Talks to restart

UN Special Advisor Espen Barth Eide has announced he expects talks on the Cyprus problem to resume after the Turkish Cypriot elections later this month, the Cyprus Mail reports.

Speaking after separate meetings with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, the Norwegian diplomat said they both agreed the “circumstances were now right” for the resumption of negotiations.

“I see no obstacle to a very early resumption of talks once the election process in the north of Cyprus is done,” Eide said.

“The stated reason why talks could not happen are gone, at least for the foreseeable future,” Eide said,”and that that makes it possible to prepare for the resumption of talks in a structured, results oriented and fast manner.”

He said Mr Anastasiades had informed him that, in view of the fact that the NAVTEX had expired and will not be renewed, and that there is no overhanging threat,  he was ready to lift the suspension of his participation in the talks and that he looks forward to engage in constructive dialogue with whoever emerges as the Turkish Cypriot leader after the elections in the north on April 19.

He said that both leaders had agreed to pick up from where they left off and called on all Cypriots to realize that this is a decisive moment, not only for political leaders, but also for everybody living on this island.

“I strongly feel that 2015 is going to be a decisive year,” Eide stressed. “The conditions are in place.”

He also stressed that while some Cypriots believe that their problems are other Cypriots, that’s fundamentally wrong. “The problem Cypriots share is the absence of a settlement which is one of the reasons why a lot of young people leave the island, why investments that could have happened are not happening, why the benefits of economy of scale cannot be reached to their full potential, and why it has been very difficult to prepare for this hydrocarbons phase of Cyprus history.”

He said it’s time to think strategically and not tactically, and not only at the leaders’ level but across all elements of society, and understand that this is an opportunity that has to be grasped.

“It is a window of opportunity. We do not necessarily talk of deadlines, but the window may not be open forever.”

“This country has to find a solution after 51 years. It’s possible. We have difficult months ahead, but there is nothing - I repeat nothing - in all the chapters that I know now quite well which I deem as unresolvable. 
Every single issue can be solved if there is will, if there is dedication, and if that will is sustained as we go through all the chapters and eventually bring in the international community in some kind of final stage,” he concluded.

Greek Cypriot response

Government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said the Greek Cypriot side was ready to withdraw its decision to suspend its participation in a bid to create the prospects that will allow a solution of the Cyprus problem through honest dialogue without threats and intimidation, according to the Cyprus Mail.

Christodoulides said talks could not start immediately in view of the elections in the north.

“In the meantime,” he said, “we will have the chance to verify the assurances Mr. Eide has conveyed” that Turkey would not repeat last year’s actions.

The spokesman said there was no written assurance from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

“He (Eide) brought a message from the Turkish government.”

The spokesman said progress in the talks, if any, would emerge at the negotiating table.

“That is where we will judge, that is where we will be able to say if there are prospects for a positive conclusion,” Christodoulides said. “We will work towards that direction that is our objective; political will is also needed, but also specific actions from the other side.”

Ruling DISY leader Averof Neophytou said dialogue was the only way of breaking the deadlock.

“Do we have an alternative? Do we have the capability of freeing our country through a different way?” Neophytou said, referring to the naysayers.

The DISY leader said the easiest thing was to say no.

“No to insolvency, no to foreclosures, no to the first haircut, no to dialogue, no to privatisations, no to reforms,” Neophytou said. “Yes, but it is high time the people who permanently say no to say what they propose instead.”

DIKO said resumption of the talks should not entrap the Greek Cypriot side further “in a vicious cycle of a fruitless procedure.” EDEK said the reasons why the Greek Cypriot side withdrew from the talks were still there. AKEL expressed support for the start of the talks.