Things are fluid at the talks

Lefteris Adilinis writing in online magazine Newzup says that the negotiators on the Cyprus problem are trying, with the help of the UN, to come up with a formula that would satisfy both sides before the leaders of the two communities meet again on 2 September.

It seems that from the discussions that had taken place before the talks were suspended on 24 July, that Mr. Eroglu was unable to accept that the convergences, divergences and points on which the two sides are close be recorded in the same official document.

To overcome this obstacle, the Greek Cypriot side is considering putting forward the suggestion that only points of disagreement be recorded, which in any case will be discussed in an attempt to bridge the differences.

This would avoid having to record all the convergences and the points on which not much work is needed since Eroglu does not want to commit these in writing before the procedure of give and take.

The UN is also looking into it with the intention of submitting any ideas at the meeting of the negotiators on 26 August.

Meanwhile, Nicosia is beginning to realize that the hope that they and the US had that Erdogan would move quickly on Cyprus after being elected President of Turkey, is rather optimistic, as Ankara is involved in finding a successor for Erdogan as Prime Minister, and its relations with its neighbors are in a period of great turmoil. What’s more, more and more voices are being heard in Europe that they are finding it increasingly difficult to cooperate with Mr. Erdogan. This worries Nicosia, as it considers that Turkey’s approach to Europe is one of its main motivations in solving the Cyprus problem.

Things are fluids within the negotiating team as well. The Greek Cypriot team has got the impression that the Turkish Cypriot team is finding it difficult to agree even among themselves. Kudret Ozersay seems to have his own agenda, centred around his desire to be a candidate at April’s presidential elections in the north. He believes he has a strong chance to win, although it is acknowledged that if Eroglu stands he would get reelected. Ozersay’s ambitions are thought to affect the atmosphere inside the Turkish Cypriot negotiating team, even though Ozersay is keeping his cards close to his chest.