Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

The first round of negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus Problem was completed today.

Today’s meeting between the two leaders was the 40th since full-fledged talks began in September last year.

Today’s meeting started with an hour-and half tete-a-tete meeting between Talat and the Greek Cypriot leader.
The issue of aliens, immigration, citizenship and asylum was then discussed at the full session of the talks which concluded the first round of talks.

The second phase or review phase of the negotiations will start on the 3rd of September and will focus on issues where differences remain between the two sides.

In a statement on behalf of the two leaders, the UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor Alexander Downer said that the completion of the first round of talks showed that significant progress had taken place at the negotiations.

The UN Special Advisor also said that the aides of the two leaders along with the UN Special Representative Taye Brook Zerihoun will be visiting Yesilirmak/Limnitis on Monday to inspect work being carried out on the opening of a crossing point in the area.

Speaking to reporters following his return to the TRNC Presidential Palace, President Mehmet Ali Talat said that most challenging of issues to be taken in the second round of talks will be the property issue.

He however noted that the Turkish Cypriot Side also gave great importance to the issue of power sharing and governance.

Stating that they will start the second phase of the talks by first taking up the issue of executive under the chapter of power sharing, Talat said that they have agreed move on to the question of property after that.

Pointing out that the Greek Cypriot Side gave a positive reply to their proposal to discuss various issues at the leaders’ level in the second round, President Talat said “we didn’t exactly receive a yes answer but the end result was satisfactory”.

Responding to a question concerning the second phase of talks, the President said that their goal was to increase the areas of convergence during this period.

“By showing mutual flexibility we shall try to reach agreement on various issues where disagreement remains. Our intention is to minimize areas of difference before the give-and-take process” he added.

Expressing his view that the property issue will be one of the most challenging issues in the second round, Talat said that although the property dispute affected individuals, the issue of power sharing and governance was the most important issue for him.

Asked to comment about the UN Special Advisor’s recent comments concerning the introduction of a time table to the talks, President Mehmet Ali Talat said that the Special Advisor’s intentions may have been not to offend the Greek Cypriot Side.

“I however have doubts that the process will yield any positive results without a time table. Nevertheless the talks are moving along a natural time table” he added.

UN ADVISER DOWNER SAYS PUTTING TIME RESTRICTIONS TO CYPRUS PROCESS CAN PUT A QUALITATIVE SOLUTION AT RISK

The UN’s Special Adviser for Cyprus Alexander Downer once again refrains from putting time restrictions in the Cyprus negotiations process, as he says, such an attempt will harm the process.

In an interview to the Associated Press, Mr Downer said that a significant level of progress has been achieved in the negotiations process which is being maintained since September last year.

However, he said, this progress could be wasted if pressure was put on two sides for reaching a settlement within a limited time frame.

We have not presented a limited time frame on the table; if we attempt to do so, we will have to face the risk of failing to secure a qualitative solution and this will force us to start from the zero point for another solution process, the UN Adviser explained.

Alexander Downer stressed the need for the TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat and the ROC president Dimitris Christofias for not taking heed of ups and downs observed in public opinions.

He said Talat and Christofias should perceive the maintenance of negotiations as fundamental.

Mr Downer explained that it is impossible to overhaul and reconciliate within a week all aspects of a problem that owns a 40 to 50 years long history.

Although he referred to the significant level of progress achieved at Cyprus talks so far, Downer yet added that the issues of immoveable property and the guarantorship rights of Turkey, Greece and Britain remain as crucial matters on the negotiations table.

He said an agreement does not count at all if all substantial issues of the Cyprus problem are not resolved and it is a ‘must’ to reach an agreement on every matter.

Mr Downer avoided speaking of a possible role of the UN to be taken in minimizing differing views between the two sides in Cyprus.

He also said that the UN has not owned a certain stance yet regarding the issues being taken up at negotiations.

The only expectation of the UN is to see the successful completion of Cyprus negotiations which is going to bring the division of the island to an end, Downer said, while adding that this division erodes security in the Eastern Mediterranean.

On a possible visit of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to Cyprus in a near future, Mr Downer said the visit might take place after the UN General Assembly meeting in September.

He noted that the aim of the visit will be to express the UN’s support to the Cyprus negotiations process.

[cyprusgeoff]

And what in real terms has any of this achieved?

in one word: - nothing!

[YFred]

And what in real terms has any of this achieved?

in one word: - nothing!

You are being rather inpatient old boy. You must wait till the end of the year, then we will see what these negotiations have yielded. Surely the UN’s word that more has been achieved in the last 12 months then in the previous 35 years is encouraging in itself, No?