THE ISSUE of rapprochement will be discussed at the House Plenum tomorrow, House President Spyros Kyprianou said yesterday after a meeting of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot party leaders and representatives at the Ledra Palace.
The meetings, organised by the Slovak Embassy, have become a regular fixture in recent months.
Kyprianou, who appeared sceptical before the meeting, later made more positive statements as he left the Ledra Palace, suggesting rapprochement between the two sides was an issue to examine and promote so there could be further contacts between political parties and ordinary people.
The issue should be discussed at the National Council, he suggested.
Yesterday’s meeting was held in "a cordial atmosphere", an announcement from the Slovak Embassy said.
"Participants discussed certain practical issues of contacts between the two communities. The sole purpose of these activities should be the strengthening of confidence and trust between the two communities."
All parties agreed to further examine specific measures for rapprochement to promote a spirit of better communication and understanding between the two sides — independently of the present political positions of all parties, it added.
The next meeting has been set for June 29.
Kyprianou said he was in favour of the rapprochement idea, if put in the right context.
"I am favour of the kind of rapprochement which serves the common purpose of re-unification of the country and of the nation in a federal format and in accordance to human rights. I am not in favour of the kind of rapprochement which would reinforce the continuation of the present divisional status quo."
The House President warned that if those holding bi-communal meetings were not careful, foreigners might get the impression that the Ledra Palace was "the capital of Cyprus" — something he said would suggest the island had indeed been divided into two separate states.
Akel leader Demetris Christofias whose party is actively involved in building bi-communal relations, said after the meeting he was pleased that Kyprianou had positioned himself in favour of rapprochement, despite his earlier reticence.
Christofias said yesterday’s meeting had been very productive.
Sixteen politicians took part in the discussion — nine Greek Cypriots and seven Turkish Cypriots.
