President Christofias who is in New York for the UN General Assembly session has asked the UN Secretary-General, at a meeting he had with him in New York, to turn his attention to Ankara because he believes that is where the key to a solution in Cyprus lies, "so that the Turkish side or the Turkish Cypriot side will become more rational on the issues we are discussing regarding governance and other issues along the way”.
An official statement from the office of the UNSG said the Secretary-General welcomed Christofias' reaffirmation of his commitment to finding a solution and his willingness to continue to work with the United Nations, including Special Adviser of the Secretary-General, Mr. Downer. The Secretary-General further urged the expeditious implementation of confidence building measures. They also discussed collaboration between the United Nations and the Republic of Cyprus on global issues, including MDGs and climate change.
Christofias told the press afterwards: “I heard yesterday that Mr Talat has accused me of obstructionism. It is I who should be saying that but instead, I hear it from Mr Talat. I am sorry for these positions; there is no way Demetris Christofias will diverge from the basic principles concerning a solution to the Cyprus problem. I have passed this message on to Mr Talat and I pass it on one more time from the building of the United Nations" .He added that on his part he would show understanding and flexibility, but would not violate his principles of maintaining the unity of the state, economy and people.
Meanwhile, US Under Secretary of State Mr Daniel Fried said yesterday after a meeting with the Cypriot Foreign Minister Mr Markos Kyprianou that there has never been a better opportunity to resolve the Cyprus problem than now. While difficult issues did exist, he added, the leaders of the two communities respected each other and were committed to reunification. "Now's the time to do it", he said. Mr Fried said Washington welcomed the start of direct negotiations in Cyprus and encouraged both sides to find a way forward. He added: “The United States has always supported bi-zonal bi-communal federation, a reunified island. I congratulated both sides on the progress they have made, so we want to encourage more”.
Tuesday 23 September 2008
Sunday 21 September 2008
The media have it wrong
President Christofias promises to work towards a solution decisively and seriously, while at the same time showing flexibility. He was speaking to reporters on his arrival in New York where he will attend the UN General Assembly. He is due to meet with the UN Secretary-General later today.
Makarios Droushiotis writing in Politis describes the state of the rejectionist front. He says that although there are attempts to recreate the fear in society that existed in 2004 and prevent Christofias from reaching an agreement with Talat, these are isolated efforts by individuals and not the concerted effort which they would like to give the impression exists. Although they receive considerable press coverage, they lack the other two factors that so helped them in 2004 - being in government and being in control of the Cyprus problem. He goes on to name the various individuals concerned within each party and concludes by saying that the black picture that all is not well at the talks that the media have created is far from the truth. On the contrary, the UN's evaluation is positive and don't see any deadlock on the horizon. The writer quotes a well-informed source as saying that the real picture is as follows:
- for the first time we have two leaders who both want a solution
- the atmosphere is friendly, although there are moments of tension, which is beneficial, as it shows that real negotiations are taking place.
- the UN is convinced that the two negotiators are thinking only of finding a solution and none is willing to leave the room
- the debate on "virgin birth" and "permanent derogations" is not a problem, as made out by the media. The UN have made it clear that any derogations can only be temporary and will last less time than in 2004
- the UN doesn't care what each side wants, but what they are prepared to accept. And they have no other choice but to agree.
- the procedure is slow but much faster than in 2004, when they didn't agree on anything
- the question of arbitration does not arise, because negotiations are being held in good faith. The UN will not impose solutions to deadlocks but will contribute at a later stage with ideas
- there is a deadline in reality, and the leaders know it. Their time will run out at the end of 2009
- the aim is to reach agreement before the european parliament elections (6/2009) but it might drag out till the fall
- the issues of territory and property are the thorniest questions. Security and guarantees are not as tough as they seem, nor is the question of the settlers
- the trend on the part of the media to create a negative climate is worrying, but it is difficult to see how the hysteria of 2004 can be repeated without the government's help
The Cyprus Mail on its front page today says that the doomsayers were out in force after the Christofias and Talat 's meeting on Thursday. "Newspapers scream deadlock, but where's the proof?" its headline asks. Friday’s front-page headline in right-wing Simerini screamed “Doomed” with a subhead saying the talks were going nowhere. Phileleftheros had a less dramatic headline but the implication was similar: “They want their own state….and more.” Phileleftheros accused Talat of being negative, promoting separation and seeking powerful state powers. On the Turkish Cypriot side there were also mixed interpretations by newspapers from negative to neutral but not necessarily positive. Kibris said: “Tension in statements” and referred to “sarcastic statements” by the leaders. “There is no progress,” said Vatan and Afrika with almost identical headlines, “Who is telling the truth?” said Halkin Sesi. “Christofias: ‘Talat acts in a double-faced manner’. Talat: ‘Let Christofias look in the mirror’,” said Ortam.
The paper quotes a source close to the talks as saying: “It’s all par for the course”. The source said there could be a number of reasons why some newspapers had decided to view the process so far in a negative light. One was the well-known existence of factions who do not want a solution. And the closer it seemed to a solution being found, the louder they became. Those who are looking positively at the situation and know the Cyprus issue well, will realise that the absence of a deadlock is actually progress. A lot of it is just posturing, the source said. “The two leaders are talking seriously and are committed but they still continue to play to their respective public and pander to certain factions. They are politicians,” he said.“This was only the second meeting of substantive talks and they have covered a lot of ground. The meetings have been long and they have not agreed on everything but they have not been acrimonious,” the source added. He said it was all being done in a very businesslike way. He said there were people on both sides that did not want solution. “And it’s only going to get worse,” he said. “If they see more traction, the criticism and attacks will worsen.”
Loucas Charalambous writing in Politis and the Mail says "these ridiculous media negotiations" have to stop and calls on Christofias and Talat to stop making public statements every day and focus on seeing whether we could, at long last, reach an agreement. The two leaders must get serious. They must realise that they cannot be conducting two sets of negotiations simultaneously – a real one at the negotiating table and a populist one through the media because they feel obliged to keep happy rival political leaders. Christofias had been trying to reassure Garoyian, Koutsou and Omirou while Talat has been thinking too much about Ertugruloglu, Eroglu and Denktash. It is a recipe for failure. If they carry on this way, before long they will become prisoners of their own unnecessary public declarations and at some point will become “obliged to fail” at the negotiating table in order to stay true to their sloganeering during the ‘media negotiations’. Christofias in particular needs to understand that he cannot have his cake and eat it. It is impossible to arrive at a deal with Talat and keep Garoyian, Omirou and Koutsou happy at the same time. The people voted for him and not the Garoyian/Koutsou/Omirou candidates in the elections. He should therefore focus on fulfilling the promise of a settlement and forget the defeated demagogues.
Makarios Droushiotis writing in Politis describes the state of the rejectionist front. He says that although there are attempts to recreate the fear in society that existed in 2004 and prevent Christofias from reaching an agreement with Talat, these are isolated efforts by individuals and not the concerted effort which they would like to give the impression exists. Although they receive considerable press coverage, they lack the other two factors that so helped them in 2004 - being in government and being in control of the Cyprus problem. He goes on to name the various individuals concerned within each party and concludes by saying that the black picture that all is not well at the talks that the media have created is far from the truth. On the contrary, the UN's evaluation is positive and don't see any deadlock on the horizon. The writer quotes a well-informed source as saying that the real picture is as follows:
- for the first time we have two leaders who both want a solution
- the atmosphere is friendly, although there are moments of tension, which is beneficial, as it shows that real negotiations are taking place.
- the UN is convinced that the two negotiators are thinking only of finding a solution and none is willing to leave the room
- the debate on "virgin birth" and "permanent derogations" is not a problem, as made out by the media. The UN have made it clear that any derogations can only be temporary and will last less time than in 2004
- the UN doesn't care what each side wants, but what they are prepared to accept. And they have no other choice but to agree.
- the procedure is slow but much faster than in 2004, when they didn't agree on anything
- the question of arbitration does not arise, because negotiations are being held in good faith. The UN will not impose solutions to deadlocks but will contribute at a later stage with ideas
- there is a deadline in reality, and the leaders know it. Their time will run out at the end of 2009
- the aim is to reach agreement before the european parliament elections (6/2009) but it might drag out till the fall
- the issues of territory and property are the thorniest questions. Security and guarantees are not as tough as they seem, nor is the question of the settlers
- the trend on the part of the media to create a negative climate is worrying, but it is difficult to see how the hysteria of 2004 can be repeated without the government's help
The Cyprus Mail on its front page today says that the doomsayers were out in force after the Christofias and Talat 's meeting on Thursday. "Newspapers scream deadlock, but where's the proof?" its headline asks. Friday’s front-page headline in right-wing Simerini screamed “Doomed” with a subhead saying the talks were going nowhere. Phileleftheros had a less dramatic headline but the implication was similar: “They want their own state….and more.” Phileleftheros accused Talat of being negative, promoting separation and seeking powerful state powers. On the Turkish Cypriot side there were also mixed interpretations by newspapers from negative to neutral but not necessarily positive. Kibris said: “Tension in statements” and referred to “sarcastic statements” by the leaders. “There is no progress,” said Vatan and Afrika with almost identical headlines, “Who is telling the truth?” said Halkin Sesi. “Christofias: ‘Talat acts in a double-faced manner’. Talat: ‘Let Christofias look in the mirror’,” said Ortam.
The paper quotes a source close to the talks as saying: “It’s all par for the course”. The source said there could be a number of reasons why some newspapers had decided to view the process so far in a negative light. One was the well-known existence of factions who do not want a solution. And the closer it seemed to a solution being found, the louder they became. Those who are looking positively at the situation and know the Cyprus issue well, will realise that the absence of a deadlock is actually progress. A lot of it is just posturing, the source said. “The two leaders are talking seriously and are committed but they still continue to play to their respective public and pander to certain factions. They are politicians,” he said.“This was only the second meeting of substantive talks and they have covered a lot of ground. The meetings have been long and they have not agreed on everything but they have not been acrimonious,” the source added. He said it was all being done in a very businesslike way. He said there were people on both sides that did not want solution. “And it’s only going to get worse,” he said. “If they see more traction, the criticism and attacks will worsen.”
Loucas Charalambous writing in Politis and the Mail says "these ridiculous media negotiations" have to stop and calls on Christofias and Talat to stop making public statements every day and focus on seeing whether we could, at long last, reach an agreement. The two leaders must get serious. They must realise that they cannot be conducting two sets of negotiations simultaneously – a real one at the negotiating table and a populist one through the media because they feel obliged to keep happy rival political leaders. Christofias had been trying to reassure Garoyian, Koutsou and Omirou while Talat has been thinking too much about Ertugruloglu, Eroglu and Denktash. It is a recipe for failure. If they carry on this way, before long they will become prisoners of their own unnecessary public declarations and at some point will become “obliged to fail” at the negotiating table in order to stay true to their sloganeering during the ‘media negotiations’. Christofias in particular needs to understand that he cannot have his cake and eat it. It is impossible to arrive at a deal with Talat and keep Garoyian, Omirou and Koutsou happy at the same time. The people voted for him and not the Garoyian/Koutsou/Omirou candidates in the elections. He should therefore focus on fulfilling the promise of a settlement and forget the defeated demagogues.
Friday 19 September 2008
Neither deadlock, nor progress
The leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities in Cyprus Dimitris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday met for five hours yesterday continuing their discussions on power sharing and governance. This time no media representatives were allowed anywhere near the venue.
In comments after the meeting, Talat said there was “neither deadlock nor great progress, but nor could it be called unproductive. He added that once the issue of governance and power sharing was exhausted and they moved on to property, it did not necessarily mean agreement would have been reached on the first topic. “It will just mean that we have discussed all aspects,” he said.
His words were echoed by Christofias who, on his return to the Presidential Palace after the meeting, said: “We are moving forward but there are some pending issues”. Christofias said the discussion on this particular topic had not been completed and that it would be taken up again when the leaders next meet on October 8. He said at the next meeting they would take up the issue of executive power, which was part of the overall chapter on governance and power sharing. These included discussions on the powers of the central government, legislative authority, judicial authority, and the mechanism for the resolution of disputes. “There are a lot of issues, so it will take time,” he said.
Christofias said the climate of yesterday’s meeting was good. “The meetings always take place in a friendly spirit, regardless of whether we agree or not,” he said.Before the meeting Christofias told the press when asked about Talat’s recent public statements: “What counts for me is what he promises during that talks which I hope he will abide by,” he said. "Mr. Talat says and accepts one thing inside and proclaims another outside. People should know this.”
He also said no settlement could be reached unless the two leaders were speaking the same language. “I told Mr Talat that he should appear more reasonable and to extend his hand, otherwise if we don't find a common language, a solution won't be found either at the end of this or any other year,” Christofias added.
The process so far has had its ups and downs, the more recent ones being accusations against Talat for breaking a self-imposed news blackout that the two leaders had agreed upon. The mood improved somewhat at the weekend when they both attended a bicommunal youth peace initiative and joined hands while pledging to work for a solution.
In comments after the meeting, Talat said there was “neither deadlock nor great progress, but nor could it be called unproductive. He added that once the issue of governance and power sharing was exhausted and they moved on to property, it did not necessarily mean agreement would have been reached on the first topic. “It will just mean that we have discussed all aspects,” he said.
His words were echoed by Christofias who, on his return to the Presidential Palace after the meeting, said: “We are moving forward but there are some pending issues”. Christofias said the discussion on this particular topic had not been completed and that it would be taken up again when the leaders next meet on October 8. He said at the next meeting they would take up the issue of executive power, which was part of the overall chapter on governance and power sharing. These included discussions on the powers of the central government, legislative authority, judicial authority, and the mechanism for the resolution of disputes. “There are a lot of issues, so it will take time,” he said.
Christofias said the climate of yesterday’s meeting was good. “The meetings always take place in a friendly spirit, regardless of whether we agree or not,” he said.Before the meeting Christofias told the press when asked about Talat’s recent public statements: “What counts for me is what he promises during that talks which I hope he will abide by,” he said. "Mr. Talat says and accepts one thing inside and proclaims another outside. People should know this.”
He also said no settlement could be reached unless the two leaders were speaking the same language. “I told Mr Talat that he should appear more reasonable and to extend his hand, otherwise if we don't find a common language, a solution won't be found either at the end of this or any other year,” Christofias added.
The process so far has had its ups and downs, the more recent ones being accusations against Talat for breaking a self-imposed news blackout that the two leaders had agreed upon. The mood improved somewhat at the weekend when they both attended a bicommunal youth peace initiative and joined hands while pledging to work for a solution.
Sunday 14 September 2008
This time it's different
Makarios Droushiotis in Politis says the difference this time with all other times that negotiations were held on the Cyprus problem is that this time they're genuine. This, he says, was the conclusion the UN reached after the very first meeting between Talat and Christofias. According to a foreign diplomat the chemistry between the two men was evident from the start and it has since become clear that this time there exists the political will for a solution. He compares the situation today with that in 2004 where both Denktash and Papadopoulos went to talks with the intention of sabotaging them, the former openly the later underhandedly. The UN don't set much store on where they agreed or disagreed at the first face to face meeting, but on the fact that the two leaders convinced that they had every intention of working towards a solution in good faith and that they did not have any Plan B in mind. According to sources, the two leaders will be in charge of the talks but at a later stage the UN could join in but not through any form of binding arbitration, but in order to contribute ideas for give-and-take. The last word in the negotiations will be up to the leaders. The UN does not expect agreement to emerge from the first stage. They recognise that this is a difficult process, but believe that sufficient progress will have been achieved to result in a successful outcome at the bargaining stage, which will be a one way road for both sides. The writer goes on to say that Christofias has sent a letter to the President of the EU Commission, Manuel Barroso asking that the Cyprus problem be put under the wing of the Presidency rather than the Enlargement Commission as it has been to date. His argument is that now that Cyprus is a full EU member it no longer needs to be handled by the Enlargement commission, but in actual fact Nicosia, it seems, is suspicious of that committee as a result of its relation with Turkey which is the largest country applying for membership. Information from Brussels say that the EU is annoyed by this move because it seems they forget how much the Enlargement Commission under Mr Verheugen helped Cyprus to join with the Cyprus problem still unsolved. What's more the Enlargement Commission is the only one that can exert positive pressure on Turkey to cooperate in solving the Cyprus problem. What's more the UN itself would like to have some kind of coordinator with the EU and would also prefer this comes from Barroso's office rather than the Enlargement Commission. On their part the T/Cs do not want the EU to get involved past a technocratic level because Cyprus is a full member and may influence the decisions taken.
Politis says that the security issue and the issue of guarantees has taken on a much greater role in the new talks on the Cyprus problem than before. Previously it was easier as noone at the table questioned the continuation of the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee. Different scenarios are currently being discussed behind the scenes that could replace this treaty. For the moment the two sides seem at opposite ends with the G/Cs wanting a reevaluation of the guarantees but not the abolition of the 1960 Treaty as it would endanger the future transformation of the republic to a federation and the T/Cs and Turkey wanting it to continue as it is especially Turkey's right of intervention. The international community seems to have realised that the security issue needs to be examined. They are taking on board the G/C view that the new state cannot be a nanny state, but they also know how important security is for Turkey. The scenarios being discussed include an increased UN force, an EU force (ardently supported by Sweden and Holland), a NATO force and a special force.
Loucas Charalambous writing in the Mail and Politis attacks the rejectionists for criticising recent statements by the president that he did not object to 50,000 settlers from the Turkish mainland remaining after a solution. Their main argument being that by revealing this position just before the start of direct talks would bind him to accept this or a bigger number of settlers; if he started from the position that he would not accept any settler remaining, he would supposedly have the ability to negotiate the stay of a smaller number. This argument is based on the naïve assumption that every time a new procedure begins it does so with a clean slate. They pretend not to be aware of what had happened in Cyprus from 1963 to the present day. Everyone knows that a sizeable number of Turkish citizens would stay on in Cyprus after a settlement. Even the European acquis, which we are always referring to, safeguards this right for large numbers of settlers. It is a reality that neither Christofias nor anyone else has the power to change. Under the circumstances, his statement was far from harmful. On the contrary it could be turn to his advantage. By publicly accepting in advance of talks, something that he would have to accept anyway, he gives himself the opportunity to demand reciprocal shows of good intentions from the Turkish side. Besides, the rejectionists are partly responsible for the growing scale of the problem. Back in 2004, Talat had given a list containing only 41,000 names of settlers who would have stayed on the island. If this number has increased to 200,000 in the ensuing period, the people to blame are Papadopoulos and the other political pygmies who voted for partition back in 2004.
The Mail's satirical column Coffeeshop says that self-righteous hacks and politicians spent most of Friday having a go at Mehmet Ali Talat for breaking the embargo on statements about the talks. Talat had given an interview to a Turkish TV channel after Thursday’s first round of negotiations and said a few general things about what had been discussed at the meeting. This was a far cry from what the Denktator used to do during talks. As soon as he came out of the negotiating room he would make some inflammatory statements, designed to outrage the Greek Cypriots and poison the climate. Talat’s comments were nothing like that, but this did not stop our hacks from taking the moral high ground and making a big issue out of it. I was particularly impressed with the look of moral superiority on the face of CyBC’s prim and proper Paris Potamitis when he was presenting Friday’s lunch-time chat show on TV. He kept coming back to the violation of the embargo, constantly encouraging his guests to talk about it. This was the same TV hack who during the period before the referendum was only too happy to report bits of negatively spun information about the talks that were leaked to him by the Ethnarch’s poodles and were aimed at boosting opposition to the A-plan. The ethical Paris never protested, back then, that the news black-out on the talks was being systematically violated by his hero, Ethnarch Tassos.Phileleftheros’ Kostas Venizelos, another recipient of Ethnarchic leaks during the A-plan talks, was also angered by the two-faced Turk’s tactics. Yet in the very same article Venizelos also went on to reveal plenty of details about what had been discussed at Thursday’s meeting between the two comrades, listing the respective positions of both sides and the arguments they advanced, a lot more than Talat had said. And as Venizelos is too patriotic to get his information from the Turkish side we can only assume that the embargo was broken by a member of Christofias’ team.
Former President George Vasiliou in an interview in Politis says he believes the direct talks on Cyprus will last at the most a year but believes they cannot drag on for longer because of the elections on the north. He also said that the working groups made good work and their main achievement was for each sides to set out its positions so they can be clearly seen by the other side, allowing the leaders to proceed with the give and take.
Yiangos Mikellides in his regularly weekly column in Politis says he sometimes asks himself do i really want to live with the T/C. He says he does but still has a fear in him which he knows is unreasonable and which he tries to reason with. He says that even though he strongly supported the Annan plan because he does not believe in partition and is romantic and wants a Cyprus that is unitary, non-aligned, independent and democratic, he believes that the time has come when each and every one of us must ask ourselves what we really want. Partition or reunification. If we really want partition, he says, and he believes 70% do, it's stupid to be going back and forth with useless discussions.
Politis says that the security issue and the issue of guarantees has taken on a much greater role in the new talks on the Cyprus problem than before. Previously it was easier as noone at the table questioned the continuation of the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee. Different scenarios are currently being discussed behind the scenes that could replace this treaty. For the moment the two sides seem at opposite ends with the G/Cs wanting a reevaluation of the guarantees but not the abolition of the 1960 Treaty as it would endanger the future transformation of the republic to a federation and the T/Cs and Turkey wanting it to continue as it is especially Turkey's right of intervention. The international community seems to have realised that the security issue needs to be examined. They are taking on board the G/C view that the new state cannot be a nanny state, but they also know how important security is for Turkey. The scenarios being discussed include an increased UN force, an EU force (ardently supported by Sweden and Holland), a NATO force and a special force.
Loucas Charalambous writing in the Mail and Politis attacks the rejectionists for criticising recent statements by the president that he did not object to 50,000 settlers from the Turkish mainland remaining after a solution. Their main argument being that by revealing this position just before the start of direct talks would bind him to accept this or a bigger number of settlers; if he started from the position that he would not accept any settler remaining, he would supposedly have the ability to negotiate the stay of a smaller number. This argument is based on the naïve assumption that every time a new procedure begins it does so with a clean slate. They pretend not to be aware of what had happened in Cyprus from 1963 to the present day. Everyone knows that a sizeable number of Turkish citizens would stay on in Cyprus after a settlement. Even the European acquis, which we are always referring to, safeguards this right for large numbers of settlers. It is a reality that neither Christofias nor anyone else has the power to change. Under the circumstances, his statement was far from harmful. On the contrary it could be turn to his advantage. By publicly accepting in advance of talks, something that he would have to accept anyway, he gives himself the opportunity to demand reciprocal shows of good intentions from the Turkish side. Besides, the rejectionists are partly responsible for the growing scale of the problem. Back in 2004, Talat had given a list containing only 41,000 names of settlers who would have stayed on the island. If this number has increased to 200,000 in the ensuing period, the people to blame are Papadopoulos and the other political pygmies who voted for partition back in 2004.
The Mail's satirical column Coffeeshop says that self-righteous hacks and politicians spent most of Friday having a go at Mehmet Ali Talat for breaking the embargo on statements about the talks. Talat had given an interview to a Turkish TV channel after Thursday’s first round of negotiations and said a few general things about what had been discussed at the meeting. This was a far cry from what the Denktator used to do during talks. As soon as he came out of the negotiating room he would make some inflammatory statements, designed to outrage the Greek Cypriots and poison the climate. Talat’s comments were nothing like that, but this did not stop our hacks from taking the moral high ground and making a big issue out of it. I was particularly impressed with the look of moral superiority on the face of CyBC’s prim and proper Paris Potamitis when he was presenting Friday’s lunch-time chat show on TV. He kept coming back to the violation of the embargo, constantly encouraging his guests to talk about it. This was the same TV hack who during the period before the referendum was only too happy to report bits of negatively spun information about the talks that were leaked to him by the Ethnarch’s poodles and were aimed at boosting opposition to the A-plan. The ethical Paris never protested, back then, that the news black-out on the talks was being systematically violated by his hero, Ethnarch Tassos.Phileleftheros’ Kostas Venizelos, another recipient of Ethnarchic leaks during the A-plan talks, was also angered by the two-faced Turk’s tactics. Yet in the very same article Venizelos also went on to reveal plenty of details about what had been discussed at Thursday’s meeting between the two comrades, listing the respective positions of both sides and the arguments they advanced, a lot more than Talat had said. And as Venizelos is too patriotic to get his information from the Turkish side we can only assume that the embargo was broken by a member of Christofias’ team.
Former President George Vasiliou in an interview in Politis says he believes the direct talks on Cyprus will last at the most a year but believes they cannot drag on for longer because of the elections on the north. He also said that the working groups made good work and their main achievement was for each sides to set out its positions so they can be clearly seen by the other side, allowing the leaders to proceed with the give and take.
Yiangos Mikellides in his regularly weekly column in Politis says he sometimes asks himself do i really want to live with the T/C. He says he does but still has a fear in him which he knows is unreasonable and which he tries to reason with. He says that even though he strongly supported the Annan plan because he does not believe in partition and is romantic and wants a Cyprus that is unitary, non-aligned, independent and democratic, he believes that the time has come when each and every one of us must ask ourselves what we really want. Partition or reunification. If we really want partition, he says, and he believes 70% do, it's stupid to be going back and forth with useless discussions.
Saturday 13 September 2008
Downer says political will for solution is "impressive"
The Cyprus Mail reports that U.N. special envoy Alexander Downer yesterday faced his first real Cyprus media challenge, successfully giving away nothing during a news conference in Nicosia. Along with the usual UN platitudes, the paper says, such as being “encouraged”, seeing “political will”, and predicting a “difficult process”, yet being “cautiously optimistic”, the Australian former Foreign Minister deftly dodged a number of Cyprob questions.
Asked about the guarantees issued – a red line for Turkey – Downer cheerfully replied: “I’m not going there.”Speaking of the process so far, he said: “There will be ups and downs and goods days and bad days. There will be good headlines and bad headlines of course.” But he said he was determined that this time the process would succeed.
Reminded of the 16 other envoys that had gone before him who had probably also felt the same way when they took on the Cyprus issue, Downer said: “I wouldn’t have taken on this job if I thought it was a doomed job. I looked at it very carefully before I accepted this job and I thought there was a chance of the process being successful and I remain of that view.”
He said just because the process had failed in the past, it did not mean “you don’t try to make it succeed in the present or the future”.
“There is a time when these things can work and there is a time when they won’t. Time and circumstances change. It depends on a lot of variables,” he said.“The circumstances of today are not the same as four years ago or 34 years ago. You have two leaders who want to succeed and are quite determined to succeed.”He did, however, concede that it was taking a lot more time than he had originally anticipated
Downer leaves the island today for Australia and will then travel to New York to brief the Security Council on the Cyprus meetings. He will not be present when the leaders meet again on Thursday.
He rounded off his news conference with another statement of optimism after being asked whether he was equally optimistic now as he was before the negotiations began.“But I’m not naïve,” he said. “This is an incredibly difficult process but I am optimistic. What I’ve looked for is political will and it’s impressive. That gives me cause for cautious optimism.”
Asked about the guarantees issued – a red line for Turkey – Downer cheerfully replied: “I’m not going there.”Speaking of the process so far, he said: “There will be ups and downs and goods days and bad days. There will be good headlines and bad headlines of course.” But he said he was determined that this time the process would succeed.
Reminded of the 16 other envoys that had gone before him who had probably also felt the same way when they took on the Cyprus issue, Downer said: “I wouldn’t have taken on this job if I thought it was a doomed job. I looked at it very carefully before I accepted this job and I thought there was a chance of the process being successful and I remain of that view.”
He said just because the process had failed in the past, it did not mean “you don’t try to make it succeed in the present or the future”.
“There is a time when these things can work and there is a time when they won’t. Time and circumstances change. It depends on a lot of variables,” he said.“The circumstances of today are not the same as four years ago or 34 years ago. You have two leaders who want to succeed and are quite determined to succeed.”He did, however, concede that it was taking a lot more time than he had originally anticipated
Downer leaves the island today for Australia and will then travel to New York to brief the Security Council on the Cyprus meetings. He will not be present when the leaders meet again on Thursday.
He rounded off his news conference with another statement of optimism after being asked whether he was equally optimistic now as he was before the negotiations began.“But I’m not naïve,” he said. “This is an incredibly difficult process but I am optimistic. What I’ve looked for is political will and it’s impressive. That gives me cause for cautious optimism.”
To talk or not to talk
Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat told the Financial Times in an interview from Brussels on Wednesday before his second round of direct talks with President Christofias that the most difficult issues at the talks are the property issue, the redrawing of the map that will mark out the separate Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parts of the island, and the nature of future power sharing. He also contended that, because the Greek Cypriot government was already in the EU and eurozone and was recognised by the United Nations, it had fewer incentives than the Turkish Cypriots to strike a deal. “The EU can contribute by encouraging the Greek Cypriots to pursue a solution. The Greek Cypriots don’t have enough incentives to find a solution. They don’t need a solution, actually,” Mr Talat said.
He also said his talks with Mr Christofias should not need to continue into 2009 because “the Cyprus problem is a very well-known problem” and they were not starting from scratch in tackling the issues. “We may first identify where we converge and where we disagree, and we’ll collect these issues in two separate files,” Mr Talat said. “I have the idea that it won’t be possible to agree on everything by the end of the year, so we will need some kind of help, if not arbitration.” Under this timetable, a comprehensive settlement could be signed by next June, he said – though it would still need approval by both communities in simultaneous referendums.
He added that the atmosphere was good for the time being. “It’s a new situation, really new, so we’re hopeful this time, though we have a lot of difficulties. Are we going to preserve it to the end? That’s another matter. I’m not sure.”
The Cyprus government yesterday refused to comment on Talat's statements after the talks to Turkish TV saying it will stick to its commitment not to say anything that may adversely jeopardise the atmosphere, Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said yesterday. He added that the government had so far been very careful to avoid making statements and expressed the hope that Mr Talat would follow suit.
Greek Cypriot daily Phileleftheros says that according to diplomatic sources, Thursday's negotiations were tough despite starting off from areas of convergence, but had not yet reached the stage of give and take. It says that the G/C side supports a strong central government with powers of a federal state, namely federation, whereas the T/C side's approach is based on greater powers being allocated to the constituent states, in other words, confederation.
He also said his talks with Mr Christofias should not need to continue into 2009 because “the Cyprus problem is a very well-known problem” and they were not starting from scratch in tackling the issues. “We may first identify where we converge and where we disagree, and we’ll collect these issues in two separate files,” Mr Talat said. “I have the idea that it won’t be possible to agree on everything by the end of the year, so we will need some kind of help, if not arbitration.” Under this timetable, a comprehensive settlement could be signed by next June, he said – though it would still need approval by both communities in simultaneous referendums.
He added that the atmosphere was good for the time being. “It’s a new situation, really new, so we’re hopeful this time, though we have a lot of difficulties. Are we going to preserve it to the end? That’s another matter. I’m not sure.”
The Cyprus government yesterday refused to comment on Talat's statements after the talks to Turkish TV saying it will stick to its commitment not to say anything that may adversely jeopardise the atmosphere, Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said yesterday. He added that the government had so far been very careful to avoid making statements and expressed the hope that Mr Talat would follow suit.
Greek Cypriot daily Phileleftheros says that according to diplomatic sources, Thursday's negotiations were tough despite starting off from areas of convergence, but had not yet reached the stage of give and take. It says that the G/C side supports a strong central government with powers of a federal state, namely federation, whereas the T/C side's approach is based on greater powers being allocated to the constituent states, in other words, confederation.
Friday 12 September 2008
Leaders discuss governance and power sharing
Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders yesterday began negotiations on the subject of governance and power sharing with a meeting which lasted about 4 hours. None of the leaders made any comments after the meeting but the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, Mr Alexander Downer, said in a statement afterwards that the talks had been productive and fruitful and would continue on the 18th September. Asked how confident he was that there could be a deal on Cyprus by 2009, Mr Downer said that there had been no particular timelines agreed. "But obviously both leaders are doing what they can to push the process ahead at an appropriate speed", he said. "It has been a good discussion today but obviously there is a long way to go. It’s the very beginning of the process", he added. Mr Downer confirmed that there had been negotiations, rather than just discussion, and asked what the topic of the next meeting would be, he said that there would be “a continuation of the discussion on governance and power sharing and the subject that had been stipulated before and they will be moving on to the property issue after that”. The Australian diplomat also stated that “it has been going well. These are big issues. Discussing something like governance and power sharing for a constitution is a big question, so inevitably it will take a bit of time".
Moreover,U.N. chief of mission Taye-Brook Zerihoun told Agency France Press on Wednesday that the complex and challenging process of finding a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus problem has started in earnest. "The road ahead will be pot-holed and sometimes perilous, but it does not look blocked. Pursuit of the greater good of the people of Cyprus is key to overcoming past rancor and division, and in ushering in a new era of cooperation, prosperity and peace based on respect for diversity and shared principles", he added.
In a statement on Cyprus, after the meeting of the two leaders in Cyprus, the UN Secretary-General said he had spoken this week with all the key players, including the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat, and the Greek Cypriot leader, Mr. Dimitris Christofias, as well as the prime minister of Greece, Mr. Kostas Karamanlis, and the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr. Recep Erdogan, and was encouraged by the progress.
He added that during his telephone calls to all the leaders, he urged them "to seize the momentum and try to demonstrate their political leadership with a sense of flexibility and wisdom, also looking beyond their visions and issues; they should look to the future of the Cypriot people". While I believe that the Cypriot people have the ownership of this, we are committed to continue to provide our facilitating role”.
Replying to questions he said: "I think we have good momentum. The United Nations is now re-energizing with a new Special Adviser, a very experienced and seasoned diplomat who is well respected by both sides and other concerned parties. Therefore, I urge them, when they are going to discuss very substantive and very contentious issues, like governing and power-sharing and property issues, they must really show flexibility and leadership by thinking beyond current issues and by thinking of their future " .
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi (12.09.08) reports that Mr. Talat told Turkish television that the reason why the talks have started with governance and power sharing was that if progress is scored on these issues it would be more meaningful to take up other issues, as political equality is very important for the Turkish Cypriots. “What kind of a government will emerge is not as important as the power and authority to be vested on the federal governments. What is important is for the authority and power to be exercised by the Turkish Cypriot people. What we will do, is to define only the federal powers. Once we define the federal powers we will stop there because the rest will be the powers and authority of the founding states. Our thesis is based on the political equality of the Turkish Cypriot people and the Greek Cypriot people”, Mr. Talat said. The paper reports that Mr. Talat said that they had reached consensus on some issues during yesterday’s meeting, but he refused to elaborate on them. Mr. Talat went on and said that negotiations were going on and it is not possible to carry out negotiations in the press. The Turkish Cypriot leader emphasised that what was discussed at the negotiations will not be discussed in the press. He added that although the Annan plan has an important place and is their source of inspiration, however, “he plan is not on the negotiating table”. Mr. Talat further said that the issues the sides cannot agree on will be filed and the next issue will be taken up and later on they will return and take up issues that they disagreed. Mr. Talat said that during yesterday’s meeting they did not discuss the presidency issue.As for the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance Mr. Talat said that this is an international agreement and if all the sides party to this agreement agree, then the agreement will be changed. He added that he had already said this to the Greek Cypriots. He added that the Greek Cypriot “concern” regarding the continuation of Turkey’s guarantorship and the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance “is not a real concern”. He said that Turkey did not interfere without any reason. "In fact Ankara was late in interfering in the island”, he stated.As for the property issue Mr. Talat said that since this issue concerns everybody it is the most difficult issue in the negotiations, and thus solution of this problem will be spread over a time period. He said that it will be a regrettable event “if the property issue becomes the reason for not approving the agreement.”
Alithia reports on Talat's statement by proclaiming in its headline that "Talat broke the news blackout". The paper writes that no sooner had the meeting finished that he appeared on Turkish television revealing what had been discussed.
Turkish daily Milliyet says that during yesterday’s meeting, the two leaders discussed the authorities of the federal organs. The paper publishes the positions of the two sides regarding the issues of administration and power sharing, as follows: “What the Turkish side wants: The Federal State should be administrated by a ‘presidential council’ which the parliament will elect from one single list. The rotation of the president and the vice-president should last 12 months (a total of three years to the Turkish and three years to Greek presidents).The ‘presidential council’ shall be composed of 7 persons, 4 Greeks and 3 Turks. On the decisions taken by single majority this should include positive vote from two members from each community. The representation of the Turkish Founding State to the House of Representatives should be 1/3. What the Greek side wants: The Federal State should be administrated with a ‘presidential system‘. The President and the vice-president should be elected by the ‘citizens of the Federal Republic’.The Presidency should be rotating with the Greek President's term being 4 years and the Turkish President's 2 years.The Council of Ministers shall be composed of 9 persons, 6 Greeks and 3 Turks. Where no consensus can be reached, decisions should be taken by simple majority on condition that one member from each federal unit takes part. The Turkish Federal Unit shall be represented in the House of Representatives by ¼”.
Moreover,U.N. chief of mission Taye-Brook Zerihoun told Agency France Press on Wednesday that the complex and challenging process of finding a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus problem has started in earnest. "The road ahead will be pot-holed and sometimes perilous, but it does not look blocked. Pursuit of the greater good of the people of Cyprus is key to overcoming past rancor and division, and in ushering in a new era of cooperation, prosperity and peace based on respect for diversity and shared principles", he added.
In a statement on Cyprus, after the meeting of the two leaders in Cyprus, the UN Secretary-General said he had spoken this week with all the key players, including the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat, and the Greek Cypriot leader, Mr. Dimitris Christofias, as well as the prime minister of Greece, Mr. Kostas Karamanlis, and the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr. Recep Erdogan, and was encouraged by the progress.
He added that during his telephone calls to all the leaders, he urged them "to seize the momentum and try to demonstrate their political leadership with a sense of flexibility and wisdom, also looking beyond their visions and issues; they should look to the future of the Cypriot people". While I believe that the Cypriot people have the ownership of this, we are committed to continue to provide our facilitating role”.
Replying to questions he said: "I think we have good momentum. The United Nations is now re-energizing with a new Special Adviser, a very experienced and seasoned diplomat who is well respected by both sides and other concerned parties. Therefore, I urge them, when they are going to discuss very substantive and very contentious issues, like governing and power-sharing and property issues, they must really show flexibility and leadership by thinking beyond current issues and by thinking of their future " .
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi (12.09.08) reports that Mr. Talat told Turkish television that the reason why the talks have started with governance and power sharing was that if progress is scored on these issues it would be more meaningful to take up other issues, as political equality is very important for the Turkish Cypriots. “What kind of a government will emerge is not as important as the power and authority to be vested on the federal governments. What is important is for the authority and power to be exercised by the Turkish Cypriot people. What we will do, is to define only the federal powers. Once we define the federal powers we will stop there because the rest will be the powers and authority of the founding states. Our thesis is based on the political equality of the Turkish Cypriot people and the Greek Cypriot people”, Mr. Talat said. The paper reports that Mr. Talat said that they had reached consensus on some issues during yesterday’s meeting, but he refused to elaborate on them. Mr. Talat went on and said that negotiations were going on and it is not possible to carry out negotiations in the press. The Turkish Cypriot leader emphasised that what was discussed at the negotiations will not be discussed in the press. He added that although the Annan plan has an important place and is their source of inspiration, however, “he plan is not on the negotiating table”. Mr. Talat further said that the issues the sides cannot agree on will be filed and the next issue will be taken up and later on they will return and take up issues that they disagreed. Mr. Talat said that during yesterday’s meeting they did not discuss the presidency issue.As for the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance Mr. Talat said that this is an international agreement and if all the sides party to this agreement agree, then the agreement will be changed. He added that he had already said this to the Greek Cypriots. He added that the Greek Cypriot “concern” regarding the continuation of Turkey’s guarantorship and the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance “is not a real concern”. He said that Turkey did not interfere without any reason. "In fact Ankara was late in interfering in the island”, he stated.As for the property issue Mr. Talat said that since this issue concerns everybody it is the most difficult issue in the negotiations, and thus solution of this problem will be spread over a time period. He said that it will be a regrettable event “if the property issue becomes the reason for not approving the agreement.”
Alithia reports on Talat's statement by proclaiming in its headline that "Talat broke the news blackout". The paper writes that no sooner had the meeting finished that he appeared on Turkish television revealing what had been discussed.
Turkish daily Milliyet says that during yesterday’s meeting, the two leaders discussed the authorities of the federal organs. The paper publishes the positions of the two sides regarding the issues of administration and power sharing, as follows: “What the Turkish side wants: The Federal State should be administrated by a ‘presidential council’ which the parliament will elect from one single list. The rotation of the president and the vice-president should last 12 months (a total of three years to the Turkish and three years to Greek presidents).The ‘presidential council’ shall be composed of 7 persons, 4 Greeks and 3 Turks. On the decisions taken by single majority this should include positive vote from two members from each community. The representation of the Turkish Founding State to the House of Representatives should be 1/3. What the Greek side wants: The Federal State should be administrated with a ‘presidential system‘. The President and the vice-president should be elected by the ‘citizens of the Federal Republic’.The Presidency should be rotating with the Greek President's term being 4 years and the Turkish President's 2 years.The Council of Ministers shall be composed of 9 persons, 6 Greeks and 3 Turks. Where no consensus can be reached, decisions should be taken by simple majority on condition that one member from each federal unit takes part. The Turkish Federal Unit shall be represented in the House of Representatives by ¼”.
Sunday 7 September 2008
Property issue and educational reforms
Politis' front page article says that the property issue will be next up for discussion when the two leaders meet again on 11 September. The G/C side's main thrust is that refugees be given the first choice as to whether or not they want to return to the areas under T/C rule. The dual aim is not to uproot people who have been living in homes for decades while at the same time avoiding having to pay out large amounts of compensation. The article says that Christofias considers the property issue one of the most complicated aspects of the Cyprus problem, but wants to ensure that displaced people have the right to decide for themselves whether they want to return. However, the belief is that only a very small number will do so. The proposal the G/C side will put forward includes a system of renting out the property in both federated states for a period of time to be negotiated, the initial proposal being for about 20 years, and at the end of this time the property will be given back to the owner. Diplomatic circles believe this will keep the cost of the solution down and will be feasible provided that the number of people wanting to return has been correctly estimated.
DIKO has lashed out at government plans to foster bicommunal reconciliation in schools, outlined in a circular from Education Minister Andreas Demetriou, the Cyprus Mail reports. The circular, which was presented to teachers on Monday, proposes action to help the unification of Cyprus through the application of new teaching schemes. It aims at changes to the history curriculum and the development of mutual respect between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
At a news conference on Thursday, deputy president of DIKO Giorgos Kolokasides said the Ministry’s initiative gave his party serious reason to be concerned. “The impression given by the Minister’s circular is that our education system so far has been chauvinistic,” said Kolokasides, “and the suggestion that we should rewrite our history books causes us to doubt the Ministry’s priorities.” His outrage was echoed by DISY deputy Andreas Themistocleous, who described the aims set out in the Ministry’s circular as the “self-castration of our Hellenic heritage”.
The Education Minister himself expressed surprise at the criticisms, saying it was important to teach today’s youth a rounded, balanced view of the island’s history. Demetriou said history school books had remained virtually unchanged since 1950 and that the new approach to the subject would be drawn up a by number of experts with different approaches to provide historical truth and accuracy. Nevertheless, the minister said the discussions under way were fruitful and indicated that society was ready to discuss its reorientation towards a modern, European community capable of discussing the problems of its past and how to solve them in the best possible way. He added that by changing the approach to teaching, “we would be sending the Turkish Cypriot community a very powerful, political message that we were ready to co-operate and that an end to the occupation was possible”.
In an editorial the Mail says we should be applauding the Education Minister. His aims are not just worthy, they are absolutely critical if we are the slightest bit serious about ever wanting to live side by side with the Turkish Cypriots in a reunited Cyprus – a broad aim for which there is supposedly consensus across the political spectrum, irrespective of the form that reunification might take. Yes, our schools have actively bred the worst kind of chauvinism. Yes, it must be changed. But are we willing to make that change, and can it be effective overnight? The government is facing a very steep uphill struggle.
The Mail's column Coffeeshop says the Education Minister's circular to schools, the column says this has sparked a wave of self-righteous indignation among the guardians of patriotic correctness. What if we teachers and students were invited to reconciliation conference at a Greek gymnasium in occupied Lapithos that was being used as a Turkish school? What if students and teachers refused to cross the line to attend reconciliation events; would they be punished by the ministry? What will happen to Den Xechno (I do not forget), the official slogan shoved down the throats of our students? Perhaps it could be used to refer to other things affecting students like not forgetting handing in homework on time. A greater danger was that it could destroy our victim culture. What if through a mistaken handling of the problem we created feelings of guilt in our students, when in fact they were victims of invasion and occupation, asked Mrs Semelidou. Surely the victim culture must not only be preserved, but celebrated because it is one of the values we share with our Turkish Cypriot brothers and sisters, who are also pretty good at playing the victims. Coffeeshop sees no reason to oppose the introduction of these new measures in the schools. If the distortion of history reduces the number of teenage, flag-waving fanatics on our streets during national protest days then it cannot be that bad.
Regarding the talks the column says gloom and despair set in this week as the eagerly-awaited direct talks to solve the Cyprob got off to a spectacularly bad start, before the two leaders had even begun negotiating. The positions expressed by comrades Talat and Christofias in their respective opening statements on Wednesday suggested that they were too far apart to strike a deal, causing many of our sensitive politicians to go into a deep depression. The pessimism is totally unjustified. We should be patient for just 10 more days because then Anorthosis will play the first match in the group stages of the Champions League and we will be able to “transmit national and political messages” that will definitely strengthen our negotiating position.
An opinion poll in Simerini says that 60% of G/C are pessimistic that the Cyprus problem will be solved. The majority believe that Turkey is the main obstacle to a solution. Half prefer a unitary state as the best solution, their main concern being that the solution will collapse and that there will be disagreements and clashes.
DIKO has lashed out at government plans to foster bicommunal reconciliation in schools, outlined in a circular from Education Minister Andreas Demetriou, the Cyprus Mail reports. The circular, which was presented to teachers on Monday, proposes action to help the unification of Cyprus through the application of new teaching schemes. It aims at changes to the history curriculum and the development of mutual respect between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
At a news conference on Thursday, deputy president of DIKO Giorgos Kolokasides said the Ministry’s initiative gave his party serious reason to be concerned. “The impression given by the Minister’s circular is that our education system so far has been chauvinistic,” said Kolokasides, “and the suggestion that we should rewrite our history books causes us to doubt the Ministry’s priorities.” His outrage was echoed by DISY deputy Andreas Themistocleous, who described the aims set out in the Ministry’s circular as the “self-castration of our Hellenic heritage”.
The Education Minister himself expressed surprise at the criticisms, saying it was important to teach today’s youth a rounded, balanced view of the island’s history. Demetriou said history school books had remained virtually unchanged since 1950 and that the new approach to the subject would be drawn up a by number of experts with different approaches to provide historical truth and accuracy. Nevertheless, the minister said the discussions under way were fruitful and indicated that society was ready to discuss its reorientation towards a modern, European community capable of discussing the problems of its past and how to solve them in the best possible way. He added that by changing the approach to teaching, “we would be sending the Turkish Cypriot community a very powerful, political message that we were ready to co-operate and that an end to the occupation was possible”.
In an editorial the Mail says we should be applauding the Education Minister. His aims are not just worthy, they are absolutely critical if we are the slightest bit serious about ever wanting to live side by side with the Turkish Cypriots in a reunited Cyprus – a broad aim for which there is supposedly consensus across the political spectrum, irrespective of the form that reunification might take. Yes, our schools have actively bred the worst kind of chauvinism. Yes, it must be changed. But are we willing to make that change, and can it be effective overnight? The government is facing a very steep uphill struggle.
The Mail's column Coffeeshop says the Education Minister's circular to schools, the column says this has sparked a wave of self-righteous indignation among the guardians of patriotic correctness. What if we teachers and students were invited to reconciliation conference at a Greek gymnasium in occupied Lapithos that was being used as a Turkish school? What if students and teachers refused to cross the line to attend reconciliation events; would they be punished by the ministry? What will happen to Den Xechno (I do not forget), the official slogan shoved down the throats of our students? Perhaps it could be used to refer to other things affecting students like not forgetting handing in homework on time. A greater danger was that it could destroy our victim culture. What if through a mistaken handling of the problem we created feelings of guilt in our students, when in fact they were victims of invasion and occupation, asked Mrs Semelidou. Surely the victim culture must not only be preserved, but celebrated because it is one of the values we share with our Turkish Cypriot brothers and sisters, who are also pretty good at playing the victims. Coffeeshop sees no reason to oppose the introduction of these new measures in the schools. If the distortion of history reduces the number of teenage, flag-waving fanatics on our streets during national protest days then it cannot be that bad.
Regarding the talks the column says gloom and despair set in this week as the eagerly-awaited direct talks to solve the Cyprob got off to a spectacularly bad start, before the two leaders had even begun negotiating. The positions expressed by comrades Talat and Christofias in their respective opening statements on Wednesday suggested that they were too far apart to strike a deal, causing many of our sensitive politicians to go into a deep depression. The pessimism is totally unjustified. We should be patient for just 10 more days because then Anorthosis will play the first match in the group stages of the Champions League and we will be able to “transmit national and political messages” that will definitely strengthen our negotiating position.
An opinion poll in Simerini says that 60% of G/C are pessimistic that the Cyprus problem will be solved. The majority believe that Turkey is the main obstacle to a solution. Half prefer a unitary state as the best solution, their main concern being that the solution will collapse and that there will be disagreements and clashes.
Wednesday 3 September 2008
Direct talks launched
Direct talks on the Cyprus problem will officially start on 11 September the UNSG's special advisor in Cyprus, Alexander Downer announced today at the end of a largely ceremonial meeting between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus at which the process was launched.
Speaking during the opening ceremony Downer said there were several reasons for optimism. He cited the longstanding ties and commitment of the two leaders to a solution and to forge a common vision, which is an essential element to any peace process. He added that their joint statements at recent meetings have gone much further than before to define the framework of a solution. Furthermore, he said there is an enormous amount of work to draw upon and said that the structure and pace of the process has been encouraging to date. "Your broad agreement to have a rolling start to the talks will allow the working groups, under your guidance, to continue to underpin your efforts and further develop options for your consideration". Moreover he said the measures they have already agreed upon will show Cypriots in practical ways that the communities can live together and will also help give you the political space to move forward.
"You own this process and, as a result, your continuing leadership is the critical element to make it succeed. In that regard, bringing Cypriots to the conviction that reunification of the island will work for the greater happiness and prosperity of all Cypriots will, ultimately, be paramount", he concluded.
On his part Mr Christofias said "the time has come to put an end to the longstanding Cyprus problem and to give the Cyprus people the better future that they deserve". He reiterated the need to adhere to the agreed common basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined by the relevant Security Council Resolutions, with a single sovereignty, citizenship and international personality. He also said that the solution must respect and implement the principles upon which the European Union is founded. "I wholeheartedly hope that the two Cypriot communities will put aside the conflicts of the past, will endorse a cooperative spirit and will take joint action to decide their future for a reunified homeland. I will do my utmost for the realization of this vision", he said.
In additional comments he referred to the issues that the two sides were unable to agree upon during the preparatory process namely the issues of settlers, property and territory, saying these have not been adequately examined as well as many topics from all working groups that remain outstanding.Moreoever he was at pains to stress that the solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation was a major concession made by President Makarios in 1977, and that with this concession, the Greek Cypriot side has exhausted its limits and can not go any further. Neither confederation, nor a new partnership of two states through "virgin birth" can be accepted. The federal solution will be a partnership of the two communities, he stressed.
"Turning to you, my comrade and friend Mehmet-Ali, we have fought during difficult times for many years for the same ideals of peace and rapprochement, a solution based on principles, a solution by the Cypriots, for the Cypriots. The time has come for us to take joint action and to respond to the call of history; to realize the vision of a reunified homeland, belonging to its people, to the people of Cyprus, able and wanting to decide their own destiny, without third parties and so-called guardians of our communities", he said.He again repeated his commitment to do the utmost for the realization of this target of life to give to the future generations the opportunity to live in a peaceful and reunified homeland.
Mr Talat expressed the hope that the negotiations between the two parties in Cyprus would not last long. "We are not starting from the beginning, so I hope negotiations would not last long," Talat told reporters before the meeting. He said, moreover, that the Treaty of Guarantee and the Treaty of Alliance, signed in 1960, should be preserved. "None of the parties should try to legally dominate the other, and the guarantor status should be maintained," Talat said. "Our aim is to make a divided island a common place where two nations are living."
The UN Secretary-General in a special message conveyed by Mr. Alexander Downer, at the meeting, commended the leaders "for their seriousness of purpose, sense of compromise and commitment to seeing the peace process through to a successful conclusion". He said the United Nations supports and encourages both parties as they take this historic step together, so as to reach a negotiated settlement to reunify the island for the benefit of all the people of Cyprus and assured the parties that the UN will provide its unwavering support.
The US are taking a look at whether or not it’s appropriate to appoint a special envoy on Cyprus, State Department Spokesman, Sean McCormack said yesterday at his daily press briefing in Washingon. He said that the US has always been supportive of a bi-zonal, bi-communal agreement that is arrived at by both the parties, stressing that they were not going to try to dictate the specific conditions. "Those are for the parties to work out". However, he pointed out that the international community is ready to support this effort, to nurture this effort, and when – if required, to try to make proposals. He stressed, however, that the basic hard work is going to be done by the two sides. "We fully support this meeting, as well as a resumption of this effort", he added.
President Christofias said yesterday he was saddened by the Turkish side’s refusal to allow pilgrims to use the Limnitis crossing to travel to Morphou for a religious service. However, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat responded that the Limnitis issue had been “blown out of proportion” by both sides. He said the issue had no relation to the full opening of the Limnitis checkpoint, or to the beginning of direct talks.He added that the Turkish Cypriot side’s position on the opening of checkpoints was clear and had been submitted to the United Nations.“Turkish Cypriots crossing Limnitis to go to Kokkina and Greek Cypriots crossing Limnitis to get to Morphou are two different things, as Kokkina is a closed area and people go there under the escort of UN vehicles, without being allowed to go anywhere else, while the people who go to Morphou can move around freely and it therefore impossible to control where they go.”But Christofias insisted there was no justification for the Turkish Cypriot side’s action, saying that he was not pleased about the climate that has been created. He added, however, that this did not torpedo efforts for negotiations.
An editorial in the Cyprus Mail says we should not be surprised by shows of bad faith such as the issue over Limnitis just before the start of negotiations. There are groups in both communities which want the process to fail and will be at pains to undermine it. In the north, this group has close ties with the army, which may be opposed to a settlement, but it is simplistic to believe that the Turkish army is calling all the shots. If it were, there would be no direct talks starting tomorrow and no progress would have been made at the technical committees. But the fact is that Turkey’s government also has a big say in the matter and Talat would not be negotiating if he did not have its support. The Cyprus’ government seems to be aware of this which is why it avoided making a big issue out of the Limnitis volte face. Quite rightly it remains focused on the bigger picture.
Speaking during the opening ceremony Downer said there were several reasons for optimism. He cited the longstanding ties and commitment of the two leaders to a solution and to forge a common vision, which is an essential element to any peace process. He added that their joint statements at recent meetings have gone much further than before to define the framework of a solution. Furthermore, he said there is an enormous amount of work to draw upon and said that the structure and pace of the process has been encouraging to date. "Your broad agreement to have a rolling start to the talks will allow the working groups, under your guidance, to continue to underpin your efforts and further develop options for your consideration". Moreover he said the measures they have already agreed upon will show Cypriots in practical ways that the communities can live together and will also help give you the political space to move forward.
"You own this process and, as a result, your continuing leadership is the critical element to make it succeed. In that regard, bringing Cypriots to the conviction that reunification of the island will work for the greater happiness and prosperity of all Cypriots will, ultimately, be paramount", he concluded.
On his part Mr Christofias said "the time has come to put an end to the longstanding Cyprus problem and to give the Cyprus people the better future that they deserve". He reiterated the need to adhere to the agreed common basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined by the relevant Security Council Resolutions, with a single sovereignty, citizenship and international personality. He also said that the solution must respect and implement the principles upon which the European Union is founded. "I wholeheartedly hope that the two Cypriot communities will put aside the conflicts of the past, will endorse a cooperative spirit and will take joint action to decide their future for a reunified homeland. I will do my utmost for the realization of this vision", he said.
In additional comments he referred to the issues that the two sides were unable to agree upon during the preparatory process namely the issues of settlers, property and territory, saying these have not been adequately examined as well as many topics from all working groups that remain outstanding.Moreoever he was at pains to stress that the solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation was a major concession made by President Makarios in 1977, and that with this concession, the Greek Cypriot side has exhausted its limits and can not go any further. Neither confederation, nor a new partnership of two states through "virgin birth" can be accepted. The federal solution will be a partnership of the two communities, he stressed.
"Turning to you, my comrade and friend Mehmet-Ali, we have fought during difficult times for many years for the same ideals of peace and rapprochement, a solution based on principles, a solution by the Cypriots, for the Cypriots. The time has come for us to take joint action and to respond to the call of history; to realize the vision of a reunified homeland, belonging to its people, to the people of Cyprus, able and wanting to decide their own destiny, without third parties and so-called guardians of our communities", he said.He again repeated his commitment to do the utmost for the realization of this target of life to give to the future generations the opportunity to live in a peaceful and reunified homeland.
Mr Talat expressed the hope that the negotiations between the two parties in Cyprus would not last long. "We are not starting from the beginning, so I hope negotiations would not last long," Talat told reporters before the meeting. He said, moreover, that the Treaty of Guarantee and the Treaty of Alliance, signed in 1960, should be preserved. "None of the parties should try to legally dominate the other, and the guarantor status should be maintained," Talat said. "Our aim is to make a divided island a common place where two nations are living."
The UN Secretary-General in a special message conveyed by Mr. Alexander Downer, at the meeting, commended the leaders "for their seriousness of purpose, sense of compromise and commitment to seeing the peace process through to a successful conclusion". He said the United Nations supports and encourages both parties as they take this historic step together, so as to reach a negotiated settlement to reunify the island for the benefit of all the people of Cyprus and assured the parties that the UN will provide its unwavering support.
The US are taking a look at whether or not it’s appropriate to appoint a special envoy on Cyprus, State Department Spokesman, Sean McCormack said yesterday at his daily press briefing in Washingon. He said that the US has always been supportive of a bi-zonal, bi-communal agreement that is arrived at by both the parties, stressing that they were not going to try to dictate the specific conditions. "Those are for the parties to work out". However, he pointed out that the international community is ready to support this effort, to nurture this effort, and when – if required, to try to make proposals. He stressed, however, that the basic hard work is going to be done by the two sides. "We fully support this meeting, as well as a resumption of this effort", he added.
President Christofias said yesterday he was saddened by the Turkish side’s refusal to allow pilgrims to use the Limnitis crossing to travel to Morphou for a religious service. However, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat responded that the Limnitis issue had been “blown out of proportion” by both sides. He said the issue had no relation to the full opening of the Limnitis checkpoint, or to the beginning of direct talks.He added that the Turkish Cypriot side’s position on the opening of checkpoints was clear and had been submitted to the United Nations.“Turkish Cypriots crossing Limnitis to go to Kokkina and Greek Cypriots crossing Limnitis to get to Morphou are two different things, as Kokkina is a closed area and people go there under the escort of UN vehicles, without being allowed to go anywhere else, while the people who go to Morphou can move around freely and it therefore impossible to control where they go.”But Christofias insisted there was no justification for the Turkish Cypriot side’s action, saying that he was not pleased about the climate that has been created. He added, however, that this did not torpedo efforts for negotiations.
An editorial in the Cyprus Mail says we should not be surprised by shows of bad faith such as the issue over Limnitis just before the start of negotiations. There are groups in both communities which want the process to fail and will be at pains to undermine it. In the north, this group has close ties with the army, which may be opposed to a settlement, but it is simplistic to believe that the Turkish army is calling all the shots. If it were, there would be no direct talks starting tomorrow and no progress would have been made at the technical committees. But the fact is that Turkey’s government also has a big say in the matter and Talat would not be negotiating if he did not have its support. The Cyprus’ government seems to be aware of this which is why it avoided making a big issue out of the Limnitis volte face. Quite rightly it remains focused on the bigger picture.
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