Draft joint statement is ready

Kibris reports that a draft of the proposed joint statement that would enable the resumption of Cyprus talks, was recently submitted to both sides and appears to have important details on the issue of sovereignty.

According to information obtained by the paper, the draft document suggests that a reunified Cyprus would have the status of a single state internationally. It will be represented at the UN with one seat and will be bicommunal and bizonal with a single international identity and single sovereignty.

The draft document defines that the sovereignty of the state, which would be established, will derive from two peoples, and the one side would not be able to dominate the other side. There would be a single federal citizenship, however, the constituent states will also be able to confer citizenship.  On the issue of authorities, that will be left to the constituent states.

The paper estimates that Cyprus peace talks may resume in the middle of January, although according to diplomatic sources, in the event that no agreement is reached on the joint statement and the impasse cannot be overcome, the Turkish Cypriot side and the UN may come up with different alternatives.

According to a press release issued by Turkish Cypriot FM, Ozdil Nami, the joint statement will be issued very soon, claiming that the Greek Cypriot side should also display a constructive attitude so that the joint statement can be finalised as soon as possible.

He added: “I think we are very close to the joint statement, however, the Greek Cypriot continue to make negative statements”.

Nami also said that the efforts regarding the joint statement have taken more time than expected, as a result the targe of starting the talks in the month March will have to be moved. 

Noting that very important convergences have been achieved at the negotiations so far, Nami said that if the other untouched issues were to be focused on after today and if the negotiations are intensified, then it would be possible to prepare a new comprehensive solution plan in months not in years. Nami also said that this plan would be the solution plan created by Cypriots, not a plan imposed by outsiders.

Meanwhile President Anastasiades has called another meeting of the party leaders and his negotiating team.

Map of new “Ban Ki-moon plan” published

Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis today publishes the map of the so-called “Ban Ki-moon Plan”. According to the paper, during the negotiations, the Greek Cypriot side wanted the return of two new territories, which were different from the Annan plan. The first territory is to form a canton in the area of the Karpas, including the villages of Agios Andronikos and Yiallousa. The second territory is more land on the Mesaoria plain. According to the paper, there was consensus on the return of territory.