Intensive talks on propery

UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer said the leaders of the two communities met for six and half hours on Wednesday with a break for lunch.

“Naturally enough, the day was devoted to discussing the proposals that have been put forward on the property issue,” he said, noting that they were discussed “at great length”.

He highlighted that the UN would not pass judgement on either side’s proposals, submitted on paper last Monday. It is up to the leaders “to explain their proposals, to make sure that both sides understand their own proposals, and look for ways of trying to reconcile the two positions”.

He added that the two all-day talks were “important”, noting that the last time there were intensive talks in March 2010, “very good work” was done on governance and power sharing.

This time Christofias has to work with recently-elected Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu on “this very challenging chapter”, property along with “other associated issues”.

“It’s our hope that the two leaders and their teams will be able to draw closer through this period. That’s of course the point of the talks,” said the Australian diplomat.

The leaders’ second all-day meeting was held today, and on Tuesday Christofias will be briefing the National Council on the outcome of the intensive talks.

Meanwhile, President Christofias said yesterday, “I will not be the last President before partition”, adding that nor can he accept the faits accomplis.

Speaking after all-day meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu during which they discussed property, he said it was a difficult and very complex issue but “there is no other way to find a solution other than to continue the discussion, no matter how difficult and exhausting it may be. There is no other option”.

He stressed that he wants a solution to be found, one “which will respect the human rights of all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, that will take into account the difficulties that have been created by the continuous 36 year old Turkish occupation and put an end to this unacceptable situation for all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots."

Moreover, speaking at a function later that evening, Christofias made an impassioned plea for unity on the domestic front, adding that time was against the Greek Cypriots and that the fait accompli on the island could soon become “a road of no return”.

Referring to today’s Bayram celebrations, he said he had reminded Eroglu at the talks that “a few decades back, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots celebrated Bayram and Easter together and predicted a time when “we will celebrate Bayram and Easter together again in a reunited Cyprus”.

According to Turkish Cypriot press, speaking from the north on his return from the talks, Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu said the two sides had a good meeting, and an “honest” exchange of views on the property issue. Asked if any progress had been made, he replied that progress could not be expected in a day.

The Cyprus Mail reports that the majority of the opposition parties yesterday were negative over perceived Turkish Cypriot proposals on the property aspect of reunification talks, and President Christofias was accused of ‘deviating’ from long-held Greek Cypriot positions because he wanted to close a deal at all costs.

Media reports on Wednesday gave a glimpse of the Turkish Cypriot proposals, which included a minimal return of displaced Greek Cypriots to their properties, with a cap on the number that can settle in villages and municipalities.

There were also reports that refugees from Varosha, the fenced off part of Famagusta, would share some of their properties with those who would not return to their homes under a comprehensive agreement.

But citing sources close to the talks, daily Alithia said yesterday that Eroglu came across as more malleable than thought during the first all-day meeting with Christofias. One-on-one, the Turkish Cypriot leader was not as ‘disappointing’ as his written proposals might lead one to think, the source told the paper.

However, EDEK, the European Party and the Greens left no doubt as to where, in their opinion, the negotiations are headed.

EDEK spokesman Demetris Papadakis dismissed the President’s call for urgency as a ‘false dilemma,’ which he said was being put to the people to mask what was really being discussed behind closed doors.

“No one can ignore the rights of thousands of refugees and no one can negotiate these rights in default,” Papadakis said in a statement.

“Mr. Eroglu’s proposals are totally unacceptable and cannot be the subject of negotiation,” he said.

European Party chairman Demetris Syllouris said the President’s ‘obsession’ with blaming all his predecessors for his own faults was becoming ‘annoying’.

“We hope he will not become the last President before the dissolution of the Cyprus Republic. If he cannot handle the responsibility for his actions, perhaps he should open the way for collective action through the National Council.”

DIKO meanwhile warned that the perceived Turkish Cypriot proposals on property “blatantly reveal their intransigent and provocative views for a confederation and a two-state solution,” something which left no room for optimism on progress in the talks.
“We insist on the need to safeguard the right of legitimate owners [of properties in the occupied north], and we would like to believe that the President will remain on course,” DIKO spokesman Fotis Fotiou said.

The paper also says that Christofias will be meeting with DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades on Monday, the day before the National Council convenes and speculation abounds that the real purpose of the tete-a-tete is for the AKEL government and DISY to mend fences and seek some common ground on the Cyprus issue.