Bad news

Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou walked out of the meeting at the Ledra Palace with Ozdil Nami, the advisor to Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, when the UN SG's Special Representative in Cyprus Tayek Brooke Zerihoun announced that the Turkish Cypriots had refused to allow the inhabitants of Kato Pyrgos to attend a mass in the north through the Limnitis crossing point. Iacovou told the Cyprus News Agency that this was "very bad news, it is a narrow-minded and provocative decision" and that he had decided that he could no longer continue the planned meeting and withdrew. He added that President Christofias has been informed of the development.

Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday he hoped a solution to the Cyprus problem could be found by the end of the year. "We aim to solve the Cyprus problem within 2008. We think that a solution is possible in this short time frame. We will be at the table with all our good will," Talat told a news conference in Ankara after talks with Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Turkey ahead of peace talks on September 3rd between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

Ankara Anatolia news agency reported that speaking at a joint press conference after his meeting with Talat, which was attended also by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Gul said that a solution could be found under the roof of the United Nations, within the framework of the UN Secretary-General's goodwill mission, based on realities in the island and with a new partnership to be established by two equal communities and two founder countries. He stressed that it was important that the solution be fair and that the new system should be functional and viable. Pledging that Turkey would provide all kinds of support for the upcoming peace talks, Gul said, "We also think that it is right to continue guarantor status and we are insistent on it,' Gul said. 'Not only Turkey, but also Greece is the guarantor in the island. This is an international agreement."

Asked whether the status of Cyprus could be affected by Russia recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Gul said, ' The Cyprus question has aspects that are sui generis, more positive and advantageous. First of all, this question is not a result of cold war era. It is totally different from recent crisis. Secondly, Turkish and Greek Cypriots founded the Republic of Cyprus together, they were partners. Problems emerged as partnership did not work and requirements of the partnership were not performed. That is the cause of difference'.”

The Government Spokesman Mr Stefanos Stefanou said Mr Talat's statements on the creation of a new partnership state in Cyprus based on two founding states, and political equality of the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot people do not help cultivate the appropriate climate in view of the start of direct negotiations between the two communities. He said what's more they also put into question everything that has been agreed upon by the leaders of the two communities regarding the basis of the negotiations and clash with UN Security Council resolutions which determine a bizonal bicommunal federation with one and single sovereignty, a single nationality and a single international personality, in the context of which there will be political equality between the two communities in Cyprus as the solution to be sought to the Cyprus problem. "In Cyprus there is only one state, the internationally recognized state of the Cyprus Republic and one people, the Cypriot people consisting of two communities, the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot community", he said. He stressed the need to avoid statements that undermine the climate and sow doubt concerning the intentions of either community. He said President Christofias will attend the negotiations with good will, determination and flexibility and will adhere to the principles of a solution to the Cyprus problem as they are determined in the High Level Agreements of 1977 and 79, the UN resolutions on Cyprus, the principles of international and European law and everything that has been agreed upon by the leaders of the two communities at their recent meetings. "The goal is to find a solution which will be in the interest of the whole of the Cypriot people the soonest possible", he added.

Under the headline, “Ossetia, an ace up the TRNC’s sleeve”, Turkish daily Sabah says that Gul and Talat at their meeting determined the strategy for the negotiation process starting on 3 September based on the following seven principles:
“1. Turkey and the TRNC will continue their policy of reconciliation in order to achieve a solution. The Turkish side will not leave the negotiation table.
2. After the ceremony on 3 September and when the official negotiations start in earnest on 11 September priority will be given to the constitution of the Cyprus Federal Republic. Without an agreement over the details of the new constitution, which will provide for political equality in the administration, there will not be bargaining on territory.
3. The Turkish guarantees will definitely not be abandoned.
4. The target will be to complete the negotiations in ten months time, by August 2009 at the latest, followed by a referendum.
5. The tactic of the Greek Cypriots to drag out the negotiations and exert pressure on Turkey at the EU Summit in December 2009 will be blocked. For this reason Talat will suggest a marathon meeting of intensive negotiations.
6. The new situation created with the declaration of independence of Kosovo, South Ossetia and Abkhazia will be used as a trump card.
7. The Greek Cypriots’ exploration for oil in the Mediterranean contrary to the international agreements will not be overlooked. If necessary, just as before, Turkish military vessels will enter the areas of the Eastern Mediterranean to be ceded by the Greek Cypriot administration for oil exploration.”