PRESIDENT Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday exchanged views on the opening of a crossing point, at Limnitis.
On his return to the Presidential Palace, Christofias said he expected an answer from the Turkish Cypriot leader concerning the opening of Limnitis, at their next meeting on May 21.
It was now “up to Talat to clarify or confirm whether [the Turkish Cypriot side] was still fixated on its need to transfer petrol to Kokkina, he said.
The President was referring to a previously-stated prerequisite made by the Turkish Cypriot side, which stipulated that for the Limnitis checkpoint to be opened, the authorities in the government-controlled areas would need to allow the transportation of fuel through the checkpoints and on to the Turkish-controlled enclave of Kokkina.
The enclave is situated in the north-west of the island and is surrounded on all but its north coast by government-controlled territory.
The government has remained fervently opposed to any such agreement, fearing that fuel could be delivered to Turkish troops situated there, which would ignite a highly paradoxical and embarrassing situation whereby the Republic could be seen to be facilitating the ongoing presence of occupying troops on its own territory.
Nevertheless, Christofias refrained from going into the details of what was actually said at the talks, merely stipulating that he, and the media, “will have to wait until the next meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday, before any clear conclusions [on the direction of the specific negotiations] can be drawn”.
However, community leaders of the areas directly affected by the enduring closure of the checkpoint, remain adamant in their demands that the government act decisively to end the deadlock.
Costas Michaelides the community leader of Limnitis, reiterated his communities’ position in an interview with CyBC’s Radio Trito.
“Our communities have been suffering [economically] for the last 45 years. It is ultimately up to the government to make a political decision on how to open the checkpoint… When the decision was made in March 2008 to open the Ledra checkpoint, it should have set a precedent for other checkpoints as well. This needs to be fulfilled,” he said.
Christofias has pledged to meet with the relevant community leaders on his return from London, which he is visiting for ‘personal reasons’. He will then meet with Talat and other representatives of the Turkish Cypriot leadership, where he is optimistic that “developments will be made”.
”I am expecting an answer next week from Mr. Talat to see if the Turkish Cypriot side insists on the issue of the re-fuelling”, he said yesterday.
He said he had not made any concessions during the ongoing talks, as he fended off criticism from political parties. ‘The less we say, the better,” he added.
During yesterday’s meeting with Talat the two leaders continued discussions on economic matters.
