President Christofias' statement in London during which he expressed the Cypriots' bitterness at past British policies, that one of the main aims of his government was to forge closer ties with Britain is a correct and politically responsible approach. Since we all acknowledge that Britain does have a role to play, we should try to influence them diplomatically and not antagonise them. It's clear Britain has interests in Cyprus. What needs to happen is for these interests to coincide with those of the Cypriot people as a whole. This can happen not through marginalisation and isolation, but through being actively involved in Europe in which we both belong.

Simerini's editorial says we told you so. It says that as someone who claims to know all about Turkish policy, he should have expected that the working groups and committes could not possibly have produced results. How could they, since the Turks never give in from their intransigent positions. We said as much before they even started. They've put the cart before the horse instead of first deciding the form of a solution and then the methodology. So now everything is on the table which enables the Turks to raise the spectre of the monstrous Annan plan again. Christofias' effort is too late and without result. We think he now realises the dangerous trick that his Turkish comrades and the Anglo-Americans are about to play on him. They don't want to waste any more time and want talks even if no progress was made. They want to create the impression of a cooperative Turkish side ready to talk and an uncooperative Greek side that doesn't even want a solution. Nevertheless even if Christofias and Talat manage to agree, they have to get the consent of the invisible negotiator - the Turkish army.

Sunday papers

The Sunday Mail in its editorial says that the forthcoming meeting between Christofias and Talat on Friday is an opportunity to clear the air. Talat has repeatedly responded harshly to Christofias’ undiplomatic utterances implying that he was being kept on a tight leash by Ankara. Christofias has taken exception to declarations by Talat and the Turkish government that suggested they would no longer accept a federal settlement. He has also sought assurances from the representatives of the five permanent members of the Security Council that the Turkish side would not deviate from past agreements for a federal settlement. The view that the Turkish Cypriot side was not working constructively at committee level, reinforced Christofias’ fears about the changing of the basis for the talks. Supporters of partition seized on the public fall-out, peddling pessimistic forecasts and blaming the other side’s intransigence for the imminent deadlock and stirring public resentment. They are assisted by the fact that the two leaders have been conducting their exchanges through the media, which have a tendency to exaggerate the differences and report things out of context for maximum impact. This is why it is now imperative for the two leaders to re-establish direct contact and talk rather than conduct a meaningless dialogue through the media which serves no useful purpose. They should be prepared to make the small compromises needed to keep the process on track, if they are as committed to the eventual signing of a settlement as they have been claiming.

Makarios Drousiotis writing in Politis analyses the problem that has arisen this week and wonders what Christofias is afraid of. He says that the answer lies in the perceived lack of an agreed basis and a common language between the two leaders as to the shape of the solution being sought. Even though everyone knows that there can't be negotiations on the Cyprus problem from scratch and that the only way is to continue from where things left off in 2004, the two leaders are trapped - Christofias by Papadopoulos' legacy (bury the Annan plan) and Talat by Turkey's ambitions for a solution on a partnership of two states (virgin birth). While the G/C side is avoiding mention of the Annan plan like the devil both in public and in the committees, referring instead to the UN resolutions and the high level agreements, which if analysed end up in the philosophy of the Annan plan (two zones, one state, a single sovereignty, political equality, ownership rights, non permanent derogations, etc), naturally the T/C brings up only those aspects of the Annan plan that suits it and thus only the aspects of the plan that are negative for the G/C are on the table. Their position at the talks are far from what they had accepted in 2004. For example they are discussing whether or not to return Morphou, while in the property issue they are leaning towards an overall exchange rather than the recognition of the title deeds of the Republic of Cyprus as the Annan plan provided. According to a well-informed source the T/C have not proposed changing the basis of a solution, however, their subdued references to a bizonal federation together with the Turkish National Security Council's statement (24/3/08) for a new partnership between two states, as well as the insistence on a virgin birth, have made the G/C side very suspicious. Christofias had hoped that the philosophy of the solution would emerge from the deliberations of the committees but this has not happened and Christofias is afraid to start direct talks without first outlining a mutually acceptable framework for a bizonal, bicommunal federation, which is why he called for the meeting with Talat on 23 May. As he told a reporter from Cumhuriyet, "we want a bizonal, bicommunal federation. Turkey, however, is talking about two states. It is impossible for us to accept this". Talat, on the other hand told the reporter "Turkey is more sensitive on the issue of two regions, but my sensitivities lie more in the issue of political equality. When that is settled so will the question of the two regions". A way out of this dilemma was given by Disy leader Anastasiades who suggested that certain aspects of the Annan plan that answer the main concerns of the G/C such as sovereignty, property ownership rights, non permanent derogations, even the return of Morphou, should be adopted. Even Papadopoulos had said as much supporting a limited number of changes to the Annan plan and pointed out to the dangers if we were to get away from it. This is exactly what has happened today. The fact that the other side is not bound by the philosophy of the Annan plan has given it the opportunity to look for other options, whereas the G/C side, judging from all the recent statements both from the government and Akel, supports a bizonal, bicommunal federation, in other words the two historic compromises that were already made for the sake of a solution. In short by rejecting outright the Annan plan in its entirety, rather than just the aspects it disagreed with, has brought the G/C side to the point of having to start off from the point of its concessions, while freeing Turkey from the significant concessions it had made in 2004.

Alithia says that things are going well in the technical committees and that they are close to agreeing on low-level issues such as allowing ambulances to cross the Green Line through the Limnitis and other roadblocks, setting up a recycling plant in the buffer zone to service both the north and south and turning the buffer zone into a national park. It is expected that the first confidence-building measures will be announced at the Christofias-Talat meeting on 23 May, with immediate effect. The paper adds however that Christofias has his doubts as to whether these measures should be announced now or at a later date as he would prefer more substantive progress to be made first because he does not want to make it sound that great progress has been achieved

Simerini says Christofias is being had. The paper asks who is negotiating the Cyprus problem, is it Christofias, or is it the hardcore "YES" camp through dinner diplomacy led by the super competent Nicos Anastasiades and aided by Dinos Lordos, George Vasiliou, Lellos Demetriades and Kaiti Clerides who are setting up parallel negotiations over a meal and a glass of wine with Talat and Soyer in order to tie down Christofias, forge an alliance with the T/Cs and isolate him if he doesn't accept a solution similar to that of the Annan plan and then blame him for any ensuing deadlock. They're even throwing the old former President Clerides into the fray, one of the chief architects of the Annan plan and one-time leader of the nationalist camp whose slogan was "Cyprus is Greek". Their tactic is to support Christofias for as long as his policy is aligned with that of Disy. And they have the added tactic of saying this is the last chance, as does Talat. Talat is already blackmailing Christofias that he is bound by the 21 March agreement to go to direct talks irrespective of the outcome of the working groups and committees. Meanwhile preparations are surreptitiously being made for the return of the Annan plan as you can tell by statements such as those of Anastasiades that the acceptable parts of the plan could be put on the table and adopted.

Differences

The UN Secretary General’s new Special Representative in Cyprus, Taye-Brook Zerihoun , yesterday met the senior aides to the two leaders Iacovou and Nami, at the Ledra Palace. He was briefed on the work of the working groups and technical committees, which, according to the Greek Cypriot side, have been experiencing difficulties. Iacovou told reporters after the meeting: “We want to see substantial progress in all issues. This is our aim and we remain steadfast in our efforts to have results and to use those results as a basis for negotiations when they start.”

According to press reports, items on Zerihoun's agenda are delineating the exact boundaries of the buffer zone around Ledra Street, the opening of other road blocks including that of Pyrgos, and the creation of other working groups with first one on the settlers. However, the hottest item that he will soon have to deal with is the different interpretation the two sides are giving to their 21 March agreement. The T/C side wants them to start in June irrespective of the progress achieved at the committees and working groups, while the G/C side believes that for direct talks to start the technocrats should first produce results. The meeting next Friday 23 May between Christofias and Talat when Christofias said he would ask the Turkish Cypriot leader to review the basis of the process with him, is believed to be crucial. Politis says that Christofias will ask for a one month delay to the start of direct talks and for the working groups and technical committees to meet three times a week rather than two.

Moreover, a meeting between G/C and T/C political parties at the Ledra Palace also reflected these disagreements. Alithia's headline is "Babel Palace".

More work needed

There's still a lot of work that needs to be done, President Christofias said referring to the work of the Technical Committees and Working Groups before leaving for Peru. He added that there are important differences of opinion that must be evaluated and that this was why he asked to meet with Talat on 23 May in order to re-evaluate the situation and the basis on which the talks are being held. He said, however, that it was too early to talk of a deadlock.

Meanwhile the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus Mr Taye-Brook Zerihoun had a meeting today with President Christofias to whom he had conveyed the UN Secretary General’s best wishes and the support of the United Nations for the process of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. Mr Zerihoun was also due to have a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Mehmet Ali Talat this afternoon.

Proceeding towards direct talks

A new UN envoy arrives in Cyprus today. He is Taye -Brook Zerihoun, the UN Secretary-General's new Special Representative in Cyprus. He was most recently the Secretary-General's Principal Deputy Special Representative at the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and has also been serving as Chief UN Mediator for the Darfur Peace Talks since October 2007.

President Christofias flies to Lima, Peru, tomorrow to take part in the 5th European Union – Latin America and Caribbean Summit, which will be held there on 16 - 17 May.

The Cyprus Mail reports that the T/C side is preparing a formula for the resolution of the refugee property rights. “We are looking at a variety of formulas that we hope both sides can agree to,” Hasan Ercakica, spokesman for Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat told the paper yesterday.

Ercakica’s words came in the wake of statements over the weekend from Talat stating that the property issue was the most “thorny” of all the issues that would need to be solved before an overall solution to the Cyprus problem is found. “It is the most difficult issue because it is one that affects everyone,” Talat said, adding that the problem was further complicated by the fact that properties left behind by refugees from both communities had “changed hands” numerous times since the conflicts that left the island divided along ethnic lines. But despite the complications, Talat said his side “has a formula” and would present it to Greek Cypriot negotiators soon.

Talat’s spokesman spoke of a variety of possible formulas that would seek compromise between Turkish and Greek Cypriot views on the issue. While the Turkish Cypriot side would prefer to see a global exchange of properties between Greek and Turkish Cypriot refugees, the Greek Cypriot side insists that the ownership rights of its refugees are maintained, regardless of whether properties fall under Turkish or Greek Cypriot jurisdiction following a solution.But despite the Turkish Cypriot side’s preferences, Ercakica insisted that whatever was agreed in the end would be a compromise. “We are taking on board the wishes of the Greek Cypriots and are open to criticism,” he said, adding: “If we hit an obstacle, we will look for ways around it.” Ercakica also conceded that the UN’s most recent model for solving the property issue, published in the 2004 Annan plan, was “too complicated”. Indeed, one of the Greek Cypriot side’s chief reasons for rejecting the Annan plan was that it gave only partial right of return to refugees under a system that many said they failed to properly understand. Ercakica says Turkish Cypriot negotiators are currently working to iron out anomalies that would have arisen out from the Annan plan had it been implemented. “You may have had situations where Greek Cypriots were allowed to re-establish ownership of their properties but not be allowed to move back into them. Examples like this are what we are trying to overcome,” the spokesman said.

The Turkish Cypriot leader also said that the overall atmosphere prevailing at the technical and working committees was positive despite certain differences of opinion. Speaking to the Turkish Cypriot news agency, he expressed firm belief in the talks and said negotiations would begin in June if none of the two parties withdrew. "There has never been a greater chance for a solution, " he said.

Asked to comment on Christofias’ statement that the June negotiations could be postponed, Talat said that the initial agreement was that talks would start in June. “There is no need to postpone the talks under the current circumstances. The talks will go ahead as planned unless one of the two sides backs out”.

Talat also said that the Turkish Cypriot side had insisted on bringing the Annan Plan back to the negotiating table but that they had failed to persuade the Greek Cypriots into accepting this. “We have agreed to allow both sides to bring whatever issues they want to the negotiating table”, he added.On the issues of the guarantees, Talat said that this was not a difficult issue for the Turkish Cypriot side as the guarantees were part of international agreements. He said that the Turkish Cypriots did not support the idea of abandoning the guarantees. He did not think that the issues of citizenship and population brought up frequently by the Greek Cypriot side, would become sticking points. He said all issues regarding talks were on the table before the committees and pointed out that they would get together with Christofias and assess the committees' work.

Politis reports that former President Glafcos Clerides in a speech on Sunday said this is possibly the last chance to prevent partition and called on all parties to support President Christofias. He said he hoped that in the few years he had left to live on this planet the day would come when he would see a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The Mail's editorial wonders if Christofias is getting cold feet. We appear to be slipping back into old habits with the media adopting the familiar, negative approach to the peace process and resuming its onslaughts on Mehmet Ali Talat for expressing views the Greek Cypriot leadership does not approve of. What is worrying is that it seems it is the government itself that is the source of press reports that discussions at the technical committees and working groups are not making progress because of the Turkish side’s refusal to engage properly, and that more time was needed for them to complete their work. This message was apparently conveyed by Christofias to the representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council at a meeting last Thursday, in an attempt to gauge their reaction to a possible postponement of the start of substantive talks. Press reports suggest the possibility was ruled out by the ambassadors, who argued that the timeframe should be adhered to so that the interest of the international community could be maintained. No doubt, he will submit the demand for the postponement of direct talks at his meeting with Talat in 10 days. The government appears to have started preparing the ground, on the domestic front, for such a move. Unnamed government sources have been telling newspapers that the Turkish side was determined to go to talks without adequate preparation being done by the working groups and that this insistence by Talat was undermining the peace process. In short, the blame-game has begun, even though the working groups have another four to five weeks in which to complete their work. Christofias had agreed with Talat that direct talks would start in June, irrespective of the progress made by the working groups. So why is Talat being attacked for wanting to follow the agreed timeframe, and why is his insistence seen as an attempt to undermine the process? Is an eagerness to get direct talks under way as soon as possible such a bad thing ? We hope we are wrong, but the impression is that Christofias is getting cold feet and his desire for a settlement is waning. But if he thinks he can abandon the procedure he agreed to and blame Talat for the deadlock by getting the Greek Cypriot media to lambast Turkish intransigence, he is being extremely naïve. He would do well to take into account the evaluation of the situation made by former president Glafcos Clerides on Sunday. “At this moment there is an opportunity, but if it is not taken, there will be partition.” Christofias must leave aside the tactical games and seize it.

The settlers become an issue

Speaking to reporters on Friday following comments by Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat that the status of the settlers from the Turkish mainland living in the north is not negotiable, Christofias said if Talat wanted to raise issues that were in the Annan plan then it was his right to do so “but we have our own positions and views” and has plans to put them forward.Asked if he would be raising the issue of the settlers during his forthcoming direct negotiations with Talat or if it was an issue to be discussed by the technical committees, the president said: “We would like a committee to be created not only to deal with the issue of the settlers but also with that of illegal immigration and citizenship and other issues which, in our view, should first be discussed by the committees.”

Loucas Charalambous writing in Politis says that a strange paranoia has broken out amongst our politicians around the Annan plan, which makes one wonder whether they genuinely want a solution or are hell bent on continuing Papadopoulos’ partitionist policy. Both President Christofias and some of his advisors as well as the rejectionist camp (Diko, Edek, Evroko, Archbishop, mass media) have embarked on a stupid competition to see who is the greatest advocate against the (already dead) Annan plan. What surprises me, the writer says, is why the Turkish side is still insisting on the Annan plan. If I were in their shoes I’d say, right, so you don’t want the Annan plan which gave you Famagusta, Morphou, the buffer zone, and 45 villages? Forget it then. Let’s start from scratch. The facts on the ground have changed. It’s 60% - 40% now. As for the troops, the plan left 6,000 in 2011, 3,000 in 2018 and 650 after 2018. Instead let’s start withdrawing in 15 years time. As for the settlers, the plan left 40,000 here, now we say it’s inhuman for a single one to leave and that all 300,000 currently here should remain. Then we’ll see who will lose out. That’s what I would do if I were Talat.

Simerini says that the question of the Turkish settlers will scupper a possible solution of the Cyprus problem. The arrival of the settlers is a war crime and an attempt by Turkey to change the demographic character of the island to its benefit. It is unacceptable for the President to say that some settlers will remain for humanitarian reasons. Even if one were to remain it would be the beginning of the end of Cyprus.

Savvas Iacovides in the same paper says the Turkish occupier and its guardian Talat, have for the umpteenth time stated clearly what they expect – two states, “a virgin birth”, guarantor rights, the permanent stay of the settlers, total control of Cyprus. President Christofias should tell us how he plans to force Turkey to accept a viable solution of the Cyprus problem, as he has been declaring since before being elected that he knows best how to make Turkey kneel.

Turkish statements annoy Greeks

President Christofias has repeated that the government aims to achieve a solution by Cypriots, for Cypriots and added that their policy consisted of initiatives towards the international community to influence Turkey to modify its stance in order to enable such a solution. He was speaking at an event to mark International Workers’ Day, organised by PEO. He added, however, that unfortunately the messages coming from the Turkish side were not encouraging. The Turkish National Security Council and Mr Talat continue to claim that the solution should culminate into two, separate and politically equal states, he said noting that these positions went even beyond those of the Annan plan.“They insist that the Annan plan is the basis for negotiation. The repetition of these positions both by the Turkish National Security Council and by Mr Talat is regretful and cause concern. Mr Talat has the right to put elements of the Annan plan on the table. At the same time though, the Greek Cypriot side has the right to also put on the negotiating table its own positions and views on substantive aspects of the Cyprus issue”, he said.

Talat had said last week during his recent visit to Turkey that the negotiations on the Cyprus problem due to begin in late June are the last chance for a solution in Cyprus. He stressed that his government wants to find a solution to the Cyprus problem and “will do whatever is necessary for a solution and remain optimistic”.

"Once the negotiations begin in late June (…) it would not be possible for either side to leave the negotiating table as this is really the last chance for a solution," Talat said. "Our general approach is to establish an entity based on two founding states in which the two peoples are politically equal. The partnership state will function with the equal participation of Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. This state will be functional via a 'virgin birth' method," Talat said. "We will continue working with good will and intention. We hope that we will succeed. If we do become successful, this would eradicate the uncertainty in the future of Turkish Cypriots, eradicate the concerns and fears of the Greek Cypriots and end Turkey’s Cyprus problems in its relations with the European Union and the world in general," he added. "

If we cannot find a solution to the Cyprus problem by 2012, when the Greek Cypriot administration assumes the EU's rotating presidency, we can conclude that a solution in the island is not possible. At that time, the international community will need to re-evaluate the realities," he concluded. On another occasion Talat also said he was still in favour of the Annan Plan since it had been approved by the Turkish Cypriots with a 65% majority, and that it would be normal to bring it back to the negotiating table.“However, I have never said that we have been negotiating the Annan Plan. What I want is to negotiate a plan which will be mutually acceptable”, Talat stressed.

During his Ankara visit, Talat met Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Foreign Minister and Chief EU negotiator Ali Babacan, and President Abdullah Gul.According to Turkish Cypriot press, the visit was to work out a strategy for the upcoming Cyprus talks.

According to the Turkish press, the Turkish National Security Council last week convened and put forward their position on a solution of the Cyprus problem.

The text of the decision which was handed to Talat during his visit to Turkey last week is reported as saying: “The new procedure of 21 March 2008 which started in Cyprus was discussed in detail. Within this framework, it was stressed that Turkey sincerely supports the efforts for reaching a just and lasting solution in Cyprus, that the solution will be based on the realities in the island, the existence of two separate peoples and two separate democracies, that it is essential for the bi-zonality, the political equality of the two sides, the equal status of the two founding states and the parameters of the new partnership state to be preserved and that the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance will remain valid”.

The Cyprus government criticised the statements by Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat’s regarding a two state solution and ‘the virgin birth’ of a new state, saying these were unproductive and unconstructive. Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephano said such statements do not lead to optimism that the process that has begun at the level of working groups and technical committees will bear results to allow fully-fledged negotiations on the Cyprus question.

He said that the Greek Cypriot side’s position on a settlement was clear: an end to the occupation, the illegal settling in the occupied areas, and reunification under the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, within which a political equality would be established as described by the UN relevant resolutions.He also said that the Greek Cypriot side wanted a solution that would safeguard the human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all the people.
“Pursuing a settlement based on other positions and beyond the Annan plan, as is the position for two states and ‘the virgin birth’ of a new state, does not help the whole process to move forward,” he said.Asked about the Cyprus government’s position on settlers, the government spokesman said that on principle a solution had to terminate the colonisation of the north of the island and that settlers had to leave the island. He noted however that for humanitarian reasons a number of settlers would remain on the island.

Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou said yesterday that the first week of meetings of the working groups and technical committees went smoothly and in a good atmosphere. Iacovou, who is the coordinator of the Greek Cypriot members of the working groups and technical committees, said the working groups had already entered substantive aspects of the Cyprus problem, such as the constitutional court and the authorities of the federal government.He said he would be meeting with Ozdil Nami, adviser to Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and coordinator of the Turkish Cypriot members, next week as well as with Acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar, who will be departing from the island at the end of next week.

He said efforts would continue to find common ground which would then be presented to the leaders of the two communities. “We are not dealing with the Annan plan or any other plan, we are trying to produce ideas which are our own and which basically meet the need to find common ground.”

Moreover, Talat was reported as saying on Tuesday that if the working groups and technical committees continue with the good work achieved so far, negotiations could start in June as planned. He added that it was also possible that more working groups and technical committees could be created as the two sides got closer to a settlement.

He also complained that the media was creating its own scenario on the latest developments in Cyprus and was misinforming the public about what was really happening. “We must be careful when taking the process forward. My hope is that manipulative news reports, especially those coming from the Greek Cypriot side, are not taken seriously” he said. Warning that the political atmosphere on the island could grow tense when full-fledged negotiations start, Talat said that both sides could choose not to make statements. He said that the working groups and technical committees will be presenting the two sides with two separate reports regarding the areas they have reached convergence on, once they complete their work. These reports will be taken into account during the negotiations to reach agreement on the issues the committees failed to agree upon.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris reported that the Turkish Cypriot spokesman Hasan Ercakica has said that the water shortage issue was put on the negotiating table by the Turkish Cypriot technical committee and that the suggestion that water be brought over from Turkey and distributed throughout Cyprus was taken up by the technical committees. Ercakica said: “We don’t see any danger in sharing the water to be brought from Turkey. Just the opposite we see benefit in it”. He also said that the Turkish Cypriot side favours continuation of the 1960 Guarantee System and that “virgin birth” issue is a technical issue that could be debated. He added that the Greek Cypriot side through its statements on the matter was trying to fix the ground for the negotiations.