Property issue is the thorniest

Sunday's Politis says that both Christofias and Talat are approaching the discussions on the property issue with trepidation, especially in view of the many changes on the ground that have occurred sing 2004. The paper says that the map of G/C properties has been altered to such an extent that it really needs strong political will for a solution as well as imaginative solutions and expert knowledge. Nevertheless the negotiating teams have done serious preparatary work in this direction and their proposals revolve around the three points of reconstitution, exchange and compensation.

Both sides accept the individual's right of ownership but a key in achieving progress is for the T/C side to accept the inalienable right of the legal owner to have first say as to the determination of his property, something with Talat seems reluctant to do in that it violates the bizonality of a solution. The paper says the G/C side will bring an 80 page document to the table and bases its arguments on international law whereby a legal owner must be the one to decide whether he wishes to live in his property, exchange it or get compensation.

The T/C side believes this is the most difficult of all issues but the present leadership has moved away from Denktah's position that it should be solved by overall exchange and compensation. It accepts that a certain number of properties should be reconstituted to G/C, the question is how many. They believe that a limit should be said to the number of G/C who will be allowed to return to areas under T/C rule. They accept the individual's right to ownership but stop short of accepting that the owner should have first right of say.

According to diplomatic circles, the T/C would be willing to discuss anything provided the G/C side abandons this demand because they fear that if it were to be implemented there would be a wave of people returning to T/C areas, and that buildings built on G/C would have to be demolished. They believe that legal owners should appeal to the Property Council and decide together with the current inhabitants which one of the three options should be implemented on a case by case basis.

Meanwhile former President George Vasiliou in an interview in Simerini on Sunday, says he is optimistic about the prospects for a solution. He says Turkey has nothing to gain by keeping the Cyprus problem unsolved and that a solution would also benefit the T/Cs.

"Personally I believe we are going somewhere. We are heading for a solution to the Cyprus problem, and i say this for two reasons. Firstly because I know President Christofias very well and he is determined to find a solution and secondly because the Turkish Cypriots know full well - and not just those in Talat's party - that without a solution they will cease existing as a separate entity of people. Without a solution they will be absorbed in the 80 million Turks", he explained.

He said he did not believe that Turkey objects to a solution in Cyprus because it constitutes an economic thorn in Turkey's side and it knows full well that without a solution it cannot join the EU.

From there on it's a question of the kind of a solution that will be found and that's up to the negotiators, international conditions and balances of power.

Politicians have united in ‘disgust’ at recent attacks against Turkish Cypriots in Nicosia. The Cyprus Mail reports that the government and political parties yesterday denounced the harassment of Turkish Cypriots by hooded thugs in separate incidents on Saturday. No arrests have been made, but the attacks are believed to have been perpetrated by football supporters on their way to an Omonia versus Apoel football match. According to eyewitnesses, youths on motorbikes and wearing balaclavas attacked a number of cars with Turkish Cypriot licence plates, smashing the windshields and removing the plates. The attacks occurred outside the Apoel football club building. In at least one instance, Greek Cypriots witnessing the scenes rushed to the aid of the Turkish Cypriots, who later filed complaints with police.

The government issued a strong condemnation of the incidents, which it said sought to scupper ongoing peace talks and the climate of reconciliation between the two communities. “We need to denounce all such acts by extremist and nationalist circles.” President Christofias said, while Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou called on Greek Cypriots to “isolate the fanatic and extremist elements among us”, as such incidents undermined trust between the two communities. Similar comments were made by all political parties, voicing “shock and disgust” at the incidents and expressing solidarity to “our Turkish Cypriot compatriots”.

The Turkish Cypriot press gave extensive coverage to the incidents, with Kibris newspaper reporting that the Ayios Dhometios crossing point was unusually quiet on Sunday, as many concerned Turkish Cypriots cancelled planned trips to the south. Star wondered how, in light of the attacks, it was possible for Turkish and Greek Cypriots to live together. And nationalist Volkan called for demonstrations in the north to protest against the attacks.