GOODWILL FORWARD

repulsewarrior · Deputy Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 1765 Location: Canada

Convergence of views

‘If we had the same positions right from the start, the problem would have been solved before we began’

PRESIDENT Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday continued direct talks on the issue of the legislature.

The UN Secretary-general’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer said the two leaders will meet again tomorrow morning and that so far they were “making steady progress” on the issue of governance.

“This is an enormously important negotiation for the people of Cyprus and inevitably it’s going to take time and inevitably the negotiations are going to be difficult negotiations but they are making progress,” he said.

Asked to define what he meant by progress, the UN Special Envoy said: “There are points of convergence in the discussion, and as they reach points of convergence they are able to move on and there are obviously points of divergence as well and it’s the points of divergence that constitute the debate.”

Whether there was more convergence or divergence he would not say although some points of divergence will be discussed by the leaders’ representatives – George Iacovou and Ozdil Nami – on Friday in relation to the legislature.

“As you can imagine for any country governance and power sharing is an enormously important issue. This is a central issue. So it is hardly surprising that it takes a while and I think it is very important to be understanding and tolerant with that frankly. An expectation that you can just suddenly solve all of these problems overnight after so many years is unrealistic,” he said.

Discussions were held on the competencies of the federal government, on the executive, the role of the executive and how the executive was elected, he added.

Speaking to reporters following his seventh face-to-face meeting with Talat, Christofias explained that in a difficult negotiating process there is convergence of views but also differences.

“Consequently, it is no coincidence that we have authorised our aides to meet again on Friday to discuss issues on which final convergence can be reached,” he said.

Asked about the outcome of yesterday’s meeting Christofias said there had been convergence and divergence but like Downer refused to elaborate.

“If we had the same positions right from the start, the problem would have been solved before we began,” he pointed out.

Christofias said: “There must be convergence on the philosophy of the kind of state we want, on how unified, firm and functional this state will be and this is a topic we shall be discussing until the end.”

The president said the two leaders would not necessarily agree on everything before moving on to another chapter.

“Once we conclude the discussions on all the aspects of the Cyprus issue, then we shall go back to see what give and take we can achieve, where and how,” he said.

Meanwhile commenting on the negotiating process yesterday, UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said it was encouraging that negotiations were much better than in the past.

“The negotiation process has been, I think, encouraging. Both leaders have demonstrated very strong political will to resolve this long standing - four decade -issue through dialogue and a mutually acceptable formula. This is encouraging,” he said.

House president Marios Garoyian had a different take on the issue.

According to him only after a change in the positions of the as yet intransigent Turkish side could there be progress at the negotiations.

“Things are not encouraging, not because of the stance of the Greek Cypriot side but because the Turkish side continues to follow an intransigent and sterile stance,” he said.

If this changed there would be “substantive developments in the Cyprus issue”, he said.

Garoyian was speaking to reporters at Larnaca airport before leaving for an official visit to Armenia.

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008

repulsewarrior · Deputy Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 1765 Location: Canada

Downer: it’s all down to momentum
By Simon Bahceli

THE UN Secretary-general’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer said yesterday he still believed ongoing negotiations on finding a solution to the Cyprus problem would result in success – albeit more slowly than some had hoped.

“I think obviously the process will go into 2009 and as long as the momentum is sustained they can achieve a good solution in the end,” Downer said after a two-and-a- half-hour meeting between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat at the UN Protected Area in Nicosia yesterday.

Yesterday’s meeting was the eighth since fully-fledged negotiations were launched on September 3. Neither of the leaders made comments as they left the meeting, preferring to leave Downer to brief the press.

The ongoing peace talks have been fraught with difficulties, with Christofias and Talat frequently trading barbs via the media. Most recently, the Greek Cypriot leadership this week accused the Turkish Cypriot side of having a philosophical approach not compatible with the agreed federal setup of a future joint state. The Turkish Cypriot side responded by saying it was committed to a federation but one in which it could govern its own affairs. Earlier bickering focussed on the issues of Turkish military guarantees – something the Turkish Cypriot side says is non-negotiable – and whether a solution would mean a continuation of the existing Cyprus Republic. So far, none of these issues have been resolved. Indeed, yesterday’s meeting was the eighth focussing on the single issue of governance and power-sharing.

Despite the prevailing public feelings of negativity surrounding the negotiations, Downer said he remained optimistic, insisting that “the process is working quite well now. It is working a lot better than it did initially”.

Asked when he thought the two leaders and their teams would move on to the second item on their agenda, Downer said, “There is no particular time laid down for that but they made good progress on the judiciary and they are moving on Monday to discuss deadlock-resolving mechanisms, and I think you could hope they could get to property before too long”.

His comments were later echoed by Christofias, who agreed property could be on the agenda before the end of the year.

“Today, Downer is justified in saying that more progress has been achieved than before,” Christofias said.

“We have done well today, to a certain extent. Generally speaking, yes, we have taken some steps forward.”

Downer was at pains yesterday to focus on the more positive aspects of discussions so far, and stressed on the need for the two sides to “maintain momentum”.

“The word that I want to really stress here is momentum and need to maintain momentum through the process. And I think there is momentum,” he said. He added, however, the belief that it would be counter-productive to set what he described as “artificial deadlines” or time limits to the negotiations, saying that such an approach “would actually make the process more difficult rather than easier”.

Asked how momentum would be maintained into the coming year Downers said, “I think that is a question of the political will of the leaders,” adding: “I have spent a lot of time with them now, I have come to know them and they are people who do have the political will to find a solution”.

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008

repulsewarrior · Deputy Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 1765 Location: Canada

Property issue on talks agenda ‘by end of year’
By Marianna Pissa

THE PROPERTY issue will be discussed towards the end of this year or early next year President Demetris Christofias said after yesterday’s meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat

“Towards the end of the year or the beginning of next year, we will inevitably move on to the property issue, which is not easy – although the principles are in place…. I am sure we will deal with several issues that will call for a lot of discussion,” Christofias said.

Returning to the Presidential Palace after his ninth meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday afternoon, Christofias said the meeting went “rather well”.

“It was a friendly exchange of views.”

The President was firm when asked why there was no discussion on a deadlock-resolving mechanism as planned.

“We discussed other issues. We have engaged in consulting more experts on judiciary issues, and you realise that this week was not an easy one for me due to other commitments,” he said, referring to his departure for Russia today.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting in the UN controlled Nicosia airport yesterday, UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer said the talks were held in a convivial and very positive atmosphere.

Asked if there were any discussions about deadlock resolving mechanisms, Downer said the two leaders discussed exclusively the independent institutions, the offices of the Attorney General and the Auditor General and also some discussions about the Supreme Court.

As for the agenda of the next meeting, he mentioned that they have to see about it. “But I think there will be some discussion next time about the deadlock resolving mechanisms”.

The two sides put forward their positions on the issue, outlined the positions they agree on and agreed to continue the discussion at the working groups, comprising experts from both communities.

Asked to determine when this chapter will come to an end to move on to the next one, Christofias said: “There is still a lot in this chapter which is under discussion. We might even retrieve some issues that we have had different views on.

Christofias said weekly meetings have been arranged for the next three to four weeks.

The next meeting of the two leaders is planned for November 25.

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008

repulsewarrior · Deputy Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 1765 Location: Canada

Talks dissolve into row
By Jean Christou

CYPRUS talks began yesterday with a fierce 20-minute row after Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat unexpectedly read out a statement criticising President Demetris Christofias` trip to Russia.

According to sources close to the talks, it was a long letter and angered Christofias to the point where the two leaders engaged in a shouting match for between 20 minutes and half an hour before eventually getting down to business.

The Turkish Cypriot side has been complaining about the Moscow trip since Christofias visited Russia a week ago.

Still annoyed when he returned to the Presidential Palace after the talks, Christofias said the negotiating table was not the time or the place to read out Turkish Cypriot gripes about his trip.

He said while the talks had not gone badly in respect of discussions on federal crime, and in fact agreement had been reached, he was “dismayed” over Talat’s reading of the statement.

“I have already replied to Mr Talat orally but I have reserved the right to respond in writing,” said Christofias.

“I am sorry but this is not an issue on the agenda of the talks. Mr Talat had every right to make his statement but not in that particular place, at the UN premises. These issues are not on the agenda of the talks. These are not issues which we agreed to discuss before the UN.”

He said he had also asked the UN not to become involved in the spat over the Russia visit, even though Talat had “chosen to air his complaints within the framework of the UN”.

“I told them it was a debate between myself and Mr Talat,” he added.

Christofias said Talat had no right to question the sovereign right of the Republic of Cyprus to conclude agreements with other countries, and rejected all the criticisms dished out by Talat in his statement.

“We will continue doing this until we reach a solution of the Cyprus problem, until the future Federal United Republic of Cyprus concludes agreements with other states,” he said.

Christofias did not rule out that Talat’s move might have been linked to Turkey’s ongoing attempts to scare off vessels exploring for hydrocarbons on behalf of the government.

“I am saddened by Mr Talat’s actions and I associate them with Turkey’s provocations,” he said but added that ultimately everything would hinge on the outcome of the negotiations.

“It is true that these things cause tension. It is also true that one needs nerves of steel,” said Christofias.

“I invite Talat to come together and solve the Cyprus problem and all those issues will be solved automatically, with a just, viable and functional solution.”

Speaking of the negotiations proper yesterday, Christofias said they had reached an agreement on what constituted a federal offence.

“We also discussed the issue of federal police, where we have noted convergence but also deviations. We will continue the discussion”, he added.

The next meeting between the leaders will be held next Tuesday.

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008

repulsewarrior · Deputy Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 1765 Location: Canada

In his latest report on Cyprus, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon says the Cyprus negotiations process continues in a good direction and the two leaders are in ‘perfect unison’.
Mr Ban has also offered the extension of the UN Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus-UNFICYP’s term of duty for another 6 months which he said still plays a significant role due to the lack of a comprehensive settlement.
The current term of duty of UNFICYP expires on 15th December.
In his Cyprus report he presented to the UN Security Council, Ban said efforts aiming to provide a solution to the Cyprus problem have entered into a new phase in the last 6 months.

He said the launch of negotiations with the aim of finding a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus on a bi-communal, bi-zonal basis together with political equality of the two sides is encouraging.

That reflects the political bravery, vision and the committment towards a solution- which Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias share, Ban said.

`I very much appreciate the political leadership of two leaders` he added, encouraging them to take the negotiations process forward.
The UN Secretary-General noted that the common vision is the guide of the negotiations process which now continues with discussions on power-sharing.

Explaining his observation over the latest developments, Ban stated that the two sides explain their own positions and negotiate them in a clear and constructive way- which is a sign that the process continues in a good direction.

Stating that the main framework of the solution of the Cyprus problem and the parameters set already are very well-known, the Secretary-General said it is an advantage to have a wide range of past studies on the Cyprus issue.

He added however that there are difficult issues that need to be resolved and it is natural for the two sides to have differences.
The UN underlined the need for taking up negotiation issues within the framework of a possible agreement.

`This process requires a patient and persevering approach and I have no doubt that the two leaders will stay committed to this process with their regular meetings` Ban stressed.

He said what is waiting for Talat and Christofias as partners and not as rivals, is to maintain the acceleration at negotiations.
Reminding that the final agreement reached between the two leaders will be put into simultaneous referenda in both sides, Ban emphasized the need for the two leaders not to disregard the political aspect of the process in that sense.

Ban called on both sides to explain their peoples the benefits of a solution which will be based on a `win-win` understanding, in many fields such as economy, politics and security.

`This is what needs to be done if they want a settlement. However making complaints and maintaining negotiations through media are contradictory to that goal` he stressed.

Ban also called on the two sides to ease the way for the civil society to actively participate in discussions on the future of Cyprus.

_________________
bayrak

repulsewarrior · Deputy Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 1765 Location: Canada

repulsewarrior · Deputy Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 1765 Location: Canada

repulsewarrior · Deputy Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 1765 Location: Canada

repulsewarrior · Deputy Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 1765 Location: Canada

repulsewarrior · Deputy Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 1765 Location: Canada