PRESIDENT Demetris Christofias yesterday said he was not prepared to start negotiations on the Cyprus problem from the beginning and anyone suggesting otherwise should pay the price in Europe and the international community.
“Of course I am not prepared to start from the beginning. In the over 18 months of discussions with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr (Mehmet Ali) Talat, we have created a basis on which we talk,” Christofias said following a meeting with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou.
Christofias’ statement is seen as a direct response to hardliner Dervis Eroglu, whom polls place ahead of Talat in the race for the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community in this Sunday’s elections.
In an interview in Phileleftheros on Sunday, Eroglu said if he is elected he will ask for an evaluation of what has been discussed so far.
Eroglu insisted there are two sovereign people in Cyprus “that can be nothing else but partners in a new state.”
“For us bizonal, bicommunal federation means the existence of two separate sovereign people in separate areas,” Eroglu was quoted as saying.
Christofias said he and Talat have been talking on the basis of a state with a single sovereignty, one nationality and one international personality.
Numerous convergences have been established on significant issues and aspects of governance and power sharing, the president said.
“But there are many other issues to discuss on fundamental aspects of the Cyprus problem, which will be tabled after the ‘elections’,” Christofias said.
He added that the Greek Cypriot side will demand for these matters to be discussed after the elections in the north because after that there will not be any reasons not to.
“Consequently I am not discussing starting from the beginning,” Christofias said. “The person who asks for that should pay the price in Europe and the international community.”
The president reiterated that the federal republic of Cyprus will emerge after the leaders of the two communities sign the agreement.
The negotiations are not conducted by the presidents of two states, he said. “The constituent parts of the federation will emerge after signing this agreement and its potential approval by the two communities in separate simultaneous referenda,” Christofias said.
The president declined to openly support Talat for re-election as he did in March.
“I have taken a position. I think a person should be elected who will continue the talks from where we left them in our last meeting,” the president said. “This is a matter for the Turkish Cypriot community – as far as is it as matter for the Turkish Cypriot community – and I want to stress that, because unfortunately (Turkish) settlers also vote.”
