TURKISH Cypriot party leaders yesterday accused their Greek Cypriot counterparts of snubbing them by staying away from a meeting in Strasbourg with Council of Europe General Secretary Walter Schwimmer.
While seven Turkish Cypriot party leaders attended the meeting, the nine Greek Cypriot parties sent lower level representatives to attend the meeting, which was preceded by a joint tree planting ceremony. A cedar was planted using soil carried to Europe from both sides.
Turkish Cypriot National Unity Party leader and ‘Prime Minister’ Dervis Eroglou was the first to comment on the absence of the Greek Cypriot party leaders. He said that as a result of their absence he did not expect much to come out of the meeting.
Serdar Denktash, leader of the Democratic Party and ‘Deputy Prime Minister’ also criticised the Greek Cypriot parties for not sending their leaders.
In response, AKEL deputy Nicos Katsourides said that the Greek Cypriot party leaders had “special reasons” why they could not have gone to Strasbourg, but did not specify what they were. Katsourides added that the Greek Cypriot party leaders had attended the ongoing regular bicommunal meetings on the island.
Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides yesterday declined to comment when asked if the Greek Cypriot parties had deliberately ‘downgraded’ their representation in the Strasbourg.
Speaking after the meeting in Strasbourg, Katsourides said the Turkish Cypriot side, particularly Eroglu and Denktash, had raised unacceptable and ‘negative’ issues. “Unfortunately, some issues were put forward that do not leave much room for optimism,” he said, adding that what was particularly provocative was a suggestion from part of the Turkish Cypriot side that Cyprus’ accession to the EU in May next year be postponed pending a solution to the Cyprus problem.
“In a nutshell with what they said they have rejected the Annan plan as a basis for negotiations,” Katsourides said. He said Denktash junior had said: “Cyprus is too small to be dismembered but too big to be shared.” Eroglu, he said, had suggested the two sides could not live together and should exist side by side.
Eroglu told reporters he had submitted suggestions for changes to the Annan plan in a letter to the UN Secretary General and “we are expecting him at least to respond”.
“Lots of things have to be changed so that we can accept or at least discuss the Annan plan,” he added. “We have not rejected the Annan plan, we have suggestions for changes so if these changes we have submitted to the UN Secretary General are considered and put on table, then we will discuss it.”
Turkish Republican Party leader Mehmet Ali Talat expressed the belief that a solution to might be reached within the next months, saying the political climate would change after the elections in the north in December. The Turkish Cypriot side would then be ready to promote a solution to the Cyprus problem, he said.
Schwimmer said the window of opportunity for a solution to the Cyprus problem was still open, adding that it had been “opened wider” since the easing of movement began in April.
“There have been some very good steps already. Maybe we still need to consider what is necessary for the final solution. There was the Kofi Annan plan, which is still on the table, and there is the opening of the dividing line,” he said. “When I visited Cyprus at the beginning of this year I did not think it was possible so there are steps in the right direction.”
Speaking at the tree planting ceremony Schwimmer said: “This little tree has travelled from your island to be planted into the soil of Strasbourg, the city-symbol of the first post-war European reconciliation. We are planting it today, together, to set a sign for your commitment and for the commitment of Europe to the unity of Cyprus within Europe. It shall also set a sign that the hope of all Cypriots which has been raised with the opening of the gates of the Green Line, two months ago, will continue to live and be fulfilled.”
