Was there significant progress or not?

Makarios Droushiotis writing in Politis says that confusion reigns as to whether “significant progress” has been achieved or not at the talks on the Cyprus problem.

According to DIKO the impression that leader Marios Garoyian got after his briefing from President Christofias was that progress has been insubstantial. Moreover DIKO circles also told the paper that Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou said that not only has there been no progress, but there has even been steps backwards on the part of the Turkish Cypriot side and that any impression of progress has been fabricated.

The writer says that interestingly enough similar information came from Eroglu’s party UBP which told Greek Cypriot papers that little progress has been achieved and that if any had it was because Talat had made concessions. On the other hand, circles close to Talat told the paper that there was substantial progress, “though perhaps not as much as we would have liked”.

No doubt, he adds, the matter of whether or not there has been progress will remain a subject of discussion for the foreseeable future.

The Cyprus Mail’s satirical column Coffeeshop, welcomes the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to Cyprus and says he arrives today on a pointless two-day visit to boost Talat’s re-election prospects, take part in Turkey’s communications games and try to resuscitate the dead talks.

It is not yet known if he will be wearing a lapel-badge that says ‘Vote for Talat’; that depends on what orders the ‘weak-willed and colourless’ South Korean is given by the cunning Big Al (Downer) and Lyn Pascoe who tricked him into visiting the island against his wishes and without informing the comrade.

The column says that our political and journalistic elite has been working overtime in the last few days to discover who is pulling the strings in the latest UN conspiracy to shaft the Greek Cypriots and help the Turks.

Some of our bash-patriots have expressed the fear that Ban would resolve the remaining differences and announce the closure of the chapter, which would be tantamount to the dreaded ‘interim agreement’, the new threat, a phrase that automatically triggers bash-patriotic paranoia.

There is no cause for alarm. How on earth would a ‘weak-willed’ Sec-Gen persuade two leaders renowned for their pig-headedness, reach an agreement that has eluded them for 16 months, in just a few hours?

And how would the interim agreement be signed when they also claim that there has been very little agreed at the intensive talks? House president and personality of the year Marios Garoyian, was telling his friends in the press yesterday that Tof and Tal had agreed next to nothing, implying that Big Al was lying when he was talking about substantial progress.

Meanwhile, the great Washington-based thinker and hack, Michalis Ignatiou, who also labelled Ban ‘weak-willed’, reported that the visit was a ‘leap into the void’ – no chance of an interim agreement. According to Ig, Ban is coming because “he cannot resist the pressure of his associates and the British”.

The duplicitous Brits had to have played some part in this badly-timed, leap into the void. But according to Ig, they were helped by Big Al, who apart from pressurising Ban, also ‘deceived’ comrade Tof.

To be fair, the attacks on Ban have been very mild compared to the type of abuse heaped on his Turk-loving predecessors. The worst we have said about Ban so far, is that he is a weak-willed, Anglo-American puppet who takes orders from his subordinates, helps Turkey’s communications games and interferes in pseudo-national elections. At least nobody accused him of being black, an indication that we are maturing politically.

But are we? Just a few years ago our bash-patriots were referring to Kofi Annan as ‘the black’. Now we have a Secretary-General, labelled by Simerini as ‘colourless’ and we are still complaining.

Significant progress announced

The UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer announced yesterday that the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus had authorised him to say that “significant progress has been made in a series of areas of governance”.

Speaking at the end of the second round of intensive talks, Downer said: “The leaders have left the meeting feeling positive and there will be a bit more to say next week when the Secretary General is here ".

The two leaders met for around four hours yesterday morning after which they left their aides to continue negotiations.

Asked whether the two leaders closed the chapter on governance, which is only the first of six chapters under negotiation, Downer said the leaders would have more to say on this on Monday afternoon. The Australian diplomat noted the two were also expected to talk about the future schedule of the talks during the meeting with the Secretary General.

Speaking after the meeting, Talat told reporters “good progress” had been made on the sticky issues regarding governance and power sharing. He added that teams on both sides were now working on putting together a more detailed joint statement which will be announced on Monday.

“Significant steps were taken,” he said, adding that that the two sides “came seriously close to each another”.

According to press reports, the UN Secretary-General , Ban Ki-Moon, held a series of meeting in London the sidelines of the London conference on Afghanistan. He met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Demetris Droutsas and Cyprus' Foreign Minister, Marcos Kyprianou.

Ankara Anatolia reports that, according to diplomatic circles, Davutoglu and Ban discussed the Cyprus issue and the talks and that Ban had promised to make some kind of contribution.

The news agency also reported that Turkey has called on the European Parliament to support efforts to reach a solution in Cyprus. In a statement on Thursday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Turkey expected the European Parliament to extend support for efforts to reach a lasting settlement in Cyprus. The statement came a day after the European Parliament's foreign relations committee approved a draft report which called Turkey to withdraw its troops from the eastern Mediterranean island. The statement said Turkey attached importance that the parliament assumed "a balanced and an objective approach" in its reports over Ankara's European Union membership process.

Moreover daily Yeni Duzen reports that in statements to Turkish NTV television, Davutoglu said that the Turkish side is ready for any kind of meeting, four-party or five-party, “ to solve the Cyprus problem.

Cyprus Government Spokesman Mr Stefanos Stefanou today confirmed that there has been progress in the talks and that the party leaders will be able to judge for themselves as to whether it has been substantial or not when the President briefs them at the next National Council meeting.

Responding to certain concers that have been expressed over the UN S-G's visit, he gave assurances that he was not coming to exert any pressure or arbitration on the interlocutors, but that he was coming in order to be briefed and to express his support.

He welcomed the UN Secretary General's forthcoming visit to Cyprus, saying that it "proves that the achievement of a solution to the Cyprus problem constitutes a high priority of the international organisation and concerns the international community".

In this regard he pointed out the increased international activity around the Cyprus problem, noting the visits to Cyprus of the Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation and China, the intention expressed by the US to appoint a special envoy on the Cyprus problem, the creation of a working group presided over by the President of the European Commission and the appointment of a personal Representative of the President of the European Commission.

Politis reports today that the Turkish Cypriot side has changed its stance on crucial matters regarding governance thereby removing significant stumbling blocks which had so far prevented progress from being announced. The paper says they no longer insist on the separate states being able to sign treatiesseparately with third countries limiting these to the fields of trade and culture only. They also agreed to the federal state having authority over water issues, as well as the island's FIR.

The paper adds that this paves the way now for the UN S-G to praise the decisiveness of the two leaders towards achieving progress in matters of governance and announcing the continuation of talks with the hope of closing three more chapter by the middle of March.


Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris referring to the UN S-G's visit says that a joint declaration might be signed and quotes political circles as saying that “surprising results could be expected” with a joint declaration being signed at a meeting on Tuesday in the presence of the UN Secretary-General.

Under the title “Ban is determined”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (29.01.10) reports that important statements are expected regarding the Cyprus problem after the meeting of Mr Ban Ki-moon with the two leaders.

Yeni Duzen newspaper says that Turkey does not want the negotiating process in Cyprus to be interrupted even during the election campaign in the north and says this was confirmed by Talat's spokesman Hasan Ercakica.

"It is not only Turkey, but the whole of the international community feels the same. Momentum has been gained and they do not want to lose this momentum”.

Responding to a question, Mr Ercakica said that Mr Talat is “a little bit reluctant”, but “he has the same sensitivity” on the issue of not losing the acceleration. “A clearer picture will come to surface after the visit of the UN Secretary-General”, added Ercakica.

It's official: UN Secretary-General will visit Cyprus this weekend

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel to Cyprus this Sunday "to personally show his support for the ongoing efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem", the UN officially announced today.

Mr. Ban will visit Cyprus from 31 January through 2 February, his spokesperson announced in a statement, following discussions between the Secretary-General and his Special Adviser for Cyprus, Alexander Downer.

While in Cyprus, the UN Chief will meet with the leaders of the two communities, Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat, as well as with his Special Adviser Alexander Dower focusing on the state of progress in the talks, and on how best the United Nations can continue to assist their efforts.

The spokesman stressed that the UN is committed to helping the two communities reach a solution.

“The international community has tremendous goodwill for Cyprus and a strong interest in seeing the Cypriots arrive at a solution” , he added.

The end of the intensive talks on Cyprus was yesterday moved to Friday, giving the two leaders more time to continue discussions, UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer announced last night.

The UN diplomat told reporters that the two leaders met throughout the day discussing governance and power sharing. “Given the way the discussions have evolved during the course of the day, the two leaders have decided that they will meet again on Friday for further discussions,” he said. He noted that officials from both sides would convene before then and that Friday would be the culmination of the talks.

The Cyprus Mail reports that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday had to hold back announcing his trip to Cyprus, following the realisation that the talks had yet to be concluded.

The UN chief was due to make the announcement last night at a press conference in New York, but instead told reporters he would visit the island at the appropriate time to help push forward the peace process. He said he had spoken to Downer and was waiting to hear his further assessment of the talks before deciding when to visit.

According to reports, he will arrive on Sunday, assuming the intensive talks end on Friday. On Monday morning he will meet with the two leaders first separately and then jointly in the afternoon, after which an announcement will likely be made, possibly on the progress, or not, of the talks. In the evening, he will meet with representatives of civil society organisations and will leave the island the next day.

Asked whether any progress was made over the six days of intensive negotiations, Downer suggested that the result was still being cooked in the oven, saying: “Well, the proof of that pudding will be, as they say, in the eating.

“By that, I mean there will be statements made at the end of this process, which has been extended until Friday.”

The Australian diplomat avoided questions on whether European issues and the economy had been discussed during the intensive phase, as was originally planned, noting that all would be revealed on Friday.

Downer rejected the notion that there was a “hold-up” or “snag” in the talks, highlighting that the two leaders were simply “putting a little more time” in at the end of this intensive period.

“Rather than staying up all night, which sometimes happens in negotiations, I think this is a civilised and constructive way of handling it,” he said. He also deflected questions on a possible third round of intensive talks, saying “more will be revealed as time goes by, that is always the case”.

The government earlier yesterday said it welcomed a possible Ban visit and expects him to encourage the two sides to push the process forward. But government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou highlighted that: “There is no ‘Ban plan’ or interim agreement on the cards”.

One government source said the concern was that not enough progress had been made to warrant his visit, raising fears he would try to push for some kind of convergence between the two sides while here.

UN Secretary-General to visit Cyprus?

According to media reports from Cyprus and New York, UN Secreatary General Ban Ki Moon may be coming to Cyprus arriving as early as this Sunday for talks with the leaders of the two communities. He will be accompanied by Lynn Pascoe, UN Under-Secretary for political affairs, while Elizabeth Spehar, UN Director of the Americas and Europe Division, is expected to come a few days earlier to prepare the ground.

However, the UN yesterday remained tight-lipped. When asked to confirm this and whether the reason he was coming was to announce an agreement on governance, the UN's Special Adviser in Cyprus, Alexander Downer, said "it doesn’t fall upon our humble offices, or relatively humble offices here, to make announcements for the Secretary-General".

Downer played down fears of interference in the talks: “From the Secretary General downwards we are not into the game of arbitration and mediation. It’s important for people to understand that. We have not at any stage proposed doing that, or threatened to do that, or seeing it fruitful to do that.”

Commenting on the latest meetings between the two leaders, Downing said they "had a very full day today continuing their discussions about governance and power-sharing and exchanging views on the different ideas that they have been putting forward".

He also said that the two men had had an opportunity to discuss a whole range of different issues in different formats.

"One of the formats is what we call a plenary session, where all the advisers are there and quite a few of us from the United Nations. Another format is where they have the two leaders and the two representatives, and me and Mr Zerihoun. Another format is where the two leaders have a téte-à-téte session. Through these different formats there’s been an opportunity to discuss a whole range of different issues, which wouldn’t be right or very helpful for us to get into the details".

News of the UN Secretary General's possible visit was greeted with suspicion by political parties.

AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou told Astra Radio yesterday that on the face of it, the talks so far did not warrant a visit by the UN chief. He expressed the belief that UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer himself was most likely the “architect” of the high profile visit. Asked whether Ban was coming to knock heads together and produce results, Kyprianou replied: “Our side will not play this game. For impressions sake, (we will not) enter this PR game of Mr Downer or anyone else. If there is real progress, we can say there was progress on some issues, but an objective look shows that we are a long way yet in all issues.”

DIKO said they were “surprised” by the visit given the lack of real progress in the talks. Spokesman Fotis Fotiou said: “If the UNSG’s aim is to pressure our side too, this would be wrong and the president should not accept this process. If he aims to pressure the other side, then he is welcome.”

A diplomatic source told the Cyprus Mail last night that the UN chief was coming to “lend his support and encouragement to the process”. Despite reluctance among some quarters in Cyprus, the visit was more about carrot than stick. “I don’t think there’s anything more than that. It’s all positive stuff,” he said.

It is believed Ban will meet the two leaders separately on Monday morning and then jointly later in the afternoon before leaving Cyprus on Tuesday. Most of the speculation yesterday focused on what kind of announcement Ban would make after the joint meeting. The main questions centred on whether President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat would announce any progress on the governance chapter? Will some sort of interim agreement be put on the table? Or will they simply announce more meeting, perhaps another round of intensive talks, before Talat faces ‘presidential’ elections in April? And also, is the UN trying to show tacit support for the pro-solution Talat through this visit?

The paper also says that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu repeated the call for four-party talks in an interview with NTV. He criticised the Greek Cypriot side for always saying ‘NO’. “Since 1974, the Greek Cypriots have adopted this bad habit of saying no to everything and they think that in this way, they will get what they want, but if Turkey is pushed, this path will not lead to peace,” he said.

Orams lose appeal and Greek legal team to help in talks

A report in the Cyprus Mail says that the British Court of Appeal has handed down its judgment in the case of Apostolides v Orams, ruling in favour of Greek Cypriot refugee Meletis Apostolides, a statement from his lawyers said.

The present appeal is final, it added, and a further appeal to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is not permitted.

The judgment provides that the Cyprus judgments be registered and enforced in the UK.

The Cyprus Court had made a number of orders against David and Linda Orams, regarding land in Lapithos belonging to Apostolides. In particular, the Cyprus Court ordered that the Orams should cease trespassing on the land belonging to Apostolides, deliver up possession of the land to Apostolides, pay back rent to Apostolides for the period of their occupation and knock down the villa and fencing they had built on the land.

The Orams will also be ordered to pay the legal fees incurred by Apostolides, regarding the London and Luxembourg proceedings.

“This judgment has determined in a final way that the legal rights of displaced Cypriots against trespassers, as determined by the Courts of the Republic of Cyprus, can be enforced in the United Kingdom,” said the statement from lawyer, Constantis Candounas.

“Mr. Apostolides feels totally satisfied that the European institutions have safeguarded his right to have his human rights to property enforced throughout the Union. He had placed his trust in British Justice and has never felt that this was misplaced.”

Candounas said the ruling is expected to act as a future deterrent for speculators in stolen Cypriot properties, as well as those willing to take small or bigger risks.

“The way is now open for all Greek Cypriots whose properties have been usurped by other EU nationals, to take legal action and enforce Cyprus judgments against such trespassers in the United Kingdom and other EU countries,” his statement said.

A team of legal experts from Greece will be set up immediately to help the Greek Cypriot negotiating team in the talks on the Cyprus problem , announced Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou yesterday after meeting with President Christofias in Athens.


Mr Papandreou also agreed to visit Cyprus to hold consultations with Christofias and party leaders to jointly evaluate the latest developments.

After a working lunch between the two delegations, Mr Papandreou told reporters that he was in agreement with Mr Christofias that the talks must continue. “We believe that problems can only be solved at the negotiating table without grand statements and proposals for public effect, but with continuous effort until a jointly-agreed solution is reached,” he said.

He added that they had also agreed the proposals of the Turkish Cypriot side regarding the issues of governance were negative, “I would say a step backwards, and that for there to be progress in the talks, the basis of the talks must be kept as that which has already been agreed”.

On his part Mr Christofias said he hoped that Mr Talat’s position would change in the second round of intensive talks so that it can lead to real progress with greater convergence on the governance issue.

“I don’t wish to prejudge the derailment of the talks first of all. The so-called proposals are unacceptable, we reject them and do not accept discussing them,” said Christofias who added that he will continue to have open discussions with Talat on all aspects of governance. “We remain consistent in our strategic goal,” he said.

The two leaders also exchanged views on Turkey’s EU accession path, after which Papandreou assured the Cypriot president that the two countries’ “very close co-operation will continue and our co-ordination on all issues and at every level, political and administrative”.

Mr Papandreou called on Turkey to take bold steps and help transform the region into a model of peaceful co-operation.


“I believe it’s time for there to be courage on Turkey’s part to release the Turkish Cypriot community, and to contribute constructively towards finding a solution which will transform our region from one of tension and sometimes instability to a region where there is peaceful co-operation, as an example not only for the wider region but the whole world.”

Christofias in Athens

President Christofias flew to Athens yesterday for a working visit with the Greek government. During the visit he will meet with the Greek President Carolos Papoulias, Prime Minister George Papandreou and the President of the Parliament Philippos Petsalnikos. He will also hold separate meetings with political party leaders.

The visit takes place after three days of intensive talks on the Cyprus problem during which proposals were submitted by both sides.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said in an interview that this was a "golden opportunity" for Cyprus and called on everybody to evaluate such opportunities.

He said that the leaders of the sides should close the gaps existing between them with constructive views and indicated that the proposal package Turkey has submitted contains constructive views and unique elements for this gap to be closed.

Adding that “no one should expect unilateral concessions”, he indicated that the timing, method and content of the package was important and that a crucial stage has been reached where the sides should exert all efforts towards finding a solution.

Responding to a question on the issue whether the contribution of the international community to the solution is satisfactory, Mr. Davutoglu said that support should be given to a solution which will bring stability and peace in Eastern Mediterranean and alleged that the “isolation of the TRNC”, as he described the breakaway regime in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus, is something which he cannot understand.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said that we have now reached to a critical turning point in the Cyprus problem and added that a bi-communal two-state federal solution will be found “by the Cypriots for the Cypriots”.

In statements in London this week during a press conference with the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, Mr Miliband said Britain has undertaken some commitments in the Island and it will fulfil these commitments, adding that this is also valid for the other two guarantor powers. He noted that 2010 is “a key year for making historic steps” for the Cypriots.

Turkish daily Star Kibris reported that the two ministers “broadly discussed” the Cyprus problem in their meeting with the participation of diplomats in London. Mr Miliband said the future of the island is very important for Europe, the international community and the region. He noted that the United Kingdom will continue to support Turkey’s accession to the EU. Referring to the intensified negotiations in Cyprus, Mr Miliband said they bear great importance and added that every idea which brings a solution will be welcome.

On his part Mr Davutoglu said that an opportunity was missed in 2004 for reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem and described the point we have reached now as a “very historic and critical turning point”. He reiterated that the EU has not fulfilled the promises it gave to the Turkish Cypriots for lifting the so-called embargoes on them. He described as “constructive” the package of proposals submitted by the Turkish Cypriot leader in the negotiations, and expressed the hope for a solution to be achieved soon on the island.

Mr Davutoglu added: “The issue has an international dimension as well. Just like it concerns the three guarantor powers, it has an international aspect. Moreover, it also concerns the UN. It is the time for all the international actors to support both Talat and Christofias in the direction of having a result”.

Government Spokesman Mr Stefanos Stefanou said that, as President Christofias has also told party leaders at their meeting last week, he had not discussed the Turkish proposals nor had he accepted them as the basis of negotiation at the intensive negotiations. Commenting on the statement by Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, th e Spokesman said that "obviously, Turkey feels the need to make moves, to play communication games and this is why Mr Davutoglu wants to show that Turkey is ready to submit new proposals”. “Actions are judged not by the actions themselves as such, but by the content of the actions and the content of the proposals. We expect Turkey, just as the European Union expects Turkey, in view of the latest conclusions of its Council, to contribute actively to the solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN resolutions, because the role of Turkey is crucial and this is also noted by the European Union itself”

Intensive talks begin

The leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities yesterday began their first round of intensive talks with a nine-hour meeting where they exchanged views on governance and continued today with a further marathon session during which Mr Christofias submitted a document with the Greek Cypriot views.

“Let us hope that at the end of the day we will have more convergences”, he said. “We exchanged views freely on the various aspects of governance, without having any document as a basis; I want to make this clear”. He was referring to the proposals submitted by the Turkish side, outlining its positions regarding governance and power-sharing.

He continued: "Of course, we have both reached an understanding that nothing is agreed or will be agreed unless everything is agreed. There was a discussion that indicates that we will continue the discussion. Without being able to go into any details at this moment, we will submit our view in writing, which I have analysed verbally today, and we will continue the discussion”.

This phase of the talks continues tomorrow and Wednesday before a week’s break, during which Mr Christofias will visit Greece. The process has been overshadowed by the universal rejection of the Turkish proposals, which the Greek Cypriot side said smacked of confederation .“We are not starting with the best of omens,” said government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou yesterday.He said Christofias planned to clarify the Greek Cypriot side’s approach on the Turkish Cypriot proposals and indicate the targets of the intensive negotiations.

Meanwhile the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon yesterday said he was “reasonably encouraged" by the recent process of negotiations on Cyprus.

Speaking to the press after briefing the UN General Assembly yesterday on the priorities of the UN for 2010, he said he has been urging both leaders that this is a time for them to make decisions on the basis of flexibility and compromise.

"As you may know, recently I have spoken with leaders of both communities – the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriots – and I have spoken with leaders of other countries, including Turkey. I sincerely hope that they will make significant progress. In fact they have been meeting sixty times with the help of my Special Adviser, Alexander Downer.

They have discussed all remaining issues, and now they are zeroing in, focusing their negotiations on critically important issues. I sincerely hope that during the two rounds of negotiations this month, they will be able to agree on these longstanding issues. As Secretary-General I have expressed my firm commitment and willingness and readiness to engage myself whenever the time is appropriate”.

Turkish side makes proposals

The United Nations on Thursday handed to President Christofias Turkish Cypriot proposals on governance and power-sharing.

These will be discussed at the first round of intensive talks between President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat that is due to start on Monday.

President Christofias conveyed the proposals to Greek Cypriot party leaders and summoned them to an informal council meeting on Sunday.

UN Special Envoy in Cyprus, Alexander Downer told the press: “The main thing is that the leaders have the chance to sit down and discuss these issues at the beginning of the coming week and will be able to decide about them on their own,” said . “I hope the two leaders will be able to make substantial progress.”

The UN envoy reiterated there has been some convergence in the past 15 months although differences remained. He said he hoped the procedure would speed this convergence up.

More intensive meetings have been scheduled for January 11, 12 and 13 followed by three more meetings on 25, 26 and 27 January. It has been announced that President Christofias will be visiting Athens on 18 January after the first round to discuss the developments with the Greek leadership.

Downer added that the talks would not be completed by the end of January, but this was a good chance to take the procedure forward.

Greek Cypriot daily Politis says that it has obtained a copy of the Turkish Cypriot proposals and that in essence the document describes a confederation rather than a federation.

The paper says this is a serious blow to the talks and shows no signs of convergence. It says the only positive thing for the Greek Cypriot side in the 7 page document comprising 10 points, is their acceptance of the Greek Cypriot proposal for a rotating presidency and a weighted vote or cross vote. This would mean that both communities would vote for president and vice president though the Greek Cypriot vote would be weighted based on the population ratio between the two communities.

The remaining points favour the separate autonomy of the federated states. It proposes that Turkish nationals should enjoy the same rights EU nationals would have in Cyprus after a settlement, ie freedom to enter, travel around, settle and buy property on the island, until Turkey joins the EU. Another calls for two Flight Information Regions, while a third says that the President and Vice President of the country would have veto powers.

Replying to a question by the press on whether Mr Talat’s proposals, at first glance, constitute a step forward, President Christofias declined to comment. However, he expressed the hope that Turkey would act more rationally so that all that she says she would like to see happen in 2010 become a reality rather than just for the sake of appearances and public relations. Asked if the proposals were prepared in Ankara, President Christofias replied: “Is there anything that happens here in Nicosia without the consent of Ankara? The answer is obvious.”

Mr Christofias was also asked whether the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Talat, who has just returned from a visit to Ankara where he met with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, had invited the UN Secretary General to visit Cyprus. President Christofias said that the UN Secretary General has been planning to visit Cyprus for some time now, and would do so if and when there was sufficient progress to merit it.

The Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Mr Martin Nesirky, yesterday said that the UN Secretary-General discussed the upcoming two intensive rounds of substantive negotiations that the Cypriot leaders will have this month, in separate phone calls with the Cypriot leaders. He encouraged both leaders to remain committed and to show flexibility and leadership. He is convinced that win-win solutions in many different areas are available and he is confident that together both leaders have the political courage and vision required to make progress. The Secretary-General assured both leaders of the United Nations and his personal support.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris reported yesterday that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, had returned to Cyprus after visits to Brussels and Ankara where he had meetings with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan respectively.

Speaking to reporters, Talat said he had informed Barroso on the negotiation process in Cyprus and reminded him of the EU's commitments. Talat quoted Barroso as saying that he would do his best on the issue. Talat said he also held fruitful talks in Ankara, and had discussed the Cyprus issue with Erdogan.

He added that the UN Secretary-General Ban had called him while he was in Ankara during which he had expressed the UN's expectations regarding the process of intensive talks starting next week. Ankara Anatolia news agency reported that Mr Talat had the invited UN Secretary to Cyprus and that he had accepted invitation.