By Jean Christou
THE GOVERNMENT said yesterday it was pleased with the response it had received from political parties at an early morning meeting of the National Council to discuss the resumption of direct talks.
Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou admitted that one or two party leaders had expressed concern over the implications of President Glafcos Clerides’ decision to cross to the north last night to dine with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.
The Council met yesterday to discuss the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting between Clerides and Denktash, at which the two leaders agreed to return to direct talks starting in mid-January.
Papapetrou said the Council members exchanged views, outlined their positions and would meet again on the 18 thand 19 thof the month.
“I will not go into the details of the discussion and the views expressed by the parties but I have no difficulty in expressing the government’s satisfaction about the atmosphere that prevailed at the meeting and the way it was conducted,” Papapetrou said.
Responding to criticism that the agreement for direct talks did not secure the UN framework for these talks, Papapetrou reiterated the government’s view that this issue had been dealt with in the joint statement read out by UN envoy Alvaro de Soto after Tuesday’s meeting, and stressed that the peace process would continue to take place within the good offices mission of the UN Secretary General, as defined by UN resolutions.
Commenting on statements by Denktash that the talks should be continuous and conclude by June 2002, Papapetrou said the remarks were ” positive”and added that the government agreed fully with such an approach.
In response to questions about last night’s dinner, Papapetrou said some party leaders did suggest that Clerides should not attend.
“The President decided to adopt a specific suggestion by the majority of Council members to attend the dinner as the representative of the Greek Cypriot community,” he said, adding that no insignia of the Republic of Cyprus would be used during his visit to Denktash’s residence.
” The invitation to dinner is a social activity with political ramifications,”Papapetrou said, adding that the President intended to repay the compliment to Denktash. Press reports say Clerides will host a dinner in mid January for Denktash, probably at his residence.
The invitation to dinner was extended to Clerides by Denktash at Tuesday’s meeting. Denktash said the dinner would be in honour of De Soto, who acted as an observer at the breakthrough meeting.
De Soto yesterday held separate meetings with Clerides and Denktash to discuss the timetable for the direct talks, which will take place in Cyprus.
Speaking to the press after meeting Clerides, De Soto said he believed both sides were committed this time to serious negotiations. The UN envoy is expected to leave Cyprus today and return around January 15.
