Both sides appear uncompromising ahead of Swiss talks

The Greek Cypriot side is going to Switzerland with determination and with the sole aim of seeing the anachronistic system of guarantees abolished, and having all Turkish troops withdrawn, ruling Disy leader Averof Neophytou said on Sunday.

Neophytou, who will first travel to Germany before heading to Crans-Montana for the Conference on Cyprus, which begins on Wednesday, said the goals were feasible, and supported by the international community.

“The president understands that we in 2017, and with Cyprus in the EU, do not need anachronistic systems and guarantees from third countries,” he said.

Replying to questions regarding the common document submitted by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, Espen Barth Eide, Neophytou said there were positive and negatives in the document. Some of the content did not align with the positions of the government, he added.

“The President made it clear many times that our side is committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, but this passes through the crucial issue of security and guarantees,” he said. If Turkey realised this, a solution can be found, he added.

Also on Sunday, reports on Cybc said Greece was troubled by the Eide document and had passed its comments to the UN envoy. It contained many shortcomings and was far from being impartial and objective, the report said, and did not clearly refer to the removal of the guarantee system.

Meanwhile, a report in Turkish daily Milliyet said the Turkish side was standing firm on its view that its guarantee should remain. The report came after a meeting on Saturday evening betwen Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

Citing diplomatic sources, Milliyet said that in Crans-Montana, the Turkish side would not retreat on its stance.
“Mr Akinci is trying to conduct negotiations in a reasonable way but the intransigent attitude of the Greek Cypriot side is obvious,” the sources told Milliyet.

They said there should be no compromises at the table for the sake of keeping the Greek Cypriot side at the table or to impress the international community.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.