THE TWO leaders yesterday began talks on security issues and guarantees in their 36th meeting as part of efforts to end the island’s division.
Speaking on his return to the Presidential Palace after his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali, President Demetris Christofias said that “the discussion on the issue of security began, the first views were presented by the leaders of the two communities and we will continue next week”.
According to the UN’s Special Representative Taye-Brook Zerihoun, the two leaders started with a tête-à-tête for an hour and half during after which the two read their introductory statements on the issue of security and guarantees. They agreed to give their responses at the next meeting on July 17.
In the meantime, the representatives of the two leaders, George Iacovou and Ozdil Nami will meet to prepare the ground for the next meeting as well as continue discussion on issues like preparations for the opening of the Limnitis crossing. Zerihoun also had a “very good meeting” with the two aides a few days earlier, he said.
On the subject-matter of future meetings between the two aides, the UN official said: “Maybe, the representatives will also discuss how to move on,” referring to the negotiation process.
Now that the dates for the following eight meetings between the leaders have been set, taking the talks up to the first week of October, the UN was in a better position to prepare the meetings between the two leaders said Zerihoun.
“Now we have nine or ten weeks ahead and I think the challenges are to prepare the meetings better,” he said.
Christofias said he is in consultation with the leaders of the political parties to convene the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem.
Responding to criticism from the DISY leadership, the president added that the parties were fully briefed on the course of the negotiations either through meetings with party leaders, National Council meetings or over the telephone.
Christofias noted that he was still waiting for all the parties to submit their views on various aspects of the Cyprus problem.
