CYRPUS: The Turkish side appears to be taking a hard line in the Cyprus talks, reports Michael Jansen in Nicosia
UN-brokered negotiations on the reunification of Cyprus have turned into a battle of political position papers, but technical committees are continuing to work on the harmonisation of laws, financial arrangements and treaties.
The Cypriot President, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, said that the talks had been "unproductive" because there had not been any negotiations on "substantive issues". He said that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, had repeated "his vision of two states, two sovereignties and two different regimes in Cyprus", adding: "We responded accordingly."
Instead of seeking accommodation on the provisions of the plan for a Swiss-style federation put forward by the UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, the two leaders have submitted separate and conflicting lists of amendments.
Mr Denktash said he would tell his community to vote against the plan if the changes he is demanding are not made. He said the "consolidation of bi-zonality" was a priority for the Turkish Cypriots and for Turkey. On Tuesday, the Turkish government added to the Turkish Cypriot team Mr Mumtaz Soysal, a constitutional lawyer who advised Mr Denktash in previous talks. The appearance of Mr Soysal, a hardliner, is considered by observers to be a negative development, as his absence from initial sessions was seen as an indication that Turkey was seriously committed to a settlement.
The Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, and Foreign Minister, Mr Sardar Denktash, were in Ankara on Tuesday for "evaluations" and Mr Rauf Denktash is expected to travel to the Turkish capital after today's session of the talks.
Sir Kieran Prendergast, UN undersecretary-general for political affairs, also joined the talks yesterday. He denied his visit meant the talks were in trouble and said he had come to assess progress and report back to Mr Annan because Mr Alvaro de Soto, the UN facilitator, could not travel to New York.
Mr Mark Grossman, the US deputy secretary of state, is in Ankara today to discuss Cyprus, Iraq and Washington's plan for promoting democracy in the greater Middle East. The US co-ordinator for Cyprus, Mr Thomas Weston, caused a furore at the weekend by saying the cost of rejecting the Annan plan would be unbearably high. He later said this did not mean that the US would take measures against a recalcitrant Turkey.
Differences have emerged in the Cypriot Government over the cost of a solution, with the Finance Minister, Mr Marcos Kyprianou, saying funding a settlement could precipitate economic collapse. An authoritative Greek Cypriot source told The Irish Times the overall cost could be $16 billion.
At present, Athens seems to be at odds with the Greek Cypriots on some issues. For instance, the Greek Foreign Minister, Mr Tassos Yannitis, said that the talks could continue beyond the May 1st date for the entry of Cyprus into the European Union, but Mr Papadopoulos rejected this possibility.
Recognising the hurdles facing the two sides, Mr Yannitis said yesterday: "There will be problems, there will be difficulties, they must be overcome. But what must be avoided is Cyprus joining the EU and then . . . having to deal with dead-ends, crisis situations."