Leaders to meet twice in July

The Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders will meet on July 1, and will probably hold a second meeting within the month, but full-fledged talks are not likely before the autumn , Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou annonced yesterday at a joint news conference with Ozdil Nami, advisor to Talat.

According to the Cyprus Mail, asked when fully-fledged negotiations might start Iacovou said: “The simple answer is, whenever we decide to start.”

“There is no common language between the two communities,” he said. “We are aiming for clarification. I am sorry there seems to be some different opinion on the Turkish Cypriot side but this is why we need to meet and discuss these issues and find a common language." Nami added: "We are working very hard to start full-fledged negotiations. The work of the working groups will be used to start the talks.” Nami also referred to the Annan plan, but Iacovou said it could not go on the table. “The Turkish Cypriot community can if the so wish, present parts of it during negotiations. We are not talking about negotiations now. We feel we need clarifications. There must be no doubt we are working towards a common objective.” They also said further agreements would be announced in the coming days.

The UN Special Representative Taye-Brook Zerihoun said that since the process began in April, over 180 meetings had been held. “Some of the committees and working groups have made more progress than others, but what is important is that the process remains engaged,” he said.The agreements made include putting in place a mechanism that will allow ambulances to cross without delay in emergency situations, issuing road safety leaflets for handing out at crossing points, co-operation on waste issues, the establishment of a joint health committee, and the adoption of joint educational programmes on cultural heritage and the environment.

“You may think six projects is not much for 180 meetings but there is a lot more coming,” said Iacovou. “We wanted to present some of those we have agreed.” Iacovou said the environment committee was working particularly well. “And it shows how sensitive we are becoming on environmental issues and in protecting our joint environment,” he added.“Everyone has put in a lot of long hours and lots of time and energy, and good will, and they have concentrated on the issues, rather than on the political side of things,” Nami added.

He said the agreement on cultural education was important because it would promote respect for the cultural heritage of both the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. ‘It’s aimed at the younger generations,” he said. For the moment funding for all of the agreed projects will be borne by both sides.