Talks start on Monday

Peace talks will start on Monday after Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu accepted the the joint statement last night, according to the Cyprus Mail.

Eroglu met with the Turkish Cypriot parties yesterday afternoon to discuss the latest proposal, receiving the support of all parties to begin negotiations.

According to Turkish Cypriot press reports, the Republican Turkish party (CTP) and Social Democracy Party (TDP) were positive on the statement, while the Democratic Party-National Forces (DP-UG) and National Unity Party (UBP) expressed reservations. All the parties, however, agreed on the need to get negotiations started.

The Turkish Cypriot media also reported that Eroglu’s former aide Kudret Ozersay is returning to the negotiating team though it was unclear whether his return is meant to complement the team or replace incumbent negotiator, Osman Ertug.

It remains to be seen whether UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer will travel to the island for the start of talks. Some reports suggest Downer’s involvement in Cyprus is coming to a close.

While Downer stayed abreast of developments from afar, the latest version of the joint statement is believed to be the result of heavy US involvement in the UN-led process, culminating in the arrival of top US diplomat for Europe Victoria Nuland in Cyprus last Tuesday.

On Thursday, Eroglu received a phone call from US Deputy Secretary of State, William J. Burns on Thursday.

According to a White House statement, Anastasiades also received a phone call yesterday from US Vice President Joe Biden for what Nuland would likely describe as an “attaboy” conversation, confirming US support for a solution and appreciation for Cyprus as “a key partner in a vital region”.

The statement said Biden looked forward to the resumption of talks in the coming days, and “encouraged creative thinking on ways to improve prospects for success”.

Earlier yesterday, Anastasiades was in Athens briefing Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

Following the meeting, Samaras said the Cyprus problem constituted the top priority of Greek foreign policy. The cornerstone of that policy is the constant consultation and coordination with the government of Cyprus.

“Our common goal is the termination of the illegal Turkish occupation and the comprehensive, agreed just, viable and functional solution which fully secures the single sovereignty, international personality and citizenship of a united Cyprus, its EU and eurozone status and implementation of EU laws throughout Cyprus,” said Samaras.

He went on to say that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will be responsible for sitting at the negotiating table to reach a final settlement.

“We must draw, of course, lessons from the recent, including very recent, phases in the course of the Cyprus problem and safeguard the conditions for the widest possible national consensus,” he said in an obvious reference to the divisive 2004 Annan plan.

Any solution would have to be accepted through simultaneous referenda in which lawful residents of the two communities will participate, said Samaras, adding: “Greece will continue to support the president on procedure and substance.”

The Greek PM also reiterated his country’s continued support to Cyprus in the exercise of its sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“These rights emanate from international law, are recognised by the international community in its entirety with the exception of Turkey, which unfortunately, persists in unacceptable, and for sure, ultimately futile tactics to escalate tensions and impose new facts.”

Speaking at the press conference in Athens, Anastasiades said cooperation with Greece creates prospects for the much sought-after unity on the domestic front, considered vital to move forward.

“I have to say, the hardest part is yet to come,” he warned.

DIKO leader Nicolas Papadopoulos on Friday jumped on Samaras’ comments regarding learning lessons from the past to argue that the Greek PM did not support the joint statement.

As far as statements from a Greek premier go, these were the “mildest” comments ever made on the Cyprus problem, Papadopoulos said, and reminded that Samaras had been against the Annan plan in 2004.

The DIKO leader fuelled speculation that his party would soon withdraw from the coalition government when he criticised the joint statement as being the worst document in the history of the Cyprus problem.

“We have in front of us an agreement, not a statement. A dangerous agreement. Not just because it is a bad basis for negotiation, is vague, and brings back elements of the Anan plan, but because before going to negotiations, for the first time since 1960 we are recognising that the Turkish Cypriots have sovereignty, citizenship, and residual power of their constituent state, we shall be discussing the abolition of the Republic of Cyprus and the parthenogenesis of a new state without even getting anything in return – no territory, not the return of refugees, security, the removal of Turkish troops. If we don’t reach an agreement, the Turkish Cypriots will have the right to go to the international community and claim we have recognised these things and claim the right to a state. And if we continue on this road we will end up with a bad solution,” he said.

He said it was an unacceptable and dangerous document which his party disagrees with both in substance and in terms of the tactic followed by the president.

“We call on the president not to sign it, because unfortunately it poses danger to the very existence of the Cyprus Republic,” he added.

Speaking on CyBC’s main news show last night, government spokesman Christos Stylianides dismissed the view that Samaras was warning against a return to the Annan plan.

The Greek premier left no room for doubt regarding his support for the procedure and substance of the talks, said Stylianides.

Samaras’ message was that this is not the time for divisions but national consensus, and warned against repeating the divisive mistakes of the past, added the spokesman.

He added the president has said he will listen to all the party leaders and wants everyone to contribute in this difficult process. “What unites us is more than that which divides us.”

He dismissed the view that we were pressured in any way. On the contrary, he said, that some politicians have yet to realise that geopolitical changes in the region were, to use a football analogy, giving Cyprus “a chance to play in the Premier League, yet some insist on keeping us in the lower divisions”. 

EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou agreed that the Cyprus Republic was in “mortal danger” and also called on the president not to approve the communiqué, which adopted “extremely dangerous provisions” and Annan plan elements.

EVROKO leader Demetris Syllouris repeated his view that adopting the joint communiqué was wrong but that his party would try to support the president where it can in the talks. He called on the president to withdraw from talks the moment Turkey violates Cyprus’ EEZ again.

Greens leader Giorgos Perdikis argued the president should have insisted instead on a shorter joint communiqué based on UN Security Council Resolution 1251.

Citizens’ Alliance leader Giorgos Lillikas called on Anastasiades to resign and call snap elections, arguing that the president lost his popular mandate the moment he returned to the “known Anastasiades of 2004”.

In comparison, AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou sounded somewhat upbeat, noting that the content of the agreed joint statement was “sufficient to resume talks”.

He voiced his party’s support for the talks process, noting that maintaining unity was the president’s job.

“I hope the parties understand that we need to cooperate in a climate of unity, to see how we can strengthen the chances of reaching agreement. That should be the goal of every party.”

Regarding those who call on the president not to resume negotiations, Kyprianou said: “For five months now, they have been trying to convince us that (an alternative) is possible. In practice, it’s been proven that it’s not.”

The AKEL leader also rejected criticism that the joint text left key issues like single sovereignty open to interpretation. “Some things cannot be open to many different interpretations; they can only have one interpretation.”

On concerns about creating double or triple citizenship in a united Cyprus, he said: “We shouldn’t be looking for problems where there are none.”

DISY spokesman Prodromos Prodromou  highlighted the “important role” of the US in reaching a text which clearly establishes single sovereignty, international personality and citizenship.

“It must be made clear that the joint communiqué is only the beginning of a long negotiations process,” he said, calling for calm and unity.