They wouldn't know a posititve statement if it bit them

Most of the Greek Cypriot press and media covered the visit to the north of the head of the Turkish armed forces Yasar Buyukanit saying he had made “provocative” statements. Even Politis’ headline was that he had been ‘provocative’ adding that “the moment Buyukanit set foot on the island he made a point of sending out political messages, saying that the aim of the presence of Turkish troops on the island was to keep the peace.” Phileleftheros’ editorial criticises Christofias ' for being lukewarm and says how dare Buyukanit come to Cyprus at such a delicate time for the island.

Yet the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday echoed earlier statements by, saying that the Turkish army had provided security for the Turkish Cypriot people over the last three decades, and would continue to do so “until a fair and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem has been found”. “We came to Cyprus to make peace, and will remain here keeping the peace until a fair and lasting settlement is found,” Buyukanit had said adding that the Turkish army will withdraw from Cyprus if a solution to the Cyprus problem is found. He said, moreover, that he had full faith in Talat, saying that whatever shape a future settlement took, he was sure Talat would get it right, and furthermore be able to convince the Greek Cypriots of its necessary shape.

Only the Cyprus Mail covered the visit in a positive light, quoting a diplomatic source in Nicosia yesterday as having expressed pleasure at Buyukanit’s inference that the Turkish military would leave the island once Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots felt confident that the Turkish Cypriot community’s security concerns were taken care of. The source added that he could also see no strategic reasons why Turkey would want to maintain a military presence after a solution, saying, “In a modern context, countries can protect their strategic interests without the need to keep troops on the ground.”

Meanwhile Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou and Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami yesterday agreed on the titles for six working groups and seven technical committees that will lay the groundwork for a resumption of Cyprus talks, possibly in three months time. Iacovou said the groups would begin work on 7 April. The Cyprus Mail points out that it took them only two meetings lasting around two hours each to reach agreement.

The six working groups will include governance and power-sharing, EU matters, security and guarantees, territory, property and economy. The technical committees will focus on crime, commerce, cultural heritage, crisis management, humanitarian issues, health and environment. The technical committees are designed to tackle everyday concerns, while the working groups handle substantive issues of the Cyprus question.

An announcement from the UN outlined the exact titles of the groups and committees after the sides worked over the weekend to keep the wording as neutral as possible. “Subject to need, both advisers agreed to establish further working groups and technical committees, as required, in order to ensure that their respective leaders may be able to negotiate as effectively as possible on the full spectrum of issues to be discussed,” a UN statement said.

All that remained, Iacovou said afterwards, was to staff the committees. He said at the weekend that he did not want part-timers that would meet only once a week. The Presidential Commissioner said they did not know yet how many people would be on each committee but that it could be from one to ten members from each side. He said the complex problems for discussion would need specialists with past experience.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail in the north last night, Nami said he was very pleased with what he and Iacovou had achieved so far. “It's a very positive start, and it is taking place in a new spirit. I believe our work will continue in this spirit,” he said. “The meeting took place in a constructive and extremely cordial atmosphere. Mr Iacovou is a highly experienced man, and I have great respect for him.”The two aides are due to meet again tomorrow. It will be their last joint meeting with UN Special Representative Michael Molller who leaves his post from Saturday.

UNFICYP has completed its mine sweep of the Ledra Street buffer zone area, clearing the way for both sides to go in today to start clean-up work ahead of the expected opening of the crossing point.