By George Psyllides
President Nicos Anastasiades expressed the hope yesterday that ongoing reunification talks would yield a result before the May 2016 parliamentary elections.
Speaking at the Economist conference, Anastasiades said that getting a result depended on both sides.
“We fully recognise the challenges and difficulties that lie ahead, but this is why we must show our determination and leadership to tackle realities that created and continue to create problems,” Anastasiades said.
The president said talks were taking place in a climate “which I would like to believe creates the conditions for understanding the concerns of each community”.
Anastasiades’ allusion to a possible solution before next year’s parliamentary elections was further hinted at by UN facilitator Espen Barth Eide, who also addressed the conference later in the day.
“Basically, we know what [the type of settlement] will look like, but you need to prepare for it because it could actually happen sooner than you think,” he said.
He added that he is often asked whether the UN will bring “bridging ideas” to the table, but said he doesn’t need to because it is already being “done very well”.
European Parliament President Martin Schulz told the conference that he believed Cyprus could become a beacon of peaceful co-existence and cooperation between communities of different ethnic and religious origins.
In a video message broadcast, Schulz said the EU “is investing considerably in the current UN-brokered negotiations for the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus question”.
“We are closely following the negotiations and it is my firm belief that Cyprus can become a beacon of peaceful co-existence and cooperation between communities of different ethnic and religious origins,” he said.
Europe more than ever, Schulz said “is in dire need of Cyprus fulfilling in the best possible way its destined role of a political and geographic bridge in the region.”
He appealed to both leaders to “grasp the momentum and spare no effort in quickly reaching a political agreement for the reunification of Cyprus”.
“I am hopeful that with the genuine good will of both leaders, and the solid support of the Cypriot civil society it is feasible to have a success story in Cyprus,” he said.
At the same time he noted that “a reunified Federal Cyprus based on the principles upon which the EU is founded is the best guarantee for a bright and prosperous future for all European Cypriot citizens.”
Anastasiades met with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci on Monday as part of an intensified round of talks.
Discussion centred on the property issue, one of the most difficult aspects of the ongoing reunification talks.
Turkish Cypriots want to have the majority of property ownership and population in their area despite this being against EU rules.
The Greek Cypriot side says that although each community would have separate administrations this did not imply guaranteed majorities of population or properties in each region.
The two leaders are scheduled to meet again on Thursday.
The Cyprus News Agency said they will discuss issues across all chapters where there is disagreement in a bid to achieve convergences.
