Two leaders agree reunification is paramount
DEMOCRATIC Rally (DISY) leader Nicos Anastassiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday took the unprecedented step of agreeing to work together in the search for a solution to the Cyprus problem.
After a meeting at Talat’s Republican Turkish Party (CTP) headquarters in north Nicosia, the two leaders announced that they had agreed to the formation of a number of joint committees that would seek ways to improve communication between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot political communities.
Anastassiades’s visit made him the first Greek Cypriot party leader to visit a counterpart in the north.
After the 90-minute meeting Talat told the press: “It was a very fruitful meeting… and I wish to continue this kind of work as frequently as possible. This kind of collaboration is very promising for the future.”
Talat added that both leaders had agreed that finding a solution to the Cyprus problem was an “urgent” requirement and that measures taken in lieu of a real solution must be to the benefit of the two communities. He criticised recent proposals by President Tassos Papadopoulos calling for the implementation of a set of confidence building measures.
“The problem is not building confidence. The problem is building confidence for Mr Papadopoulos. The Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots do not need confidence building measures. The Turkish Cypriots said ‘yes’ by 65 per cent. What kind of confidence building is needed?”
Talat inferred, however, that the Greek Cypriot side in general might need a little confidence building.
“We have to work with the Greek Cypriots to give them confidence that we are ready for a solution and reunification of the island.”
He also could not resist taking a swipe at President Papadopoulos by saying Greek Cypriots “should rethink their leadership”.
Asked to react to a number of Greek Cypriot measures for Turkish Cypriots announced yesterday, Talat said he had not heard what the measures entailed but added that he would welcome “anything that supports bringing the Turkish Cypriots out of isolation”.
He also explained his rejection of an offer from the Greek Cypriot side for the running of Famagusta port under joint Turkish and Greek Cypriot control.
“This is not an issue. The port is operational. The point is to have preferential exports with zero customs for exports to EU countries.”
Anastassiades said the two had discussed a number of specific issues, including the missing persons, the planned opening of a school for Greek Cypriot children in Rizokarpasso, the restoration of graveyards and churches and Greek Cypriot properties in the north. He said he received “constructive reaction” from Talat on all issues.
“We should have some good news on the missing persons issue in the next few days,” he added.
Talat said his administration was willing to “abide by arrangements made by the leaders and the UN” on the missing persons in order to “finish and finalise this protracted issue”.
“You will see concrete steps,” he added.
On the Rizokarpasso school, Talat said his administration’s aim was to see the school opened on September 14. He added, however, that as a result of discussions with Anastassiades, elements of the plans for the school would be reappraised.
