LEAKS TO the press on the Greek Cypriot side’s positions in the property negotiations served to undermine the president’s efforts to get the best result out of the talks, said acting government spokesman Christos Christofides yesterday.
The government was not happy with the leaks to the press, reported in a number of yesterday’s papers, meaning that they were leaked the same day that President Demetris Christofias called on the political parties to maintain confidentiality so that the talks could reach a positive outcome. The Greek Cypriot document tabling its package of proposals on property was sent to all parties on Friday, said Christofides.
Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu announced their proposals on property orally on Friday in preparation for this coming week’s two all-day negotiations on Wednesday and Friday.
According to Turkish Cypriot press, the two sides will hand over their property documents on Monday, giving time for them to be studied before the first all-day session. Eroglu is reportedly ready to hand over a 60 to 70 page document on the property chapter.
The week is crucial in UN circles as it will be a clear indicator of whether the two sides have what it takes to submit genuine bridging proposals and that they are prepared for some form of compromise.
Christofides, the new Director of the President’s Office, noted that the president’s call for confidentiality was clearly ignored, thereby undermining his efforts to achieve the best results in the talks.
According to yesterday’s Politis, in the comprehensive package, the president proposed a ten-year period to end all restrictions on the right to property across the whole island. Christofias also links property, territory and settlers, saying the solution of each is intertwined. While he did not mention it orally on Friday, the Greek Cypriot team included the offer of allowing 50,000 settlers to stay post-solution in the package. Christofias also notes that in the areas to come under Greek Cypriot control, the right to return is absolute, while in the areas to come under Turkish Cypriot control, he proposes a transitional period, where Turkish Cypriot current users may pay rent on Greek Cypriot properties until their reinstatement. The Greek Cypriot team notes that they will take a humane approach to the situation of current users.
Politis also reports on Eroglu’s alleged proposals which include a suggestion for the “urban development” of Turkish Cypriot properties in the south (as part of an overall exchange of properties). The money from this development will be used to fill the budget for the compensation of Greek Cypriot property owners in the north. He also proposes giving land owned by Muslim charitable foundations to Greek Cypriots who will not be able to return to their properties and suggests the Church does the same for displaced Turkish Cypriots.
The Turkish Cypriot leader reinforces his insistence on bizonality, and majority populations in each constituent state, requesting a cap on the number of Greek Cypriots who can move north post-solution.
