Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

The TRNC Presidential Spokesperson Hasan Ercakica has evaluated the course of the intercommunal peace negotiations in Cyprus at his final press briefing of the year.

Mr Erçakıca said that TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Chrsitofias held 46 meetings within the year during which only one of the 6 chapters, the chapter of “Territory”, was not negotiated.

Mr Ercakica said that the Chapter of Territory had not been negotiated because of the TC Side’s decision not to take up the issue of territory before reaching agreement on all chapters as a whole.

Noting that the talks on “security and guarantees” were stopped at a point because of the Turkish Side’s stance, he said the two sides reached agreement in principle on the issue of property, adding that the categorization work carried out on the issue will form the basis of the talks to be held in 2010.

He stated that important progress was achieved on “Governance and Power-Sharing”, “EU Matters” and “the Economy”, adding that 30 joint papers were prepared on issued agreed and disagreed.

Reminding that the first meeting of the New Year will be held on the 4th of January, the spokesperson said that the sides will try to bring the progress achieved so far on these three chapters to a conclusion during the intensified talks to be held in January.

Referring to news that the Spanish Prime Minister whose country is to take over the next EU Term Presidency - is to invite President Talat to his country, he said this shows that Spain has a balanced approach towards the Cyprus issue.

He noted that the plannings of the visit will be made at the beginning of the new year.

[halil]

“THERE IS A LACK OF BELIEF IN AN AGREEMENT”
The TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat has said that there is a lack of belief in an agreement.

“The most important thing that’s missing is lack of belief”, the President said.

Expressing the hope that the intensified negotiations to be launched in the New Year will give momentum to the process, the President called on the TC People to concentrate on a solution.

Speaking at a New Year reception in Lefkoşa last night, the President said that the international community is closely watching the TC whose hopes for a solution are fading, adding that hopelessness is not contributing to the negotiation process.

Mr Talat said that he still believes in a solution although being aware of the fact that it will not be easy to settle the Cyprus problem.

Noting that it is the TC's who are mostly being affected from the continuation of the Cyprus problem, he said “the TC people should believe in peace. That’s the most important thing missing and it is weakening the message we are giving to the world”. Underlining the need for all to concentrate on a solution, the president stressed that civil society organizations and those wanting peace should support the efforts being waged towards a settlement.

[Expatkiwi]

Sounds hopeful, but then these press releases usually do.