CONFUSION reigned yesterday among the political parties as to where the talks between President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat stood, and where they might go once UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrives on the island today.
The mixed messages emerging from political circles were apparently a result of the way in which party leaders received updates on the intensive talks after Friday’s session ended. Neither Chistofias nor Talat made a public statement, leaving UN Special Advisor Alexander Downer to tell the press that “significant progress” had been made without giving any details. Christofias then gave “an initial briefing” to the leaders of AKEL, DISY, DIKO and EDEK by phone on Friday evening, and EVROKO and the Greens yesterday.
DIKO spokesman Fotis Fotiou told state broadcaster CyBC yesterday that following the briefing, DIKO leader and House President Marios Garoyian had said that “there did not appear to have been any positive developments in the extensive talks”. Fotiou added that his party has supported and will continue to support the President’s position that he will not agree to a half-way solution, timeframes and arbitration.
AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said yesterday that “effort is being made to continue the (talks) process”, adding that the UN Secretary-General’s presence in Cyprus “will boost the current effort”.
Kyprianou said that it was “ridiculous” to suggest that the recent proposals from the Turkish side had been discussed, adding that there was “no possibility” that Christofias would agree to positions they presented.
Opposition DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades said yesterday that there appeared to have been a difference in the way certain points had been dealt with by the other side. However, he added that one cannot talk about “impressive progress” having been made when just one topic – governance – had been discussed.
Anastassiades suggested that any sticking-points could be raised during Ban Ki-moon’s visit, which he said “could give a boost” to the talks process.
EVROKO leader Demetris Sillouris said that the way the talks are proceeding had produced a “strange and dangerous climate”.
Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou rejected suggestions that Ban’s visit would lead to the “locking in” of concessions that the Greek Cypriot side is supposed to have made, repeating the position that there will be no agreement if everything is not agreed. He added that there would be no mediation or arbitration during the Secretary-general’s visit.
Stefanou said that the UN Secretary-General was visiting the island to express his support for the efforts of the two leaders to find a solution, and not to put forward any proposals or ideas, or to carry out mediation or arbitration. He added that the government welcomes the involvement of the UN and other international actors, but “in the right direction and on the correct basis”, underlining once again that the process is “owned by the Cypriots”.
Asked whether he agreed with Downer’s statement on Friday that there had been “positive progress” in the talks, Stefanou said that “significant progress had been made on the subject of governance”, but declined to give details.
