Property issue on talks agenda ‘by end of year’

THE PROPERTY issue will be discussed towards the end of this year or early next year President Demetris Christofias said after yesterday’s meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat

“Towards the end of the year or the beginning of next year, we will inevitably move on to the property issue, which is not easy – although the principles are in place…. I am sure we will deal with several issues that will call for a lot of discussion,” Christofias said.

Returning to the Presidential Palace after his ninth meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday afternoon, Christofias said the meeting went “rather well”.

“It was a friendly exchange of views.”

The President was firm when asked why there was no discussion on a deadlock-resolving mechanism as planned.

“We discussed other issues. We have engaged in consulting more experts on judiciary issues, and you realise that this week was not an easy one for me due to other commitments,” he said, referring to his departure for Russia today.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting in the UN controlled Nicosia airport yesterday, UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer said the talks were held in a convivial and very positive atmosphere.

Asked if there were any discussions about deadlock resolving mechanisms, Downer said the two leaders discussed exclusively the independent institutions, the offices of the Attorney General and the Auditor General and also some discussions about the Supreme Court.

As for the agenda of the next meeting, he mentioned that they have to see about it. “But I think there will be some discussion next time about the deadlock resolving mechanisms”.

The two sides put forward their positions on the issue, outlined the positions they agree on and agreed to continue the discussion at the working groups, comprising experts from both communities.

Asked to determine when this chapter will come to an end to move on to the next one, Christofias said: “There is still a lot in this chapter which is under discussion. We might even retrieve some issues that we have had different views on.

Christofias said weekly meetings have been arranged for the next three to four weeks.

The next meeting of the two leaders is planned for November 25.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.