THE GOVERNMENT plans to launch an information programme that will explain to members of the public what a bizonal, bicommunal federation is and how it will affect their daily lives, President Demetris Christofias has revealed.
Christofias made the above disclosure during a speech Tuesday night at an event marking the 15th anniversary of Radio Astra.
The President said also that printed material would soon be made available.
Although this came as news to most, it has been known for some time that Christofias’ party AKEL has been planning a public information campaign in the run-up to possible referenda on a Cyprus peace deal.
The current consensus seems to be that the talks should be winding down by April 2010.
The campaign’s stated goal is to avoid a situation similar to 2004 when Greek Cypriots had to digest a huge volume of information about a reunified state and make up their minds in the space of just a few weeks.
Speaking at the event, Christofias hinted the campaign aimed to offset the generally negative spin on the progress of reunification talks.
Everyone – from politicians to the media – had a share of responsibility for this gloomy outlook.
Christofias complained of frequent distortions of facts in the media, and lamented the fact that bad news gets the most coverage whereas positive developments are largely ignored.
“When every single step [in the negotiations] is negated, inevitably our society will not accept a solution no matter how good it may be,” he remarked.
The President called for a “dispassionate dialogue” on the Cyprus problem because, as he said, political acrimony only served to fanaticise society.
In the latest round of talks yesterday, Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat revisited the subject of the economy in a reunified island.
Their tκte-a-tκte in the buffer zone lasted just over an hour; the meeting was cut short because of a “slight health problem,” Christofias told newsmen later.
The two leaders authorised their respective advisers to continue discussion of the economy chapter between the working groups.
Their next meetings are scheduled for December 14 and then 21.
Speaking to reporters after, Yasser Sabra, Coordinator of the UN’s Good Offices Mission, said the topic of the next two meetings had not been determined, and would probably be decided today by the two top advisers.
Sabra was filling in for the UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus Taye-Brook Zerihoun, both in New York.
In response to questions, Sabra could not confirm whether the two leaders had finalised plans to meet in each other’s home in January.
He declined to comment on any details about these meetings, such as whether a UN representative would also attend, saying the matter was up to Christofias and Talat.
Asked about yesterday’s meeting, Sabra said the “atmosphere is good.”
