Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed on Friday to meet again in three months to review the work of the working groups and technical committees dealing with aspects of the Cyprus problem, the results of which will be used to start negotiations under UN auspices for a solution.
The UN Secretary General's Special Representative in Cyprus Michael Moller, speaking after a meeting of the leaders of the two communities at his residence, announced that ''the leaders met on Friday in a very positive and cordial atmosphere and exchanged views on a number of issues, achieving a great degree of convergence.''

''They have decided to ask their respective advisers to meet this coming week in order to set up a number of working groups and technical committees, establish their agendas and also in the most expeditious way possible. In taking full responsibility for the conduct of future negotiations, the leaders have also agreed to meet three months from now to review the work of the working groups and technical committees and using their results to start full-fledged negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary General of the UN,'' Moller said.

He added that that ''the leaders have also agreed to meet as and when needed, prior to the commencement of their formal negotiations.''

''They have also agreed that Ledra Street will, as soon as technically possible, open and function in accordance to the established practices at other crossings,'' he noted.

Moller said ''the issue of the opening of the Limnitis crossing and other crossings is also on the agenda for the coming meeting of their advisers.''

Replying to questions, President Christofias said ''the statement read by Mr. Moller is very clear,'' adding that ''the coffee was Cypriot coffee.''

''So, I look forward that the committees and the working groups will start their work immediately after the meeting of our advisers and we shall have in these three months time results which are going to help both of us to resume the full-fledged dialogue under the auspices of the Secretary General,'' he added.

President Christofias pointed out that ''we have to be optimistic, anyway, and we agreed that we shall work together in good will, so let us see what is going to happen in this time and I hope, really, that Mr. Talat and Christofias, as old friends, will not become enemies.''

Replying to questions, Talat said the wording of the statement is ''very clear'' and added that ''we are establishing the working groups and technical committees and we set a date to start the negotiations, so this is a new era we are starting for the solution of the Cyprus problem.''

''Our target is to find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem as soon as possible,'' he added.

To other questions, Talat said that ''in three months we will meet according to our agendas, if it is needed.''

''We are not avoiding any meeting coming together in these three months,'' he added.

Asked if they disagreed on the process to be followed, Talat said ''we did not enter these discussions.''

''We just discussed the procedure for the time being. We did not mention any basis, any parameters regarding the solution. We just discussed the process and we agreed on the process,'' he added.

At this point, President Christofias said ''we want to underline what we agree and not anything we disagree,'' adding that ''we shall examine any possible disagreements together, so the message we want to express is the message of what we agreed to do.''

Replying to questions regarding a date for a settlement, Talat said ''the Turkish Cypriot side's position is the end of 2008 but the situation now is as soon as possible.''

To a remark that efforts to reach a settlement have been going on for the past 40 years, President Christofias said ''we have tried for the past 40 years and I do not want to say that because we tried over the last 40 years we shall solve the problem yesterday.''

''We shall try our utmost in order to come to an agreed solution to the interests of the Cypriot people of both communities as soon as possible. This is our ambition,'' he added.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Former President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos and Talat agreed on 8 July 2006, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of UN official Ibrahim Gambari, to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both contributing to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Statement of the two community leaders - Full text

The UN Special Representative of the Secretary General and Chief of Mission of UNFICYP Michael Moller read the following statement of the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities in Cyprus, following their meeting Friday.

The full text of the statement is as follows:

"I am very pleased to announce the following on behalf of the two leaders.
The leaders met today (Friday) in a very positive and cordial atmosphere and exchanged views on a number of issues, achieving a great degree of convergence.

They have decided to ask their respective advisers to meet this coming week in order to set up a number of working groups and technical committees, establish their agendas, and to do so in the most expeditious way possible.

In taking full responsibility for the conduct of future negotiations, the leaders have also agreed to meet three months from now to review the work of the working groups and technical committees, and using their results, to start full-fledged negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The leaders have also agreed to meet as and when needed prior to the commencement of their formal negotiations.

The leaders have also agreed that Ledra Street will, as soon as technically possible, open and function in accordance with the established practices at other crossings.

The issue of the opening of the Limnitis crossing and other crossings is also on the agenda for the coming meetings of their advisers."

Britain, US welcome meeting

The outcome of Friday's meeting of Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat is an important first step towards negotiations, aiming at Cyprus' reunification, British High Commissioner in Nicosia Peter Millett has said.

Invited by CNA to comment on the meeting, Millett said in a written statement that he welcomes the outcome of the meeting between the two leaders and their agreement to launch the procedure of working groups and technical committees immediately.

"This is an important first step towards negotiations, which we hope, will lead to the reunification of the island," the British High Commissioner said and added: "it is a clear demonstration that the two leaders have the political will to tackle the issues and work for a solution."

Millet also underlined that "the UK stands ready to support this process working with the United Nations and together with the P5 (five permanent members of the UN Security Council).''

The US also has welcomed the outcome of the meeting, saying it is ready to lend its full support to their efforts to reach a negotiated settlement.

"We welcome the positive outcome of today's (Friday) meeting between President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, and wish them great success in their efforts to reach a comprehensive Cyprus settlement under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, a statement issued by the US embassy in Nicosia said.

Furthermore, the US embassy reiterates that "as always, we are ready to lend our full support for these efforts."

A crossing point to and from the island's northern Turkish occupied areas is set to open at Ledra street, one of the capital's main commercial streets, in the heart of the city, following Friday's announcement by the two leaders.

Government welcomes outcome of Christofias-Talat meeting

The Cyprus government has welcomed the outcome of Friday's meeting between the leaders of the island's two communities, saying that there is still a lot of hard work that needs to be done.

The government also announced that George Iacovou, Presidential Commissioner, and Ozdil Nami, adviser to the Turkish Cypriot leader, will meet on Monday.

Commenting on a meeting Friday between President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Government Spokesman
Stephanos Stephanou pointed out that "due to the importance of the work that needs to be done, Iacovou and  Nami will meet next Monday, in order to agree on the number and the agenda of the working groups and technical committees" to be set up.

The spokesman reiterated that at the meeting, "the two leaders have agreed to set up working groups and technical committees, which, through their work, will pave the way for the start of comprehensive negotiations towards the solution of the Cyprus problem, after a three month period and according to the conclusions and the outcome of the work of the technical committees and the working groups."

Replying to questions, Stephanou recommended a comparison between Friday's agreement and a UN-brokered agreement in July 2006, in response to criticism that there is no reference in Friday's statement to the July agreement.

''It is enough for someone to read and compare the July agreement with the outcome of the today's meeting," he said.

In addition, Stefanou pointed out that "the 8 July 2006 provides discussion at the level of technical committees and working groups, on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and those that concern substantive issues".

"Therefore", Stefanou concluded, "everyone can draw his own conclusions".

EU Commission welcomes meeting of leaders in Cyprus

The European Commission welcomed Friday the meeting between Cyprus President Demetris and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, adding that the EU is ready to support negotiations on a political settlement.
Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn stated in Brussels on Friday that "the European Union welcomes the successful meeting between the two leaders and their agreement to take full responsibility for the future conduct of the negotiations".

He commended their decision to meet again in three months' time to review the work of the working groups and technical committees and, using their results, start full-fledged negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary General of the United Nations and added that "the EU stands ready to support the negotiations and both parties".

Rehn congratulated the leaders on the "important symbolic decision" to open the Ledra Street crossing point, to and from the island's northern Turkish occupied areas, forty-four years after it was closed, and noted that "the Commission has made more than 100.000 euros available to UNDP to carry out works at the crossing point."

The Enlargement Commissioner concluded his statement by saying that he looks forward to walking across the Green Line at Ledra street himself in the near future.

US encouraged by Cyprus community leaders' meeting

The United States has welcomed the outcome of Friday's meeting between the Cypriot President Demetris
Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

"We welcome news of today's (Friday) positive meeting between Republic of Cyprus President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot Leader Talat," US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said.

Speaking at his daily press briefing, McCormack pointed out that the US is encouraged by the leaders' agreement to rejuvenate working group meetings immediately, and to resume full-fledged negotiations in three months in pursuit of a comprehensive settlement that would reunify the island into a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

"We congratulate the leaders on their agreement to reopen, as soon as possible, the Ledra Street crossing in Nicosia, after over forty years of closure," the spokesman said, and added: "Such steps build requisite confidence between the parties to advance toward a comprehensive settlement."

Finally, McCormack pointed out that "the United States will continue its full support for this constructive dialogue, and for efforts by the United Nations to forge a just and lasting Cyprus settlement."

Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met Friday at the residence of the UN Secretary General's Special Representative in Cyprus Michael Moller.

The two leaders agreed to set up a number of working groups and technical committees, which they will deal with aspects of the Cyprus problem.  They also agreed to meet again in three months to review the work those groups and committees. Their results will be used to start negotiations under UN auspices for a solution.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Source: Athens News Agency

^
top

print this page   send this page