PRESIDENT Tassos Papadopoulos said yesterday he would be soon replying to a letter from US President George Bush urging all sides involved in the Cyprus problem to return to the negotiating table immediately to resolve the island’s political problem.
Speaking in Larnaca yesterday, Tassos Papadopoulos said he would be soon replying to President Bush’s letter, adding that its contents were identical to a letter sent to Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis last Friday.
Asked to comment on reports that Turkey was ready to accept the Annan plan for a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem as a basis for negotiation, Papadopoulos said such reports had been heard before but there had not been any action on Ankara’s behalf.
The government revealed it had received Bush’s letter on Monday.
In the letter to Simitis, dated December 26, 2003, Bush stressed there was a window of opportunity to reach a settlement of the Cyprus problem that should not be allowed to close.
He said the parties should immediately return to the negotiating table, under the mediation of UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan, as long as preconditions for a return to talks were met.
“I urge you to follow this approach immediately, which the Security Council has unanimously endorsed, and ask that you encourage President Papadopoulos to so the same,” Bush had told Simitis.
“I appreciate the continued statements by President Papadopoulos of his intent to return to the negotiating table; now is the time for action,” the letter added.
A similar letter has also been sent to Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, but there have not been any reports about Rauf Denktash receiving one too.
This has gaven rise to speculation that the US is deliberately bypassing Denktash, seen as an obstacle to a solution.
Papadopoulos yesterday briefed the National Council on the Bush letter. Reports say the government is not too happy about its contents, as its puts pressure for accepting the UN plan as is.
The increased movement on the Cyprus problem comes as Ankara is working on a plan of its own, based on the Annan plan but closer to a confederate-style solution — something that Nicosia vehemently opposes.
However, reports out of Turkey claimed on Monday that the military disagreed with the government over the plan put forward by the foreign ministry, which included a reduction in the occupying forces.
Both the military and the foreign ministry denied such a rift, adding that the reports did not reflect the reality of the situation.
