German envoy expects Denktash to change heart on talks

THE GREEK Cypriot side seems more positive in its approach to an anticipated UN invitation to talks on the Cyprus problem, although neither side has yet announced its decision, Germany’s special envoy for Cyprus said yesterday.

But Detlev Graf zu Rantzau hinted there may be a change of heart on the Turkish Cypriot side, even though Rauf Denktash has steadfastly refused to return to the negotiating table until his ‘TRNC’ is recognised as a ‘state’.

Rantzau, who is visiting Cyprus on a five-day visit, said the word ‘never’ did not exist in either life or politics.

“What I want to say is that in life as in politics, there is never a never and so I think reactions will correspond to the details of the invitation.”

The diplomat was speaking to reporters after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, and said the President had told him “he would consider an invitation from the UN Secretary-general to attend a conference on the Cyprus issue, under UN auspices, very positively.”

According to Rantzau, Clerides said that “if conditions were right, he would then be ready to accept the invitation,” later noting that the invitation was not yet on the table: “I understand very well that it is difficult to react to something you do not know the details of.”

He added Denktash had said he could not commit himself to accepting such an invitation if negotiations were not carried out on a state-to-state basis.

Rantzau said it was normal for parties to any negations to adopt maximalist positions, but that, “it remains to be seen whether he would hold this position once the invitation is on the table.”