Politis in a frontpage report
yesterday said that not even US Secretary of State John Kerry’s phone call to
his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu was able to break the deadlock over the
issuing of a joint communique to start the Cyprus talks.
The paper adds that it seems
that Davutoglu supports Eroglu’s position against a clear reference to a single
nationality. It adds that the British Foreign Secretary William Hague also
called Mr Davutoglu.
The paper says that according
to reliable information, the Turkish Cypriot side is only willing to accept
that a future federal Cyprus should have a single sovereignty but not the issue
of nationality. Sources close to the talks told the paper it has now become
clear that there is no difference in the approach of the Turkish Cypriot side
and that of Ankara, since what emerged from the telephone calls that Kerry and
Hague had with Davutoglu, he had told them that he cannot exert any pressure on
Eroglu as he is the one responsible for the Turkish Cypriot position.
The Greek Cypriot side is now
considering its next steps, while still remaining ready to continue the effort
to restart the talks. It believes that the UN, the US and the international
community as a whole have realised that this is as far as the Greek Cypriot side
is willing to go as regards concessions and finally understands the role that
Eroglu is playing, Politis concludes.
The Cyprus Mail also carries
this item saying that when Kerry and Hague called Davutoglu to ask him to agree
to ‘single sovereignty’ and overcome the last hurdle before talks could start,
Davutoglu simply said no to both, providing cover for the Turkish Cypriot
leader, and leaving the process in the air.
The Mail goes on to quote a
source close to the talks as saying that now there was little hope of reversing
the situation as it is, with no clear direction forwards at this point. Even if
the two sides want to keep trying it is unclear how they can, as the joint
declaration has become a key component of the peace talks, agreement of which
could be used as a measure of the potential for success.
For the Greek Cypriots,
“starting negotiations without a joint declaration is not an option when you
know how serious the problems are and it is very clear they will break down in
a few weeks”, said the source. “The differences are fundamental. None of the
problems will be solved by restarting the talks. One side is saying we have one
state, let’s live in it together. The other says we have two states and should
live apart.”
The Mail concludes by saying
it remains to be seen what will come out of today’s meeting in Athens,
requested by the Turkish FM, between Davutoglu and his Greek counterpart
Evangelos Venizelos. Tomorrow, Davutoglu flies to the north of Cyprus for
meetings with the Turkish Cypriot leadership after which they will hold a joint
press conference.
He could enter into the usual
blame game, highlighting that the Turkish Cypriots are ready to start talks
right away, that they are unfairly kept in isolation due to the Greek Cypriot
stance. Or he could take steps to overcome the deadlock.
As one analyst put it, “If he
was going to make an announcement that could be seen as a concession, he would
have taken the opportunity to do that when talking to the big guys (Kerry and
Hague).”
Davutoglu and Venizelos meet
The efforts to agree on a
joint communiqué to kickstart the Cyprus talks was the subject discussed at a
meeting in Athens between Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Greek
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Evangelos Venizelos.
Speaking after the meeting,
Venizelos said that Greece was ready to help shape the framework for a solution
of the Cyprus problem.
Speaking at a joint press
conference afterwards, Davutoglu called for accelerated talks to solve the
Cyprus problem. He stressed that both Turkey and Greece, as guarantor powers,
want to help solve the problem. Peace in the Eastern Mediterranean, is subject
to a settlement of the Cyprus problem, he added.
Asked whether he shares Eroglu’s
position on a single sovereingty he said this was one of the main achievements
of the Annan plan. He stressed, however, that it is important for both sides to
settle their differences so that common ground can be found. He emphasized that
it is essential that Cyprus continue its existence as a state in the
international community. He called for talks to begin immediately as a lot of
valuable time has been lost.
He called the election of
President Anastasiades as “a good omen” as he had voted ‘yes’ to the Annan
plan.
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