Shuttle talks begin

By Jean Christou

SHUTTLE talks aimed at kick-starting stalled Cyprus negotiations began yesterday with the government seeking clarifications from the UN.

UN chief of mission Dame Ann Hercus met yesterday morning with President Clerides. She has fixed a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash for next Wednesday.

After the 50-minute meeting at the Presidential Palace yesterday, Dame Ann said: “I have had my first meeting with Mr Clerides. I meet with Mr Denktash next week on Wednesday, and have a subsequent meeting with Mr Clerides on Thursday.”

Hercus has called on both sides to keep the contents of discussions private for the duration of the talks.

On September 30, UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan mandated Dame Ann to develop a process for on-island contacts with the goal of reducing tensions and promoting progress towards a just and lasting settlement.

But the government is insisting that it needs some clarifications on the process.

Spokesman Christos Stylianides said the government was willing to engage in shuttle talks, but was waiting for answers to certain questions relating to the talks.

“The government has stressed from the beginning its readiness and its position of openness to this procedure,” he said.

“At the same time, the government has asked for clarifications on aspects of tension reduction and on security measures.”

On Thursday, Denktash said the talks would hinge on building confidence between the two sides.

The shuttle talks are expected to take place in absolute confidentiality.

The international community wants to bring the two sides to the negotiating table in any way possible, but the Cyprus government fears that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will use the process to push his plan for confederation.

The UN Secretary-general’s special envoy for Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, said in London this week that what was important was that negotiations take place; that, he said, was more important than arguing over terminologies.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.