Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

PRESIDENT Papadopoulos returned on Wednesday evening fully satisfied with his talks in Paris with Kofi Annan and said "practical methods" had been found in order to pave the way for new negotiations to resolve the Cyprus problem.

It was an "important step," even though there were no spectacular results and nobody had expected such results now, he said.

"The UN Secretary-General agreed that this is the right way (through technical committees) to prepare the ground for talks. Of course, a lot of work and a lot of goodwill will be needed," he said.

He mentioned three issues that would be taken up by the technical committees - the number of mainland Turkish settlers, and their present status, the return of Greek Cypriot refugees to Famagusta and a moratorium on further exploitation of Greek Cypriot owned properties in the north.

Central Bank

He stressed in particular the agreement to invite EU experts to advise on specific topics, such as the functioning and the powers of the Central Bank in a future Federal Cyprus, that had to meet directives from the European Central Bank.

The proposed technical committees could start operating very soon, he said, if the Turkish Cypriot side responded positively.

The committees, made up of specialists in the various fields, would gather the necessary information, work on facts and figures and prepare alternative solutions, so that the political leaders could take final decisions.

Papadopoulos stressed that, parallel to the preparations, a number of confidence-building measures would be discussed. But the aim of CBMs was not to "facilitate" the regime in the north or enhance its operation, he stressed.

The aim was to improve the climate between the two communities "while our fundamental aim and pursuit is to find a solution as early as possible."

But he and Annan both agreed that before the launching of talks proper, the ground had to be adequately prepared, to avoid failure.

All involved

He said the SG agreed with his request that all members of the Security Council, especially the five permanent members, be kept fully informed and become collectively involved, in moves on Cyprus, and not for two of the permanent members to have the monopoly, as it happened in the past.

But the Opposition were not impressed. While they saw the meeting as something positive, since it would show the Greek Cypriot side had the will to restart the peace process, they expressed fears the "small steps procedure" might take a long time before the substance of the Cyprus problem was tackled and this involved huge risks.

Disy leader Nicos Anastassiades said Turkey would press on with its EU accession goal, while Cyprus would be prevented from exercising any veto while this process of small steps was continuing.

Time not ripe

Deputy leader Averof Neophytou said the Secretary-General’s reluctance to name a Cyprus envoy saying the time was not ripe was a cause for concern. He also said that because Annan would be stepping down at the end of the year, while elections were on the way in Cyprus, Turkey and probably Greece, the chances of an early relaunching of the peace talks were very small.

Akel leader Demetris Christofias said the outcome of the Paris meeting was a "very positive one" since decisions were taken on very specific measures that would have to be taken to create the right conditions for finding a viable Cyprus solution, serving the interests of both communities.

Working systematically

He said President Papadopoulos had been "working systematically, with our support" to arrange a meeting with the Secretary-General and achieve the aims of the Greek Cypriot side.

The technical committees, he said, would deal not only with CBMs; other matters such as the opening of the Ledra Street crossing and demilitarisation, Famagusta, the issue of properties, the unified economy, taxation, and a range of other issues touching on the substance of the Cyprus problem would be tackled.

A lot of hard work would be needed. He also said any mutual concessions to reach a compromise would be made with the Turkish Cypriots, not Turkey.

Overall strategy

Michalis Papapetrou, of the United Democrats, said that although the Annan-Papadopoulos meeting was positive development, it was not a reason for celebration.

Priority was given to CBMs and "nothing concrete about the substance of the Cyprus problem."

A solution was now "in the depths of time and we are rejoining because it is possible that sometime in the future a special representative may be appointed."

The European Party called for an early convening of the National Council to discuss developments and plan a "clear, overall strategy."

[Sotos]

TURKISH Cypriots, unhappy with the outcome of the Paris meeting between President Papadopoulos and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, are clearly hinting they are not bound by any agreement reached there for the launching of "technical level" discussions between the two communities.

‘Foreign Minister’ Serdar Denktash was quoted as saying he had asked for an "explanation" from the UN Secretary-General about the joint statement issued at the end of the Paris meeting and said attempts to change the nature of the process were "unacceptable."

In the absence of Mehmet Ali Talat, who is recovering from a heart operation in Turkey, Ferdi Sabit Soyer, TC "Prime Minister" issued a long statement moaning about the agreement reached.

"It is not possible for the main parameters of negotiations to be changed as a result of a meeting between the Secretary-General and just one of the parties involved," he added.

‘Election show’

A concrete step forward could be taken only after the two sides met within the framework of the UN Secretary-General’s good offices mission and agreed on "procedure and content," he added.

Soyer conceded that the T/C side had given its consent to the establishment of technical committees, but said this had nothing to do with comprehensive negotiations for a Cyprus settlement.

But a spokesman for Talat dismissed the idea of setting up such committees, arguing this step would be taken after full-scale talks resumed and made progress.

He claimed President Papadopoulos had reached the agreement with Annan as part of his "election show" and the Turkish side would not go along with this. He also appeared disturbed by the fact the joint statement referred to "President Papadopoulos."

Denktash complained that the UN were trying to "undermine the sympathy" the Turkish Cypriots had received after voting Yes in the April 2004 referendum on the Annan Plan.

Soyer seemed to balk at the idea of holding talks on controversial and highly sensitive political issues, on which Ankara has the main say. He said demilitarisation should be part of a comprehensive settlement.

Not convinced

"The fact the joint statement refers to the demilitarisation issue outside the framework of a comprehensive settlement and to the Famagusta issue, which has never been on the UN agenda up to today, is unacceptable," he declared.

Soyer also referred to comments by Annan that there was a gap between words and actions, and claimed this showed the Secretary-General "was not convinced that Papadopoulos was sincere in the arguments he put forward."

He also argued that Kofi Annan was "not sufficiently informed about developments in the Cyprus problem and the attitudes and sensitivities of the sides."

Meanwhile the UN is pressing ahead with arrangements to facilitate technical talks between the two sides - the first official contacts between them since the failure of the Annan Plan in the April 2004 referendum.

"We have to make appropriate arrangements with the sides and we are pursuing it with the appropriate channels, both technical and political," UN spokesman Brian Kelly told Reuters. He could not specify when the talks would start.

Confusion

Foreign Minister George Iacovou said UN resident representative on the island Michael Moller was expected to visit Ankara and Athens and perhaps other European capitals, to discuss future moves.

Suggesting some confusion on what would be discussed at the committees, some officials said the Greek Cypriot agenda would include controversial issues ranging from the presence of Turkish settlers in the north to a Turkish army pullout.

"There are issues like the settlers and demilitarisation," Iacovou said.

Diplomats said consultations were likely to skirt highly charged political debates and focus on less controversial issues like water management and better cooperation on public health issues.

They stressed the agenda would be determined by the two communities.

The UN hopes these discussions, if productive, would help restore trust, improve the climate and pave the way for the eventual resumption of full-scale comprehensive negotiation for a settlement.

CNA reports that Ibrahim Gambari, UN Undersecretary-General visited Washington this week for talks with State Department officials dealing with Cyprus. He saw deputy assistant Secretary of State Mathew Bryza, who plans to visit Cyprus in the spring.

President Papadopoulos, who described the Paris agreement as an important step, will fly to Athens on Tuesday for consultations with the Greek government. A spokesman in Athens described the outcome of the Paris meeting as "a positive step in the right direction."

It will be President Papadopoulos’ first meeting with new Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni, who was a staunch supporter of the Annan Plan but says now this is history.

Bakoyanni will visit Vienna tomorrow for talks with her Austrian counterpart. Ursula Flassnik, which will focus on the West Balkans, Cyprus and bilateral issues. Austria now holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.

The European Commission has already welcomed the Paris meeting, saying the decision to launch technical level talks was encouraging.

Krisztina Nagy, spokesperson for Enlargement Commissioner Oli Rehn, said the Commission was closely monitoring developments in the Cyprus problem and remained focused on supporting the resumption of settlement negotiations under UN auspices.

[Agios Amvrosios]

Very specific procedural rules are necessary for future talks on the Cyprus issue if we are going to have any success.

The involvement of the other permanent members of the security council is definitely required. The balance that Chinese, Russian and French supervision would provide will be beneficial on many levels.

The Chinese imput on issues of Sovereignty would definitely assist, the French will hopefully require any constitutional proposals to be inline with European Human Rights Norms and the Aquis and Russians can bring their nuclear weapons and s300.

[macketterry]

Very specific procedural rules are necessary for future talks on the Cyprus issue if we are going to have any success.

The involvement of the other permanent members of the security council is definitely required. The balance that Chinese, Russian and French supervision would provide will be beneficial on many levels.

The Chinese imput on issues of Sovereignty would definitely assist, the French will hopefully require any constitutional proposals to be inline with European Human Rights Norms and the Aquis and Russians can bring their nuclear weapons and s300.

Such wishful thinking! Why would the Chinese, French and Russians suddenly become embroiled in this quagmire now after 40 years?

Also, these so called technical committees are bullshit. All these issues like demilitarisation, Famagusta and settler numbers were covered in the A-pan. This is all diplomatic bullshit to save the faces of the intransigent ones. The more I hear stuff like this, the more proof you have that the script has already been written, the outcome has been pre-determined, and we are just watching the actors go through their roles for their domestic audiences.

[tcklim]

Constantly arguing and complaining about foreign involvement yet always asking for it.....

[macketterry]

Constantly arguing and complaining about foreign involvement yet always asking for it.....

Exactly right

[NeverSayGoodbye]

So its ok if the americans and British are involved but not the rest?
A bit worried that it might balance things out hey?

[rolo]

like who the EU?

OK here's the bitter pill.

Turkey will join the Eu if and only if the few billioniares who run Eu nations stand to make more billions out of Turkish membership.
If they have already put together business plans to make big bucks out of Turkish membership, anyone standing in their way will find themselves out of political sponsorship and then office. The US and Europe have been running the world this way for the last fifty years. They call it..... politics.

[Sotos]

Russia said that wanted to be involved and that jerk Anastasiades said that we should ask the Americans and the British first because they might not like the Russian involvement

[rolo]

Ah Sotos


exactly, now ask yourself why...