Cyprus MATTHEW BRYZA SAYS HE IS HOPEFUL FOR A SOLUTION IN CYPRUS

halil · vip

The US-deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza says he is hopeful for a solution in Cyprus by the end of 2009.
He has yet expressed a cautious optimism towards a settlement by the end of this year, as he said the most difficult issues concerning the nature of the Cyprus problem will again be tackled at the end of the process.
Avoiding to give a certain deadline for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Bryza said the solution process cannot go forever.

The US-deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza held a press conference in the buffer zone today, to evaluate contacts he held both in the Northern Cyrus and South Cyprus.

Bryza appreciated the two leaders’ joint willingness for a solution to the Cyprus problem and said both sides have been trying to understand each other’s perspective as part of heavy peaceful efforts.
He said there has been a very dynamic negotiations process going on in Cyprus within the presence of a positive energy.

Offering his country’s support to the two parties in Cyprus in their efforts to reach a political settlement on their own, Bryza pointed out that current negotiations have a unique nature as this time the two sides are negotiating on a basis of ideas they designed themselves, without outside assistance.

“There are serious differences of philosophical nature on some issues between the two parties such as the political justice and security, but I have been told that they can bridge the gaps”, Bryza said.

Referring to the process of opening the Yesilirmak(Limnitis) crossing point, he said the opening of the gate is not only a good development in terms of confidence-building measures but also a significant factor to accelerate efforts towards finding a solution.
He noted that the US is ready to provide financial assistance for infrastructure works in the area.

Expressing support to the peaceful efforts of the United Nations into the Cyprus solution process, Matthew Bryza reiterated the Washington’s desire towards the establishment of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation to reunify Cyprus. “We want all people of Cyprus to feel the sense of justice and human rights within a federal state” he stressed.

“We want the two sides to come up with a balance between the political minority and political majority where rights of both sides will be respected”, Bryza added. Deputy Assistant Secretary said establishing such a balance is not impossible.

Responding to a question on Turkey’s role in Cyprus, Mr Bryza emphasized that Turkey encourages a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation on the island.

For another question on the Greek Cypriot Administration’s oil exploration, which received the Turkish side’s widespread reaction, Bryza said this issue is a commercial and legal one and expressed the hope that it will not have an impact on the negotiations.

paliometoxo · vip

all this they are hopefull but turkey never allows a solution...

halil · vip

halil · vip

‘Special opportunity’ for reunification
By Stefanos Evripidou

As Mick Jagger said: ‘You can’t always get what you want’

THE TURKISH government genuinely wants a solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters after meeting President Demetris Christofias and Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou, the US diplomat said that Turkey’s interest in a solution, combined with the presence of two “pro-solution” leaders created a “special opportunity” for the reunification of the island.

“For the first time we have pro-solution leaders leading both communities, we could never say that in the past,” he said.

The US official described his meeting with Christofias as very “in depth, warm and constructive”. He noted that on some issues the two leaders have bridged their differences and have come to a lot of agreed language, adding that “there are fundamental philosophical differences that are quite difficult to resolve”.

Bryza noted that “the Turkish government has provided Mr (Mehmet Ali) Talat space to negotiate in good faith” at least on the issues that have been discussed so far.

“Now some tough ones remain to be resolved,” he added.

Pressed to comment on Ankara's consistent talk of two states and two peoples in Cyprus, Bryza said from his private discussions with senior Turkish officials he got the impression that “there are plenty of people in positions of high authority who do want to see a reunified island that is a bizonal, bicommunal federation.”

Welcoming the two leaders’ decision to open Limnitis, Bryza announced that the US is “ready to offer financial assistance, if the parties seek it, to help the reopening of Limnitis crossing go forward even faster”.

Bryza clarified that he hoped, not anticipated, for a solution between the two sides by the end of the year. After listening to both Christofias and Talat, the US official said he sensed their commitment to target an agreement by the end of the year, but also sensed that neither wants to be in a hurry.

“Neither leader, understandably, wants time to be a pressure on them, to have to make concessions that their voters are not ready for. It’s a hope everybody’s expressed, but as Mick Jagger said: ‘You can’t always get what you want’,” he said.

Bryza highlighted the “confluence of positive factors” that lend themselves to a solution this year, including strong interest by the international community and “an international timetable that has provided incentives for the parties to move forward”.

“Everybody knows that Turkey has obligated itself to fulfil the additional Ankara protocol and to reopen its ports to Cypriot vessels,” Bryza said, referring to the European Commission’s assessment of Turkey due this December.

The US diplomat added that Turkish officials were well aware of the pending December review, noting: “One thing you can say about Turkish strategic thinkers is that they are well-informed and they are very powerful thinkers so I think they understand.”

Asked whether anyone had asked for American help during his meetings on the island, Bryza replied: “No, the spirit of constructiveness has really hit me this time, in a way that is more hopeful than it has done in the past. They’re doing a good job on their own.”

He noted, however, that there were proposals to provide at a later date, if requested, “smart people of which there are many in all of our countries to offer ideas on how to bridge the final gaps as the parties move forward”.

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=46511

Kikapu · vip

I would like to translate some of the above American Political language into English, so that most of us can understand what Matthew Bryza is actually saying.

1.

YFred · vip

EPSILON · lecturer

YFred · vip