By Jean Christou
GOVERNMENT spokesman Michalis Papapetrou yesterday confirmed that President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had exchanged New Year greetings by phone.
“The President of the Republic took the initiative the day before yesterday to call Mr Denktash to wish him all best for the new year,” Papapetrou said.
He said Denktash was away in Turkey but as soon, as he came back, he returned the call and the leaders exchanged wishes for the new year. “There was only an exchange of wishes,” Papapetrou said. “I was not there, but I am informed that they did not say anything about politics.”
It is the first time that the two leaders are known to have spoken directly since face-to-face talks broke down in 1997.
They are due to resume proximity talks in Geneva at the end of next month following a first round in New York early this month.
The second round was due to begin around January 27 but latest indications are that they will resume closer to the 31st due to other commitments on the part of UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan.
Turkish Foreign Minster Ismail Cem was yesterday reported as saying that a new period had begun for Turkey with the recognition of its EU candidacy.
But he warned: “Nobody should think or expect us to change our position regarding the Cyprus issue, even if we solve our problems with the EU.”
Cem, who is on a private visit to the north, said he did not oppose a solution based on a compromise of the two sides, but again mentioned confederation, a solution championed by Denktash but ruled out by the government.
Cem who met with Denktash during his visit, later held a press conference where he said the Turkish side had been successful during the New York talks. “Turkey and the TRNC are more optimistic about the Cyprus case. Our long-standing struggle is gradually nearing its target,” he said.
Denktash said the two leaders had gone to New York as two equal sides, “but the Greek Cypriot side assumed an uncompromising attitude because they are being considered as the only government of Cyprus”.
“We are ready to form bridges. We are ready to show Cyprus as one confederate state in the UN and in the EU. Our way is a uniting one but the way of the Greek Cypriots is one which divides Cyprus,” Denktash said.
