CYPRUS:While the atmospherics are positive Turkish and Greek leaders remain far apart on the shape of a future union, writes MICHAEL JANSEN.
GREEK AND Turkish Cypriot leaders meet today under UN auspices for exploratory talks on the reunification of the island, divided since Turkey occupied the north in 1974. Atmospherics are positive because Dimitris Christofias, newly elected president of Cyprus, is seen as flexible and because he has a long-standing friendship with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. But they remain far apart on the actual shape of a future union.
Mr Christofias says Greek Cypriots are committed to a bizonal, bicommunal federation with single sovereignty, international personality and citizenship. He argues that the new effort should stem from the UN-brokered agreement of July 8th, 2006, signed by his predecessor and Mr Talat and endorsed by the UN Security Council and the EU. This calls for concurrent talks on day-to-day and substantive issues in the expectation this will lead to a settlement.
He says the EU cannot solve the Cyprus problem and warns the UN and outside powers against trying to lay down terms.
"We are Cypriots, this is our homeland. We will determine our fate." Mr Talat argues that the 2004 UN plan should be the basis of a deal, speaks of two peoples and two states, and insists on Turkey's right to intervene. While Ankara and Turkish Cypriots accepted the plan, Greek Cypriots rejected the proposed loose confederation and the presence on the island of Turkish troops and settlers, as well as Ankara's right to intervene in Cyprus's affairs.
Cyprus government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said yesterday that the UN plan "is finished. We want to hear if these are the real positions [ of the Turkish side] or tactical moves. We believe that we can find common language like we found in the recent past with Mr Christofias as the leader of the Akel party and Mr Talat as the leader of the Republican Turkish party."
At that time they agreed on demilitarisation and reunification on both state and popular levels. "So we share the same vision with Mr Talat" who "must return to his traditional positions" for there to be progress.
However, Mr Stefanou said Ankara does not share this vision. As evidence he cited the Turkish side's refusal to deal with Michael Moller, the UN envoy appointed to broker negotiations. He is due to leave at the end of March and no replacement has been announced. Furthermore, Mr Stefanou observed that negotiations could depend on whether Turkey's Justice and Development Party government, which favours a Cyprus settlement, is dissolved by the constitutional court because its policies are deemed to violate the country's secularism.
He said today's encounter will be successful if the leaders agree to open crossing points in the divided walled city of Nicosia and in the line in the north, and if they find a common approach on how to proceed towards reunification.
"If we don't manage to come to an agreement, we must try again and again.We cannot accept the status quo, we cannot accept the division of the island. We don't want to talk about failure."