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The Cyprus Weekly published the following Opinion article by Andreas Hadjipapas on June 22 this year. Bearing in mind the decision by President Tassos Papadopoulos to seek a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, we believe it is an opportune moment to re-run it.
Let’s have a meeting -

it cannot do any harm

OPINION

The latest decisions by Turkey’s National Security Council confirm the view that Ankara holds the key to a Cyprus settlement. This powerful body of top army generals and political figures lays down policies that leave little room for the Turkish Cypriots to manoeuvre, or follow a different, independent line.

But does this mean that it would be useless and pointless to hold any meetings or negotiations with the Turkish Cypriots?

Both the Foreign Minister and the government spokesman stated this week that it was "naive" to believe that a solution could be found among Cypriots, since the "key" was in the hands of Ankara.

In other words, there is no point in meeting and discussing things with Mehmet Ali Talat, since he has no power to order even the removal of some soldiers from a crossing point or consent to a mine clearing operation in the buffer zone.

This may be true. But we must not forget that all U N resolutions on Cyprus call for talks between the two sides in Cyprus to work out a mutually acceptable settlement. In his latest report to the Security Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon stressed that responsibility for finding a solution "lies first and foremost with the Cypriots themselves".

The Council itself expressed concern that meetings between the two communities to discuss the future of the island were getting fewer.

It said this was hampering bi-communal activities and efforts to promote reconciliation and build trust, in order to facilitate a comprehensive settlement.

Such meetings should therefore be encouraged, at all levels. It was in line with this approach that Archbishop Makarios and the late Spyros Kyprianou, far from being "naive" politicians held several meetings with Rauf Denktash and concluded the high level agreements of 1977 and 1979.

George Vassiliou and Glafcos Clerides, while Presidents, also held negotiations with the Turkish Cypriot leadership. Were they naive?

And why did Tassos Papadopoulos meet Talat last year in the presence of Ibrahim Gamabri, the UN Undersecretary-General, and concluded the July 8 agreement?

Must we always be waiting for some "urging" or push from the UN or other powers, in order to hold such talks?

It is poor show from the government to attack its critics with the flimsy excuse that the time is not right for such a meeting, or that if there is no proper preparation, and an agreed agenda, then a Tassos-Talat encounter would merely be a "show" or a public relations exercise, without any substance, and perhaps creating "false hopes".

Our political leaders do not seem to realise the importance of sending out the right, positive image to the world. Everyone agrees that Archbishop Chrysostomos did a wonderful job during his trip to Rome last week.

Our politicians should take good note of his final remark on television. "Dialogue never does any harm, it can only have positive results", he said. It’s one thing to stick to principles. It is another to tell the world "I don’t care what you think of me" and win the label of being a stubborn rejectionist politician. We don’t deserve that.

Government Spokesman Vassilis Palmas said this week that Turkish policy on Cyprus was determined by Ankara. So, if Ankara sent out a positive signal, then a meeting with Talat might be useful.

Unfortunately for us, Ankara already got a pat on the back from the EU for showing a constructive attitude.

It’s a long time since the Turkish side received some rebuke from Europe or the UN for its negative stand. On the contrary, its demand for the lifting of the "isolation" of Turkish Cypriots is winning a lot of sympathy and backing from some key players.

If we continue to refuse to hold "social" meetings with Talat, the impression we leave to the outside world is that we refuse to discuss things with our compatriots and insist on their "isolation".

Demetris Christofias has been urging Tassos on this issue. The Akel chief said in a recent interview that he had disagreed with Tassos. "If we don’t meet, how can we solve the Cyprus problem? he asked. No wonder the Akel chief has received a boost, after getting favourable comments about his "moderate, flexible attitude" - from among Turkish Cypriots and foreign diplomats.

Ioannis Kasoulides said if he became President, he would be ready to meet Talat on several occasions, not only once.

It’s time Talat stopped hurling abuse at Tassos and our President moved swiftly - before his term expires - to arrange such meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, even if no significant progress has been made in implementing the July 8 accord, now a year old.

It looks unrealistic to hope we will get any breakthrough during the remainder of 2007, but at least the new President to be elected in February should make the search for settlement talks his top priority.

Andreas Hadjipapas