Committees start and ECHR ruling on property

The 13 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot working groups and technical committees the thirteen committees and groups convened on Tuesday. Mr Iacovou said that “everything went well” and it was a meeting “for acquaintance purposes”. He added that hey began discussing the issues, reviewed them and expressed their initial positions and expressed the belief that from now on things will go rather quickly. He also said UN representatives were present in the meetings of all the groups and committees. The next meeting will be held on Thursday 24 April, and the meeting after that is scheduled for next Tuesday, after the Orthodox Easter on 27 April.

The Cyprus Mail reports that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that Turkey must pay €835,000 to the family of John Demades for the loss of use of his Kyrenia property. Failure to do so within six months will result in an eight per cent interest rate on the total amount for every year delayed. Turkey has three months within which to appeal the decision otherwise it must pay the amount within three months. greeted the ruling as “The judgement is of great importance because it reaffirms [Titina] Loizidou and [Myra Xenides] Arestis’ ownership and only deals with the compensation for loss of use of property and not expropriation,” the family’s lawyer Achilleas Demetriades said.According to the ruling: “…displaced Greek Cypriots, like the applicant, cannot be deemed to have lost title to their property and the compensation to be awarded by this Court in such cases is confined to losses emanating from the denial of access and loss of control, use and enjoyment of his property.” The judgement specifically refers to the cases of Loizidou and Xenides-Arestis. In those cases the ECHR awarded the applicants £230,000 plus costs and €850,000 plus costs, respectively. Loizidou finally received payment in 2003 of more than £640,000 (due to interests added to the total amount because of Turkey’s failure to pay up when the judgement was finalised in 1998) and the Xenides-Arestis case is still pending. In this case, the ECHR awarded Demades €785,000 for lose of use of property, €45,000 in moral damages and €5,000 for expenses. This was almost double the amount Turkey had put on the table several years ago and did not involve expropriation, Demetriades said. Although Demades himself died in September 2006, his family decided to reject Turkey’s offer and to stand firm with its claim.“This is significant because we can claim the properties and only get compensation for rents lost because we believe that in light of a Cyprus problem solution we will get those properties back,” Demetriades said.Xenides-Arestis’ property is in the fenced off city of Varosha and Demades’ is in a military zone; in case of a settlement, the army would pull out, effectively freeing up the property for return to its rightful owners.

Demetriades said the ECHR had also accepted the Greek Cypriot side’s property evaluator, Andreas Pantazis, rather than Turkey’s evaluation of the Kyrenia residence. The latter had attempted to undervalue the land, claiming the property was located in a military zone and used by the Turkish army and thus was of lower value. “This trilogy of cases concludes the first cycle of property compensation cases,” he said. From now on, he said, it could be taken as a given that the ECHR recognised Greek Cypriot refugees as the rightful owners of their properties and that what it dealt with was compensation for loss of use in rents of that property since 1987. In 1987, Turkey started accepting claims from individuals on property issues at the ECHR. The year coincides with Ankara’s formal application to join the European Union.“In the past, something like this would have been unheard of. Now what is interesting about this case is that it’s as if we are now talking about property as if it was in Nicosia,” said Demetriades.Furthermore, in its judgement the court did not deal with the “property commission” set up in the occupied areas. “This matter will be taken on in eight cases that have so designated and for which Turkey has been given until June 30 to provide its comments on the set up in the occupied areas and its effectiveness,” he said.“Also the court has frozen all remaining cases other than 32 which have already been declared admissible and for which the pleadings have closed and we are awaiting judgement,” Demetriades concluded. Meanwhile in a separate case, the ECHR yesterday formally accepted the friendly settlement between Greek Cypriot refugee Mike Tymvios and Turkey, without making reference to the north’s “property commission”. Ankara will pay Tymvios $1 million in exchange for his land.

Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said that the government would be studying all the implications of the decision of the ECHR on the Mike Tymvios case together with its legal advisor, the Attorney General. Regarding the Demades case he said the ECHR is going in the right direction. The spokesman added that separate aspects of the Cyprus problem, as would be the property issue, cannot be solved on their own through the courts. The Cyprus problem as a whole can only be solved through comprehensive negotiations leading to a mutually acceptable settlement.

Kibris reports that T/C legal circles evaluated the decision of the ECHR on the Mike Tymvios case as “a great defeat for the Greek Cypriot administration” and as acceptance of the “Immovable Property Commission” by the ECHR. Halkin Sesi’s headline reads “Slap to the Greek Cypriots by the ECHR”. The paper notes that legal circles said that with this decision the ECHR accepted the “Commission” as a local remedy and it is important in that it sets a precedent.Turkish Cypriot papers also cover the ECHR ruling on the Demades case.

AKEL and DISY hit back at criticism of the government’s choice of appointees to sit on the working groups and technical committees. DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades said the appointees were highly capable individuals and able to handle the issues at hand. Replying to criticism that they consisted of supporters of the Annan plan, he said people could not be judged based on their position “in a democratic procedure, which, according to the regulations of democracy, had the right to take a positive or negative position in the referendum”. What was important was whether they could be of service to the country, which he believed they could.AKEL spokesman Nicos Katsourides said every party had a right to its opinion. But he agreed that it was wrong to judge individuals based on positions they’d taken in the past. He also said it would be hard to find an individual who had not taken a stand during the April 2004 referendum and that public figures in particular had to do so on such a critical issue. He also pointed out that a number of people who had been advisers or participants under the previous government were also involved now. House president Marios Karoyan said he had reiterated DIKO’s reservations regarding the appointments at a meeting he had yesterday with President Christofias. Nevertheless he said what counted was that none of the 13 teams would do anything with which Christofias disagreed. “The president is the one who will control, examine and know what policy will emerge from these working groups and what they will take,” he said.

Editorials
The Cyprus Mail says that the supporters of the previous president’s sterile policy on the Cyprus problem are finding it increasingly difficult to come to terms with the progress made in the few weeks since Christofias election. They are confused about what stand to take about the developments, after four years of extolling Papadopoulos’ negativity and the resultant lack of movement, all of which they unanimously blamed on the Turkish side. This world of certainty, which provided the anti-settlement politicians with an easy and undemanding professional life, has been shattered by Christofias’ determination to make things happen. The new approach has been welcomed by the international community and re-kindled the UN’s interest in undertaking a new peace initiative, something the former Papadopoulos cheerleaders cannot openly oppose without running the risk of being lambasted as champions of partition. Nor can they attack the president for agreeing to the establishment of the technical and working committees after they had spent the last 18 months calling for the implementation of the July 8 agreement. Now the leaders of DIKO, EDEK and EUROKO have got what they wanted, they cannot exactly turn around and criticise Christofias for satisfying their demand. They needed to find new ways of attacking the procedure so first they objected to the three-month time-frame. Then, they objected to the composition of the committees, claiming that the majority of the G/Cs heading the committees were “sworn promoters and zealots of the Annan plan”, as if this constituted a crime. The president’s choice of people for the committees and working groups was excellent. Most are proven professionals and technocrats who will, hopefully, engage in imaginative problem-solving rather than negotiating a settlement. They will try to find ways of bridging differences on a range of issues with their Turkish Cypriot counterparts and their proposals would be made available to the two leaders once negotiations begin. The committees will try to find compromises for long-standing differences as well as come up with suggestions, at technical committee level, for co-operation on a range of matters. Only if Christofias did not want any progress would he have appointed members of DIKO and EDEK on the committees. But times have changed. The era of negativity, when we were pursuing stalemate or deadlock, belongs to the past. And the party leaders who pursued the Papadopoulos philosophy must realise that in the new era there is no place for moaning minnies.

Alecos Constantinides writing in Alithia says that Diko and Edek have so far disagreed with all of Christofias’ handlings and wonders how long they will continue to participate in the government. They’ve disagreed with the 21 March agreement for not mentioning the 8 July agreement. They disagreed with the opening of Ledra Street because it sent wrong messages abroad and they disagreed with the composition of the working groups and committees. What worries the leaders of the two rejectionist parties is that there are now serious prospects for a solution and reunification of the island. Will they withdraw from the government or will they remain in order to tackle the problem from within? The decision should be made by the leader of the rejectionists Tassos Papadopoulos who managed during his term to make the danger of a solution of the Cyprus problem and the reunification of the island recede into the distance.

Columnist Hasan Hasturer writing in Kibris says that whileTalat was unable to gain the sympathy of the Greek Cypriot community as a man of peace thanks to G/C propaganda which portrayed him as a second Denktash when in fact it was Mr Papadopoulos who with his intransigence was the second Denktash, in contrast Christofias has made a very good start. He has established contacts with T/C NGOs and never hesitated to give a positive response to their requests for meetings. Mr Christofias knows what he is doing. He will try to reach the Turkish Cypriot community through establishing warm relations with T/C NGOs. He has already started doing so.

Criticism answered

Politis says that they government is trying to play it down over the criticism it has been getting as regards the composition of the technical committees and working groups as being made up mainly of supporters of the Annan plan. Governenment Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said that harking back to the past does not help the effort to break the deadlock in the Cyprus problem. “Now that we have entered a new period for the Cyprus problem and are embarking on a new effort for a solution, we have left the past behind”, he said. He added, however, that the work that will be done will be on the basis of the set positions of the G/C side as laid out by President Christofias.

The paper says that the criticism came mainly from Diko, Edek, Evroko and the Greens, parties that had all supported Tassos Papadopoulos. Marios Garoyan, House President and leader of Diko, said that certain people shouldn’t have been chosen, not because they aren’t entitled to be or aren’t sufficiently qualified, but because they had in the past been political appointees and that sends wrong messages, especially as regards the stand they took during and after the referendum. Edek’s vice president Marinos Sizopoulos said “certain people chosen may not perhaps possess the basic resistance needed in order to negotiate and achieve a better result”. The President of Evroko, Nicos Koutsou said that the people chosen were clearly involved in the “YES” platform and had clear views on the Annan plan, while the President of the Greens, George Perdikis said anyone can see that there are people there with clear political leanings”. Disy vice president, Averof Neofytou said his party does not wish to judge the choice of people but that what matters is the work that is produced and that they would judge on the outcome. Akel said the selection was balanced with people experienced in their subject and that in the final analysis they will all be working under the guidance of President Christofias. Mr Iacovou echoed this statement by saying that the committees would all be working directly under his guidance and that noone could express a personal opinion. He said the subject matter and guidelines had been given at a meeting held on Saturday. Meetings will start on Tuesday. Iacovou added that their role was purely preparatory and they would not be conducting negotiations. “Things are very well organised and under control”, he said.

Moreover, the T/C daily Volkan publishes all the names of the people on the technical committees and working groups and says that most of them supported the Annan plan and were trained by foreign powers at bicommunal seminars.

Politis says that the rejectionist camp by criticising the composition of the committees and working groups is trying to bring back the separation of the population into the “YESes” and NOs of the referendum days, and is thereby trying to deprive the former of the right to take an active part in the political life of this country. They are throwing doubt on a quarter of the population which includes highly educated and experienced people. What bothers these sad piners of divisiveness, is not so much the people chosen but the possibility that things may well lead to a solution. Because they can’t accept that things were achieved in less than a month that they didn’t manage to achieve in almost two years ie the implementation of the 8 July agreement. What they are called upon to answer today without any digressions is: sirs, do you or don’t you want a solution?

An editorial in Alithia refers to editorials in Phileleftheros that the Cyprus problem cannot stand another deadlock, that another deadlock would be fatal. The writer says the Cyprus problem has withstook years of deadlock, why not a few more? Phileleftheros says that the reason is becaue another deadlock will make the current situation a de facto solution. Alithia recalls Tassos Papadopoulos’ position that we shouldn’t worry about a deadlock because that would be the next best solution for all of us and also recalls previous articles by Phileleftheros which said that the G/C have proved that they can survive and prosper without a solution. So why are they worried now? Have they perhaps reached that conclusion as a result of the last four years of deadlock and the negative developments that accompanied them?

An article in Alithia refers to the various fears expressed that the Annan plan is coming back. The writer quotes Diko member Antigoni Papadopoulou as expressing it best when she said “The Annan plan is floating in the air along with the dust from Africa” (Cyprus has been suffering under a dust cloud). But who said the Annan plan is coming back? We’ve heard noone say any such thing. The only ones who are concerned are Garoyan, Antigone and the Simerini writers. Someone must tell them not to worry it isn’t coming back. And in any case what are they really worried about? Are they afraid that if the satanic plan does come back, this time we will accept it?

Sunday papers

Makarios Droushiotis in Politis says that the good climate was disturbed this week by Christofias’ interview in Simerini and Talat’s reaction that it is the G/Cs who must convince that they want a solution. Still they managed to overcome the blip and launch the negotiating process. The T/C side is particularly pleased at the composition of the committees. A source close to Talat told the paper that Christofias’ selection strengthened his conviction that he genuinely wants to get to the end. The writer says that at their meeting on 21 March Talat told Christofias we are the leaders who can reunite Cyprus. If we don’t succeed then partition will be final. When he saw Christofias’ eyes brim over, he was convinced he would work for a solution in all honesty. Why then their public sparring? The reason is, he says, that what lies behind it is that they disagree as to Turkey’s role in the talks. Christofias believes Talat should free himself from Turkey’s embrace, whereas Talat’s position is that the Turkey of today is very different from that during the Ecevit-Denktash period. He says we need Turkey in order to solve the Cyprus problem and the Turkish government is honest when it says that the solution to the Cyprus problem is urgent. We had their full support in 2004 and we still have it today, Talat says. Apparently Talat had also asked Christofias not to make any statements requesting the T/C side to differentiate itself from Turkey. It isn’t necessary, a source told the paper, a) because Turkey does support the new effort, b) we need Turkey for a solution, and c) clashing with Turkey and the army now would be unproductive. The source admits that the moves Christofias made such as inviting T/C trade unionists to the Presidential Palace, his statement that G/C bear responibility for the collapse of the Zurich agreements in 63, his statement about returning to Kyrenia under T/C rule and his appointment of a T/C on the Board of the English School, go a long way towards contributing to the good climate, however, there is no chance that the T/Cs will separate themselves from Turkey before a solution. The G/Cs have managed to separate themselves from Greece, but they have a recognised state and economic independence. The T/Cs are totally dependent on Turkey both economically and diplomatically. They cannot ask us to separate ourselves and keep us isolated as well, the source said. Talat believes Christofias is wrong. Maintaining good relations with Turkey is essential in order to reach a solution and the T/Cs’ relations with this particular Turkish government are impeccable. That’s why Talat reacted to Christofias’ comments even though he truly believes that together the two of them can reach a mutually acceptatble solution, one that the Turkish government will support. The only danger is if Erdogan is overthrown, which is why he is urging the G/Cs to hurry up.

Dionysis Dionysiou refers to the slogan “I don’t forget” that has been used on the G/C side since 1974 and wonders what we didn’t want to forget. Clearly, the occupation of our land, the 200,000 refugees, the presence of Turkish troops. But perhaps in the end we did forget something. Perhaps our memory has been selective. Perhaps we forgot the period before 1974. We forgot that we destroyed the state we had created with the T/C. We forgot the hard times the T/Cs went through in their enclaves without water, electricity, dignity. Basically we forgot what didn’t suit us. We G/C forgot our racist behaviour against 18% of our people. The T/C forgot the pain they caused to 200,000 of their compatriots. G/C forgot that the first country to violate the Treaty of Guarantee was Greece with its coup and focused only on Turkey. The T/C forgot the second invasion wave in August 74 which sent the message that Turkey didn’t just want to restore constitutional order but was here to stay as an occupying force. Today we are faced with the prospects of a solution. Perhaps our last chance. Although it won’t be easy because all these years we have learned to think negatively and fearfully, perhaps we should try and think differently now.

Yiangos Mikellides asks, supposing Talat and Christofias do manage to reach a solution in the end, how after all these years of poisoning our people will the people accept it? When 40% won’t even go across to the north. The people must start being told the truth otherwise partition will be unavoidable unless something drastic happens to change the media.

Sevgul Uludag in an article in Politis describes her trip to the memorial in Dali for
Dervish Ali Kavazoglu and Costas Mishiaouli. The bus was full of T/Cs from Morphou, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Nicosia and they met up with hundreds of G/Cs. She wonders if there is anyone who doesn’t know about Kavazoglu. He was a progressive figure amongst T/C in the 50s who stood up against the divisive tendencies of those days. He was an activist far ahead of his time. He wrote in newspapers, worked for the PEO trade union, was a communist and of course was quickly on the TMT’s “death list” and had to disappear in 1958. He managed to survive until 1964 living in hiding amongst the G/C. He was a member of Akel’s central committee although he was against Akel’s policy in favour of “enosis” (union with Greece) just as he was against the policy of the T/C leadership for “taxim” (partition). He was a true Cypriot, one who put the interests of Cypriots above all else, and would pay for it with his life, being killed by friends of his who he drove to meet together with Mishiaouli. They died in each other’s arms. So much destruction on this island, yet there is renewed hope. Kavazoglu and Mishiaouli have not been forgotten. Sunday in Dali has shown this to me clearly, she says. I came to Nicosia, laughing, remembering, loving everyone I met there, old faces, new faces, Greek Cypriots readers of mine who spoke to me in Turkish. In the end Kavazoglu’s dream didn’t die, so we can all work a little harder in order to achieve an island where the interests of Cypriots come first.

Pambos Charalambous in Alithia says that Christofias’ choice of people to sit on the committees shows he is committed to a solution. If rejectionists had been chosen to sit on the committees noone would have been convinced that the G/C side wants a solution. Some people have criticised his choice as being a going back on his pre-election promise not to bring back the Annan plan. It’s not a question of revival of the Annan plan but whether we want a solution or not.

Simerini’s front page article says that 6 out of 10 G/C believe that a solution is possible and that the prospects today are better than ever. Over 55% agree with the government’s decision to open the Ledra Street crossing point, while 37% thought it was wrong.

Savvas Iacovides in the same paper wonders why the British are such ardent proponents of Christofias’ position of “a solution for the Cypriots by the Cypriots”. The obvious answer is that they don’t want to burn their fingers again after the rejection of the Annan plan on which their fingerprints were clear for all to see. The more cunning answer is that they know full well that a solution cannot be found for the Cypriots by the Cypriots without Turkey’s consent. But what will happen if there is deadlock in the talks? Will the British let the opportunity slip away thereby causing problems for its own interests? We cannot exclude the possibility of drastic anglo-american intervention in that eventuality, not so much in order to help the Cypriots, but in order to help Turkey.

Phileleftheros says that the UN will follow “salami tactics” in its approach to the negotiations, with bits of the Annan plan being presented for discussions without it being named as such. The paper also says that the Turkish side will come to the talks with hardline positions, red lines, and delaying tactics. It says the positions they will present will be prepared by the Turkish Foreign Ministry that go even beyond the Annan plan so as to give the impression that they are seen to be making concessions.

Phedon Nicolaides, a Professor at the European Institute of Public Administration, Maastricht and Visiting Professor at the Cyprus International Institute of Management, in an article in the Sunday Mail gives suggestions as to how Christofias and Talat should conduct their negotiations:
1.They should be aware that they will not satisfy everybody and they will be criticised and denounced by those whose interests will be sacrificed for the broader benefit of each community. If they cannot tolerate criticism, they should stop now.
2. They need to prevent critical voices from becoming a chorus of dissent. They have to manage public opinion and prepare it for concessions, some of which are bound to be painful by emphasising the positive effects of a settlement and show the tangible benefits not just the need for peace and reconciliation. They need to include people on the teams with fresh ideas because prejudices create blind spots.
3. They need to keep the public informed. They should be given a sense of ownership of the results.
4. Too much information on sensitive issues is counterproductive. Naturally, all those who fear that they will lose out will take pre-emptive action.The two leaders should commit themselves to the principle that no one will be penalised and those who end up bearing the brunt of any concessions will be compensated.
5. They should go for easy wins first.
6. They should not place themselves in an impossible time schedule. They should give themselves ample time to do their work properly, but towards the end when negotiations will become more difficult they should set binding deadlines.
7. They should not be tempted to “screw” the other side and extract maximum concessions. If they do that they will make it even more difficult for the other side to secure consent from its people.
8. The negotiations are bound to get stuck at some point. They need to think at the outset what they will do when they reach an impasse eg they may request mediation by an independent party.
9. They should commit themselves to support whatever agreement they reach.
10. They should be willing to take a risk. If they like their jobs too much, then they are not the right persons for this kind of negotiation. Risk, however, brings rewards. They may lose their jobs, but if they do it right they may also secure a place in history.

Loucas Charalambous writing in the Mail and Politis says Christofias is totally unjustified in stating that the Cyprus problem will not be solved “if Turkey does not change its stance”, before the peace process agreed has even started. Nor is he justified in stating now that, “if there is no substantive progress at the committees, I will not meet Talat.” He is undermining the procedure before it has even begun. A sensible person would have given a chance to the procedure and if at the end of the three-month period he was not satisfied with the work done, say so then. If Christofias believes that an anti-Turkey statement every few days secures him a certificate that he is no less patriotic than Tassos Papadopoulos, which he can show to his government allies Karoyan, Colocassides and Omirou, he is deluding himself. He must understand that he simply cannot pursue a settlement and at the same time keep the political heirs of Papadopoulos and Dr Lyssarides happy. These are mutually exclusive objectives. Christofias needs to get serious and exercise some restraint when speaking publicly, before his behaviour creates a permanent rift with Talat. Unless, he is pursuing the same objective as Papadopoulos – no solution – through different means.

The Sunday Mail’s “Coffeeshop” cannot understand why the bash-patriotic disciples of the deposed Ethnarch and defenders of our national dignity in DIKO and EDEK are giving comrade presidente such an easy ride on the Cyprob. The comrade has done everything that their omniscient leader had refused to do because it would be nationally disastrous and they have still not gone on TV and radio to report his deficient patriotism to the people: he opened Ledra Street without sorting out the buffer zone question, accepted a watered down version of the July 8 agreement, discarding all the Tassos safeguards that ensured the committees would never have got anywhere if they were ever set up, and, worst of all, agreed to start settlement talks in three months’ time. So why is the duet not protesting, why is it not warning us about the impending disaster, why is it not exposing the presidente’s national treachery to the people?Perhaps their apathy was caused by the unexpected departure of the Ethnarch. True, they have lost their leader who used to tell them what to say in public, but surely they can call his political office and seek advice. I cannot believe that comrade presidente has bought Marios’ support for the sell-out of the Repulic to the Turks by giving him the House presidency. Marios is just too patriotic to put his personal advancement above the interests of the country and too loyal to betray the proud legacy of the Ethnarch for a public post. As for Yiannakis, there is no way he would sacrifice the national interest for the two crummy ministries given to his party, one of which is agriculture. Whatever the reasons, our establishment is deeply disappointed that in our country’s hour of need two of its most fearlessly patriotic party leaders are behaving like spineless yes-men, toadying to a presidente hell-bent on bringing back the Satanic plan and sharing power with the Turks. They could not even bring themselves to say a bad word about the leading role taken by our bad demons the Brits in the peace efforts, another radical departure from the Ethnarch’s policy. Remember how our Tassos had announced that the Anglo-Americans would be prevented from calling the shots on the Cyprob and he would insist that the UN did nothing without having the approval of all permanent Security Council members? He had even coined a new phrase – “Did you ask the Chinese?” Well nobody is asking the Chinese or the Russian anything and the Brits have been allowed by comrade presidente to run the show on their own. He is showing a hell of a lot of trust in the country he used to call our bad demon, whose support for a settlement must make every right-thinking Greek Cypriot – not just the journalists of Simerini – suspicious and wary.The only patriotic stirrings we heard in the last week related to the comment by UN Under-Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe, who had said that settlement talks would be based on past agreements, UN resolutions and peace plans. This was taken to mean, quite rightly, that the A-plan would be back on the negotiating table, sparking some restrained hysteria, which barely lasted a day. But the idea that the negotiations will not be based on the A-plan is one of those myths promoted by the presidente that you choose to believe if you have been made House president or your party has been given a couple of ministries.

Negotiations officially launched

The negotiations for a solution of the Cyprus problem were officially launched yesterday in a ceremony in the UN area at the old Nicosia airport led by Acting Head of the UN in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar, who said the inaugution was, like the opening of the Ledra Street crossing, “one of many markers on the road to reconciliation”. She added that “when you look… at the heads of the technical committees and working groups… you see the reason for this optimism. They are the evidence of the commitment and determination of the two leaders, Mr Christofias and Mr Talat to reach a comprehensive settlement”.

Iacovou and Nami, the representatives of the two communities' leaders, both shared Spehar’s sense of history and optimism. Iacovou said: “As I look to the coming week, I cannot but feel a sense of elation. I also feel a certain sense of history. Our work could be, and indeed we hope will be, the real beginning of a solution to the Cyprus problem. The two leaders expect us to develop ideas on which they can base their direct negotiations under the auspices of the U.N. Secretary – General”.He urged the negotiating teams to regard their opposite numbers “not in any kind of confrontational spirit, but as fellow-workers with a common cause” namely a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality as provided by Security Council resolutions in a country of peace and prosperity for all its people.Nami was also upbeat saying that “what could not be achieved in 20 months has been achieved in 20 days”. He admitted however that forming the groups and committees was “the easy part”, the “new challenge” was “much more ambitious”. “Together we have to achieve what could not be achieved in 44 years and reach a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus issue”. This would only be possible if both sides “change our ways” and “start thinking as a team and not as rivals”. “Learn to hear the interests while listening to positions,” he urged, concluding that “getting emotional, angry, intransigent will be luxuries we cannot afford”.

The official list of committees and names of leaders are as follows:

WORKING GROUPS
Governance and Power Sharing Headed by: Andreas Mavromatis and Hilmi Akil
EU Matters Headed by: George Vassiliou and Erhan Ercin
Security and Guarantees Headed by: Sotos Zakheos and Fazil Can Korkut
Territory Headed by: Alekos Siambos and Ahmet Erdengiz
Property Headed by: Erato Marcoullis and Hasan Findik
Economic Matters Headed by: Michael Sarris and Vargin Varer (standing in for Hasan Ali Bicak)TECHNICAL COMMITTEES
Crime and criminal matters Headed by: Andros Kapardis and Hakki Onen
Economic and Commercial Matters Headed by: Dionysis Mavronikolas and Hasan Kilic
Cultural Heritage Headed by: Takis Hatzidemetriou and Ahmet Erdengiz
Crisis Management Headed by: Marios Lysiotis and Dogan Sahali
Humanitarian Matters Headed by: Symeon Matsis and Sadettin Topukcu
Health Matters Headed by: Charis Charalambous and Asaf Senol
Environment Headed by: Kostas Kadis and Mustafa Alkaravli

The committees and working groups will start work on Monday.

Savvas Iacovides in Simerini says the Annan plan is about to be cemented. He goes through the list of names of people on the technical committees and working groups pointing out all the ones who were in favour of the Annan plan – starting with Toumazos Tsielepis, who he says was the main orchestrator of the plan, and naming Sotos Zakheos, Takis Hadjidimetriou, Michalis Sarris, Praxoulla Antoniadou (who was even the author of a recent study by the famous PRIO that promised each of us thousands of euros), Michalis Attalides, Simeon Matsis, Eratou Mrkoulli, (even though she was Foreign Minister under Tassos she supported the Annan plan), and not forgetting George Vasiliou, arch Annan supporter. He concludes by asking who does the government think it’s fooling when it tells us the Annan plan is history? The Annan plan is obviously coming back poste haste to be cemented.

Names announced

The Government has announced the names of the Greek Cypriot heads of the working groups and technical committees as follows:
Working Groups
1. Governance and power sharing: Andreas Mavrommatis
2. EU Matters: George Vassiliou
3. Security and Guarantees: Sotos Zackhaeos
4. Territory: Alecos Shiambos
5. Property: Erato Marcoullis
6. Economic Matters Michalis Sarris
Technical Committees
1. Crime and Criminal Matters: Andros Kapardis
2. Economic and Commercial Matters: Dionysis Mavronicolas
3. Cultural Heritage: Takis Hadjidemetriou
4. Crisis Management: Marios Lyssiotis
5. Humanitarian Matters: Symeon Matsis
6. Health Matters: Charis Charalambous

Toumazos Tselepis is expected to help co-ordinate the meetings under Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou.All the members of the committees and working groups consisting of around 50 technocrats convened at the Presidential Palace for a briefing by President Christofias ahead of Friday’s first ceremonial meeting.

Politis says that Christofias’ desire to ensure that the committees and working groups on the Cyprus problem are productive is reflected in his choice of people chosen to lead the committees. They all satisfy his criteria of having acute political judgement, sufficient experience, being tolerant to the opposite point of view and able to handle disagreements, while at the same time being experts in their field. The paper says that Christofias told them he expects hard work, positive proposals to bridge gaps and lead to solutions, total blackout, patience and tolerance for opposing opinions.

Disy welcomed the start of the work of the committees and groups and said that they view it with guarded optimism. Edek expressed its doubts as to their composition saying since political persons and officials had been chosen, representation should have been broader.

Meanwhile, reports in the Turkish Cypriot press say that there has been criticism in the north at the fact that the Turkish side has not announced the names of the Turkish Cypriots who will be participating in the technical committees and working groups. Volkan reports that the chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP), Tahsin Ertugruloglu reacted at the fact that the names are being kept secret and called on Talat to show transparency.

The Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou announced that Christofias and Talat will be meeting again on 7 May at a social function organised by G/C and T/C parties.

The spokesman also said that the government is considering ways to prepare public opinion for a bizonal,bicommunal federation and stressed that society must know what a solution will mean both in theory as well as in practice. “This is something we have a duty to do and will try to do”, he said, and which, as President Christofias had pointed out, was something past governments had failed to do. “A solution”, he added “would bring about a change in the lives of Cypriots and so they must be prepared for it”.

An editorial in Alithia says that while the public debate in other countries revolves around a plethora of issues, in Cyprus we are just concerned with one thing – the Cyprus problem. Without wishing to denigrate its importance and our desire to see it solved, it does however hold us back and we should also deal with other issues.

Savvas Iacovides in Simerini under the headline “Who is paying for unification? It’s you Greeks, you suckers”. He refers to a letter he received from a reader who says that one only has to read the Annan plan to know who will pay, and without doubt it is the Annan plan that comrade Christofias has in mind. That’s also what the PRIO report which presented the Annan plan in a favourable light said and that’s what they’re trying to do now, by presenting another favourable report which practically says that we will all be eating out of golden spoons in the event of a solution and will practically conquer Turkey economically! He says ruefully we are heading for another Turkification and the vehicle taking us there is being driven by the new ‘linovamvakoi’ that have sprouted up in recent years.

Committees ready to start

UNFICYP announced that the heads of the technical committees and the working groups will start their work on Friday 18 April. "The representatives of Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have, after a series of meetings, decided on the agendas of the six Working Groups and seven Technical Committees”, it said. The process will begin with a brief ceremony.

The UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe briefed the members of the UN Security Council, in New York, on his recent visit in the region and the outcome of his meetings in Nicosia, Athens and Ankara. Speaking to the press after the briefing, Mr Pascoe said he gave the Security Council “a fairly optimistic report” and noted: “All of us recognizing that there are many-many difficult issues out there that have to be resolved but at this point the working groups are being set up, the process I think is being quite good and we’re looking forward to them getting into the various parts of the substance and the issues next week. So I hope the process is moving forward”. Invited to say if 2008 would be “a year for Cyprus”, the UN official said “Well, my sense of this is that I think the entire world would be delighted to see Cyprus move forward on its negotiations and we would like to see this settled as soon as possible. I’ve always thought that we have to give these things time to work but I will very much like to see this Cyprus issue settled just as soon as possibly can be”.

An editorial in the Cyprus Mail says that the only way to limit the damage done by the media and the hard-liners in both communities who are opposed to any compromise is for the leaders of the two sides to avoid engaging in the customary war of words and public blame game. Unfortunately this has not been the case and in the last few days the exchanges between Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat appear to be getting out of control. All that these unnecessary exchanges achieved was to provide the opponents of a settlement with ammunition to attack the peace process. The two leaders should perhaps take a look at the responsible and constructive way their two aides, Ozdil Nami and George Iacovou, have been conducting themselves during their ongoing discussions for the opening of Ledra Street and the setting up of the technical committees. They have set an example of how the representatives of the two sides should behave, avoiding any statement that could be construed as antagonistic and telling the media that differences which delayed agreement on specific issues would be resolved. And neither has used the media to gain an advantage over the other. If anything, Nami and Iacovou have shown how talks should be conducted when both sides want to achieve a result. It is a shame that their bosses are incapable of following the shining example their aides have set.

Andreas Paraschos writing in Politis praises the Minister of Education who in an interview to the paper said that school children should understand the importance of reuniting Cyprus. He adds that perhaps a big step towards better understanding between the two communities would be introduce the teaching of Turkish in primary schools (and Greek on the other side), so that in ten years or so we can have a generation that can communicate in both languages.

Alecos Constantinides in Alithia refers to all the recent comments about a solution being by the Cypriots for the Cypriots and wonders who on earth was preventing us all these years from reaching a solution? One could even assume that it was the UN, and that if left to their own devices the Cypriots could have done it better. But even now when we say that, we don’t really mean it, because we are dying for the UNSG to appoint the right staff and start working. No, it’s not the UN’s fault, or the foreigners fault that the Cyprus problem hasn’t been solved yet.

Savvas Iacovides in Simerini says that the Turks have managed to get the existence of a border into the collective consciousness of G/Cs. It’s got them to indirectly acknowledge the existence of the pseudostate and by presenting their passports are in reality asking for permission to go and see their own houses. Even the visiting Czech Prime Minister the other day thrice mentioned ‘borders’ and the ‘TRNC’ and put the Turkish invasion down to a internal conflict. Even EU officials have recently been talking of ‘borders’. The Turks know how to exploit everything, politically, diplomatically and as PR. Just think of the word ‘isolation’. Words are like loaded guns. And they are killing us. And our leaders are whistling nonchalantly.

Positive messages abound

President Christofias has said he expects consistency from Britain. He told the British Prime Minister’s special envoy Joan Ryan who is currently visiting Cyprus that he also expects it from other parties concerned such as Talat and Turkey. He said he had a good meeting with Ms Ryan who he has known for 15 years, as someone with close contacts with the Cypriot community in the UK, and expects that Britain would play a positive role.

In an article in Politis before arriving on the island Ms Ryan said she will be coming with a renewed sense of optimism and that this year is a true opportunity to end the partition of Cyprus. She said the main purpose of her meeting was to meet with a number of people and listen to their point of view. “My basic aim is to see how the UK can help them reach a just and lasting solution”, she said.

Politis says that the subject matter for the committee on security and guarantees has also been sorted and work could start by the end of the week. The paper says that the Turkish side did not want to discuss Turkey’s rights of intervention but that Nami and Iacovou managed to find a formula that satisfies both sides without preventing the G/C side from raising the issue of guarantees.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris reported yesterday that Talat has made a tough statement against Christofias in response to a statement by the latter that Turkey should change its policy in Cyprus. Christofias told the UN and the EU: “In order to change the policy of Cyprus the attention must turn to Turkey. If the policy of Ankara does not change the way to the solution will not be able to open. The solution must envisage ending of the occupation and the colonisation and demilitarisation.”

Talat told Bayrak that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side have exerted a great effort for the solution of the Cyprus problem and there is no need to prove this. Mr Talat added that while at first Christofias approached the solution plan positively, he changed afterwards and carried out a campaign for its rejection. Therefore, he added, the Greek Cypriot side is the one which should prove that it wants a solution, not Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side. “I believe that first he must explain the reasons for rejecting the plan after deceiving the UN, the whole world for months, for years by saying that they would vote ‘yes’ to the plan, by creating this image until the last day and changing policy the last day. Furthermore, today he should prove that he has now changed his policies truly wants a solution”, he said. Moreover Halkin Sesi also says “Christofias’ statements poison the climate” and reports that Talat reacted strongly to Christofias’ accusations against Turkey “who spoke like Papadopoulos”, saying that such statements only poison the climate. The paper concludes that yesterday the Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan visited the UK and held a meeting with his English counterpart David Miliband as well as a surprise meeting with the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said the G/C side cannot understand Talat’s reaction in criticising Christofias’ vision of a solution for Cyprus. In an interview to Simerini Christofias has simply said that the G/C side remains committed to a bizonal, bicommunal federation which both sides had accepted through the high level agreements of ’77 and ’79. “If Talat is concerned about statements that poison the atmosphere perhaps he should look at whether some of his own statements help create a good climate”, he said.

Politis’ editor Andreas Paraschos in his column in the paper refers to an interview that Christofias gave to Simerini in which he said we should be ready for a solution which will be a bizonal, bicommunal federation, something that the people had not been prepared to accept in the past. He says this is the first time that a President of Cyprus has realised that preparation of public opinion is necessary for a solution to be accepted, the only problem is that this is going to be just as difficult as solving the Cyprus problem. It means confronting all the various nationalistic and populist myths and it means telling people some hard truths. It means acknowledging that the G/C community has committed crimes against the T/C community and it means getting rid of all the rhetoric such as “all refugees must return to their homes”, or “our borders are in Kyrenia”. Can all refugees return to their homes? Can our borders be in Kyrenia? It depends. Truth is not one-dimensional. Christofias said the other day that we can return to Kyrenia – under T/C rule. To do so, however, we must accept that we will live together with the T/C in peace under the same federal roof and that on the one side the T/C will rule.

Coffeeshop in the Sunday Mail wonders who would have thought a couple of months ago that Mehmet Ali Talat would have been going for a morning stroll in Ledra Street? This latest act of provocation by the Turkish Cypriot pseudo-leader, just when the climate had improved, would never have occurred if the Ethnarch was still mismanaging water resources. But the defender of our national sovereignty has gone and Ankara’s jumped-up little puppet seized the opportunity to violate the buffer zone and invade the free part of the capital, making the expansionist intentions of his military masters crystal clear. He thought he would fool us with this crude public relations stunt and his false smile, but every single Ledra Street shopkeeper knew he was just surveying the territories he would be ruling over, once our naive comrade presidente signs the new version of the Satanic plan, which will be brought back in a few months. And before anyone accuses me of being a miserable kodjakari and failing to see the positive side of the crafty Ottoman’s walkabout, I would like to ask why he brought a small army of secret, pseudo-gorillas in dark shades, posing as his bodyguards, with him? This was a flagrant violation of the buffer zone, UN resolutions, the Human Rights Charter, the High Level Agreements and Shengen and showed utter contempt for the sovereignty of the internationally recognised People’s Republic of Kyproulla. I have to say that our establishment was very disappointed to learn that Talat bought a Mikis Theodorakis CD during his Ledra St tour. Theodorakis’ music makes you want to march to Eleftheria Square, holding a red flag, to listen to an anti-occupation speech by Dr Faustus Lyssarides - not the healthiest of impulses. Overjoyed to report that our former Ethnarch is not sitting at his political office sulking about losing the elections. On Wednesday he was one of the three ex-presidentes who attended the first National Council meeting under the comradely chairmanship of the new presidente. His main contribution to the meeting was to enquire, which side had control of the 30 metres of the buffer zone running between Kykkos St and Ermou St on the Ledra St crossing. He said the agreement had not clarified this point. But who cares, apart from Tassos, who is in charge of 30 metres of land when everyone is allowed to use it and there is no soldier in sight. The guy should donate his brain to science after he’s gone.

Loucas Charalambous writing in both the Sunday Mail and Politis said that if there is one thing really new in Cyprus in the last 50 days, it must be the encouraging messages for the future of our small country that are being sent from both sides of the Green Line, not just the number, but also the loudness and source of these messages. Something has drastically changed since Tassos Papadopoulos packed his bags from the Presidential Palace. Positive messages abound eg when Ferdi Soyer said about the Apostolos Andreas monastery: “The monastery does not belong only to the Greek Cypriots, but it is a piece of Cyprus’ history"; or the statement by DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades, who said that “we live under the same sky”.

Slowly but surely

Developments in the Cyprus problem are going along smoothly, Christofias said today after a meeting of the National Council, an advisory body on the Cyprus problem. He said he did not encounter any reactions from any of the Council members as regards the way he had handled the issue.

The National Council was attended by Nicos Katsourides and Andros Kyprianou from Akel, Nicos Anastasiades and Averof Neofytou from Disy, Marios Karoyian and Giorgos Kolocasides from Diko, Yiannakis Omirou and Vasos Lyssarides from Edek, Dimitris Syllouris and Nicos Koutsou from Evroko, and Giorgos Perdikis and Dinos Paspalides from the Greens. Also present were former Presidents Tassos Papadopoulos, Glavcos Clerides and George Vasiliou, the Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou, Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou, Government Spokesman Marcos Kyprianou, and Minister without portfolio Titos Christofides.

In statements afterwards Disy leader Nicos Anastasiades said he hoped the National Council would be upgraded. Diko president Marios Karoyan said the meeting was “creative”. Edek president expressed concern as to progress in the Cyprus problem and over the opening of Ledra Street but said Christofias had the support of all parties. Glavcos Clerides said that at last there was a better climate but that it was too early to say if they were on the right road. This would become clearer when Christofias and Talat meet again.

Meanwhile George Iacovou and Ozdil Nami met yesterday morning for two and a half hours and again for several more hours in the afternoon continuing their work on setting up the committees and working groups on the Cyprus problem. Speaking after the meeting, Iacovou said everything was set for five of the groups, and the remainder of the work would be done before the end of this week. “We have made good progress but we are not finished. We hope to do so by Thursday,” Iacovou said. He said the delay was because he and Nami had not had the opportunity for enough meetings in recent.

Politis reveals that the two sides were unable to agree on the wording of a joint communique to form a guideline for the committees to start their discussions because the T/C side wanted to include reference to the Anan plan which was unacceptable to the G/Cs. The paper also says that constitutional expert Toumazos Tsielepis will have a supervisory role to play in the discussions, will work closely with Iacovou and will also sit in on the meetings of the National Council. Later he will also be on Christofias’ negotiating team. As a member of Akel, the paper says, he will be the only partisan participant int the work of the committees as most of the other participants will be civil servants.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe, who is on a tour of the region, and European capitals, to gauge the temperature for a possible resumption of Cyprus talks before the summer, was in Ankara yesterday where he held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan on the Cyprus issue. There were no statements after the meeting. He returns to New York on Friday to report back to the UN Security Council and to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Winds of change

The UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Lynn Pascoe had constructive meetings on the Cyprus issue in Athens, on Monday with the Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis and other senior ministry officials.

“We had very fruitful talks with Ms Bakoyannis about Cyprus. We both agreed that there is a very good chance to proceed and we must find a way to help. We will work together in order for procedures to be accelerated. We will co-operate firmly with Greece, Turkey and all the people in Cyprus to reach a solution,” Pascoe told reporters.He said the UN’s role was to see how it could help. A spokesman for the Greek Foreign Ministry said Bakoyiannis had reiterated Greece’s position favouring well-prepared negotiating procedures.

Pascoe then flew to Ankara for meetings with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and other officials before joining the Secretary-General’s delegation in Moscow on Wednesday. Pascoe’s meetings in Greece and Turkey are a continuation of his consultations that began last week on how the UN can best assist reunification efforts in Cyprus. Moreover, according to Greek TV, US State Department Under- Secretary responsible for European Affairs, Mr Matthew Braiza is expected in Athens on Thursday and will be discussing the Cyprus problem.

Meanwhile the papers report that thousands of people have gone through the Ledra Street crossing over the weekend, mostly Greek Cypriots. The Cyprus Mail puts the figure at close to 20,000 adding that although Ledra Street is the fifth crossing point to open since the Turkish Cypriot side lifted restrictions in 2003, it is the only opening that has engendered such an amount of movement. Numerous reports also that many Greek Cypriots who had not crossed to the north before were doing so now.The Mail says quotes former Nicosia Mayor Lellos Demetriades, as saying it was not only the convenience and the sentimentality that was making people cross over for the first time ever. “A change has happened,” he said, referring to the recent elections when the Cypriot people “told someone and his entourage” to “go away”. “Suddenly overnight, there were smiles all over the place,” Demetriades said. “So this changed the whole atmosphere and we also got a President who is acting responsibly. People realise there is a change in the climate.”

A delegation from Disy also crossed to the north this morning for talks with the RTP led by party leader, Nicos Anastasiades. Politis reports, however, that Talat asked to postpone the dinner he was due to have at Anastasiades’ house and it was set for some time in May. The paper says Disy returns to the National Council tomorrow after an absence of more than two years, even though its conditions haven’t yet been met but in view of Christofias’ willingness to discuss things. It adds that Disy and Movement of Free Citizens led by Takis Efthymiou have decided to merge. Moreover, according to rumours, Disy is eagerly awaiting to see the names of people making up the various committees and working groups on the Cyprus problem. It seems that parties were asked to submit names, even though Disy’s mouthpiece, Alithia denies this on a front page article. The party was annoyed that Akel did not support the candidacy of Christos Pourgourides to the vice-presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, promoting their man Andros Kyprianou instead. Their feeling is that Disy’s support is not carte blanche but they should give something in return.

An editorial in Simerini says the paper says it is not amongst those who swallowed all Christofias, Talat and the Turkish army’s PR tricks who are constantly trying to persuade us how strong the new wind of change blowing in Cyprus is. We are filled with sadness and concern whenever we see all the ironic things happening, from the happiness on the faces at the new trick that the Turks are planning for us, the warm friendship between the mayor of Nicosia with the pseudo-mayor, the celebrations of the naïve that the wall has fallen (forgetting that the occupation is still there and looking forward to all the shopping), to the delighted shopkeepers at doing a roaring trade. It says there are difficult times ahead like those in 2004 where the survival of Hellenism in Cyprus depended on the outcome of the referendum. The trick didn’t work then but the solution plan aimed at destroying the Republic of Cyprus and the setting up of a “constitutional guinea-pig” hasn’t left us. Our leaders still insist on the disastrous bizonal, bicommunal federation as a solution which would legalise the invasion and have the audacity to present compromise and concessions as being patriotic. We would prefer if the new wind hadn’t blown Christofias to power and that a more realistic president was in power, one who firmly adhered to principles based on the liberation of Cyprus not ‘reunification’. This new wind will confirm internationally that there are two entities in Cyprus that must be helped to reunite through the opening of other crossing points without getting rid of the Turkish occupation.

It's all a Turkish plot say the media

What exactly happened in the mini-crisis over Ledra street, Alithia wonders. Who exactly took the decision to shut it off? What made Christofias decide to get on the next plane and come right back from London? The paper says the situation was handled amateurishly, there was lack of clear communication with UNFICYP and all in all it was yet another case of “doping” public opinion. Contributing factor was the unclear status of the buffer zone and the vague agreement between Iacovou and Nami concerning the opening. The paper says that UNFICYP confirmed that T/C policemen entered the buffer zone requesting a group of peaceful demonstrators to remove themselves. It didn’t seem that they had orders from above to intervene nor that it was preplanned, but that it was an isolated incident. The paper says that positive things that came out of this crisis was that the T/C press did not connect the incident with Christofias but the blame squarely on Karoyan as acting President. The Turkish press had speculated that Karoyan had ordered the closure without Christofias’ permission and that was why he had cut short his visit to the UK to return to Cyprus. Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said yesterday: “I know about the rumours and they are nonsense.” Equally positive, the paper says, was that Christofias did not blame Talat but the Turkish army. However, this hardly contributed to the cultivation of a more positive public climate between the two sides, on the contrary it fuelled the usual prejudices whereby ‘news’ was fabricated out of nothing.

Makarios Droushiotis writing in Politis says that the Ledra street crisis was a symptom of the pro-Tassos members of Diko who are lying in wait for Christofias to make a mistake. Some have already expressed themselves publicly eg Nicolas Papadopoulos who accused him of giving everything to the Turks over Ledra Street and ignoring the 8 July agreement, and the vice president of the party, G. Kolocasides who called for all the crossing points to be closed. The dimensions that the Ledra street crisis took are a symptom of this underlying threat, and Christofias’ return was so that he doesn’t lose control of the handlings of the Cyprus problem. According to a well-informed source, Christofias was not aware of the decision to close the crossing point, nor would he have taken such a decision had he been on the island. A government source told the paper that he had handled much more difficult situations than this without creating a crisis or allowing the issues to be made public because the government’s aim is to break the deadlock without compromising on important issues. The writer says Christofias was informed over the closure when he landed in London and although he approved it and covered his colleagues, he wasn’t happy. In truth the appearance in the buffer zone of T/C policemen was a violation of the agreement, but it was preceded by the entrance therein of a group of G/C demonstrators calling for the opening of Limnitis. The UN are convinced that the issue was isolated and that it blew out of proportion due to the massive coverage given to it by the press broadcasting headlines such as: “violation of the buffer zone”. The UN feels while the G/C side may have been justified they overreacted and didn’t even consult with UNFICYP. If they had, and if the press hadn’t blown it up to the extent it did, none of this would have happened. The writer says that Christofias knows full well that there is a section on the Turkish side that does not want to see progress in the Cyprus problem. Likewise there is an equivalent section on the G/C side. Christofias does not want to give these people any ammunition. This is what he means when he talks of a ‘flexible’ policy, ie not to give any excuse to continue the deadlock. It is precisely this flexibility that cause the reactions of Diko with comments from certain quarters that he ‘gave everything’ to the Turks over Ledra Street. It seems, he says, that Nikolas Papadopoulos is trying to pressure Karoyan to take a side, which he is refusing to do because he doesn’t want to create a rift between his party and Akel. On the other hand he is trying to balance things with his rhetoric which is very similar to that of Papadopoulos. The latter’s silence these last few days is indicative.

Loucas Charalambous writing in the Cyprus Mail and Politis says verbal attacks on the Annan plan have been fashionable over the last couple of years. Some people are so fanatically opposed to it, they give the impression they would not accept any settlement plan that included a single sentence from the Annan plan. If this was just the view of the super-patriots of Phileleftheros, it would not be so bad, but the problem is that we hear the same sentiment from official lips. If we genuinely want to solve our problem, there is no other way apart from a brief round of negotiations, aimed at making some changes to this plan. It is the only comprehensive settlement plan ever formulated, and whatever else is proposed would be very similar. Only fools could believe that it is possible for there to be another, substantially different, plan on offer. The entire political leadership accepted this reality after the referendum – even Papadopoulos and EUROKO chief Demetris Syllouris. So how can the very same people who had been discussing “limited changes” until recently, now vilify the UN plan? How does this turnaround affect our trustworthiness? Are we deluding ourselves? Christofias must stop talking about “suffocating” time-frames, as we are the side in a hurry for a settlement. The Cyprus problem could be resolved tomorrow as long as we are prepared to take the necessary, bold decisions. If we are not ready to take the necessary, bold decisions and prefer engaging in word-games and slogans, even the year 3000 would be considered a “suffocating” time-frame.

Coffeeshop in the Sunday Mail says that our Ethnarch may have lost the elections and gone home, but his proud legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of journalists and politicians. Like true disciples, they have made it their sacred mission, now that he has departed from the front-line of politics, to spread his noble message of bad faith, suspicion, mistrust, confrontation, pessimism and pettiness. They did not have a moment’s rest in the last week, as they toiled night and day to keep alive the flame of negativity and in view of the planned opening of Ledra Street, which threatened to reverse the bad climate he had so caringly nurtured over the last five years. They did everything they could to rubbish the opening of the crossing, belittling the importance of the event. The opening was nothing to celebrate, while the Cyprob remained unsolved, they sternly reminded the weak and naive among us, just in case we allowed a positive thought to pass through our mind. The whole thing was a Turkish scam aimed at deflecting attention from the ongoing occupation and TV reporters were constantly spotting Turkish soldiers in the buffer zone before the opening and discovering encroachments on our territory. This orgy of total negativity was too much for former Nicosia mayor Lellos Demetriades, who rounded on the Ethnarch’s pious disciples on a radio show. They sounded like ‘kodjakares’ (old women), constantly moaning about their rheumatism and arthritis and making everyone feel miserable, he said.

Meanwhile Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou announced that the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem, will convene on Wednesday to discuss developments in the Cyprus problem, in what will be its first meeting since Demetris Christofias was elected in February. During the meeting, the President would call on the political parties to submit their views on how the body could be upgraded.

Crisis, what crisis?

The United Nations are responsible for the buffer zone and they are determined to ensure all agreements surrounding the opening of Ledra Street are maintained. The Cyprus Mail reports that this was confirmed in two meetings held by President Christofias yesterday, after his rushed return to Cyprus from the UK because of the incidents at Ledra street on Thursday night when the checkpoint was closed down for 90 minutes after Turkish Cypriot policemen were seen patrolling the UN-controlled buffer zone area. Part of the agreement to open Ledra was that the specific area could only be patrolled by UN soldiers.Christofias first met with the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, followed by a meeting with the UN Secretary-general’s special representative in Cyprus, Elisabeth Spehar.

Government spokesman Stephanos Stephanou denied that the President’s return meant that there was a crisis at hand. “There is no crisis, as some people maintain. The President merely wants to keep a close eye on things,” he said. He added that Christofias’ decision to cut his London visit short “was the responsible choice to make”, and said that there was no issue of snubbing the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown since no private meeting had been arranged between the two leaders. He stressed the need for a strict implementation of agreements regarding the opening of Ledra Street so no further problems arise. Stephanou added that Christofias had repeated the government’s will for the Ledra Street checkpoint to remain open, “the opening of which has justifiably caused joy to both Greek and Turkish Cypriots”. He also said that the Turkish Cypriot side had given assurances that certain conditions would be set to ensure that the agreements were respected.

During the incident, President Christofias was on a plane to London to attend a round table discussion on progressive government held by Britain’s Labour Party. However, upon being informed of the situation, he promptly returned to Cyprus and lined up meetings with ambassadors of the five permanent members of the Security Council and with UN representative Elizabeth Spehar to discuss the issue. His decision to return fuelled speculation over whether the President was happy with the way the incident at Ledra Street was handled and over the seriousness of the incident itself.According to the Cyprus Mail, the order for the closing of the street came from acting President Marios Karoyian who had first consulted Christofias, according to Minister of Justice, Kypros Chrysostomides. The Mail reports that Karoyian did not wish to make any statements on the issue.

Meanwhile the Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister, Turgay Avci, was emphatic that the area in which the Turkish Cypriot police had moved into was part of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. “Our borders are not under debate,” he said. “If the Greek Cypriots have a problem, then we can discuss it.”

Ledra street closes

Ledra Street was closed briefly on Thursday night due to “violations by the Turkish occupation army of the agreement”, according to the Cyprus government spokesman. The personal intervention of the UNSG himself to the two sides through his representative in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar was required before it could open again. The closure was caused by the appearance in the buffer zone of Turkish policemen and was announcd by the Minister of Justice Kypros Chrysostomides following instructions from President Christofias who was in London at the time but hastened to return to the island in order to “monitor” the situation. The Spokesman said Mr Iacovou would remain in London and represent the President at a round-table discussion on progressive governance and at meetings with the British Foreign Office.

Speaking on arrival Christofias said he hoped that this will be the last time such an incident occurs. He said he would be meeting with the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Ms Elizabeth Spehar and would also try to contact Talat, who he said, was not guilty of these violations.

Meanwhile people have continued to come and go along Ledra street without any problems since the incident.

According to the Cyprus News Agency, Talat called the events over Ledra street “an isolated incident”. He added that we shouldn’t try to point the finger at anyone in particular and claimed that it was a result of past attitudes under the Papadopoulos government who prevented the opening of Ledra street. He said the policemen had intervened because a demonstration was being held near a military area, something which is illegal. He said he did not expect the incident to be repeated. What’s more, he added, that there was no evil intent and that the group carrying out the demonstration wanted to gain publicity for its cause by attracting the attention of the media.

Simerini writes that Ledra street should have opened quietly and without any fanfare as befits a nation which is still under semi-occupation. Unfortunately all the celebrations create a wrong atmosphere and expectations both at home and abroad. All the foreign papers carried headlines to the effect that this was a historic day for cyprus, that “the Cypriots have pulled down the dividing wall”, and even Ollie Rehn, well known for the passion with which he embraces Turkey’s joining the EU expressed his enthusiasm. Not a word about occupation, occupying troops or refugees, or Turkey as occupier and invader. The opening of Ledra street offers nothing new and does not detract from the invasion. On the contrary, the reality is that the Turkish invasion is continuing and there is not a single indication that Attila plans to leave.

Ledra street opens

Ledra street, which was once the commercial thoroughfare of the Nicosia, opened at 9.00 am today for the first time in nearly 40 years. A small ceremony was held to mark the occasion in the presence of a large number of people, including many local and foreign journalists.

EU Commissioner Ollie Rehn in a statement welcomed the opening saying: “I am delighted that the two sides on the island have moved ahead with this important decision to open the Ledra Street crossing. It will bring direct benefits to those living and working in the neighbourhood of Old Nicosia. Even more important is the symbolic value of the opening. It shows the two sides on the island are ready to put aside the difficulties of the past and work together to bring a comprehensive settlement and reunification to Cyprus under the aegis of the United Nations. The European Commission will for its part, fully support both communities on the island in this task.”

While the main editorial in Phileleftheros welcomes the opening of Ledra street saying the more crossing points the better and that pointing to the symbolism of the event, elsewhere in the paper a couple of articles wonder what’s so good about the opening and why is everyone so ecstatic about it. If it’s contact between the two communities that’s been happening since 2003. The truth is that the majority of G/Cs has never been across to the other side or went once and then never again, that the so-called isolated T/Cs managed to triple their per capita income since then, managed to take advantage of the benefits of two states, that the only thing that benefited was increased commercial relations and not so much human relations, that the problems of the refugees multiplied. The most important thing about these last few years was that G/Cs began to accept the ‘realities’ that Denktash has for years been calling for – namley two states, two governments, two peoples, two religions. So if there are more pros than cons why doesn’t someone tell us what they are so we too can celebrate.

Another writer wonders if this is a step towards reunification or partition. The signs are not good. The Turkish army has shown that only if they approve can anything be done in the buffer zone. Talat’s spokesman has said he would increase ‘customs officials’ at Ledra Street. TRNC flags will be put up. Passports and ID cards will be checked. The creation of borders does not reunite the country, it divides it!

A palpable sense of momentum

Lyn Pascoe
The Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe, who arrived in Cyprus on Sunday to determine how the UN can help efforts to reach a settlement in Cyprus said he had “a very good visit”. “There is a very positive tone here in Cyprus at the moment, and a palpable sense of momentum. The two leaders have set their sights on achieving a fair and lasting solution, and I think Cypriots are right to have high expectations”. He said he was encouraged and would report back to the Secretary-General and the Security Council on his return to New York.

He told a press conference at the end of his visit that he hoped that the hard work that he expects would take place in the next three months would lead to talks aimed at settling the problem. He added that he finds there is enthusiasm and good will amongst all the parties involved.

He said he had come to the island mainly in order to find out how best the UN could help the process and that over the past few days he had had talks with very many people as to how they envisage their future together and feels very encouraged by what he hears. He realised that a solution would not be easy and that there were many issues that have been discussed many times some being productive, others leading nowhere. But he stressed that the UN would work on it and said these were things that the leaderships of the two sides could achieve. “It will require a lot of hard work and compromise, but I am confident in the end the two sides, with our help, can succeed”, he said.

Replying to questions he said that the UN was working closely with the EU and others interested in the Cyprus case. He said many previous negotiations and efforts have made clear what the main issues are and where the work needs to be concentrated. He said the main thing was that the gap should be bridged and the main exchanges are found in order to reach a package that both sides can support. He said that was their aim and what they will continue to work towards.
Asked about his efforts towards Turkey, Mr Pascoe said he had spoken with all the interested countries and all are enthusiastic to see progress and are showing good will. He said he would also be travelling to Athens, Ankara and Europe and would do all he could to promoted a settlement.

While in Cyprus, Mr Pascoe held separate meetings with the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, held talks with civil society representatives, with Greek and Turkish Cypriot political party leaders and also met with the advisers of the two leaders who are preparing the ground for full-fledged negotiations later this year, as well as with representatives of the international community in Nicosia.

Spokesman
President Christofias is flying to London on Thursday to attend a conference organised by Britain’s Labour Party and the Prime Minister Mr Gordon Brown, on progressive governance. While in the British capital Christofias will address a gathering of overseas Cypriots on Saturday returning to Cyprus on Sunday. The Government Spokesman said that he would be meeting the Prime Minister on the sidelines of the summit but clarified that this was not the official visit to Britain.

The Spokesman also announced the Ledra Street will be opening tomorrow morning at 9am.

European Court of Human Rights
The Cyprus Mail reports that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has endorsed a friendly settlement between Turkey and Mike Tymvios, a Greek Cypriot who swapped land with a Turkish Cypriot through the property commission in the north. “This means the friendly settlement has to be applied and Mr Tymvios will receive $1 million in compensation and land in Larnaca,” said Tymvios’ lawyer. Lawyer Achilleas Demetriades, who has a number of Greek Cypriot refugee cases pending before the ECHR, said he did not see any implications for existing cases.The previous government had tried hard to block this settlement from happening. Bankruptcy had led Tymvios to resort to the property commission when the government refused to accept property he had in the north as collateral for a loan. He was told repeatedly it was worthless as far as his estate was concerned.