LEADERS of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities yesterday kicked off the first round of intensive talks with a nine-hour meeting where they exchanged views on governance.
“We have freely exchanged views on the various aspects of governance, without having any document as a basis; I want to make this clear,” President Demetris Christofias said after the meeting.
He was referring to the proposals submitted by the Turkish side, outlining its positions regarding governance and power-sharing.
He said both him and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat had stated that nothing has been agreed and nothing will be agreed if there is no agreement on everything.
“Without getting into detail at this moment, we will also submit our view — which I have analysed today — in writing and continue the discussion,” Christofias said.
The start of the intensive talks, which continue tomorrow and Wednesday before a week’s break, had been overshadowed by the universal rejection of the Turkish proposals, which the Greek Cypriot side said smacked with confederate elements.
“We are not starting with the best of omens,” said government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou yesterday morning.
He said Christofias yesterday planned to clarify the Greek Cypriot side’s approach on the Turkish Cypriot proposals and indicate the targets of the intensive negotiations.
DIKO chairman Marios Garoyian appeared certain the talks would “not yield any result.”
“The omens were bad from the beginning and this was clearly evident in the Turkish side’s stance,” Garoyian said.
EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou said the proposals were “unacceptable and provocative” and originated in Turkey.
“It is a document of provocation and mockery to Cypriot Hellenism because it speaks of two separate sates in the framework of a confederation and moves between confederation and relations between two neighbouring states,” Omirou said.
DISY chief Nicos Anastassiades said the Turkish positions could not constitute a basis for fruitful negotiation.
“This does not mean that this cycle of six meetings cannot be used by the President of the Republic in an effort to advance our positions,” Anastassiades said.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon expressed hope that the talks will achieve progress.
“I sincerely hope that during the two rounds of negotiations this month they will be able to agree on these long-standing issues,” Ban told reporters in New York.
The talks between the two leaders started at 10 am with a mid-morning break.
After that Christofias and Talat were joined by their teams and continued discussions.
There was a break for lunch and a break for dinner at around 6:30 pm.
The talks concluded at 7 pm.
The meetings were held at the residence of UN special envoy to Cyprus Tayι-Brook Zerihoun.
The security measures were markedly more stringent than on the past.
Journalists’ cars were searched and made to park at quite a distance from the residence. Likewise journalists were made to pass through metal detectors and some were also frisked.
