A number of party leaders have expressed the belief that the Turkish Cypriot side was pushing for a confederation, while others said these were just starting positions and that things would change as the talks progressed.
These conclusion were reached after the National Council convened today and yesterday during which President Christofias briefed the members on how the talks were going.
President Christofias said he believed thing would become clearer in the second round of talks due to start after the elections.in the north in April.
AKEL chief Andros Kyprianou acknowledged that the Turkish Cypriot side’s positions were not always within the framework of UN resolutions, but added that some progress had been made. DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades refused to be drawn into commenting, saying that the party would give its positions when the discussion of all chapters was over and things were clearer. "No one knows yet whether the positions given by the other side are negotiating positions or final positions", he said. DIKO leader, Marios Garoyian, said that he felt that the Turkish positions would lead to a confederation and had to change, while the head of EDEK, Yiannakis Omirou, said the Turkish position was to create two state entities, defined in international law as a confederation. EVROKO party leader Demetris Syllouris echoed the view that talks were leading towards a confederation, while Greens leader Georgios Perdikis said the situation did not inspire optimism, adding that the Greek Cypriot side needed a Plan B. Asked whether a Plan B was needed, Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou referred to Christofias’ statements that at the current stage of the negotiations, the best plan was to proceed with positions that were fully in line with what has been discussed between the two communities, as regards the basis and the aim of a solution.
Saturday 28 February 2009
Thursday 26 February 2009
Talks on property continue
The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, Christofias and Talat, yesterday held their 20th meeting in the framework of UN-led negotiations on finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. Yesterday’s meeting lasted over three hours and included a tete-a-tete lasting of an hour and a half.
The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative to Cyprus Taye-Brook Zerihoun said the leaders had continued their discussions on the issue of property, and would meet again on March 5. After that the leaders would move on to discuss EU issues, Zerihoun said.Asked why the leaders were still discussing the criteria and not the substance of the property issue, Zerihoun said they had started exchanging views on the principles that would guide the discussions and for the past two meetings they had been discussing the criteria to define the parameters under which it would continue. “After that they will make a decision whether those discussions could continue in other fora”, he said.
The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative to Cyprus Taye-Brook Zerihoun said the leaders had continued their discussions on the issue of property, and would meet again on March 5. After that the leaders would move on to discuss EU issues, Zerihoun said.Asked why the leaders were still discussing the criteria and not the substance of the property issue, Zerihoun said they had started exchanging views on the principles that would guide the discussions and for the past two meetings they had been discussing the criteria to define the parameters under which it would continue. “After that they will make a decision whether those discussions could continue in other fora”, he said.
Sunday 22 February 2009
US to move on Cyprus?
Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (20.02.09) wonders whether the visits to the region of the US Illinois Senator, Richard Durbin, the Illinois State Treasurer, Alexi Giannoulias and the reply letter sent by the US President Barack Obama to the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, in which he said: “‘Let’s work together for a more peaceful and secure world", are all a sign of an American involvement in Cyprus.The paper says Durbin 'took the pulse' in Cyprus, Athens and Ankara and that the Obama administration’s first contact in Turkey starts with the Cyprus problem.
The paper concludes that the United States is preparing to step into the Cyprus the peace talks, add ing that Durbin's statement that ‘the USA has no special proposal to make but if the two leaders so wish, we can support the Cyprus talks. We encourage the leaders to agree with our suggestion’, clearly shows their intentions.
Turkey not losing its European vision and the solution of the Cyprus problem are seen as a guarantee for regional stability. The EU – NATO relations are on the agenda of this visit and are related to these. A great obstacle in the cooperation between NATO and the EU is Turkey’s veto for Cyprus. A few days ago, the USA asked clearly from Turkey to lift its veto. This issue seems impossible without a solution in Cyprus first. … By the end of this year, or in the beginning of the next, important changes can take place in Cyprus, the paper concludes.
The paper concludes that the United States is preparing to step into the Cyprus the peace talks, add ing that Durbin's statement that ‘the USA has no special proposal to make but if the two leaders so wish, we can support the Cyprus talks. We encourage the leaders to agree with our suggestion’, clearly shows their intentions.
Turkey not losing its European vision and the solution of the Cyprus problem are seen as a guarantee for regional stability. The EU – NATO relations are on the agenda of this visit and are related to these. A great obstacle in the cooperation between NATO and the EU is Turkey’s veto for Cyprus. A few days ago, the USA asked clearly from Turkey to lift its veto. This issue seems impossible without a solution in Cyprus first. … By the end of this year, or in the beginning of the next, important changes can take place in Cyprus, the paper concludes.
Thursday 5 February 2009
Talks continue on property
The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday had a ‘substantial discussion’ on the property issue, in their second discussion on the subject as part of the ongoing negotiations.
According to the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Cyprus, Taye Brook Zerihoun, the two leaders presented their sides’ views and reactions to the principles set by each side during their previous meeting last week.“They had a good round of discussions, a substantial discussion on this matter and they have agreed to continue these discussions next week, in the afternoon of February 12,” said Zerihoun. He added that in the meantime, on Friday, the two leaders’ advisors, Iacovou and Nami, would meet to continue their discussions on how to assist the current efforts.Zerihoun also announced that the UN Secretary General’s special advisor in Cyprus, Alexander Downer, would be present at the two leaders’ meeting next week.
In an interview with the Financial Times, the EU's enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn expressed hope that a settlement of the Cyprus problem would avert a crisis in Turkey's entry talks.
He said he would travel to Cyprus next week to underline the EU's support for talks that started last September between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders on a comprehensive settlement to reunite the island.
"The essential thing is that the process is under way," Mr Rehn said. "In my view, it's realistic to assume the intensive phase of the negotiations will take place between April and autumn."
A settlement could prevent a serious blow to EU-Turkish relations by prompting Turkey to open its ports and airports to Cypriot vessels and aircraft before the end of this year, EU officials said.
According to the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Cyprus, Taye Brook Zerihoun, the two leaders presented their sides’ views and reactions to the principles set by each side during their previous meeting last week.“They had a good round of discussions, a substantial discussion on this matter and they have agreed to continue these discussions next week, in the afternoon of February 12,” said Zerihoun. He added that in the meantime, on Friday, the two leaders’ advisors, Iacovou and Nami, would meet to continue their discussions on how to assist the current efforts.Zerihoun also announced that the UN Secretary General’s special advisor in Cyprus, Alexander Downer, would be present at the two leaders’ meeting next week.
In an interview with the Financial Times, the EU's enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn expressed hope that a settlement of the Cyprus problem would avert a crisis in Turkey's entry talks.
He said he would travel to Cyprus next week to underline the EU's support for talks that started last September between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders on a comprehensive settlement to reunite the island.
"The essential thing is that the process is under way," Mr Rehn said. "In my view, it's realistic to assume the intensive phase of the negotiations will take place between April and autumn."
A settlement could prevent a serious blow to EU-Turkish relations by prompting Turkey to open its ports and airports to Cypriot vessels and aircraft before the end of this year, EU officials said.
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