Greece and Turkey to participate in Cyprus talks

Greece and Turkey have agreed to hold separate meetings with the negotiators of the two communities in Cyprus, the Cyprus Mail reports.

Greece’s Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday that following a request from the Cyprus government, Greece has agreed to meet the Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Osman Ertug, in Athens, provided that the Greek Cypriot negotiator, Andreas Mavrogenis could have direct contact with Ankara.

The disclosure was made following a lengthy meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Venizelos in New York.

“We can create a new momentum in the Cyprus problem, based on the proposals made by President Anastasiades,” Venizelos told reporters.

Anastasiades meets UN Secretary-General

President Anastasiades had a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday in New York during which he informed the Secretary-General of the need to adequately prepare the ground before talks could start in order “to create valid hopes for a solution.”

“I informed the Secretary-General of my strong conviction that the active participation of the European Union would not only benefit the procedure but would significantly reinforce the efforts to achieve a right solution,” said Anastasiades, who is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly.

Responding to criticism from various Greek Cypriot political parties the latest developments in the Cyprus problem to the effect that a Turkish official meeting the Greek Cypriot negotiator would undermine the status of the Republic of Cyprus, President Anastasiades said that “It would have undermined it if the President of the Republic was the negotiator”.

Turkey’s involvement, Anastasiades said, as the force that controls the northern part of Cyprus, would be beneficial to the talks. Turkey could not remain outside the dialogue, he added.

“Turkey is involved and should actively contribute towards the solution of the Cyprus problem,” he said.

Contacts in New York

President Anastasiades and his wife attended an evening reception hosted by US President Barack Obama in honour of the heads of state and government attending the 68th session of the UN General Assembly.

According to a released statement, Obama thanked Anastasiades for Cyprus’ role and contribution towards peace and stability in the region of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. He also expressed appreciation of Anastasiades’ efforts towards the restart of peace talks.

President Anastasiades will meet with US Vice President, Joe Biden, on Friday.

On the sidelines of the reception, the Anastasiades held a 20-minute meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry, who expressed his intention to visit Cyprus.

Earlier on Monday, Anastasiades hosted a working lunch with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council where he discussed three main issues: the need for adequate preparations before talks start; a more active EU involvement in the talks; and the return of Famagusta.

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides met Deputy UN Secretary-General Jan Eliasson at the UN headquarters on Monday, to elaborate on what “good preparation” means for the Greek Cypriot negotiating team.

According to Cyprus News Agency sources, Kasoulides told Eliasson that both negotiators need to negotiate a text declaration and agree on a methodology for the new round of talks to achieve a holistic approach rather than endless discussions on governance issues.

Eroglu says four-party conference likely

Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu welcomed the news of the meetings of the negotiators with Greece and Turkey, saying that he believed this would lead to a four-party conference between the two sides on the island and Greece and Turkey.

According to Turkish Cypriot press reports, Eroglu, who is also currently in New York where he is due to hold a meeting with Mr Ban Ki-moon, called for a meeting between himself, President Anastasiades and the UN Secretary-General. He called on Anastasiades to begin peace talks as soon as possible at the level of community leaders.

He said, moreover, that he expected that, after their meetings in New York, suggestions would be made to President Anastasiades towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. 



Eroglu said that the negotiations should resume in October from the point they had left off.

He said that the progress that had been achieved could not be thrown away and that what should be done is to reach an agreement on the main issues the soonest. 

Eroglu said he would convey these views during his contacts in New York and mainly during his meeting with the UN Secretary-General.

This makes negotiations based on equality, says Ertug

Kibris reports that Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Osman Ertug, has said that the development was something that the Turkish Cypriot side wanted as the Greek Cypriot side had demanded to meet with Ankara.

“We insisted on the negotiations being held on the basis of equality. After this, such an arrangement came up. It is an important development”, he said.

Noting that the timing and the format of the mutual visits of the representatives to Athens and Ankara has not been decided yet, Ertug said that this is a decision in principle, “but the logic points out that the meetings will be held simultaneously”. He added, though, that it would not be correct to enter into details from now and “create a climate as if these are preconditions”.

Ertug said that the Turkish Cypriot side has been demanding that the two leaders should meet in New York and argued that it would be a “good opportunity” for the negotiations to begin at the leaders’ level, as both leaders are in New York. “This process could resume under the Secretary-General’s supervision”, he noted.

Ertug said that Eroglu would meet today with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul and on Saturday with the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.

Commenting on the proposals submitted by President Anastasiades to Ban Ki-moon, especially on the issue of Varosha, Ertug said that the views of the Turkish Cypriot side have not changed and argued that no proposal was submitted to them on this issue.

“In principle, Varosha is a part of the comprehensive solution and if a comprehensive solution is reached, this problem will also be solved”, he added.

Ertug expressed also the view that the EU could contribute in the negotiations at a consultative level and the agreement to be reached should be adapted to the EU legislation.

Turkey’s desire for solution is clear

According to Ankara Anatolia news agency, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said after a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York that Turkey’s desire for a resolution of the Cyprus issue is certain and clear, an approach that is shared by the Turkish Cypriots as well. He added that if the Greek Cypriots responded positively, progress would be made towards a resolution.