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OMENS NOT GOOD FOR NEW ROUND OF TALKS
By Stefanos Evripidou
Cyprus Mail
Feb 17 2010
NEGOTIATIONS between the two leaders are not resuming with the best
omens given the lack of unity on the domestic front, government
spokesman Stefanos Stefanou has said.
Speaking to London Greek Radio (LGR), Stefanou said the internal rift
created by EDEK leaving the government coalition only made President
Demetris Christofias' work harder to find a solution to the Cyprus
problem.
The spokesman noted that Christofias has agreed to meet with Turkish
Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat four more times before elections in
the north for all-day, intensified meetings on February 24, March 4,
16 and 30.
"The aim of these meetings is to discuss issues of the economy, EU
affairs, and property, and if there is time, guarantees and security,
as well as settlers," said Stefanou.
The two leaders have looked at all these issues in previous meetings,
with difficult issues like property being discussed 18 times so far,
he said, noting that the result so far was greater differences than
convergences on property. On the economy, there were some convergences,
until the Turkish Cypriot side retracted from its original positions,
he added.
Talat's spokesman Hasan Ercakica said yesterday that Christofias'
proposal for four more meetings was inadequate, highlighting that
the Turkish Cypriot side wanted more. He argued that Turkey and the
international community wanted negotiations to continue intensively,
adding that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had tried to convince
Christofias to do so in a recent phone call.
According to Stefanou, Ban called Christofias on Saturday and was
informed by the president on the four new meetings scheduled. Talat
also spoke to Ban via phone and reportedly thanked him and his wife
for their interest in the Cyprus problem.
In a letter to DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades last Friday, Christofias
argued that there was an "orchestrated effort" by some to portray
the Greek Cypriot side as being negative about the continuation
of talks. He highlighted that Talat's original request was for a
suspension of the talks in February due to upcoming elections in
the north. However, just days before the UN chief's visit to Cyprus,
Christofias said Talat requested that the talks continue after February
1. The president agreed and set four dates which would give the Greek
Cypriot side enough time to fully prepare for the full-day intensive
talks which could cover issues like EU affairs, the economy, property,
and possibly security and settlers.
"As you know very well, for his own election purposes, Mr Talat refuses
at this stage to discuss the issue of territory," said Christofias
in the letter.
The president clarified that he would not make unacceptable concessions
in the talks to get Talat re-elected, adding that in no way could
the Greek Cypriot side be blamed if he fails to do so.
At the weekend, Turkish Minister of State and EU Chief Negotiator
Egemen Bagis warned that Turkey would not sacrifice Cyprus for the EU,
blaming the Greek Cypriots for blocking progress.
"The EU process is important for Turkey, however, it is not as
important as to make us sacrifice Cyprus. Cyprus is a national cause
for all of us," he said.
He repeated the view that Turkey had succeeded in changing the
perception of the world without having to withdraw a single soldier
or give away any tract of land. Bagis claimed the international
community could now clearly see that it was the Greek Cypriot side
that was preventing a solution in Cyprus.
Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday in Qatar where the two
discussed the talks in Cyprus, the Armenian issue, terrorism and
Iran's nuclear programme. According to reports, the hotel meeting
was scheduled for 20 minutes but lasted an hour.
Talat is due in Italy today to meet with the Italian foreign minister.
He is expected to announce his candidacy for the 'presidential'
elections on his return from a visit to Spain between March 25 and 27.
The Turkish Cypriot leader yesterday hosted a lunch for the ambassadors
of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council at the
'presidential palace' in the north.
By Stefanos Evripidou
Cyprus Mail
Feb 17 2010
NEGOTIATIONS between the two leaders are not resuming with the best
omens given the lack of unity on the domestic front, government
spokesman Stefanos Stefanou has said.
Speaking to London Greek Radio (LGR), Stefanou said the internal rift
created by EDEK leaving the government coalition only made President
Demetris Christofias' work harder to find a solution to the Cyprus
problem.
The spokesman noted that Christofias has agreed to meet with Turkish
Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat four more times before elections in
the north for all-day, intensified meetings on February 24, March 4,
16 and 30.
"The aim of these meetings is to discuss issues of the economy, EU
affairs, and property, and if there is time, guarantees and security,
as well as settlers," said Stefanou.
The two leaders have looked at all these issues in previous meetings,
with difficult issues like property being discussed 18 times so far,
he said, noting that the result so far was greater differences than
convergences on property. On the economy, there were some convergences,
until the Turkish Cypriot side retracted from its original positions,
he added.
Talat's spokesman Hasan Ercakica said yesterday that Christofias'
proposal for four more meetings was inadequate, highlighting that
the Turkish Cypriot side wanted more. He argued that Turkey and the
international community wanted negotiations to continue intensively,
adding that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had tried to convince
Christofias to do so in a recent phone call.
According to Stefanou, Ban called Christofias on Saturday and was
informed by the president on the four new meetings scheduled. Talat
also spoke to Ban via phone and reportedly thanked him and his wife
for their interest in the Cyprus problem.
In a letter to DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades last Friday, Christofias
argued that there was an "orchestrated effort" by some to portray
the Greek Cypriot side as being negative about the continuation
of talks. He highlighted that Talat's original request was for a
suspension of the talks in February due to upcoming elections in
the north. However, just days before the UN chief's visit to Cyprus,
Christofias said Talat requested that the talks continue after February
1. The president agreed and set four dates which would give the Greek
Cypriot side enough time to fully prepare for the full-day intensive
talks which could cover issues like EU affairs, the economy, property,
and possibly security and settlers.
"As you know very well, for his own election purposes, Mr Talat refuses
at this stage to discuss the issue of territory," said Christofias
in the letter.
The president clarified that he would not make unacceptable concessions
in the talks to get Talat re-elected, adding that in no way could
the Greek Cypriot side be blamed if he fails to do so.
At the weekend, Turkish Minister of State and EU Chief Negotiator
Egemen Bagis warned that Turkey would not sacrifice Cyprus for the EU,
blaming the Greek Cypriots for blocking progress.
"The EU process is important for Turkey, however, it is not as
important as to make us sacrifice Cyprus. Cyprus is a national cause
for all of us," he said.
He repeated the view that Turkey had succeeded in changing the
perception of the world without having to withdraw a single soldier
or give away any tract of land. Bagis claimed the international
community could now clearly see that it was the Greek Cypriot side
that was preventing a solution in Cyprus.
Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday in Qatar where the two
discussed the talks in Cyprus, the Armenian issue, terrorism and
Iran's nuclear programme. According to reports, the hotel meeting
was scheduled for 20 minutes but lasted an hour.
Talat is due in Italy today to meet with the Italian foreign minister.
He is expected to announce his candidacy for the 'presidential'
elections on his return from a visit to Spain between March 25 and 27.
The Turkish Cypriot leader yesterday hosted a lunch for the ambassadors
of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council at the
'presidential palace' in the north.