CYPRUS: The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders agreed yesterday to negotiate three times a week under UN auspices until they reach a political settlement ending the 27-year division of island. Their encounter - the fifth since a breakthrough early last month in a four-year stalemate - was filled with symbolism.
The talks took place on a balmy morning following a cold, rainy week. The meeting was in the UN neutral zone at the old Nicosia airport terminal, a sprawling one-storey building built in the 1940s when the two communities lived together under British colonial rule.
The two men insisted on separate ceremonials, signifying that a great deal of work needs to be done to bridge the gulf between the plan for a bicommunal federation, backed by the Greek Cypriot side, and Turkish Cypriot insistence on two sovereign states connected by a loose confederation.
The internationally recognised President of Cyprus, Mr Glafkos Clerides (82), arrived in a car bearing the state symbol and the white and gold Cyprus flag. The Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash (77), came in a vehicle flying the red and white flag of the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Ankara.
Nevertheless, the two elderly warriors stood beneath the UN flag and shook hands in the presence of the UN envoy, Mr Alvaro de Soto, before going into the recently renovated building, now a UN operations complex. The UN has budgeted $1.4 million to fund the talks which will take place in Nicosia, Geneva and New York.
Irish peacekeepers provided a presence for the EU, the deal-maker, which informed Turkey that Cyprus would become a member of the EU by 2004 whether there was a settlement or not and that Turkey could not join as long as its 35,000 troops remained in northern Cyprus.
When they emerged after 90-minute, face-to-face talks, Mr Denktash said the talks had been "very good, very good". Mr de Soto agreed. "They had a very encouraging start and they began by discussing substance right away." Mr de Soto said he will reside in Cyprus throughout the negotiations, which could achieve an outline agreement by June. The first round will take place next Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Patrick Comerford adds:
The European Commission praised the Cypriot leaders for stepping up their efforts to find a solution to the division of the island.
"One of the things that helped this unfreezing is the prospect of Cyprus' adhesion to the European Union," a Commission spokes- man, Mr Jean-Christophe Filori, said in Brussels.
In Athens, the Greek Government welcomed the start of the talks and called on both sides to take the "necessary steps" to reach a peace agreement. The Greek government "totally supports" Mr Clerides, said Mr Christos Protopapas, the Greek government spokesman said.