Christofias news conference

President Christofias said yesterday that he had no Plan B as regards the Cyprus problem. “I don’t have a Plan B. I want you to know this,” said Christofias. “And I want to believe Mr Talat doesn’t have a Plan B either. We will continue the effort to start direct talks. There is no alternative solution,” he added.

Speaking at a a televised news conference marking his 120 days in office, he said it was high time Greek Cypriots understood that the solution to the Cyprus problem would be a bicommunal, bizonal federation. One state with one sovereignty is the only way forward, he said, adding that clearly there were certain circles on the Greek Cypriot side who did not wish to have a federal solution. Yet he stressed that he had the support of the political parties for new negotiations with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, despite reservations from some individual quarters. Greek Cypriots needed to understand, he said, that they are partners with Turkish Cypriots since 1960. "Unfortunately foreign intervention and chauvinist elements on both sides didn't let that work".

He said the clarification of the negotiating basis for new talks, as set down in the leaders’ agreements of March 21, May 23 and July 1, was an important way forward. “This means two constituent states with equal status and regimes. There have been some efforts to misinterpret this,” he said. “The basis for talks is clear, unless you want to play with words. It’s clear we are going to have one state with one sovereignty.”

Christofias also credited Talat for the positive developments but said he was not willing to bend over backwards either for the Turkish Cypriot leader who has been facing heavy criticism over the sovereignty issue. “I can’t facilitate Mr Talat by going against my principles and I told him too. Each one has his own struggle,” he said.“We hear complaints about Christofias criticising Turkey. I want to make it clear the critics will just have to get used to that. We have an occupation. Turkey is the key for a solution. We do have a say because our fate is interwoven with that happens there,” he added referring to the current crisis there.

The President said the obstacles ahead were many, complicated and complex but that his government had fulfilled its pledge to end the stagnation of the last five years. “The results so far justify our policy,” he added. “If I don’t take steps forward we will remain stagnant.”

U.S. Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried paid a short visit to the island and met up with the leaders of the two communities. Speaking at a press conference just before leaving he said mediators on Cyprus have learned since the Annan plan fiasco not to be seen to be interfering or imposing a Cyprus solution and have been careful during the current process to keep a “supportive distance”. “There is no American plan,” said Fried. “We want to help but this is not an issue on which a settlement can be imposed from the outside. He said it was for the leaders to show the way forward. “We look forward to supporting them. There has been progress, not just good statements but the opening of the Ledra Street crossing, which I saw yesterday, is a tangible expression of the leaders’ verbal commitment and written commitment to progress. The time has not been so favourable in many years for a settlement. We pledge ourselves to help as we may, working with the UN.”“Time will not improve things so I hope things can move forward and we can see negotiations and progress towards a settlement as soon as possible,” he added.But he did say that when he returned to the US his “bottom line assessment” to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would be “that we need to get ready” because there was a real chance, “not a certainty”, that the process would be moving forward in a way not seen in Cyprus for some time.