THE GOVERNMENT yesterday admitted there were difficulties and delays in the ongoing talks process, but denied there was a deadlock.
Speaking after a four-hour meeting of the National Council, Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashardis said meetings had resumed yesterday between Tasos Tzonis and Rasit Pertev, the representatives of two communities.
Eight meetings have taken place so far since July 31.
“There are some difficulties and some unjustified delays,” Pashardis said, but added this did not amount to a deadlock.
He said that UN Special Representative in Cyprus Michael Moller, who chairs the meetings, was “well aware of who is to blame for the difficulties and the delays”.
Three weeks into the process that was agreed on July 8 with UN envoy Ibrahim Gamabri, there is as yet no hint of an agreement on the basic list of issues to be discussed.
Also, the ‘occasional’ meeting between the two leaders to review progress, which was part of the package, has not yet materialised.
Even within a week of starting the new process on July 31, amid a strict news blackout, spokesmen from both sides had begun a very public spat accusing each other of violating the blackout.
“Our issue now is not to start a blame game, but to overcome the difficulties and to avoid further delays,” Pashardis said yesterday.
“Our side will continue to display and prove that it has a constructive spirit and good will aiming to fully implement the July 8 agreement,” he said.
He said the Greek Cypriot side did not intend to deviate from the framework, the substance or the spirit of the agreement.
”We will on our part fully implement the agreement and we will avoid any action that undermines or encumbers the agreed procedure,” he said.
Asked about a future meeting between the two leaders Pashardis said that such a meeting would have to take place at the proper time, in order to be substantive.
“A meeting between the leaders should not be an end in it self, nor can it take place only to create impressions,” he said.
Papadopoulos briefed the members of the National Council on the latest developments.
“President Papadopoulos… expressed his evaluations regarding the developments so far and the future prospects,” a written statement said.
