The new UN special representative for Cyprus, former Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, who is in Cyprus for contacts on the Cyprus problem, said he was encouraged after meeting the leaders of the two communities. Downer met President Demetris Christofias in the morning and later crossed to the north to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.
“Clearly you have two leaders who are sincere in their commitment and in their engagement to move forward together towards a comprehensive settlement, and this commitment, evident through their joint statements of their recent meetings, have defined the parameters of the solution and the end game, and they have given the process a good deal of momentum”, Downer told a news conference.
The Cyprus Mail reports that he had asked the leaders how best they would like the UN to help them move the process forward, adding that he was encouraged by what he heard during what he described as “extensive discussions” on a wide range of issues.
Nevertheless he stressed that developments over the past months have fostered a genuine sense that prospects have perhaps never been better to achieve a comprehensive settlement, favourable to all Cypriots. “It is looking quite promising, but there is no doubt that this is a very difficult process for them,” he said. “One of things that has impressed me is the way there is convergence on quite a number of issues, but of course there are many unresolved issues still to be addressed.”
Asked whether he had a timeframe in mind for a solution, Downer added: “This is not a process anyone would like to see roll on endlessly.” “It is a process that needs to move forward constructively and as quickly as is practical,” he said. “This process is under the auspices of the UN, but the UN role is to provide help as best we can and we look forward to doing that.”He said he would be travelling to Cyprus “as needed” during the process that will begin on September 3. Downer left this morning and will return for the “formal launch of the talks” in September.
Wednesday 30 July 2008
Tuesday 29 July 2008
History lessons
The UN Secretary-General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus, Mr Alexander Downer, is having a series of meetings in Nicosia in his first visit to the island. According to the Cyprus News Agency, Mr Downer had briefings at the UN yesterday and will meet with Mr Christofias and Mr Talat and their aides, Iacovou and Nami, today, as well as with the Ambassadors of the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council.
Meanwhile, the President of the European Commission Mr José Manuel Barroso, in a written statement on Friday welcomed the initiative of President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to launch full-fledged negotiations aimed at resolving the Cyprus problem. "I strongly encourage all parties to work with a positive and flexible spirit and to keep up the momentum towards an agreement", he said. "A unified and integrated Cyprus would benefit not only Cypriots themselves, but the whole of the European Union". He added that the Commission stands ready to provide any support to the process that the two sides might request. It will follow the development of the process closely, and set up the arrangements necessary to ensure that the Commission can respond swiftly as and when required. "Let me assure the Cypriot people that I as President, and the whole of the European Commission, is committed to stand by the people of Cyprus in their efforts to solve the Cyprus issue and to bring this conflict on European soil to an end."
Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Zaman reported that the Turkish capital has also welcomed the decision to start comprehensive negotiations in Cyprus in early September. "Turkey has from the beginning been supportive of the start of comprehensive negotiations within the framework of a goodwill mission of the UN secretary-general for the purpose of reaching a settlement on the Cyprus issue based on the well-established UN parameters, which are bi-zonality and political equality of the two parties and a new partnership that will be established by two equal constituent states," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday. "Turkey will give its full support to the negotiation process, which will be started between the two parties in Cyprus on Sept. 3, as long as it is in line with this understanding," the Ministry noted.
Reconciliation with the T/C is one of the government's targets and will be cultivated in schools. The upcoming school year has been declared as the ‘Educational Reform Year’ and will focus on the nourishment of a culture of peaceful cohabitation, mutual respect and co-operation between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The Minister of Education said that activities will be organised in the forthcoming school year during which "pupils will be informed of what it means to live in Cyprus without the Cyprus problem solved as opposed to living in Cyprus where the Cyprus problem has been solved”. He also said that history books would be reviewed. “The history of Cyprus in the last 50 years is not in the history books. Our children need to learn their modern history,” the Minister said.
According to an unconfirmed report in Alithia, President Christofias is going to Kyrenia next Sunday, the first time that a Cyprus president will do so. He will be visiting Mr Talat's home to congratulate him on his daughter's wedding, due to take place on Thursday, at which a number of G/Cs have also been invited. Due to prior engagement Christofias would be unable to attend the actual wedding so was invited to the home on Sunday instead which he accepted. Mr Talat himself has on a number of occasions crossed to the south. The paper says this is an indication of the importance that the two leaders put on the kind of messages they want to get across to the population in preparing them for a solution. They believe that community leaders should show by example and thereby pave the way for the rest of the population.
Meanwhile, Politis publishes the second part of its opinion poll which shows that the majority of G/Cs, while in favour of contacts between the two communities, are reluctant to cross over to the north, with only 25% stating they intended to do so within the next year. The main reason cited was as a matter of "principle" because they did not want show official papers, while 65% said they were fearful of the presence of the Turkish army and a further 37% said they felt "uncomfortable" amongst T/Cs. Only 21% believes that those who do cross should be condemned for doing so.
The Cyprus Mail reports that Kyrenia Bishop Pavlos lashed out at the government on Sunday, accusing it of keeping the whole truth from the public over the Cyprus problem. He warned that in the event of a solution the two constituent states would co-operate to allow the easy division and annexation of one of the two states by Turkey, which was Ankara’s objective.
Commenting on the cleric’s accusations, government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said the government was being truthful.“The President of the Republic states his views with courage, as with courage and clarity he puts forward our side’s position that solution we seek is a solution of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with one sovereignty, one citizenship and one international profile, which will be an evolvement of the single Cypriot state founded in 1960, to a federal state,” Stefanou said. The aim was a partnership between the two communities and not the two states, he added.
An editorial in Politis says the enemies of a federal solution are now showing their true colours. It is not possible to declare, as the Bishop of Kyrenia did, that you are in favour of the effort to find the best possible solution and at the same time claim that the solution won't last, it will fail and the north will become an annex of Turkey. If they are convinced this will happen then they cannot possibly support federation. So why don't they come straight out and say so. Why don't they put down specific proposals of what they would like to see instead.
Politis’ satirical column Kata Varvaron also takes on the Bishop of Kyrenia. He says it’s been years since the venerable Bishop opened his mouth. Last time he did this to us was in order to tell on his “brother” the bishop of Morphou by writing a letter to the Synod accusing him of talking to a T/C paper and misinterpreting Christian doctrine by trying to be appeal to infidels. Especially the term ”infidels”, or “giaour” in Turkish, as you know, is THE most Christian of terms. And proves what Jesus preached, that we are all children of the same God. So just as we thought the Bishop of Kyrenia had decided to leave us alone, he struck again. He accused the government of leading the country to a partnership of two states, exactly what Ankara dreamed of. Our idiots, I suppose, don’t get it, only the Bishop does. Namely that Ankara will take advantage of the situation in order to ultimately annex the north. And he doesn’t even say, this is what he fears, he says he’s sure of it! That’s why talks for a solution are taking place, suckers. So that they can first find the solution then destroy the solution and annex the north. EU terrritory, mind you, let me note. So what’s the point of talks so that we suckers trip up on the banana peel? Question. If that was their aim all along, why didn’t they do this all these years? And I don’t mean now that they have EU ambitions. But years ago. If they could have annexed it, why didn’t they and get it over with? But even if we assume that they didn’t because they too are idiots and that they only thing holding them back now is their EU objectives, how are they going to do it when there is a solution? Aren’t they going to have EU objectives then? Go figure.
Meanwhile, the President of the European Commission Mr José Manuel Barroso, in a written statement on Friday welcomed the initiative of President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to launch full-fledged negotiations aimed at resolving the Cyprus problem. "I strongly encourage all parties to work with a positive and flexible spirit and to keep up the momentum towards an agreement", he said. "A unified and integrated Cyprus would benefit not only Cypriots themselves, but the whole of the European Union". He added that the Commission stands ready to provide any support to the process that the two sides might request. It will follow the development of the process closely, and set up the arrangements necessary to ensure that the Commission can respond swiftly as and when required. "Let me assure the Cypriot people that I as President, and the whole of the European Commission, is committed to stand by the people of Cyprus in their efforts to solve the Cyprus issue and to bring this conflict on European soil to an end."
Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Zaman reported that the Turkish capital has also welcomed the decision to start comprehensive negotiations in Cyprus in early September. "Turkey has from the beginning been supportive of the start of comprehensive negotiations within the framework of a goodwill mission of the UN secretary-general for the purpose of reaching a settlement on the Cyprus issue based on the well-established UN parameters, which are bi-zonality and political equality of the two parties and a new partnership that will be established by two equal constituent states," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday. "Turkey will give its full support to the negotiation process, which will be started between the two parties in Cyprus on Sept. 3, as long as it is in line with this understanding," the Ministry noted.
Reconciliation with the T/C is one of the government's targets and will be cultivated in schools. The upcoming school year has been declared as the ‘Educational Reform Year’ and will focus on the nourishment of a culture of peaceful cohabitation, mutual respect and co-operation between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The Minister of Education said that activities will be organised in the forthcoming school year during which "pupils will be informed of what it means to live in Cyprus without the Cyprus problem solved as opposed to living in Cyprus where the Cyprus problem has been solved”. He also said that history books would be reviewed. “The history of Cyprus in the last 50 years is not in the history books. Our children need to learn their modern history,” the Minister said.
According to an unconfirmed report in Alithia, President Christofias is going to Kyrenia next Sunday, the first time that a Cyprus president will do so. He will be visiting Mr Talat's home to congratulate him on his daughter's wedding, due to take place on Thursday, at which a number of G/Cs have also been invited. Due to prior engagement Christofias would be unable to attend the actual wedding so was invited to the home on Sunday instead which he accepted. Mr Talat himself has on a number of occasions crossed to the south. The paper says this is an indication of the importance that the two leaders put on the kind of messages they want to get across to the population in preparing them for a solution. They believe that community leaders should show by example and thereby pave the way for the rest of the population.
Meanwhile, Politis publishes the second part of its opinion poll which shows that the majority of G/Cs, while in favour of contacts between the two communities, are reluctant to cross over to the north, with only 25% stating they intended to do so within the next year. The main reason cited was as a matter of "principle" because they did not want show official papers, while 65% said they were fearful of the presence of the Turkish army and a further 37% said they felt "uncomfortable" amongst T/Cs. Only 21% believes that those who do cross should be condemned for doing so.
The Cyprus Mail reports that Kyrenia Bishop Pavlos lashed out at the government on Sunday, accusing it of keeping the whole truth from the public over the Cyprus problem. He warned that in the event of a solution the two constituent states would co-operate to allow the easy division and annexation of one of the two states by Turkey, which was Ankara’s objective.
Commenting on the cleric’s accusations, government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said the government was being truthful.“The President of the Republic states his views with courage, as with courage and clarity he puts forward our side’s position that solution we seek is a solution of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with one sovereignty, one citizenship and one international profile, which will be an evolvement of the single Cypriot state founded in 1960, to a federal state,” Stefanou said. The aim was a partnership between the two communities and not the two states, he added.
An editorial in Politis says the enemies of a federal solution are now showing their true colours. It is not possible to declare, as the Bishop of Kyrenia did, that you are in favour of the effort to find the best possible solution and at the same time claim that the solution won't last, it will fail and the north will become an annex of Turkey. If they are convinced this will happen then they cannot possibly support federation. So why don't they come straight out and say so. Why don't they put down specific proposals of what they would like to see instead.
Politis’ satirical column Kata Varvaron also takes on the Bishop of Kyrenia. He says it’s been years since the venerable Bishop opened his mouth. Last time he did this to us was in order to tell on his “brother” the bishop of Morphou by writing a letter to the Synod accusing him of talking to a T/C paper and misinterpreting Christian doctrine by trying to be appeal to infidels. Especially the term ”infidels”, or “giaour” in Turkish, as you know, is THE most Christian of terms. And proves what Jesus preached, that we are all children of the same God. So just as we thought the Bishop of Kyrenia had decided to leave us alone, he struck again. He accused the government of leading the country to a partnership of two states, exactly what Ankara dreamed of. Our idiots, I suppose, don’t get it, only the Bishop does. Namely that Ankara will take advantage of the situation in order to ultimately annex the north. And he doesn’t even say, this is what he fears, he says he’s sure of it! That’s why talks for a solution are taking place, suckers. So that they can first find the solution then destroy the solution and annex the north. EU terrritory, mind you, let me note. So what’s the point of talks so that we suckers trip up on the banana peel? Question. If that was their aim all along, why didn’t they do this all these years? And I don’t mean now that they have EU ambitions. But years ago. If they could have annexed it, why didn’t they and get it over with? But even if we assume that they didn’t because they too are idiots and that they only thing holding them back now is their EU objectives, how are they going to do it when there is a solution? Aren’t they going to have EU objectives then? Go figure.
Sunday 27 July 2008
Real progress
“I consider that we have taken a step forward towards the solution of the Cyprus problem,” President Christofias told reporters yesterday after his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. “There are many issues we have agreed on and many other issues we do not agree on. Consequently, it is a matter of a constructive stance by both communities, based on basic principles and good will, in order to reach a settlement.” He also clarified that there were no ‘stifling” timetables attached to the new talks’ process.Britain welcomed yesterday’s outcome. “It is for Cypriots themselves to agree on the shape of any eventual settlement but the UK stands ready to offer support to all parties,” a statement from the British High Commission said.
Politis publishes an opinion poll which shows wide support for President Christofias' decision to start direct talks. Especially among Akel and Disy voters, 4 out of 5 respondents was in favour, while 75% of Diko supports were also positive, and only 16% against.
Makarios Droushiotis writing in Politis outlines the work that has been achieved at the six technical committees and working groups. From information from reliable sources he says that in tow there have been complete agreement, in another three there was agreement in part, and only in one was very little work done. He says the greatest degree of convergence was on the economy and the EU, while on the issue of government there is agreement on the general competencies of the central government but disagreement as to the executive in so far as the g/c side proposes a presidential system with a president, vice president and council of ministers, while the t/c side proposes a presidential council. There is also disagreement as to the rotation of the presidency. He says the property question is the greatest challenge. While it is generally accepted that the problem will be solved by a combination of return, exchange and compensation, t/cs prefer overall exchange and compensation, whereas g/cs prefer the right of return or that the owner should have first say. Nevertheless ownership is acknowledged. Security and guarantees is another thorny issue yet there was significant agreement in the role of Cyprus in the new world order as well as the UN's role in implementing the solution. Disagreement exists in the role of the guarantor powers with the g/c side calling for a review of the Treaties and the t/c side wanting a return to the 1960 setup. No progress was made on territory. The t/cs agree that there will be territorial adjustments but nothing was discussed on a map. The writer says that the job of the committees and working groups was to write down the points of agreement and disagreement, not to solve the Cyprus problem. Yet, looking at the work achieved overall, one can only say it has been positive. It was obvious that on the big issues the two sides would come with their original positions. But if we compare today's positions with the positions the t/c side brought to the negotiating table in 2004 (separate sovereignty, permanent derogations, ethnically clean areas etc) it is clear that today the gap is much smaller. And of course the climate today is different. In 2003-2004 Papadopoulos and Denktash went to talks with the aim of clashing. Christofias and Talat are going with the intention of reaching an agreement.
It's show-time again, says the Sunday Mail's satirical column Coffeeshop. After a break of four-and-a-half years, the Cyprob circus will be back in town from September playing at our local, disused international airport for as long as it takes for the happy ending to materialise.There will be no suffocating time-frames this time, nor will the UN be asked to arbitrate if there are unbridgeable differences on some issues as these will be settled by the toss of a coin. The initial proposal, that contentious issues could have been settled by games of tavli, was rejected by our comrade presidente because he did not want provisions of a settlement to be determined by luck. This will be the first time in history that the show will be produced, directed and performed by an all-Cypriot team, in the hope that it could stage a crowd-pleaser, something that foreigners, despite repeated efforts, have never managed to put together. In fact, the last time foreigners put on the show it was such a flop the Greek Cypriot crowds have been moaning about it ever since. The forthcoming show will have the UN personnel restricted to providing refreshments and snacks as well as getting documents photocopied, while the Secretary-general’s special envoy, Alexander Downer, renowned for his attention-grabbing stunts, will be used to distract the media, which can make or break a show; invariably it does the latter. Despite the new production values, the ending of the show, assuming that neither of the protagonists will walk out in the middle of the performance, will be the same as before - separate, simultaneous referenda. And with the weakened Ethnarch not having the power to save the Republic, this time round we could well have an unhappy ending.Nobody loves a loser, as the poor old Ethnarch is finding out. Just five months after his election defeat, not even his party DIKO is willing to uphold his Cyprob philosophy of avoiding talks at all costs. In Thursday’s vote at the Party’s executive office over what stand to take on the start of talks only seven of the 30 members opposed leader Marios Garoyian’s pathetically half-baked proposal, which went along the following lines: the start of direct talks is unjustified because there is not an adequate basis for negotiations, but the party will support the president if he agreed to direct talks, as long as he adhered to positions of principle. Don’t you love it when a party shamelessly sacrifices its principles about the talks on condition that the presidente adheres to positions of principle? In the DIKO case, the principle of having access to the spoils of power outweighed the principle about there being adequate basis for talks. The same logic (if you could call it that) prevailed at the socialist party EDEK, which also expressed opposition to the start of talks but said it would support the presidente if he agreed to the start of talks. The poor old Ethnarch must feel deeply hurt and betrayed now he has realised that EDEK and DIKO were supporting him when he was presidente not so much for his patriotic principles but for his generosity in offering them a respectable share of the spoils of power.Evroko issued a statement expressing its disappointment that the comrade presidente had failed to turn up at an event to mark the black anniversary of the Turkish invasion, which was organised by Engomi Municipality. His absence was “inexcusable” said an Evroko councillor, pointing out that Christofias had chosen instead to watch the football match between Omonia and Milano Skopje. It is true that Evroko members are great idealists and put national duty above everything else but they should accept that not everyone is as patriotic as them. Even the presidente, not being a member of Evroko, is entitled to occasionally say: “To hell with the tediously, boring black anniversary events. I have been to 500 during my political career and I can’t take any more so tonight I am going to watch a football match.”
Politis publishes an opinion poll which shows wide support for President Christofias' decision to start direct talks. Especially among Akel and Disy voters, 4 out of 5 respondents was in favour, while 75% of Diko supports were also positive, and only 16% against.
Makarios Droushiotis writing in Politis outlines the work that has been achieved at the six technical committees and working groups. From information from reliable sources he says that in tow there have been complete agreement, in another three there was agreement in part, and only in one was very little work done. He says the greatest degree of convergence was on the economy and the EU, while on the issue of government there is agreement on the general competencies of the central government but disagreement as to the executive in so far as the g/c side proposes a presidential system with a president, vice president and council of ministers, while the t/c side proposes a presidential council. There is also disagreement as to the rotation of the presidency. He says the property question is the greatest challenge. While it is generally accepted that the problem will be solved by a combination of return, exchange and compensation, t/cs prefer overall exchange and compensation, whereas g/cs prefer the right of return or that the owner should have first say. Nevertheless ownership is acknowledged. Security and guarantees is another thorny issue yet there was significant agreement in the role of Cyprus in the new world order as well as the UN's role in implementing the solution. Disagreement exists in the role of the guarantor powers with the g/c side calling for a review of the Treaties and the t/c side wanting a return to the 1960 setup. No progress was made on territory. The t/cs agree that there will be territorial adjustments but nothing was discussed on a map. The writer says that the job of the committees and working groups was to write down the points of agreement and disagreement, not to solve the Cyprus problem. Yet, looking at the work achieved overall, one can only say it has been positive. It was obvious that on the big issues the two sides would come with their original positions. But if we compare today's positions with the positions the t/c side brought to the negotiating table in 2004 (separate sovereignty, permanent derogations, ethnically clean areas etc) it is clear that today the gap is much smaller. And of course the climate today is different. In 2003-2004 Papadopoulos and Denktash went to talks with the aim of clashing. Christofias and Talat are going with the intention of reaching an agreement.
It's show-time again, says the Sunday Mail's satirical column Coffeeshop. After a break of four-and-a-half years, the Cyprob circus will be back in town from September playing at our local, disused international airport for as long as it takes for the happy ending to materialise.There will be no suffocating time-frames this time, nor will the UN be asked to arbitrate if there are unbridgeable differences on some issues as these will be settled by the toss of a coin. The initial proposal, that contentious issues could have been settled by games of tavli, was rejected by our comrade presidente because he did not want provisions of a settlement to be determined by luck. This will be the first time in history that the show will be produced, directed and performed by an all-Cypriot team, in the hope that it could stage a crowd-pleaser, something that foreigners, despite repeated efforts, have never managed to put together. In fact, the last time foreigners put on the show it was such a flop the Greek Cypriot crowds have been moaning about it ever since. The forthcoming show will have the UN personnel restricted to providing refreshments and snacks as well as getting documents photocopied, while the Secretary-general’s special envoy, Alexander Downer, renowned for his attention-grabbing stunts, will be used to distract the media, which can make or break a show; invariably it does the latter. Despite the new production values, the ending of the show, assuming that neither of the protagonists will walk out in the middle of the performance, will be the same as before - separate, simultaneous referenda. And with the weakened Ethnarch not having the power to save the Republic, this time round we could well have an unhappy ending.Nobody loves a loser, as the poor old Ethnarch is finding out. Just five months after his election defeat, not even his party DIKO is willing to uphold his Cyprob philosophy of avoiding talks at all costs. In Thursday’s vote at the Party’s executive office over what stand to take on the start of talks only seven of the 30 members opposed leader Marios Garoyian’s pathetically half-baked proposal, which went along the following lines: the start of direct talks is unjustified because there is not an adequate basis for negotiations, but the party will support the president if he agreed to direct talks, as long as he adhered to positions of principle. Don’t you love it when a party shamelessly sacrifices its principles about the talks on condition that the presidente adheres to positions of principle? In the DIKO case, the principle of having access to the spoils of power outweighed the principle about there being adequate basis for talks. The same logic (if you could call it that) prevailed at the socialist party EDEK, which also expressed opposition to the start of talks but said it would support the presidente if he agreed to the start of talks. The poor old Ethnarch must feel deeply hurt and betrayed now he has realised that EDEK and DIKO were supporting him when he was presidente not so much for his patriotic principles but for his generosity in offering them a respectable share of the spoils of power.Evroko issued a statement expressing its disappointment that the comrade presidente had failed to turn up at an event to mark the black anniversary of the Turkish invasion, which was organised by Engomi Municipality. His absence was “inexcusable” said an Evroko councillor, pointing out that Christofias had chosen instead to watch the football match between Omonia and Milano Skopje. It is true that Evroko members are great idealists and put national duty above everything else but they should accept that not everyone is as patriotic as them. Even the presidente, not being a member of Evroko, is entitled to occasionally say: “To hell with the tediously, boring black anniversary events. I have been to 500 during my political career and I can’t take any more so tonight I am going to watch a football match.”
Friday 25 July 2008
Talks to start in September
Full-fledged negotiations on Cyprus will start on 3 September 2008, under the good offices mission of the United Nations Secretary-General, the leaders of the two communities on the island announced today.
The aim of the full-fledged negotiations is to find a mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem, which will safeguard the fundamental and legitimate rights and interests of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The agreed solution will be put to separate simultaneous referenda, they said.
In a statement read out by the UN representative in Cyprus, the leaders undertook the final review of the work of the working groups and technical committees, noted the results achieved and commended their members for all their efforts. They approved sixteen more measures in the areas of environment, cultural heritage, crisis management, crime and criminal matters and gave instructions for their immediate and full implementation. As a reflection of their heightened engagement, the leaders have agreed to establish a secure hotline to facilitate direct contact between them. They welcomed the appointment of Mr. Alexander Downer as the Secretary-General΄s Special Adviser for Cyprus, and look forward to working with him and the UN team in the coming period. They also instructed their representatives to take up the issue of Limnitis/Yeşilirmak and other crossings.
Yesterday Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said that he believed a settlement could be reached on the Cyprus issue by the end of 2008. In an exclusive interview with Ankara Anatolia news agency, he said he felt optimistic about the latest process initiated in Cyprus by himself and Christofias."Our target is to reach a solution shortly. I am not talking about a process that will take months or years. I think this can be achieved by the end of 2008," Talat said.
The aim of the full-fledged negotiations is to find a mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem, which will safeguard the fundamental and legitimate rights and interests of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The agreed solution will be put to separate simultaneous referenda, they said.
In a statement read out by the UN representative in Cyprus, the leaders undertook the final review of the work of the working groups and technical committees, noted the results achieved and commended their members for all their efforts. They approved sixteen more measures in the areas of environment, cultural heritage, crisis management, crime and criminal matters and gave instructions for their immediate and full implementation. As a reflection of their heightened engagement, the leaders have agreed to establish a secure hotline to facilitate direct contact between them. They welcomed the appointment of Mr. Alexander Downer as the Secretary-General΄s Special Adviser for Cyprus, and look forward to working with him and the UN team in the coming period. They also instructed their representatives to take up the issue of Limnitis/Yeşilirmak and other crossings.
Yesterday Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said that he believed a settlement could be reached on the Cyprus issue by the end of 2008. In an exclusive interview with Ankara Anatolia news agency, he said he felt optimistic about the latest process initiated in Cyprus by himself and Christofias."Our target is to reach a solution shortly. I am not talking about a process that will take months or years. I think this can be achieved by the end of 2008," Talat said.
Thursday 24 July 2008
Towards talks
Disy yesterday gave President Christofias the green light to proceed with direct talks on the Cyprus problem. Speaking after a one hour meeting between the President and the party's executive committee, Disy leader Nicos Anastasiades said that his party believes that the best way out of the present deadlock is through dialogue. He confirmed that the party had told the president that if on Friday he feels that the way is open he can "go ahead with out support". Alithia's front page headline reads "Mr President, go ahead".
According to Politis during the meeting they also discussed the progress that had been achieved at the working groups. The paper says it seems there has been progress on economic affairs, the EU and government, but no progress on the settlers or territorial issues, with neither side being willing to open their cards or submit maps, nor on the questions of guarantees and rights of intervention. The paper also says that President Christofias believes that Diko will support him in the end "in its own way" despite its misgivings. The party's executive committee is meeting today to give its final answer.
Earlier, Akel too had given him his support. Akel's number two Nikos Katsourides criticising the misgivings of some of the governing coalition parties, like Edek leader Yiannakis Omirou who worried that the talks would come up against the intransigent Turkish positions, wondered when these people would consider conditions to be right for the start of talks. "If these aren't favourable conditions, then what are?" he said.
Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat announced yesterday that he expects direct peace talks between the two sides to begin in September. In a live interview with CNN Turk, Talat added that one of the most important aspects of the talks would be the issue of political equality. The Cyprus Mail reports that he also mentioned that there were issues that constituted a “red line”, but the Turkish Cypriot side was prepared to discuss any matter put forward.
Meanwhile, Politis says Downer is expected in Cyprus on Sunday. The former Australian Foreign Minister is in New York and yesterday met with UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon ahead of the assumption of his duties on the island.
Elsewhere, Politis also reports that President Christofias is continuing his information campaign. In a message read out at an event to mark the fall of Kyrenia to Turkish troops, he said that "as Kyrenia citizens we will be able to exercise our right to return to our town within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation under Turkish Cypriot rule and under a Cypriot central government. "What we need to do in order to end the military occupation and sufficiently guarantee our rights, is not an all or nothing approach, but insistence on a bizonal, bicommuncal federation that has been agreed upon for 30 years now between Archbishop Makarios as well as Spyros Kyprianou", he said.
Moreover, Disy leader Nicos Anastasiades speaking at a party event stressed that "the solution will be painful". He added that a compromise after 34 years may not be as just as we would have liked but at least the future of our children in this country can be assured.
The Cyprus Mail's editorial today says at last, we have a leader who is prepared to speak to people honestly about the settlement he can deliver. It is a good sign. It says the biggest criticism that can be made of Greek Cypriot politicians in the past is that they never spoke honestly to the people about the nature of the political settlement being negotiated with the other side preferring instead to tell people what they wanted to hear and by so doing raising expectations to unrealistically high levels. Needless to say, none has ever delivered on their empty promises. It was therefore no surprise that when the first Annan plan was made public in 2002, people were outraged about its provisions, as this was not what they were expecting. The plan was the result of negotiations by the Clerides government which, despite being committed to a settlement, had avoided preparing Greek Cypriots about what to expect. The Papadopoulos presidency proved even more irresponsible. Apart from stirring public hysteria against the plan, it promised that it would secure a much better settlement, something it knew it was incapable of doing. During his preelectoral campaign Papadopoulos even came up with the idiotic claim that their candidate would ensure a federal settlement “with the right content”, in contrast to the other candidates who would have negotiated a federation with the wrong content. Neither he nor his campaign managers had the decency to explain what the “right content” would include, as they had no intention of agreeing to the type of settlement that would have been acceptable to the Turkish Cypriot side. The reasoning was that the less people were told, the easier it was to mislead them and turn them against a settlement if and when the need arose.To his credit President Christofias has broken with this deplorable tradition. In an interview broadcast on Sunday night by the CyBC, he spoke with honesty and clarity on how a federal settlement would work, explaining what was meant by concepts such as ‘political equality’ and ‘partnership state’. He was refreshingly blunt on a variety of issues, which most politicians would have tried to fudge – we would no longer have a Greek Cypriot president and Council of Ministers; each constituent state would run its own affairs; the central state would be run by a partnership of the two communities; a rotating presidency had been agreed. Such honesty may have been a rude awakening for many viewers who were accustomed to being served with the politics of wishful thinking, but it was high time they were told what to expect in the event of an agreement. People have been served big words and empty promises for decades and Christofias must be congratulated for refusing to go down this path.
Simerini's editorial yesterday refers to President Christofias call to all those who disagree with the start of talks to say what else they propose. He's right to ask, however, the next question is why are they going to direct talks. Why are they choosing a procedure that has been tried and tested for 34 years and has failed? The paper says there has never been a proper policy on the Cyprus problem, no vision and no strategy. Talks has been the easy solution in the full knowledge that it wouldn't bring results. Even now we have no plan B as to what we will do if this too fails. We continue to travel along this same old unproductive road.
According to Politis during the meeting they also discussed the progress that had been achieved at the working groups. The paper says it seems there has been progress on economic affairs, the EU and government, but no progress on the settlers or territorial issues, with neither side being willing to open their cards or submit maps, nor on the questions of guarantees and rights of intervention. The paper also says that President Christofias believes that Diko will support him in the end "in its own way" despite its misgivings. The party's executive committee is meeting today to give its final answer.
Earlier, Akel too had given him his support. Akel's number two Nikos Katsourides criticising the misgivings of some of the governing coalition parties, like Edek leader Yiannakis Omirou who worried that the talks would come up against the intransigent Turkish positions, wondered when these people would consider conditions to be right for the start of talks. "If these aren't favourable conditions, then what are?" he said.
Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat announced yesterday that he expects direct peace talks between the two sides to begin in September. In a live interview with CNN Turk, Talat added that one of the most important aspects of the talks would be the issue of political equality. The Cyprus Mail reports that he also mentioned that there were issues that constituted a “red line”, but the Turkish Cypriot side was prepared to discuss any matter put forward.
Meanwhile, Politis says Downer is expected in Cyprus on Sunday. The former Australian Foreign Minister is in New York and yesterday met with UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon ahead of the assumption of his duties on the island.
Elsewhere, Politis also reports that President Christofias is continuing his information campaign. In a message read out at an event to mark the fall of Kyrenia to Turkish troops, he said that "as Kyrenia citizens we will be able to exercise our right to return to our town within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation under Turkish Cypriot rule and under a Cypriot central government. "What we need to do in order to end the military occupation and sufficiently guarantee our rights, is not an all or nothing approach, but insistence on a bizonal, bicommuncal federation that has been agreed upon for 30 years now between Archbishop Makarios as well as Spyros Kyprianou", he said.
Moreover, Disy leader Nicos Anastasiades speaking at a party event stressed that "the solution will be painful". He added that a compromise after 34 years may not be as just as we would have liked but at least the future of our children in this country can be assured.
The Cyprus Mail's editorial today says at last, we have a leader who is prepared to speak to people honestly about the settlement he can deliver. It is a good sign. It says the biggest criticism that can be made of Greek Cypriot politicians in the past is that they never spoke honestly to the people about the nature of the political settlement being negotiated with the other side preferring instead to tell people what they wanted to hear and by so doing raising expectations to unrealistically high levels. Needless to say, none has ever delivered on their empty promises. It was therefore no surprise that when the first Annan plan was made public in 2002, people were outraged about its provisions, as this was not what they were expecting. The plan was the result of negotiations by the Clerides government which, despite being committed to a settlement, had avoided preparing Greek Cypriots about what to expect. The Papadopoulos presidency proved even more irresponsible. Apart from stirring public hysteria against the plan, it promised that it would secure a much better settlement, something it knew it was incapable of doing. During his preelectoral campaign Papadopoulos even came up with the idiotic claim that their candidate would ensure a federal settlement “with the right content”, in contrast to the other candidates who would have negotiated a federation with the wrong content. Neither he nor his campaign managers had the decency to explain what the “right content” would include, as they had no intention of agreeing to the type of settlement that would have been acceptable to the Turkish Cypriot side. The reasoning was that the less people were told, the easier it was to mislead them and turn them against a settlement if and when the need arose.To his credit President Christofias has broken with this deplorable tradition. In an interview broadcast on Sunday night by the CyBC, he spoke with honesty and clarity on how a federal settlement would work, explaining what was meant by concepts such as ‘political equality’ and ‘partnership state’. He was refreshingly blunt on a variety of issues, which most politicians would have tried to fudge – we would no longer have a Greek Cypriot president and Council of Ministers; each constituent state would run its own affairs; the central state would be run by a partnership of the two communities; a rotating presidency had been agreed. Such honesty may have been a rude awakening for many viewers who were accustomed to being served with the politics of wishful thinking, but it was high time they were told what to expect in the event of an agreement. People have been served big words and empty promises for decades and Christofias must be congratulated for refusing to go down this path.
Simerini's editorial yesterday refers to President Christofias call to all those who disagree with the start of talks to say what else they propose. He's right to ask, however, the next question is why are they going to direct talks. Why are they choosing a procedure that has been tried and tested for 34 years and has failed? The paper says there has never been a proper policy on the Cyprus problem, no vision and no strategy. Talks has been the easy solution in the full knowledge that it wouldn't bring results. Even now we have no plan B as to what we will do if this too fails. We continue to travel along this same old unproductive road.
Wednesday 23 July 2008
Christofias meets with parties
President Christofias has started consulting with all the political parties individually before Friday when he and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat are due to decide on whether to go to negotiations in the autumn. Politis reports that he has decided to have separate meetings with the party leadership rather than convene the National Council. He was originially planning to see only Diko and Edek who are reacting to the prospect of direct talks, but then added Disy after a request from party leader Nicos Anastasiades.
Christofias first met with House President and Diko leader, Marios Garoyian on Tuesday and with the Diko executive committee on Wednesday. Garoyian was cagey about what transpired, but hinted at DIKO’s view that the basis of new negotiations had not yet been adequately clarified. Last week, DIKO announced it did not believe that the current climate called for the start of direct negotiations between the two sides, while expressing doubts that any significant progress had been made by the working groups and technical committees set up to prepare the grounds for fully-fledged negotiations. Rumours about DIKO leaving the government over the issue at this stage are rife but Garoyian said such speculation was premature. He said the party’s place was to act responsibly and strengthen the negotiating position of the President. He said DIKO neither wanted to destroy the process, nor did it fear talks. He added that the party will be briefed overall and then give its final position.
He later met with the executive committee of Disy and is due to meet with Edek today. Disy leader Anastasiades said his party supports the President despite the ideological differences between their two parties. The national cause should be above all else, he said.
Pambos Charalambous writing in Alithia says it is natural that Erdogan's presence in the north, an exercise for internal consumption, have upset the G/C side. Yet it revealed the Turks' priorities as regards the Cyprus problem. They don't just want a solution, they need it. The continuation of the problem is a huge political and economic burden on Turkey. He said as much long ago before we even knew him. "It's not possible for 70m Turks and 10m Greeks to suffer just because half a million Cypriots can't agree", he had said in December 2002 when he first came to power.
Online newsletter Offsite reports that Akel is embarking on an information campaign on what federation entails in order to offset any effort to demonise the current reconciliation effort. They have already started with party members briefing them in detail on both the positive and negative aspects of a federal system.
Christofias first met with House President and Diko leader, Marios Garoyian on Tuesday and with the Diko executive committee on Wednesday. Garoyian was cagey about what transpired, but hinted at DIKO’s view that the basis of new negotiations had not yet been adequately clarified. Last week, DIKO announced it did not believe that the current climate called for the start of direct negotiations between the two sides, while expressing doubts that any significant progress had been made by the working groups and technical committees set up to prepare the grounds for fully-fledged negotiations. Rumours about DIKO leaving the government over the issue at this stage are rife but Garoyian said such speculation was premature. He said the party’s place was to act responsibly and strengthen the negotiating position of the President. He said DIKO neither wanted to destroy the process, nor did it fear talks. He added that the party will be briefed overall and then give its final position.
He later met with the executive committee of Disy and is due to meet with Edek today. Disy leader Anastasiades said his party supports the President despite the ideological differences between their two parties. The national cause should be above all else, he said.
Pambos Charalambous writing in Alithia says it is natural that Erdogan's presence in the north, an exercise for internal consumption, have upset the G/C side. Yet it revealed the Turks' priorities as regards the Cyprus problem. They don't just want a solution, they need it. The continuation of the problem is a huge political and economic burden on Turkey. He said as much long ago before we even knew him. "It's not possible for 70m Turks and 10m Greeks to suffer just because half a million Cypriots can't agree", he had said in December 2002 when he first came to power.
Online newsletter Offsite reports that Akel is embarking on an information campaign on what federation entails in order to offset any effort to demonise the current reconciliation effort. They have already started with party members briefing them in detail on both the positive and negative aspects of a federal system.
Monday 21 July 2008
Erdogan addresses T/C and Christofias G/C
Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addressing the ceremony in northern Nicosia to mark the 34th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, said that a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem will be possible within the framework of the realities existing on the island and with a new partnership where the Turkish Cypriots and the TRNC will participate as founder and equal. "This new partnership will be established on indispensable principles such as bi-zonality, political equality and the effective guarantees of Turkey", he said, underlining that "absolutely no one should expect the Turkish Cypriot people to give up the equal status and equal partnership under their own administration and accept to live as a minority".
The other side , he said, has to accept that the solution will be reached by establishing a new partnership between two equal peoples and to give up trying to find new interlocutors and divert attention. Everybody should now understand that the efforts of south Cyprus to take the Turkish Cypriot people under their domination and to expand its sovereignty over the north of the island is in vain.
"It is not possible to impose a solution that will not be acceptable for the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey. It will never be possible. Everybody should understand this as soon as possible", he said .
Mr Erdogan said that the Turkish invasion had prevented the “genocide” of the Turkish Cypriots and showed the world the determination of the “motherland to protect the Turks of Cyprus forever”. “It is the guarantee that we will not permit the days of sorrow which existed before 1974 to be repeated again”, he added and stressed that Turkey will always be by their side.
He said Turkey's stand on the 24 April 2004 referendum, showed the Turkish side’s support for reconciliation and added that Turkey considers the meetings between the two leaders in Cyprus and the fact that they have reached an understanding as a positive step.
On his part, Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat said that after 20 July 1974, the Turkish Cypriots took important steps towards their economic development which could not be compared with the past and created the infrastructure for governing themselves. “We want to keep what we have gained and integrate with the world ", he said . "That is why we want to sign an honorable and respected agreement with the Greek Cypriot people, with whom we are forced to share the island". He outlined his vision for a solution as the establishment of a new partnership by two founding states with equal status and political equality of the two peoples on the basis of bi-zonality with the continuation of the guarantee of Turkey. The Turkish Cypriot people, using their fundamental rights, aim at a solution which will be confirming their equal partnership in sovereignty. It is out of the question for us to be patched up to the Greek Cypriot sovereignty or to leave the sovereignty to the Greek Cypriots”, he said . He went on: “We do not consider the statements of the Greek Cypriot leadership that the withdrawal of the Turkish troops from the island will help the solution of the problem to be compatible with good will. ...The existence of the Turkish army on the island is not the reason of the problem, but it is the result of it. It is out of the question to remove the result before removing the reason. ...What we expect from the Greek Cypriots is to stop seeing Cyprus as an island belonging only to the Greeks and share equally the wealth of this beautiful island with us and share equally the power”.
Moreover, speaking speaking after a meeting between Turkish and Turkish Cypriot delegations Talat said that the presence of Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his delegation is the best sign of Turkey's support. “Turkey is unconditionally by our side. We know that the support of Turkey will be always by our side. It is a very big guarantee for us to know that Turkey is by our side during this process”, he said.” In his statements Mr Erdogan said that they are exerting efforts for a just and lasting solution in Cyprus and added: “We are pleased with the efforts of the two leaders. We expect the leaders to agree on the start of comprehensive negotiations under the UN umbrella, based on the realities existing on the island and within the framework of the good will mission of the UN Secretary - General”. He added that the solution must be based on equality, two founding states and a new partnership relation. He especially underlined that the solution will be reached between “two equal peoples”. "If there is consensus on these, the rest is detail" , he said. He said that the Turkish government will continue to support the Turkish Cypriots irrespective of who is in power in Ankara.
Meanwhile in the south, Politis says that with a number of speeches these last few days, President Christofias is preparing the people to accept a solution.
In an exclusive interview to CyBC last night, President Christofias outlined his vision of a united Cyprus, a federation where the Greek Cypriots would be partners with the Turkish Cypriots.
He said the solution will be a presidential system, with a rotating president with the G/C president serving longer, a vice president and council of ministers. The central government would have one sovereignty, one nationality and one international personality. He said political equality was the basis of the solution and entails the effective participation of the two communities in government. The constituent states would not be ethnically clean in order to allow as many refugees to return, they would have the same powers but would not supercede the federal constitution. There would be a single economy. He said he would fight hard at the negotiating table for the demilitarisation of the island, the abolition of the guarantees, the reduction of the number of settlers and the right for refugees to return and to own their property. He said he did not expect this time there would be any arbitration on the part of the UN as he had been assured by the UNSG that the solution would be worked out by the Cypriots for the Cypriots. He said that past governments had failed to explain to the people exactly what a federation meant.
He acknowledged that Mr Talat had the good will to find a solution and that he had realised that this was the only way to avoid partition. He stressed that while their relations had been very friendly, their meetings had been tough. Nevertheless he said that he was going forward cautiously optimistic that they would reach an agreement and hinted that on 25 July he and Talat would be announcing the start of direct talks. He stressed that the crisis in Turkey should not discourage the two sides from proceeding.
He said the reason why no solution had been found so far can be blamed on too much patriotism in certain political circles. But he stressed we must all decide now if we want one or two states in Cyprus. He warned those who disagreed that while they are free to have their opinion at the end of the day he was the one who would take the final decisions.
Concluding he said that the solution would be a compromise, painful but nevertheless, a compromise.
The other side , he said, has to accept that the solution will be reached by establishing a new partnership between two equal peoples and to give up trying to find new interlocutors and divert attention. Everybody should now understand that the efforts of south Cyprus to take the Turkish Cypriot people under their domination and to expand its sovereignty over the north of the island is in vain.
"It is not possible to impose a solution that will not be acceptable for the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey. It will never be possible. Everybody should understand this as soon as possible", he said .
Mr Erdogan said that the Turkish invasion had prevented the “genocide” of the Turkish Cypriots and showed the world the determination of the “motherland to protect the Turks of Cyprus forever”. “It is the guarantee that we will not permit the days of sorrow which existed before 1974 to be repeated again”, he added and stressed that Turkey will always be by their side.
He said Turkey's stand on the 24 April 2004 referendum, showed the Turkish side’s support for reconciliation and added that Turkey considers the meetings between the two leaders in Cyprus and the fact that they have reached an understanding as a positive step.
On his part, Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat said that after 20 July 1974, the Turkish Cypriots took important steps towards their economic development which could not be compared with the past and created the infrastructure for governing themselves. “We want to keep what we have gained and integrate with the world ", he said . "That is why we want to sign an honorable and respected agreement with the Greek Cypriot people, with whom we are forced to share the island". He outlined his vision for a solution as the establishment of a new partnership by two founding states with equal status and political equality of the two peoples on the basis of bi-zonality with the continuation of the guarantee of Turkey. The Turkish Cypriot people, using their fundamental rights, aim at a solution which will be confirming their equal partnership in sovereignty. It is out of the question for us to be patched up to the Greek Cypriot sovereignty or to leave the sovereignty to the Greek Cypriots”, he said . He went on: “We do not consider the statements of the Greek Cypriot leadership that the withdrawal of the Turkish troops from the island will help the solution of the problem to be compatible with good will. ...The existence of the Turkish army on the island is not the reason of the problem, but it is the result of it. It is out of the question to remove the result before removing the reason. ...What we expect from the Greek Cypriots is to stop seeing Cyprus as an island belonging only to the Greeks and share equally the wealth of this beautiful island with us and share equally the power”.
Moreover, speaking speaking after a meeting between Turkish and Turkish Cypriot delegations Talat said that the presence of Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his delegation is the best sign of Turkey's support. “Turkey is unconditionally by our side. We know that the support of Turkey will be always by our side. It is a very big guarantee for us to know that Turkey is by our side during this process”, he said.” In his statements Mr Erdogan said that they are exerting efforts for a just and lasting solution in Cyprus and added: “We are pleased with the efforts of the two leaders. We expect the leaders to agree on the start of comprehensive negotiations under the UN umbrella, based on the realities existing on the island and within the framework of the good will mission of the UN Secretary - General”. He added that the solution must be based on equality, two founding states and a new partnership relation. He especially underlined that the solution will be reached between “two equal peoples”. "If there is consensus on these, the rest is detail" , he said. He said that the Turkish government will continue to support the Turkish Cypriots irrespective of who is in power in Ankara.
Meanwhile in the south, Politis says that with a number of speeches these last few days, President Christofias is preparing the people to accept a solution.
In an exclusive interview to CyBC last night, President Christofias outlined his vision of a united Cyprus, a federation where the Greek Cypriots would be partners with the Turkish Cypriots.
He said the solution will be a presidential system, with a rotating president with the G/C president serving longer, a vice president and council of ministers. The central government would have one sovereignty, one nationality and one international personality. He said political equality was the basis of the solution and entails the effective participation of the two communities in government. The constituent states would not be ethnically clean in order to allow as many refugees to return, they would have the same powers but would not supercede the federal constitution. There would be a single economy. He said he would fight hard at the negotiating table for the demilitarisation of the island, the abolition of the guarantees, the reduction of the number of settlers and the right for refugees to return and to own their property. He said he did not expect this time there would be any arbitration on the part of the UN as he had been assured by the UNSG that the solution would be worked out by the Cypriots for the Cypriots. He said that past governments had failed to explain to the people exactly what a federation meant.
He acknowledged that Mr Talat had the good will to find a solution and that he had realised that this was the only way to avoid partition. He stressed that while their relations had been very friendly, their meetings had been tough. Nevertheless he said that he was going forward cautiously optimistic that they would reach an agreement and hinted that on 25 July he and Talat would be announcing the start of direct talks. He stressed that the crisis in Turkey should not discourage the two sides from proceeding.
He said the reason why no solution had been found so far can be blamed on too much patriotism in certain political circles. But he stressed we must all decide now if we want one or two states in Cyprus. He warned those who disagreed that while they are free to have their opinion at the end of the day he was the one who would take the final decisions.
Concluding he said that the solution would be a compromise, painful but nevertheless, a compromise.
Sunday 20 July 2008
Erdogan in the north and Christofias 1974 speech
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in the north on Friday to attend the Turkish Cypriot anniversary celebrations of the 1974 invasion of Cyprus.
According to the Cyprus Mail, on his departure from Ankara, Erdogan, who is bringing almost his entire Cabinet with him, said developments in the Cyprus issue would be the main focus of his visit. “We will not take a step backwards,” he said. “We support the position of two equal constituent states in Cyprus.”
Erdogan said that over the past five years, the ‘TRNC’ had made big steps and achieved recognition by some international organisations, such as the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). “Turkish Cypriots are no longer a minority,” he said, adding that he was visiting the north with an open agenda as regards the Cyprus issue.“I will have meetings with Mehmet Ali Talat, Fatma Ekenoglou and Ferdi Sabit Soyer, with whom I will discuss the last developments in the Cypriot question,” Erdogan told reporters in Ankara.
Turkish Cypriot newspapers yesterday spoke of a “mini-Cabinet” session on the Cyprus problem, since Erdogan was bringing 11 ministers with him, and staying all of today and tomorrow. The Turkish delegation also includes Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan.
According to Turkish television channel CNN Turk, Erdogan said Turkey would continue supporting the breakaway state’s finances, and its political and cultural existence. He said the ‘TRNC’ was beginning to be accepted internationally and used as an example the number of foreign-related visits that had happened in recent months. The Turkish press said yesterday Erdogan was expected to reiterate Turkey's firm support to the ‘TRNC’ and to urge the EU to keep its promises to the Turkish Cypriots to lift their community out of its isolation.
During a dinner in Ankara on Thursday night for Turkish ambassadors abroad, Erdogan was quoted as saying on Cyprus: “We shall continue from now on as well our constructive and pro-peace stance and we are determined on this issue. I hope that this weekend we shall be in northern Cyprus with a crowded team and there either with opening ceremonies or with celebrations we shall give the people of our race who live in northern Cyprus a very different motivation, a very different excitement.”
The visit was condemned on the Greek Cypriot side, where government and politicians said Erdogan’s visit was provocative and not helpful to the climate of the ongoing peace process. Government Spokesman Mr Stefanos Stefanou government’s position was that “this visit is illegal, made to an area that is occupied illegally since 1974, by Turkey, in violation of the principles of international law and the UN Charter.” “In that sense, this particular visit is condemned”, he added
Meanwhile in the south, thousands of people who had gathered in the gardens of the Presidential Palace at an event to mark the 1974 coup and Turkish invasion, the first time such an anniversary event was held in the Palace grounds with an open invitation to the public, the Cyprus Mail reports.
President Christofias in his speech said the venue was appropriate because the Presidential Palace was where it all began on July 15, 1974 referring to the attempt on the life of Archbishop Makarios, who managed at the time to escape the coup protagonists. He also paid tribute to all those who died during the coup and invasion and condemned the Turkish notion that 1974 was a ‘peace operation’. “Peace can never be achieved through armed violence,” he said. “We are sure that many of our Turkish Cypriot compatriots like us, envision a free and united homeland and do not approve of the celebrations being held in the occupied areas.”
He stressed that the solution of the Cyprus problem will not not be either a second Greek state in the Mediterranean, or an extension of Turkey, but a common state for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, President Christofias said on Friday evening addressing
Christofias said the presence of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the north for the weekend was distressing, and called on him to collaborate for a solution, which he said would also benefit Turkey. “For us there is only one road, the difficult road to the lifting of the occupation and reunification of our homeland and our population,” he said. Any way other than a bicommunal, bizonal federation would only result in permanent partition, he said. Time was also working against the solution, but strict timetables were not an option.
“Once we decide to start direct negotiations, we will move forward with self-confidence and determination consistent with the principles for a settlement and with flexibility in our policy,” he said. “We have nothing to be afraid of in a new negotiating process. On the contrary, we have a lot to gain,” he said. “I want to reassure our Turkish Cypriot compatriots that we want a solution that will guarantee their rights and safety and their participation in the federal state that will be created so that we can build a happy future.”
According to the Cyprus Mail, on his departure from Ankara, Erdogan, who is bringing almost his entire Cabinet with him, said developments in the Cyprus issue would be the main focus of his visit. “We will not take a step backwards,” he said. “We support the position of two equal constituent states in Cyprus.”
Erdogan said that over the past five years, the ‘TRNC’ had made big steps and achieved recognition by some international organisations, such as the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). “Turkish Cypriots are no longer a minority,” he said, adding that he was visiting the north with an open agenda as regards the Cyprus issue.“I will have meetings with Mehmet Ali Talat, Fatma Ekenoglou and Ferdi Sabit Soyer, with whom I will discuss the last developments in the Cypriot question,” Erdogan told reporters in Ankara.
Turkish Cypriot newspapers yesterday spoke of a “mini-Cabinet” session on the Cyprus problem, since Erdogan was bringing 11 ministers with him, and staying all of today and tomorrow. The Turkish delegation also includes Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan.
According to Turkish television channel CNN Turk, Erdogan said Turkey would continue supporting the breakaway state’s finances, and its political and cultural existence. He said the ‘TRNC’ was beginning to be accepted internationally and used as an example the number of foreign-related visits that had happened in recent months. The Turkish press said yesterday Erdogan was expected to reiterate Turkey's firm support to the ‘TRNC’ and to urge the EU to keep its promises to the Turkish Cypriots to lift their community out of its isolation.
During a dinner in Ankara on Thursday night for Turkish ambassadors abroad, Erdogan was quoted as saying on Cyprus: “We shall continue from now on as well our constructive and pro-peace stance and we are determined on this issue. I hope that this weekend we shall be in northern Cyprus with a crowded team and there either with opening ceremonies or with celebrations we shall give the people of our race who live in northern Cyprus a very different motivation, a very different excitement.”
The visit was condemned on the Greek Cypriot side, where government and politicians said Erdogan’s visit was provocative and not helpful to the climate of the ongoing peace process. Government Spokesman Mr Stefanos Stefanou government’s position was that “this visit is illegal, made to an area that is occupied illegally since 1974, by Turkey, in violation of the principles of international law and the UN Charter.” “In that sense, this particular visit is condemned”, he added
Meanwhile in the south, thousands of people who had gathered in the gardens of the Presidential Palace at an event to mark the 1974 coup and Turkish invasion, the first time such an anniversary event was held in the Palace grounds with an open invitation to the public, the Cyprus Mail reports.
President Christofias in his speech said the venue was appropriate because the Presidential Palace was where it all began on July 15, 1974 referring to the attempt on the life of Archbishop Makarios, who managed at the time to escape the coup protagonists. He also paid tribute to all those who died during the coup and invasion and condemned the Turkish notion that 1974 was a ‘peace operation’. “Peace can never be achieved through armed violence,” he said. “We are sure that many of our Turkish Cypriot compatriots like us, envision a free and united homeland and do not approve of the celebrations being held in the occupied areas.”
He stressed that the solution of the Cyprus problem will not not be either a second Greek state in the Mediterranean, or an extension of Turkey, but a common state for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, President Christofias said on Friday evening addressing
Christofias said the presence of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the north for the weekend was distressing, and called on him to collaborate for a solution, which he said would also benefit Turkey. “For us there is only one road, the difficult road to the lifting of the occupation and reunification of our homeland and our population,” he said. Any way other than a bicommunal, bizonal federation would only result in permanent partition, he said. Time was also working against the solution, but strict timetables were not an option.
“Once we decide to start direct negotiations, we will move forward with self-confidence and determination consistent with the principles for a settlement and with flexibility in our policy,” he said. “We have nothing to be afraid of in a new negotiating process. On the contrary, we have a lot to gain,” he said. “I want to reassure our Turkish Cypriot compatriots that we want a solution that will guarantee their rights and safety and their participation in the federal state that will be created so that we can build a happy future.”
Thursday 17 July 2008
Talat meets with UN Secretary-General
Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met in Berlin on 15 July with the UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki moon. In statements after the meeting, Mr Talat said that the UN Secretary General is satisfied with the way things are going, “just like us”. He added: “I hope and believe that most probably we will launch the comprehensive negotiations. We discussed these”. Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris reports that Mr Talat said that the UNSG heard his views and noted that they are positive. “Most probably the views of Christofias were also positive”, said Mr Talat. He said the fact that the UN Secretary-General has appointed a special advisor. “also shows that he sees that things are heading for a solution”, he added. Asked about his expectations from the European countries and especially from the German government, Mr Talat said that he did not hold any contact with the German government and added that his visit to Berlin was only in order to meet with the UN Secretary-General. “Of course we have expectations from the EU. Our expectation is to provide us technical support and furthermore, to encourage the Greek Cypriot side on the issue of the solution. Of course, you know that it is not possible for the EU to play a directly impartial role as long as the Greek Cypriot administration is its member and as long as Greece supports it unconditionally”. Responding to a question on whether the Annan Plan will be taken as basis of the negotiations in the future, Mr Talat noted: “The solution of this problem has been left by the UN to the two sides in Cyprus. Of course in the end there is the accumulated work of the UN. We are carrying out a negotiation taking into consideration this accumulated work. In this, naturally, there is the Annan Plan as well from our point of view. No one can deny the Annan Plan, but if you are asking me whether we are discussing the Annan Plan, the answer is no”.
Ankara Anatolia news agency has reported that Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday: “Cyprus is one of the priorities of Turkish foreign policy. We are determined to support a constructive approach for peace in the island. We will be in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) this coming weekend with a large delegation. We will attend inauguration of new facilities and join in the celebrations of the TRNC
Ankara Anatolia news agency has reported that Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday: “Cyprus is one of the priorities of Turkish foreign policy. We are determined to support a constructive approach for peace in the island. We will be in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) this coming weekend with a large delegation. We will attend inauguration of new facilities and join in the celebrations of the TRNC
Wednesday 16 July 2008
Coup anniversary and conspiracy theories
President Christofias yesterday stressed he would do whatever is possible to reunite the country and its people and restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a unified, federal Republic of Cyprus. Speaking at an annual memorial service for those killed during the 1974 coup yesterday, he added that “on remembering this crime, we must draw lessons to forge our unity, but at the same time intensify our efforts to put an end to the invasion and to this unacceptable situation, which violates the freedoms and the human rights of our people, and which, if continued, will have even worse results”.
Justice Minister Costas Papacostas laying a wreath at the memorial said our aim is not to open old wounds. “Consent, harmony and accord cannot be built on forgetting the past and distorting history”, he said.
Addressing a special session of the House of Representatives, House President Marios Garoyan called of the people to support President Christofias in his efforts to achieve a just, viable and functional solution. “The House of Representativesis ready for a just compromise”, he said. “We are ready to make a historic compromise for a bicommunal, bizonal federation. But we would reject confederation or a two state solution”.
An editorial in Simerini headlined “Our state is our shield” says that the coup was the climax of a series of foreign plots with the cooperation of Greece in order to destroy the Cyprus state in an attempt to impose a solution on Cyprus that would serve their own strategic interests and those of Turkey. Nevertheless, although the coup failed and opened the door to the Attilla tanks, the Cyprus state stood strong as a rock and became the super strong foundation on which Cypriot Hellenism based its survival. We guarded our state against the Turkish insurgency in 1963, we didn’t allow the junta to pass, we stood up to the barbarian Turkish invasion which aimed at wiping us off the face of the earth and we stood unwavering before the coordinated effort to destroy it in April 2004 through the pretext of the Annan plan. We must continue to do so until a solution is found that will not give birth to a monstrosity but will guarantee the continuation of the Cyprus Republic in conditions that will safeguard the rights of all citizens and will not give rise to future adventures and tragedies.
Politis’ satyrical column Kata Varvaron says that each time a new effort to solve the Cyprus problem starts all sorts of conspiracy theories are published in the press. It goes something like this: certain foreigners, not having anything better to do, me e t up, hatch a plan that together with local informers, would hand Cyprus over to Turkey and its American allies so that they can better control the region, better than they already do, what with their bases in Turkey, in the north, the British bases, the south, the CIA installations in the south and all the facilities the various patriotic G/C leaders fall all over themselves to give them any time they wage a new war in the region. All these theories claim that every single solution plan is nothing but a trap that the foreigners are laying in order to shaft us.
Another such a conspiracy theory saw the light of day recently with the so-called Ergenekon scandal in Turkey, which brought to light a plot to hand over Cyprus to Turkey through the Annan plan. The generals, the story goes, were getting ready to overturn Erdogan with a coup in order to prevent the Annan plan from being passed, but when Tassos admitted in Strakka to his pal Serdar Denktash that we would be saying No to the plan, they realised there was no need to worry, much less to go to the trouble of staging a coup.
But if the Americans had proposed to hand over Cyprus to Turkey through the Annan plan, then the first who would have known about it would have been the generals. So the question that begs itself is… are the generals in Turkey stupid? Only stupid people would be preparing a coup in order to prevent a plan that would be gifting them Cyprus! Draw your own conclusions… but just remember… talks are coming.
Justice Minister Costas Papacostas laying a wreath at the memorial said our aim is not to open old wounds. “Consent, harmony and accord cannot be built on forgetting the past and distorting history”, he said.
Addressing a special session of the House of Representatives, House President Marios Garoyan called of the people to support President Christofias in his efforts to achieve a just, viable and functional solution. “The House of Representativesis ready for a just compromise”, he said. “We are ready to make a historic compromise for a bicommunal, bizonal federation. But we would reject confederation or a two state solution”.
An editorial in Simerini headlined “Our state is our shield” says that the coup was the climax of a series of foreign plots with the cooperation of Greece in order to destroy the Cyprus state in an attempt to impose a solution on Cyprus that would serve their own strategic interests and those of Turkey. Nevertheless, although the coup failed and opened the door to the Attilla tanks, the Cyprus state stood strong as a rock and became the super strong foundation on which Cypriot Hellenism based its survival. We guarded our state against the Turkish insurgency in 1963, we didn’t allow the junta to pass, we stood up to the barbarian Turkish invasion which aimed at wiping us off the face of the earth and we stood unwavering before the coordinated effort to destroy it in April 2004 through the pretext of the Annan plan. We must continue to do so until a solution is found that will not give birth to a monstrosity but will guarantee the continuation of the Cyprus Republic in conditions that will safeguard the rights of all citizens and will not give rise to future adventures and tragedies.
Politis’ satyrical column Kata Varvaron says that each time a new effort to solve the Cyprus problem starts all sorts of conspiracy theories are published in the press. It goes something like this: certain foreigners, not having anything better to do, me e t up, hatch a plan that together with local informers, would hand Cyprus over to Turkey and its American allies so that they can better control the region, better than they already do, what with their bases in Turkey, in the north, the British bases, the south, the CIA installations in the south and all the facilities the various patriotic G/C leaders fall all over themselves to give them any time they wage a new war in the region. All these theories claim that every single solution plan is nothing but a trap that the foreigners are laying in order to shaft us.
Another such a conspiracy theory saw the light of day recently with the so-called Ergenekon scandal in Turkey, which brought to light a plot to hand over Cyprus to Turkey through the Annan plan. The generals, the story goes, were getting ready to overturn Erdogan with a coup in order to prevent the Annan plan from being passed, but when Tassos admitted in Strakka to his pal Serdar Denktash that we would be saying No to the plan, they realised there was no need to worry, much less to go to the trouble of staging a coup.
But if the Americans had proposed to hand over Cyprus to Turkey through the Annan plan, then the first who would have known about it would have been the generals. So the question that begs itself is… are the generals in Turkey stupid? Only stupid people would be preparing a coup in order to prevent a plan that would be gifting them Cyprus! Draw your own conclusions… but just remember… talks are coming.
Tuesday 15 July 2008
Solution by Cypriots for Cypriots Ban Ki-Moon tells Christofias
The solution of the Cyprus problem is in the hands of the Cypriots, “after talks between Cypriots for Cypriots”, UN Secretary-General Mr told President Christofias at a meeting between the two of them on Sunday in Paris. “We have confirmed the ownership of the procedure – Cypriots are the owners of the procedure – and that the United Nations will play, with consistency and objectivity, the role of the creator of the conditions”, Christofias told journalists after the meeting. “This satisfies us. We have stressed our readiness to work hard with patience and persistence, always defending, of course, the principles set out by the UN resolutions”. He added that he had reiterate his commitment to a bizonal, bicommunal federation and leaves satisfied , while the UNSG assured him that the UN is keen to see the Cyprus problem solved the soonest.
Politis reports that it seems that the UN has decided to approach the process differently to the way they did in 2004. First they do not intend to draft any kind of blueprint for the solution of the problem, second they will give the leaders enough time to present their own ideas and if they reach a deadlock anywhere they can call upon "the body of work" that has gone before together with the mediation of the UN. Third it will not take on the role of arbitrer this time as it didn't work last time and enabled elements on both sides to criticise the process. Christofias and Talat will be the sole 'owners' of the process. They have been told there is no Plan B to the international call for them to reach a solution and it will be their responsibility to do so. Both leaders must be encouraged to prepare public opinion as regards realities and the realistic form of a solution that will arise from a bizonal, bicommunal federation. The two leaders will also be encouraged to set up a hotline between them in order to neutralise any negativity that may try to scupper their relations.
The paper adds that Christofias made an excellent impression with the way he approached Mr Ban Ki-Moon, squeezing his hand and his arm firmly and beaming widely, which took the UNSG by surprise but which he immediately reciprocated. Diplomatic circles said that the meeting was very warm and they liked the way Christofias gets his messages across with a smile.
Mr Ban Ki-Moon is due to meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Talat today in Berlin.
Meanwhile the Turkish Cypriot press reports that Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan accompanied by six of his ministers is expected to visit the north of Cyprus on 20 July in order to participate in celebrations to mark the anniversary of the Turkish invasion of the island .
Kibris reported recently that Ozdil Nami, the representative of the Turkish Cypriot leader, who met yesterday with Presidential Commissioner, George Iacovou, told Bayrak television that he and Mr Iacovou had ascertained that more than ten of the technical committees have come “extremely close” to a result. He said that they have already began preparations for the Christofias – Talat meeting on 25 July.
The Cyprus Mail’s editorial today says that the UN has, quite rightly, now decided to leave all the decision-making to the two sides. The hardliners on both sides would not be able oppose an agreement on the grounds that it was imposed by foreigners, as they had done in 2004. More importantly, if and when the leaders reach an agreement they would be responsible for selling it to the people and not the UN or EU as was the case in 2004. Ownership of the procedure also places big responsibilities on the two leaders, which is no bad thing when we consider how quick politicians have been to reject peace proposals over the last three decades on the grounds that they had been drafted by foreigners. The UN Secretary-General has refused to take the role of the fall-guy this time around, placing all the responsibility, for the success of the peace procedure, on the leaders of the two sides. It was about time.
Politis reports that it seems that the UN has decided to approach the process differently to the way they did in 2004. First they do not intend to draft any kind of blueprint for the solution of the problem, second they will give the leaders enough time to present their own ideas and if they reach a deadlock anywhere they can call upon "the body of work" that has gone before together with the mediation of the UN. Third it will not take on the role of arbitrer this time as it didn't work last time and enabled elements on both sides to criticise the process. Christofias and Talat will be the sole 'owners' of the process. They have been told there is no Plan B to the international call for them to reach a solution and it will be their responsibility to do so. Both leaders must be encouraged to prepare public opinion as regards realities and the realistic form of a solution that will arise from a bizonal, bicommunal federation. The two leaders will also be encouraged to set up a hotline between them in order to neutralise any negativity that may try to scupper their relations.
The paper adds that Christofias made an excellent impression with the way he approached Mr Ban Ki-Moon, squeezing his hand and his arm firmly and beaming widely, which took the UNSG by surprise but which he immediately reciprocated. Diplomatic circles said that the meeting was very warm and they liked the way Christofias gets his messages across with a smile.
Mr Ban Ki-Moon is due to meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Talat today in Berlin.
Meanwhile the Turkish Cypriot press reports that Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan accompanied by six of his ministers is expected to visit the north of Cyprus on 20 July in order to participate in celebrations to mark the anniversary of the Turkish invasion of the island .
Kibris reported recently that Ozdil Nami, the representative of the Turkish Cypriot leader, who met yesterday with Presidential Commissioner, George Iacovou, told Bayrak television that he and Mr Iacovou had ascertained that more than ten of the technical committees have come “extremely close” to a result. He said that they have already began preparations for the Christofias – Talat meeting on 25 July.
The Cyprus Mail’s editorial today says that the UN has, quite rightly, now decided to leave all the decision-making to the two sides. The hardliners on both sides would not be able oppose an agreement on the grounds that it was imposed by foreigners, as they had done in 2004. More importantly, if and when the leaders reach an agreement they would be responsible for selling it to the people and not the UN or EU as was the case in 2004. Ownership of the procedure also places big responsibilities on the two leaders, which is no bad thing when we consider how quick politicians have been to reject peace proposals over the last three decades on the grounds that they had been drafted by foreigners. The UN Secretary-General has refused to take the role of the fall-guy this time around, placing all the responsibility, for the success of the peace procedure, on the leaders of the two sides. It was about time.
Monday 14 July 2008
Sunday papers
Sunday Mail
In an article the paper says that tomorrow's announcement on how Turkish state prosecutors plan to proceed with indictments against a clandestine group that allegedly sought to overthrow Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) government will have major implications for Cyprus. Not only did the group – known in the media as Ergenekon – allegedly plan to topple the government, it also plotted to intervene in Cyprus to prevent the possible implementation of the UN’s Annan plan for the reunification of the island. Investigations into the ultra-nationalist Ergenekon group have been ongoing since police raided a house in Istanbul in June last year and found a collection of arms and explosives, along with computer documents outlining plans to overthrow the government. Since then, tens of people have been arrested, including retired military generals, journalists, university lecturers, businessmen and economists. But what makes the ongoing Ergenekon saga interesting for Cypriots is the allegation that the group was plotting to “intervene” to prevent the UN’s Annan plan going to referendum in the north of the island by sparking a military takeover. And what makes the story yet more significant for Cypriots is the allegation, made by a number of journalists in Turkey, that former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash was to be the one who would give instructions on when and how the takeover was to be carried out. These allegations are based on extracts from the diary of retired Navy General Ozden Ornek, which apparently stated that he and two other retired generals had received “secret messages” from Denktash in February 2004, and that the “theory and practice” of what the generals were to carry out was to be “as directed by Denktash”. Denktash has not responded to these allegations, despite the banner headline of one Turkish Cypriot newspaper on June 5 gleefully implying that Denktash could himself face arrest in the near future. The former leader also refused an interview with this paper, and has limited his public comments on the subject to saying that he is “saddened” by the arrests of those “who would give their all for their country”.
As a result, debate - albeit hushed - continues in the north over Denktash’s possible links with the currently imprisoned alleged plotters. Head of the Cyprus Policy Centre at Famagusta’s Eastern Mediterranean (EMU) Dr Ahmet Sozen says that although Denktash’s links with the nationalist movement in Turkey are “known to be close” he believes Denktash to be “intelligent enough not to associate himself with people engaged in illegal activities”. Similarly, Turkish Cypriot journalist Basaran Duzgun wrote on July 5 that he did not believe Denktash would face arrest if he travelled to Turkey and went further by saying that the fact the Turkish Cypriots got through the referendum without untoward incident was partly down to Denktash’s handling of it. “Denktash’s referendum record is clean,” Basaran insists, although what he says could be perceived as implying that Denktash simply did not think it necessary to instigate a coup. Indeed, by the last round of negotiations on the Annan plan in February 2004, it had become fairy certain the Greek Cypriots were going to reject the plan.But not everyone agrees that Denktash's hands are entirely clean. One Turkish Cypriot political analyst who asked not to be named said, “I don’t have any doubts of his [Denktash’s] involvement. Most of the people who have been arrested are his friends.” He went to say that Denktash had an “ideological identification” with the Ergenekon group and believed, like the group, in pan Turkism, a romantic notion whereby all Turkish-speaking and ethnically Turkish peoples unite to form a greater Turkish nation. The analyst also believes that Denktash, who he says sought the toppling of the Turkish government because of its stance on the Cyrus problem, could face arrest in Turkey “if the government wishes to do so”. “It is after all a crime to encourage a coup against a democratically elected government,” the analyst concluded. Whether Denktash faces arrest, or whether he will be called to give evidence in court, remains to be seen. What is clear is that the Ergenekon scandal will rock Turkey to its foundations, and that major tremors will be felt across Cyprus.
The Mail's satirical column Coffeeshop says Comrade Christofias was positive on the Cyprob as he could not blame the possibility of the virgin birth on the operation of the free market. However what he said worried all the hard-liners. Worrying has become the national pastime. For the next few days the newspapers were full of headlines informing us that Omirou was worried about Cyprob developments, Diko deputies were worried that talks might start, Syllouris was worried about the virgin birth, the Arhcbishop was worried about talk of the existence of constituent states and Phileleftheros editorial writers were worried because everyone else was worrying. It is incredible that in this country of worriers, nobody has deemed the possibility of not having any water in a few months, worthy of worry.
Politis
Makarios Droushiotis writing in Politis says that it is expected that on 25 July the two leaders in Cyprus will announce the start of direct talks in Cyprus most probably on 1 September. He quotes reliable sources as saying that the aim is for a quick procedure with agreement being reached preferably before the european elections in order to enable T/Cs to take part, which means that a referendum would have to be held in April or May 2008 at the latest. According to a T/C source, the other side believes that 6 months is more than enough in view of the fact that the Annan plan was discussed for only three months.
Although the G/C side said it did not want tight timeframes, certain developments are pressing: a) 2009 is the only possible time for the T/Cs since in 20010 there will be elections. b) The situation in Turkey is always destabilising so the sooner a solution is found, the safer. c) the EU also wants to see the T/C take part in the European elections otherwise there will be procedural complications.
While there has been progrees on many issues in the working groups the big issues remain untouched and await the two leaders. The UN will leave them to get on with it alone for a while and if there are serious difficulties then the only way out will be to negotiate each issue on the basis of what the Annan plan provided, since the T/Cs have already accepted it in its entirety, while the G/Cs accept it as a basis for a solution.
The major plus is the impression that neither Christofias nor Talat are thinking of anything past a possible solution. What's more everyone agrees that this initiative will indeed be the last one for the Cyprus problem and none of the two leaders wants the partition to become permanent on their watch. Meanwhile Christofias is particularly stron internally after the joint communique on 1 July and Talat's commitment to a solution with a single sovereignty and a single nationality. This was the helping hand that Talat extended to Christofias to help him overcome the criticism he was facing from Tassos Papadopoulos' camp. However, this gave rise to corresponding problems for Talat, who became the butt of criticism from T/C nationalists. Christofias in an interview on Tuesday clarified exactly what is meant by federation and political equality in order to help Talat. Talat's press office issued a press release containing Christofias' position. These moves further sent the message to foreign mediators that both leaders have the will to proceed and are prepared to make sacrifices in order to support their interlocutor. However, they consider the tit for tat war of words to be unnecessary and urged them both to get to the nitty gritty through a process of give and take.
As far as Christofias is concerned, he seems to be winning the battle on the internal front. The president of Diko, Marios Garoyan as well as Marcos Kyprianou, have decided to support Christofias fully when he announces the start of direct talks on 25 July. However, Edek still faces problems in that the party is still under the influence of Vasos Lyssarides. The party's president is in close contact with Tassos Papadopoulos and his public statements are very similar to his. What's more Tassos himself is in close touch with the Archbishop in an effort to derail the developments. Nevertheless, while it is believed that it is already too late for him to do so, he is not expected to sit with arms crossed through a new effort to regroup the middle ground of Edek, Diko, Evroko and the Archbishop.
Alithia
Alithia publishes an interview with Disy leader Nicos Anastasiades in which he stresses that the forthcoming direct talks on the Cyprus problem may be the last chance for a negotiated settlement.
In an editorial the paper refers to President Christofias' meeting in Paris with the UNSG saying that claims by the rejectionist front regarding the exertion of pressure from the UN are not just unfounded but distort reality and reveal an irresponsible bad faith that reproduces the Papadopoulos tactis of confrontation and isolation from those who can and want to extend a helping hand in moving the process towards reunited our country forward. It's been reported that the UNSG will ask the two leaders certain questions in order to find out how they envisage the common basis for a solution will be implemented. What Christofias will try to achieve at his meeting with the UNSG is how the common basis will be implemented with specific timetables regarding territory, property, the settlers, the withdrawal of troops etc. What interests the people now are practical implementations of the things that have been agreed and not constant postponements ad infinitum. Because it has been shown that time is against us.
In another article the paper refers to recent reports in the T/C press saying that in the north the rejectionist front, headed by Rauf Denktash is getting organised in order to tackle the 'threat' of a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus problem and the even bigger 'threat' of the reunification of the island. On our side the rejectionist front also sees developments as a threat, but has not yet decided to coordinate its actions in order to put a halt to this disastrous course. All the of the rejectionist parties have been raising their voices but they have not yet joined forces. Two of the three parties are participating in the government so are somewhat restrained. They disagree but are not yet talking of a threat. The fact that they are in government makes all the difference. The rejectionist parties in the north are not part of the Talat government. The paper quotes an editorial in Haravghi in which the paper asked when do we know that things are going well in the Cyprus problem? When the extremists from both sides start ranting and raving! We know who the extremists on the other side are. But who are the extremists on our side? Haravghi knows them well. And let's not exaggerate, they have not yet started ranting and raving...
Simerini
Savvas Iacovides writing in Simerini says that the familiar forces that supported the Annan monstrosity are reassembling themselves, a process that began well before the elections because Disy leader Anastasiades didn’t really want Kasoulides to win the presidential elections, but wanted Christofias because he had said he had voted no in the referendum in order to cement the yes. For him and Disy Christofias is “doing well”, has created a positive climate, has overturned the negative image of Cyprus, is liked by the foreigners, and his positions on the Cyprus problem are correct. Four months now the previously loud, arrogant towards Tasso Disy has been maintaining a conspiratorial silence. They don’t even criticise him for his faux pas. And they answer any critics against the process as going against the majority will of the population. Their message is clear. The two parties that are sailing along side by side form 65% of the population, so who are you 35% to criticise? But doesn’t this 35% have a right to speak up? Or is it because they’re afraid they’re going to scupper the process? The joint statement of 23 May is proof of Christofias slippery slide towards the disastrous plan. He even said it very clearly last Tuesday. All those who are against a bizonal solution should say so. If not, what? Should they shut up? Not talk? Not judge? Arrogance and autocracy have overtaken the Christofias government with the collusion of Disy applauding them from the sidelines.
In another article the same writer comments on Christofias’ statement that he has no Plan B in the event that the negotiations fail. He says this is yet another serious mistake. First because it shows Turkey that we have no alternative so are more susceptible to blackmail. Second it shows an unbelievable certainty in the outcome of the talks which makes one think either he knows something we don’t or he knows nothing and is proceeding on a wing and a prayer. Third he underestimates the Turkish side which in contrast seems to know what it will do in the event of a deadlock and that this “last chance” disappears. What it will do is proceed to the recognition of the pseudostate while covering itself for entry into the EU. Fourth, Christofias ignores a fundamental principle in diplomacy and politics – nothing is ever definite, everything is fluid. Fifth since he knows that the outcome of the Cyprus problem depends on developments in Turkey, shouldn’t he have a plan to tackle possible side-effects, or dangers?
In an article the paper says that tomorrow's announcement on how Turkish state prosecutors plan to proceed with indictments against a clandestine group that allegedly sought to overthrow Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) government will have major implications for Cyprus. Not only did the group – known in the media as Ergenekon – allegedly plan to topple the government, it also plotted to intervene in Cyprus to prevent the possible implementation of the UN’s Annan plan for the reunification of the island. Investigations into the ultra-nationalist Ergenekon group have been ongoing since police raided a house in Istanbul in June last year and found a collection of arms and explosives, along with computer documents outlining plans to overthrow the government. Since then, tens of people have been arrested, including retired military generals, journalists, university lecturers, businessmen and economists. But what makes the ongoing Ergenekon saga interesting for Cypriots is the allegation that the group was plotting to “intervene” to prevent the UN’s Annan plan going to referendum in the north of the island by sparking a military takeover. And what makes the story yet more significant for Cypriots is the allegation, made by a number of journalists in Turkey, that former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash was to be the one who would give instructions on when and how the takeover was to be carried out. These allegations are based on extracts from the diary of retired Navy General Ozden Ornek, which apparently stated that he and two other retired generals had received “secret messages” from Denktash in February 2004, and that the “theory and practice” of what the generals were to carry out was to be “as directed by Denktash”. Denktash has not responded to these allegations, despite the banner headline of one Turkish Cypriot newspaper on June 5 gleefully implying that Denktash could himself face arrest in the near future. The former leader also refused an interview with this paper, and has limited his public comments on the subject to saying that he is “saddened” by the arrests of those “who would give their all for their country”.
As a result, debate - albeit hushed - continues in the north over Denktash’s possible links with the currently imprisoned alleged plotters. Head of the Cyprus Policy Centre at Famagusta’s Eastern Mediterranean (EMU) Dr Ahmet Sozen says that although Denktash’s links with the nationalist movement in Turkey are “known to be close” he believes Denktash to be “intelligent enough not to associate himself with people engaged in illegal activities”. Similarly, Turkish Cypriot journalist Basaran Duzgun wrote on July 5 that he did not believe Denktash would face arrest if he travelled to Turkey and went further by saying that the fact the Turkish Cypriots got through the referendum without untoward incident was partly down to Denktash’s handling of it. “Denktash’s referendum record is clean,” Basaran insists, although what he says could be perceived as implying that Denktash simply did not think it necessary to instigate a coup. Indeed, by the last round of negotiations on the Annan plan in February 2004, it had become fairy certain the Greek Cypriots were going to reject the plan.But not everyone agrees that Denktash's hands are entirely clean. One Turkish Cypriot political analyst who asked not to be named said, “I don’t have any doubts of his [Denktash’s] involvement. Most of the people who have been arrested are his friends.” He went to say that Denktash had an “ideological identification” with the Ergenekon group and believed, like the group, in pan Turkism, a romantic notion whereby all Turkish-speaking and ethnically Turkish peoples unite to form a greater Turkish nation. The analyst also believes that Denktash, who he says sought the toppling of the Turkish government because of its stance on the Cyrus problem, could face arrest in Turkey “if the government wishes to do so”. “It is after all a crime to encourage a coup against a democratically elected government,” the analyst concluded. Whether Denktash faces arrest, or whether he will be called to give evidence in court, remains to be seen. What is clear is that the Ergenekon scandal will rock Turkey to its foundations, and that major tremors will be felt across Cyprus.
The Mail's satirical column Coffeeshop says Comrade Christofias was positive on the Cyprob as he could not blame the possibility of the virgin birth on the operation of the free market. However what he said worried all the hard-liners. Worrying has become the national pastime. For the next few days the newspapers were full of headlines informing us that Omirou was worried about Cyprob developments, Diko deputies were worried that talks might start, Syllouris was worried about the virgin birth, the Arhcbishop was worried about talk of the existence of constituent states and Phileleftheros editorial writers were worried because everyone else was worrying. It is incredible that in this country of worriers, nobody has deemed the possibility of not having any water in a few months, worthy of worry.
Politis
Makarios Droushiotis writing in Politis says that it is expected that on 25 July the two leaders in Cyprus will announce the start of direct talks in Cyprus most probably on 1 September. He quotes reliable sources as saying that the aim is for a quick procedure with agreement being reached preferably before the european elections in order to enable T/Cs to take part, which means that a referendum would have to be held in April or May 2008 at the latest. According to a T/C source, the other side believes that 6 months is more than enough in view of the fact that the Annan plan was discussed for only three months.
Although the G/C side said it did not want tight timeframes, certain developments are pressing: a) 2009 is the only possible time for the T/Cs since in 20010 there will be elections. b) The situation in Turkey is always destabilising so the sooner a solution is found, the safer. c) the EU also wants to see the T/C take part in the European elections otherwise there will be procedural complications.
While there has been progrees on many issues in the working groups the big issues remain untouched and await the two leaders. The UN will leave them to get on with it alone for a while and if there are serious difficulties then the only way out will be to negotiate each issue on the basis of what the Annan plan provided, since the T/Cs have already accepted it in its entirety, while the G/Cs accept it as a basis for a solution.
The major plus is the impression that neither Christofias nor Talat are thinking of anything past a possible solution. What's more everyone agrees that this initiative will indeed be the last one for the Cyprus problem and none of the two leaders wants the partition to become permanent on their watch. Meanwhile Christofias is particularly stron internally after the joint communique on 1 July and Talat's commitment to a solution with a single sovereignty and a single nationality. This was the helping hand that Talat extended to Christofias to help him overcome the criticism he was facing from Tassos Papadopoulos' camp. However, this gave rise to corresponding problems for Talat, who became the butt of criticism from T/C nationalists. Christofias in an interview on Tuesday clarified exactly what is meant by federation and political equality in order to help Talat. Talat's press office issued a press release containing Christofias' position. These moves further sent the message to foreign mediators that both leaders have the will to proceed and are prepared to make sacrifices in order to support their interlocutor. However, they consider the tit for tat war of words to be unnecessary and urged them both to get to the nitty gritty through a process of give and take.
As far as Christofias is concerned, he seems to be winning the battle on the internal front. The president of Diko, Marios Garoyan as well as Marcos Kyprianou, have decided to support Christofias fully when he announces the start of direct talks on 25 July. However, Edek still faces problems in that the party is still under the influence of Vasos Lyssarides. The party's president is in close contact with Tassos Papadopoulos and his public statements are very similar to his. What's more Tassos himself is in close touch with the Archbishop in an effort to derail the developments. Nevertheless, while it is believed that it is already too late for him to do so, he is not expected to sit with arms crossed through a new effort to regroup the middle ground of Edek, Diko, Evroko and the Archbishop.
Alithia
Alithia publishes an interview with Disy leader Nicos Anastasiades in which he stresses that the forthcoming direct talks on the Cyprus problem may be the last chance for a negotiated settlement.
In an editorial the paper refers to President Christofias' meeting in Paris with the UNSG saying that claims by the rejectionist front regarding the exertion of pressure from the UN are not just unfounded but distort reality and reveal an irresponsible bad faith that reproduces the Papadopoulos tactis of confrontation and isolation from those who can and want to extend a helping hand in moving the process towards reunited our country forward. It's been reported that the UNSG will ask the two leaders certain questions in order to find out how they envisage the common basis for a solution will be implemented. What Christofias will try to achieve at his meeting with the UNSG is how the common basis will be implemented with specific timetables regarding territory, property, the settlers, the withdrawal of troops etc. What interests the people now are practical implementations of the things that have been agreed and not constant postponements ad infinitum. Because it has been shown that time is against us.
In another article the paper refers to recent reports in the T/C press saying that in the north the rejectionist front, headed by Rauf Denktash is getting organised in order to tackle the 'threat' of a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus problem and the even bigger 'threat' of the reunification of the island. On our side the rejectionist front also sees developments as a threat, but has not yet decided to coordinate its actions in order to put a halt to this disastrous course. All the of the rejectionist parties have been raising their voices but they have not yet joined forces. Two of the three parties are participating in the government so are somewhat restrained. They disagree but are not yet talking of a threat. The fact that they are in government makes all the difference. The rejectionist parties in the north are not part of the Talat government. The paper quotes an editorial in Haravghi in which the paper asked when do we know that things are going well in the Cyprus problem? When the extremists from both sides start ranting and raving! We know who the extremists on the other side are. But who are the extremists on our side? Haravghi knows them well. And let's not exaggerate, they have not yet started ranting and raving...
Simerini
Savvas Iacovides writing in Simerini says that the familiar forces that supported the Annan monstrosity are reassembling themselves, a process that began well before the elections because Disy leader Anastasiades didn’t really want Kasoulides to win the presidential elections, but wanted Christofias because he had said he had voted no in the referendum in order to cement the yes. For him and Disy Christofias is “doing well”, has created a positive climate, has overturned the negative image of Cyprus, is liked by the foreigners, and his positions on the Cyprus problem are correct. Four months now the previously loud, arrogant towards Tasso Disy has been maintaining a conspiratorial silence. They don’t even criticise him for his faux pas. And they answer any critics against the process as going against the majority will of the population. Their message is clear. The two parties that are sailing along side by side form 65% of the population, so who are you 35% to criticise? But doesn’t this 35% have a right to speak up? Or is it because they’re afraid they’re going to scupper the process? The joint statement of 23 May is proof of Christofias slippery slide towards the disastrous plan. He even said it very clearly last Tuesday. All those who are against a bizonal solution should say so. If not, what? Should they shut up? Not talk? Not judge? Arrogance and autocracy have overtaken the Christofias government with the collusion of Disy applauding them from the sidelines.
In another article the same writer comments on Christofias’ statement that he has no Plan B in the event that the negotiations fail. He says this is yet another serious mistake. First because it shows Turkey that we have no alternative so are more susceptible to blackmail. Second it shows an unbelievable certainty in the outcome of the talks which makes one think either he knows something we don’t or he knows nothing and is proceeding on a wing and a prayer. Third he underestimates the Turkish side which in contrast seems to know what it will do in the event of a deadlock and that this “last chance” disappears. What it will do is proceed to the recognition of the pseudostate while covering itself for entry into the EU. Fourth, Christofias ignores a fundamental principle in diplomacy and politics – nothing is ever definite, everything is fluid. Fifth since he knows that the outcome of the Cyprus problem depends on developments in Turkey, shouldn’t he have a plan to tackle possible side-effects, or dangers?
Friday 11 July 2008
UN SG to meet with the two leaders separately
UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon will hold separate meetings with the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus in a symbolic move to show support to negotiations. CyBC reported that Ban will see Christofias on 13 July in Paris on the sidelines of the Euro-Mediterranean Summit and Talat on 15 July in Berlin.
Thursday 10 July 2008
Turkish Cypriot point of view
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (09.07.08) says Christofias “drew a rose-coloured picture of developments on the Cyprus problem” in his news conference. Afrika's says the solution that Christofias and Talat envisage was: “Two bi-communal, bi-zonal provinces. Two provinces, which will have equal status and equal authorities. The state will be united, the economy will be united”. Halkin Sesi and Star Kibris both quote Christofias as saying “’The key of the solution is in Ankara’” while Yeni Duzen headlines his words: “’We have to agree on the federation’”. Kibrisli says “Talat wants sovereignty!” and notes that Christofias had admitted that Talat had demanded that the provinces be sovereign but that he had not accepted this. Ortam leads with his quote: “’The Cyprus problem should be solved by the Cypriots’”.
Kibris reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat said in an interview with Bayrak that the Turkish Cypriots will share sovereignty in the federal government equally with the Greek Cypriots and added that the federal government should not be considered as a Greek Cypriot government. He added that the single sovereignty and the single citizenship of the federal state are principles contained in all solution plans to date and are within the parameters of the United Nations. How this will be implemented will be discussed during the comprehensive negotiations. Mr Talat described as “inconceivable” the fact that the single sovereignty is perceived as Greek Cypriot sovereignty.
Yeni Duzen adds that Talat stressed that the Turkish Cypriots have not abandoned their sovereignty and added that the issue of a single sovereignty does not mean sovereignty of the Greek Cypriot side. Talat said: “The partners of the sovereignty are these two people. Furthermore, where in the world are there two sovereignties? From 1997 until the Annan Plan was submitted in 2002, the Turkish side pursued the policy of confederation, but now everybody knows that confederation is not a complete solution. The UN as well does not approve of this and considers it to be wrong”. Mr Talat said that the single sovereignty and the single citizenship are not disputable. He noted that any future agreement will be submitted to the approval of the “two separate peoples” before being put into effect and this shows that “there are two sovereign peoples in this agreement”. He noted that some parties oppose the efforts for the solution for political reasons. Mr Talat also said that their relations with Turkey are special and Turkey has never interfered directly in the Cyprus problem. He added: “The issue of Turkey’s interfering in our affairs is a complete lie. Of course we consult each other. Of course we hold meetings frequently”.
Vatan reports that Serdar Denktash, chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), accused Talat of committing a terrible mistake in accepting the single sovereignty and expressed the view that this should rapidly be corrected. He added that Talat has enabled Christofias' “osmosis plan” come into effect.
Yeni Duzen reports that Serdar visited his father the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas and Tahsin Ertugruloglu, chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP). Rumour has it that the three men consider the stage which the process towards a solution of the Cyprus problem has reached today as a threat and that they will exert every effort to stop it. Another daily Bakis adds that Rauf Denktas said that the only way out of the tunnel they have entered in the Cyprus problem is submission to the will of the Greek Cypriots. It says he was surprised when he read Talat’s statement to Alithia. “Talat is saying that the TRNC is one of the founding states, but he is also saying that the TRNC will be a province. I do not think that the Greek Cypriots will accept such a thing”. Vatan says that Rauf Denktash, said that the issue of the “single sovereignty and single citizenship” on which the two leaders have agreed, will eliminate the “TRNC” and turn it into a province with minority rights. He said that this agreement ignores the “reality of two peoples and two states” in Cyprus.
Kibris reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat said in an interview with Bayrak that the Turkish Cypriots will share sovereignty in the federal government equally with the Greek Cypriots and added that the federal government should not be considered as a Greek Cypriot government. He added that the single sovereignty and the single citizenship of the federal state are principles contained in all solution plans to date and are within the parameters of the United Nations. How this will be implemented will be discussed during the comprehensive negotiations. Mr Talat described as “inconceivable” the fact that the single sovereignty is perceived as Greek Cypriot sovereignty.
Yeni Duzen adds that Talat stressed that the Turkish Cypriots have not abandoned their sovereignty and added that the issue of a single sovereignty does not mean sovereignty of the Greek Cypriot side. Talat said: “The partners of the sovereignty are these two people. Furthermore, where in the world are there two sovereignties? From 1997 until the Annan Plan was submitted in 2002, the Turkish side pursued the policy of confederation, but now everybody knows that confederation is not a complete solution. The UN as well does not approve of this and considers it to be wrong”. Mr Talat said that the single sovereignty and the single citizenship are not disputable. He noted that any future agreement will be submitted to the approval of the “two separate peoples” before being put into effect and this shows that “there are two sovereign peoples in this agreement”. He noted that some parties oppose the efforts for the solution for political reasons. Mr Talat also said that their relations with Turkey are special and Turkey has never interfered directly in the Cyprus problem. He added: “The issue of Turkey’s interfering in our affairs is a complete lie. Of course we consult each other. Of course we hold meetings frequently”.
Vatan reports that Serdar Denktash, chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), accused Talat of committing a terrible mistake in accepting the single sovereignty and expressed the view that this should rapidly be corrected. He added that Talat has enabled Christofias' “osmosis plan” come into effect.
Yeni Duzen reports that Serdar visited his father the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas and Tahsin Ertugruloglu, chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP). Rumour has it that the three men consider the stage which the process towards a solution of the Cyprus problem has reached today as a threat and that they will exert every effort to stop it. Another daily Bakis adds that Rauf Denktas said that the only way out of the tunnel they have entered in the Cyprus problem is submission to the will of the Greek Cypriots. It says he was surprised when he read Talat’s statement to Alithia. “Talat is saying that the TRNC is one of the founding states, but he is also saying that the TRNC will be a province. I do not think that the Greek Cypriots will accept such a thing”. Vatan says that Rauf Denktash, said that the issue of the “single sovereignty and single citizenship” on which the two leaders have agreed, will eliminate the “TRNC” and turn it into a province with minority rights. He said that this agreement ignores the “reality of two peoples and two states” in Cyprus.
Wednesday 9 July 2008
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.
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.
Sunday 6 July 2008
Sunday papers
Hallelujah and praise Allah, says the Sunday Mail's satyrical weekly column Coffeeshop, our two leaders on Tuesday found the common language that went missing in June and threatened to turn the peace process into a big pay-day for interpreters and linguists who would be called to negotiate the meanings of words. The hard-boiled, intransigent puppet of Ankara agreed ‘in principle’, with his reasonable, flexible comrade with regard to ‘single sovereignty and citizenship’. This begs the question, what does ‘in principle’ mean? At least someone at Phil picked up the suspicious PIO behaviour over the translation of the word ‘single’ into Greek. In its first translation of the joint communiqué, the PIO translated ‘single’ as ‘mias’, but then issued a second translation, advising us to ignore the first. In the second it used the Greek phrase ‘mias ke monadikis’ (one only), which is how the Concise Oxford Dictionary defines ‘single’.
Former Ethnarch Tassos was certainly not convinced by the wording of the communiqué. He submitted a 14-page document at Friday’s National Council meeting arguing that the issue of sovereignty and citizenship had not been agreed, that no progress had been made at the technical committees and working groups and that the criteria for the start of talks had not been satisfied. You have to admire the man’s unwavering faith in negativity and pessimism, which he pursues with the religious fervour of a true zealot.
Coffeeshop also refers to the appointment of former Australian foreign minister, Alexander Downer who has been described in the Aussie press as “puerile, frivolous and pompous”. A big supporter of George Bush and with a tendency to behave like a bull in china shop, it will not take him long to upset everyone. A blunt, gung-ho, pompous, insensitive Aussie, who knows nothing about Cyprob etiquette and vocabulary might not provide a settlement, but he will certainly provide entertainment. On one occasion, on entering Melbourne Airport, he saw an Australian career diplomat queuing at the check-in desk and called out ‘loser’ to him, before ducking behind some people so that he would not be seen. The last thing this man will be in Kyproulla is a downer.
Makarios Drousiotis writing in Politis says Tassos Papadopoulos is playing his last card and trying to blackmail Christofias into not going to direct talks. He says a gap has grown between the Tassos supporters within Diko who don't want direct talks and the Diko president who supports Christofias' handlings. Tassos himself has submitted his opposition in writing to the National Council and at the same time leaked the information to the popular daily Phileleftheros. According to reliable information, he says, Tassos has two aims - a) to terrorise Christofias in the hopes that he will have second thoughts about proceeding to direct talks b) to instigate Diko's withdrawal from government. The Tassos camp was encouraged by the step back that Christofias took after he was criticised for his 23 May statement especially by Tassos himself in an interview published in Phileleftheros. Government circles believe Tassos put his positions in writing and made them public in order to fuel a public debate and create reactions. However, Tassos' strategy faces two problems - Christofias' clarification on the issues of a single sovereignty and nationality strengthened him and enabled him to say he now has the basis for a solution and reason enough to proceed with direct talks, and secondly Tassos is unable to carry the whole of Diko with him, especially since Garoyan supports Christofias and controls most of the decision making. He quotes a Diko member who has fallen out with both Tassos and Garoyian as saying that "Papadopoulos will fail. He is able to destroy, and can destroy the Akel-Diko cooperation in order to avenge his defeat, but he is totally unable to build and can offer nothing to the cause of reunification".
Pambos Charalambous writing in Alithia refers to the negative statements from Omirou (Edek) and Silouris (Evroko) after the National Council meeting expressing their doubts as to the whole approach to the Cyprus problem, the introduction of deadlines and the danger of going to direct talks without more progress, their concern that the 8 July agreement has been abandoned and their call for intransigent statements like references to the virgin birth to stop. He says it all reminds him of a speech Constantinos Lordos once made years ago when as a Disy member of the House of Representatives during a discussion on the state budget during which all members take the floor and speak for ever, during which he said that the main reason why the Cyprus problem hasn't been solved all these years is because it has become a profession, without which the various Cyprus problem professionals would have nothing to do in politics.
Simerini carries the results of a poll which says that 8 out of 10 Cypriots believe that Turkey will never agree to a fair solution of the Cyprus problem. An overwhelming majority of respondents believe that Christofias was right to meet with Talat while 55% believe the outcome of that meeting was positive. Eight out of ten agree with Christofias' handling of the Cyprus problem. The headline of the article reads "Unfair solution due to Turkish intransigence"
Former Ethnarch Tassos was certainly not convinced by the wording of the communiqué. He submitted a 14-page document at Friday’s National Council meeting arguing that the issue of sovereignty and citizenship had not been agreed, that no progress had been made at the technical committees and working groups and that the criteria for the start of talks had not been satisfied. You have to admire the man’s unwavering faith in negativity and pessimism, which he pursues with the religious fervour of a true zealot.
Coffeeshop also refers to the appointment of former Australian foreign minister, Alexander Downer who has been described in the Aussie press as “puerile, frivolous and pompous”. A big supporter of George Bush and with a tendency to behave like a bull in china shop, it will not take him long to upset everyone. A blunt, gung-ho, pompous, insensitive Aussie, who knows nothing about Cyprob etiquette and vocabulary might not provide a settlement, but he will certainly provide entertainment. On one occasion, on entering Melbourne Airport, he saw an Australian career diplomat queuing at the check-in desk and called out ‘loser’ to him, before ducking behind some people so that he would not be seen. The last thing this man will be in Kyproulla is a downer.
Makarios Drousiotis writing in Politis says Tassos Papadopoulos is playing his last card and trying to blackmail Christofias into not going to direct talks. He says a gap has grown between the Tassos supporters within Diko who don't want direct talks and the Diko president who supports Christofias' handlings. Tassos himself has submitted his opposition in writing to the National Council and at the same time leaked the information to the popular daily Phileleftheros. According to reliable information, he says, Tassos has two aims - a) to terrorise Christofias in the hopes that he will have second thoughts about proceeding to direct talks b) to instigate Diko's withdrawal from government. The Tassos camp was encouraged by the step back that Christofias took after he was criticised for his 23 May statement especially by Tassos himself in an interview published in Phileleftheros. Government circles believe Tassos put his positions in writing and made them public in order to fuel a public debate and create reactions. However, Tassos' strategy faces two problems - Christofias' clarification on the issues of a single sovereignty and nationality strengthened him and enabled him to say he now has the basis for a solution and reason enough to proceed with direct talks, and secondly Tassos is unable to carry the whole of Diko with him, especially since Garoyan supports Christofias and controls most of the decision making. He quotes a Diko member who has fallen out with both Tassos and Garoyian as saying that "Papadopoulos will fail. He is able to destroy, and can destroy the Akel-Diko cooperation in order to avenge his defeat, but he is totally unable to build and can offer nothing to the cause of reunification".
Pambos Charalambous writing in Alithia refers to the negative statements from Omirou (Edek) and Silouris (Evroko) after the National Council meeting expressing their doubts as to the whole approach to the Cyprus problem, the introduction of deadlines and the danger of going to direct talks without more progress, their concern that the 8 July agreement has been abandoned and their call for intransigent statements like references to the virgin birth to stop. He says it all reminds him of a speech Constantinos Lordos once made years ago when as a Disy member of the House of Representatives during a discussion on the state budget during which all members take the floor and speak for ever, during which he said that the main reason why the Cyprus problem hasn't been solved all these years is because it has become a profession, without which the various Cyprus problem professionals would have nothing to do in politics.
Simerini carries the results of a poll which says that 8 out of 10 Cypriots believe that Turkey will never agree to a fair solution of the Cyprus problem. An overwhelming majority of respondents believe that Christofias was right to meet with Talat while 55% believe the outcome of that meeting was positive. Eight out of ten agree with Christofias' handling of the Cyprus problem. The headline of the article reads "Unfair solution due to Turkish intransigence"
Saturday 5 July 2008
National Council meeting part 2
The members of the National Council, who continued their meeting yesterday afternoon, announced their support for President Christofias and his efforts to start direct negotiations on the Cyprus problem.
Despite reservations expressed by DIKO, EDEK, EVROKO and the Green Party, all members agreed to a joint statement read by Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou after the three-hour meeting. The statement said: “The members of the National Council, after expressing their opinions on the developments, as well as some reservations, gave their support to the President of the Republic to continue his efforts to pave the way for direct negotiations, based on the greatest possible progress”. Stefanou added: “ It will be up to the discretion of the President and joint consultations with the parties before a final decision is made.”He said the President would have a clear view on whether to move ahead to direct negotiations or not.before his meeting on 25 July with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.
Politis says it's clear there are two camps on the Cyprus problem - Akel and Disy supporting President Christofias in going for direct talks, and the smaller parties believing that the prerequisites have not yet been satisfied.
The paper says that during yesterday's meeting, both Akel and Disy said that the basis for talks as set out at the last meeting of the two leaders, and whatever progress was achieved at the technical committees and working groups were sufficient grounds for direct talks. This was also Christofias' position who spoke of 1 September as a possible starting date for such talks. Akel's parliamentary spokesman Nikos Katsourides said that we have to decide if we want a solution after negotiations or negotiations for a solution. He spoke of two years of stalemate.
The Cyprus Mail reports that DIKO, EDEK, EVROKO and the Green Party weren’t impressed with the progress the technical committees and working groups had achieved . They also maintained that the basis of the solution had not yet been made clear. DIKO President Marios Garoyian said his party’s aim was to help Christofias in his efforts. He added that Christofias had assured the National Council that he would be requesting an intensification of the working groups and technical committees’ operations. “The aim of the Democratic Party is not to gnaw at the President but to reinforce his negotiating abilities and position, and therefore we will continue with all our powers, in efforts to realise our side’s aims. It needs patience, persistence, calmness and correct dealings,” said Garoyian. EDEK president Yiannakis Omirou said his party believes that there needs to be satisfactory progress, a negotiated basis so that the talks can become productive, fruitful and operational , while EVROKO leader Demetris Syllouris said direct talks without further progress would “lead to a dead end or to a bad solution”.
Politis also reports that former President Tasos Papadopoulos who could not attend the meeting sent a 14 page written document outlining his views. He said he did not believe that agreement had been reached on the issues of a single sovereignty and nationality but that these issues had just been postponed to the direct talks. Nor did he believe any progress had been achieved in the working groups, insisted on the 8 July agreement and did not think that there are sufficient grounds meriting the start of direct talks. "If we go to talks and don't reach a solution we will end up like Kosovo", he said.
All political leaders expressed their concern over the political crisis in Turkey and how this may affect the developments of the Cyprus problem.
President Christofias left the meeting without making statements, as did DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades and Vice-president Averoff Neophytou.
The Cyprus Mail adds that mediators see the planned July 25 meeting between Christofias and Talat as the last hurdle before full-fledged negotiations. “As long as we can get them to the 25th without them falling out…,” said one mediation source yesterday. The paper says that since they met on Tuesday both leaders have faced criticism over the latest joint statement they made. The statement, committing in principle to a “single sovereignty and citizenship” as part of a solution, was aimed at easing Greek Cypriot concerns, which emerged from the previous leaders’ meeting on May 23.
The two major political parties, ruling AKEL and opposition DISY hailed the move but the smaller parties disparaged the effort.
In the north, criticism against Talat was even stronger, particularly after his comment on Thursday that there was no state in the world with two sovereignties or two citizenships. “If we desire a solution in Cyprus, and if there shall be a united Cyprus than surely there shall be single sovereignty and single citizenship,” he said.
The other issue that drew criticism in the north was the fact that Talat did not leave the meeting with a date for new talks. Some factions of the Turkish Cypriot press called on Talat to resign, while political parties were also critical. The National Unity Party (UBP) also called on him to resign. Serdar Denktash said a single sovereignty would mean Turkish Cypriots becoming a minority. He said it would never be accepted. He said the process began by Talat and Christofias was without hope. “We are heading to submission,” Denktash said.
Meanwhile, according to reports in the Greek Cypriot press yesterday, Christofias is getting ready to prepare the people for new negotiations and would be addressing the public after the July 25 meeting with Talat. The public address to the nation is to inform the public about the realistic expectations, framework and timeframe for the talks that will begin in September.
Despite reservations expressed by DIKO, EDEK, EVROKO and the Green Party, all members agreed to a joint statement read by Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou after the three-hour meeting. The statement said: “The members of the National Council, after expressing their opinions on the developments, as well as some reservations, gave their support to the President of the Republic to continue his efforts to pave the way for direct negotiations, based on the greatest possible progress”. Stefanou added: “ It will be up to the discretion of the President and joint consultations with the parties before a final decision is made.”He said the President would have a clear view on whether to move ahead to direct negotiations or not.before his meeting on 25 July with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.
Politis says it's clear there are two camps on the Cyprus problem - Akel and Disy supporting President Christofias in going for direct talks, and the smaller parties believing that the prerequisites have not yet been satisfied.
The paper says that during yesterday's meeting, both Akel and Disy said that the basis for talks as set out at the last meeting of the two leaders, and whatever progress was achieved at the technical committees and working groups were sufficient grounds for direct talks. This was also Christofias' position who spoke of 1 September as a possible starting date for such talks. Akel's parliamentary spokesman Nikos Katsourides said that we have to decide if we want a solution after negotiations or negotiations for a solution. He spoke of two years of stalemate.
The Cyprus Mail reports that DIKO, EDEK, EVROKO and the Green Party weren’t impressed with the progress the technical committees and working groups had achieved . They also maintained that the basis of the solution had not yet been made clear. DIKO President Marios Garoyian said his party’s aim was to help Christofias in his efforts. He added that Christofias had assured the National Council that he would be requesting an intensification of the working groups and technical committees’ operations. “The aim of the Democratic Party is not to gnaw at the President but to reinforce his negotiating abilities and position, and therefore we will continue with all our powers, in efforts to realise our side’s aims. It needs patience, persistence, calmness and correct dealings,” said Garoyian. EDEK president Yiannakis Omirou said his party believes that there needs to be satisfactory progress, a negotiated basis so that the talks can become productive, fruitful and operational , while EVROKO leader Demetris Syllouris said direct talks without further progress would “lead to a dead end or to a bad solution”.
Politis also reports that former President Tasos Papadopoulos who could not attend the meeting sent a 14 page written document outlining his views. He said he did not believe that agreement had been reached on the issues of a single sovereignty and nationality but that these issues had just been postponed to the direct talks. Nor did he believe any progress had been achieved in the working groups, insisted on the 8 July agreement and did not think that there are sufficient grounds meriting the start of direct talks. "If we go to talks and don't reach a solution we will end up like Kosovo", he said.
All political leaders expressed their concern over the political crisis in Turkey and how this may affect the developments of the Cyprus problem.
President Christofias left the meeting without making statements, as did DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades and Vice-president Averoff Neophytou.
The Cyprus Mail adds that mediators see the planned July 25 meeting between Christofias and Talat as the last hurdle before full-fledged negotiations. “As long as we can get them to the 25th without them falling out…,” said one mediation source yesterday. The paper says that since they met on Tuesday both leaders have faced criticism over the latest joint statement they made. The statement, committing in principle to a “single sovereignty and citizenship” as part of a solution, was aimed at easing Greek Cypriot concerns, which emerged from the previous leaders’ meeting on May 23.
The two major political parties, ruling AKEL and opposition DISY hailed the move but the smaller parties disparaged the effort.
In the north, criticism against Talat was even stronger, particularly after his comment on Thursday that there was no state in the world with two sovereignties or two citizenships. “If we desire a solution in Cyprus, and if there shall be a united Cyprus than surely there shall be single sovereignty and single citizenship,” he said.
The other issue that drew criticism in the north was the fact that Talat did not leave the meeting with a date for new talks. Some factions of the Turkish Cypriot press called on Talat to resign, while political parties were also critical. The National Unity Party (UBP) also called on him to resign. Serdar Denktash said a single sovereignty would mean Turkish Cypriots becoming a minority. He said it would never be accepted. He said the process began by Talat and Christofias was without hope. “We are heading to submission,” Denktash said.
Meanwhile, according to reports in the Greek Cypriot press yesterday, Christofias is getting ready to prepare the people for new negotiations and would be addressing the public after the July 25 meeting with Talat. The public address to the nation is to inform the public about the realistic expectations, framework and timeframe for the talks that will begin in September.
Thursday 3 July 2008
National Council meets
The National Council met for two hours yesterday afternoon during which President Demetris Christofias briefed the party leaders on his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.Government Spokesman Mr Stefanos Stefanou, speaking to the press after the meeting, said the meeting would continue on Friday to allow members to express their views and make assessments.
The National Council meeting was attended by former Presidents of the Republic Messers Tassos Papadopoulos and George Vassiliou and political party representatives. Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou, Presidential Commissioner Yiorgos Iacovou, Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou and Under Secretary to the President Titos Christofides were also present at the Cabinet meeting.
Party leaders made no comments after the meeting following a request by the President for a news blackout.
However, Politis reports that Christofias expressed his satisfaction that agreement had been reached with Talat on the basis for a solution being sought. He also informed them as to the progress that was made in the technical committees and working groups. Specifically, he said that there was consensus in three issues (government, EU and economy) while things were stuck in the other three (security, territory and property). He also said Talat isn't discussing the settler issue. In short the paper says he made it clear that he considers that the next step is direct talks in September since the difficult aspects cannot be tackled by the committees.
The National Council meeting was attended by former Presidents of the Republic Messers Tassos Papadopoulos and George Vassiliou and political party representatives. Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou, Presidential Commissioner Yiorgos Iacovou, Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou and Under Secretary to the President Titos Christofides were also present at the Cabinet meeting.
Party leaders made no comments after the meeting following a request by the President for a news blackout.
However, Politis reports that Christofias expressed his satisfaction that agreement had been reached with Talat on the basis for a solution being sought. He also informed them as to the progress that was made in the technical committees and working groups. Specifically, he said that there was consensus in three issues (government, EU and economy) while things were stuck in the other three (security, territory and property). He also said Talat isn't discussing the settler issue. In short the paper says he made it clear that he considers that the next step is direct talks in September since the difficult aspects cannot be tackled by the committees.
Wednesday 2 July 2008
Two leaders meet again
President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met for four and a half hours yesterday morning at the residence of UN Special Representative for Cyprus Taye-Brook Zerihoun to review progress in the working groups and technical committees and to clarify the basis for new talks.Although a date was not fixed for the beginning of new negotiations, the leaders pledged to meet again on July 25 for a final review of the working groups and technical committees. It is widely expected that a date for talks in the autumn will be announced then.Zerihoun read out a brief statement after the meeting saying the atmosphere had been positive and cooperative. The statement said: "They discussed the issues of single sovereignty and citizenship which they agreed in principle. They agreed to discuss the details of their implementation during the full-fledged negotiations. They agreed to meet on 25 July when they will undertake the final review of the Working Groups and Technical Committees".
The Cyprus Mail covers the story by saying that the way has now cleared for full-fledged negotiations since a major concern of the Greek Cypriot side was addressed and agreed in principle between the two leaders. It says that Christofias, who had some concerns, now appears to be on board after clarifying the importance of including sovereignty and citizenship in the framework of new talks with Talat. The issue had strained relations somewhat since the leaders last met on May 23, an encounter that had led to different interpretations of what had been agreed that day. Diplomatic sources told the Mail that the new joint statement had gone a long way to easing the concerns of the Greek Cypriot side on what the basis of new talks would be. “The new joint statement does not supersede the agreement of May 23. It augments and clarifies it,” said the sources. “It will form part of the basis of what the talks will be about. It satisfies Greek Cypriot concerns over the basis for negotiations or at least goes a long way towards doing that.”The general impression was that the two leaders left the meeting satisfied. Christofias said as much when he returned to the Presidential Palace. He also said he would be briefing the National Council later today on the meeting with Talat.The paper adds that the fact that former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer revealed he would be taking up the post of UN special Cyprus envoy has also come as confirmation that direct talks are around the corner. All that remains is for the UN Secretary General to officially announce Downer’s appointment as special envoy, which he is expected to do as soon as a date for the talks is fixed. Speaking to an Australian newspaper, Downer said he was looking forward to the challenge. “It's not going to be a cakewalk,” he told The Australian, pointing to the many failed attempts to solve the Cyprus issue in the past. “These things are always untidy. It's never easy to do. We ended the civil war in Bougainville. We played our part in Iraq and Afghanistan. Why not try to fix up Cyprus as well?"
Greek Cypriot press
The Cyprus Mail's editorial says the communique proves the pessimists wrong. It was a long meeting, followed by a brief communiqué by the UN which, implicitly, announced the imminent start of direct talks. Neither President Christofias nor Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat spoke to journalists afterwards but the ‘common language’ was established, thus clearing the way for the start of ‘full-fledged negotiations’.The outcome must have confounded the gloom merchants in a section of the press that was claiming yesterday that efforts to keep the procedure moving had “hit upon the intransigence of the Turkish side” which “did not seem prepared to accept a reference to single sovereignty”. Yesterday’s communiqué proved the pessimistic headlines wrong, saying that the two leaders “discussed the issues of single sovereignty and citizenship, which they agreed in principle”.Having secured this commitment from Talat, Christofias could no longer object to direct talks, the start of which would be officially announced at their next scheduled meeting on July 25. Yesterday’s meeting would help Christofias keep at bay his critics who had been accusing him, after the May meeting with Talat, of making big concessions. In fact, it would be no exaggeration to say that the main objective of yesterday’s meeting was to help Christofias sell the start of talks, to which he had already agreed, to the public.And given the negativity of a section of the Greek Cypriot media towards the peace process he needed to show something before the date for the start of talks was announced. Yet the truth is that both leaders had conveyed their readiness for negotiations to the UN Undersecretary-General, Lyn Pascoe, during his visit to the island last month; they also gave their approval to the appointment of Alexander Downer as UN special envoy. The UN had made it clear that it would not appoint a special envoy unless both sides were fully committed to the start of talks, and Downer was named special envoy before yesterday’s meeting.Having been helped out of the corner he had put himself in, with the rhetoric about the ‘common language’, Christofias now needs to tread more carefully and show less sensitivity to criticism from the hardliners’ camp. He should resist the temptation to take a swipe at Talat every time he is put under pressure by opponents of the talks. Talat should also avoid public statements about the negotiations and his objectives – even if he is well-meaning there is always the danger of his words being misinterpreted and being used to undermine the peace process.This is not too much to ask of the two leaders now that their alleged differences, played up by the media, have been bridged. And in fairness, there is very little to say from now on. The ‘common language’ has been agreed while the start date for ‘full-fledged negotiations’ will be announced in three weeks. Nothing else needs to be said.
Politis also says that the two men agreed to the start of talks and would be announcing it at their next meeting on 25 July in the presence of Alexander Downer who will pay a four-day visit to the island. The paper says that admittedly yesterday's meeting was difficult because it was hard to persuade Talat to agree to put the terms of "one sovereignty and one nationality" down in writing, which he did in return for a firm commitment on direct talks in September without the prerequisite of achieving progress at the working groups first.
Alithia also says the road is now open to direct talks. An article by Pambos Charalambous says that we won what we had already won. It says that Christofias had been bothered by criticism from Tassos Papadopoulos after his first meeting with Talat that no reference had been made in the joint statement as regards the single sovereignty and nationality, a criticism that was totally without foundation because the T/C side has never shown it doesn't accept these basic parameters for a solution. Besides, these principles had been contained in the Annan plan which we rejected and the T/Cs accepted. The paper also says that the various parties reacted differently to the communique, Disy and Akel welcomed it, whereas Diko, Edek, Evroko and the Greens talk of a step backwards.
Simerini says the joint communique is vague and can be misinterpreted. Savvas Iacovides in his column says a meeting that lasts four hours, a wierd statemement, no statements afterwards all equal an unbreachable deadlock.
Turkish Cypriot press
Kibris covers the meeting under the title “Bargain for citizenship and sovereignty”, while Yeni Duzen's headline readas “One sovereignty, one citizenship”. Volkan says “We reject this humiliation” and writes that Talat succumbed to Christofias and accepted the one sovereignty and one citizenship under the roof of the Republic of Cyprus, thereby trampling on both his oath and the “constitution”. “Therefore he does not represent the Turkish Cypriots. The things he has accepted do not bind the Turkish Cypriots. Under the title “The crisis was prevented”, Kibrisli reports in its first page that the only success after the four and half hours meeting between the two leaders was the prevention of a crisis. The paper also writes that President Christofias continued to be reluctant as regards the launching of comprehensive negotiations and tried to gain time. The paper also writes that the meeting came very close to a breaking point and it was due to Talat’s efforts that the crisis was overcome. Vatan says “Again on the 25th of July”, and writes that the issues of citizenship and sovereignty were the only issues discussed at the four and a half hour meeting. Under the title “Once again no date for negotiations!”, writes Halkin Sesi and adds that Mr Talat will brief the Turkish Cypriot political parties about the meeting this afternoon. Afrika reports on the same issue under the title “One citizenship, one sovereignty” and writes that these were the main issues discussed over the Christofias -Talat meeting.
Kibris also reports that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) stated that it is not satisfied with the fact that comprehensive negotiations are not starting following yesterday’s meeting. The party also stated that the fact that the two leaders are meeting on the 25th of July is very positive and calls for a date for direct talks to be set then. Volkan reports that Serdar Denktas, the chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), reacted sharply to the agreement on one citizenship and one sovereignty and stated that they will fight against this agreement. He said that they will never adopt the approach of one sovereignty whatever its principle and its content may be and that they will oppose this tothe end. He added that the Turkish Cypriot “people” are far from accepting this approach and that Mr Talat must act as a “president” approaching issues according to the will of the people and not with the views of CTP.
The Cyprus Mail covers the story by saying that the way has now cleared for full-fledged negotiations since a major concern of the Greek Cypriot side was addressed and agreed in principle between the two leaders. It says that Christofias, who had some concerns, now appears to be on board after clarifying the importance of including sovereignty and citizenship in the framework of new talks with Talat. The issue had strained relations somewhat since the leaders last met on May 23, an encounter that had led to different interpretations of what had been agreed that day. Diplomatic sources told the Mail that the new joint statement had gone a long way to easing the concerns of the Greek Cypriot side on what the basis of new talks would be. “The new joint statement does not supersede the agreement of May 23. It augments and clarifies it,” said the sources. “It will form part of the basis of what the talks will be about. It satisfies Greek Cypriot concerns over the basis for negotiations or at least goes a long way towards doing that.”The general impression was that the two leaders left the meeting satisfied. Christofias said as much when he returned to the Presidential Palace. He also said he would be briefing the National Council later today on the meeting with Talat.The paper adds that the fact that former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer revealed he would be taking up the post of UN special Cyprus envoy has also come as confirmation that direct talks are around the corner. All that remains is for the UN Secretary General to officially announce Downer’s appointment as special envoy, which he is expected to do as soon as a date for the talks is fixed. Speaking to an Australian newspaper, Downer said he was looking forward to the challenge. “It's not going to be a cakewalk,” he told The Australian, pointing to the many failed attempts to solve the Cyprus issue in the past. “These things are always untidy. It's never easy to do. We ended the civil war in Bougainville. We played our part in Iraq and Afghanistan. Why not try to fix up Cyprus as well?"
Greek Cypriot press
The Cyprus Mail's editorial says the communique proves the pessimists wrong. It was a long meeting, followed by a brief communiqué by the UN which, implicitly, announced the imminent start of direct talks. Neither President Christofias nor Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat spoke to journalists afterwards but the ‘common language’ was established, thus clearing the way for the start of ‘full-fledged negotiations’.The outcome must have confounded the gloom merchants in a section of the press that was claiming yesterday that efforts to keep the procedure moving had “hit upon the intransigence of the Turkish side” which “did not seem prepared to accept a reference to single sovereignty”. Yesterday’s communiqué proved the pessimistic headlines wrong, saying that the two leaders “discussed the issues of single sovereignty and citizenship, which they agreed in principle”.Having secured this commitment from Talat, Christofias could no longer object to direct talks, the start of which would be officially announced at their next scheduled meeting on July 25. Yesterday’s meeting would help Christofias keep at bay his critics who had been accusing him, after the May meeting with Talat, of making big concessions. In fact, it would be no exaggeration to say that the main objective of yesterday’s meeting was to help Christofias sell the start of talks, to which he had already agreed, to the public.And given the negativity of a section of the Greek Cypriot media towards the peace process he needed to show something before the date for the start of talks was announced. Yet the truth is that both leaders had conveyed their readiness for negotiations to the UN Undersecretary-General, Lyn Pascoe, during his visit to the island last month; they also gave their approval to the appointment of Alexander Downer as UN special envoy. The UN had made it clear that it would not appoint a special envoy unless both sides were fully committed to the start of talks, and Downer was named special envoy before yesterday’s meeting.Having been helped out of the corner he had put himself in, with the rhetoric about the ‘common language’, Christofias now needs to tread more carefully and show less sensitivity to criticism from the hardliners’ camp. He should resist the temptation to take a swipe at Talat every time he is put under pressure by opponents of the talks. Talat should also avoid public statements about the negotiations and his objectives – even if he is well-meaning there is always the danger of his words being misinterpreted and being used to undermine the peace process.This is not too much to ask of the two leaders now that their alleged differences, played up by the media, have been bridged. And in fairness, there is very little to say from now on. The ‘common language’ has been agreed while the start date for ‘full-fledged negotiations’ will be announced in three weeks. Nothing else needs to be said.
Politis also says that the two men agreed to the start of talks and would be announcing it at their next meeting on 25 July in the presence of Alexander Downer who will pay a four-day visit to the island. The paper says that admittedly yesterday's meeting was difficult because it was hard to persuade Talat to agree to put the terms of "one sovereignty and one nationality" down in writing, which he did in return for a firm commitment on direct talks in September without the prerequisite of achieving progress at the working groups first.
Alithia also says the road is now open to direct talks. An article by Pambos Charalambous says that we won what we had already won. It says that Christofias had been bothered by criticism from Tassos Papadopoulos after his first meeting with Talat that no reference had been made in the joint statement as regards the single sovereignty and nationality, a criticism that was totally without foundation because the T/C side has never shown it doesn't accept these basic parameters for a solution. Besides, these principles had been contained in the Annan plan which we rejected and the T/Cs accepted. The paper also says that the various parties reacted differently to the communique, Disy and Akel welcomed it, whereas Diko, Edek, Evroko and the Greens talk of a step backwards.
Simerini says the joint communique is vague and can be misinterpreted. Savvas Iacovides in his column says a meeting that lasts four hours, a wierd statemement, no statements afterwards all equal an unbreachable deadlock.
Turkish Cypriot press
Kibris covers the meeting under the title “Bargain for citizenship and sovereignty”, while Yeni Duzen's headline readas “One sovereignty, one citizenship”. Volkan says “We reject this humiliation” and writes that Talat succumbed to Christofias and accepted the one sovereignty and one citizenship under the roof of the Republic of Cyprus, thereby trampling on both his oath and the “constitution”. “Therefore he does not represent the Turkish Cypriots. The things he has accepted do not bind the Turkish Cypriots. Under the title “The crisis was prevented”, Kibrisli reports in its first page that the only success after the four and half hours meeting between the two leaders was the prevention of a crisis. The paper also writes that President Christofias continued to be reluctant as regards the launching of comprehensive negotiations and tried to gain time. The paper also writes that the meeting came very close to a breaking point and it was due to Talat’s efforts that the crisis was overcome. Vatan says “Again on the 25th of July”, and writes that the issues of citizenship and sovereignty were the only issues discussed at the four and a half hour meeting. Under the title “Once again no date for negotiations!”, writes Halkin Sesi and adds that Mr Talat will brief the Turkish Cypriot political parties about the meeting this afternoon. Afrika reports on the same issue under the title “One citizenship, one sovereignty” and writes that these were the main issues discussed over the Christofias -Talat meeting.
Kibris also reports that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) stated that it is not satisfied with the fact that comprehensive negotiations are not starting following yesterday’s meeting. The party also stated that the fact that the two leaders are meeting on the 25th of July is very positive and calls for a date for direct talks to be set then. Volkan reports that Serdar Denktas, the chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), reacted sharply to the agreement on one citizenship and one sovereignty and stated that they will fight against this agreement. He said that they will never adopt the approach of one sovereignty whatever its principle and its content may be and that they will oppose this tothe end. He added that the Turkish Cypriot “people” are far from accepting this approach and that Mr Talat must act as a “president” approaching issues according to the will of the people and not with the views of CTP.
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