PRESIDENT Demetris Christofias yesterday issued a strong response to Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat’s complaint about his trip to Russia when the leaders last met.
Speaking at the end of yesterday’s leaders’ meeting on his return to the Presidential Palace, Christofias said he had highlighted the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus to sign agreements with other countries.
During their last meeting on November 25, Talat read out a statement that left Christofias fuming following his return from Moscow.
“Mr Talat said he does not question the right of the President of the Republic of Cyprus to sign agreements with various countries but he objects to what we call the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus to a federal bicommunal bizonal state,” said Christofias.
He said Talat was not necessarily talking about a ‘virgin birth’ but he was finding it hard to accept the notion of the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus from a single to a federal state.
Christofias said he had replied to Talat’s objections clearly, not only about the Cyprus-Russia agreement but also Cyprus’ rights to exploit offshore marine wealth.
The President was referring to Turkish harassment of hydrocarbon exploratory vessels off the island’s south coast last month.
“This issue is now supposed to be closed so I hope this controversy does not continue,” said Christofias.
The exchange between the two leaders on both occasions took place outside the framework of the negotiations, which yesterday focused on the public service, during which the two sides shared some views and disagreed on others, Christofias said.
According to UN Chief of Mission Taye-Brook Zerihoun progress was made.
“The leaders had a good and friendly meeting, in a friendly atmosphere. They began with an hour of tête-à-tête and then they resumed the discussions on governance, focusing this time on the federal public service on which they identified a number of convergences, helped by bridging proposals from both sides,” Zerihoun said.
He also said the aides to the two leaders, George Iacovou and Ozdil Nami, would meet today to move forward on some of the same issues.
“We expect further meetings of the representatives before the leaders meet again on December 16, when they will take up the issue of external relations,” said Zerihoun.
“They (the leaders) have made advances in the discussions; they have not agreed on every issue, they have left some issues aside to be revisited, they have asked their representatives to take up some of these issues.”
UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer will arrive on the island on December 11 to take part in the next meeting.
