By Jean Christou
Only ruling DISY and main opposition AKEL on Tuesday welcomed the resumption of talks, with a cautious statement from junior coalition partner EVROKO.
Socialist EDEK, DIKO, the Greens and the Citizens Alliance all said they had found no cause to celebrate and that it would all end in tears.
Each of the hard-line parties slammed a reported reference by Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu to ‘two states’ even after the Cyprus News Agency issued a clarification of his comments early in the day when it obtained a transcript from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, in which he refers to ‘two constituent states’.
However the four parties all used the reference to justify their opposition to the resumption of the talks on Friday. The party leaders are due to be briefed by Anastasiades on Wednesday.
The EDEK leadership, which on Sunday openly rejected a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation (BBF) as the model for a settlement, continued its tirade with party leader Marinos Sizopoulos saying Cavusoglu’s comment justified the party’s position.
“It sends a strong message that only those who are unaware cannot grasp and cannot understand,” he said, adding that it was strong evidence that Turkey had in mind a confederal solution.
“It is time to realise what Turkey’s strategic goals are, and to come up with a new strategy of our own to prevent this. Intercommunal dialogue cannot solve the basic principle of the problem of invasion and occupation.”
DIKO said in a statement that it wanted negotiations to start on a sound basis, and this meant ditching the Joint Declaration of February 11, 2014 between President Nicos Anastasiades and former Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu who was ousted by Mustafa Akinci in elections last month.
“Worse, yesterday’s dinner… was overshadowed by the statements of the Turkish Foreign Minister… clearly, these statements are warning shots from the Turkish side. It is also clear that the euphoria gripping the government and DISY and AKEL does not allow them to be disturbed by such statements,” the party said.
The Citizens Alliance also utilised the ‘euphoria’ factor, saying there were those already preparing campaigns to convince people on the benefits of a solution.
“But some predict that in the next referendum the Cypriot Greeks will be faced with the tragic dilemma of having to choose a solution that will lead to the Turkification of Cyprus or the cementing of partition,” the party said.
According to the Greens: “The smile of Mr Akinci was not enough” to convince them to welcome the new talks and neither was the red carpet put out at the dinner that should be reserved for heads of state.
AKEL and DISY said the resumption of talks had brought hope. “This country needs a vision,” said DISY leader Averof Neophytou. “There is no easy road but we have no right to close the window of hope.”
AKEL said the Cyprus problem could only be resolved through dialogue.
EVROKO leader Demetris Syllouris said a solution must be based on EU principles and values. He called on the political parties and the government to avoid division and disagreements throughout the process.
