Christofias to Turkey: we back your EU bid, but you must own up to your obligations
ADDRESSING world leaders President Demetris Christofias yesterday said that despite Cyprus’ support for Turkey’s EU accession bid Ankara was not reciprocating.
“This support is not unconditional,” Christofias warned. “Turkey should fulfil its obligations towards the Republic of Cyprus as well as towards the European Union.”
But he also reached out to Ankara, calling Turkey a “key player” in efforts toward a settlement and expressed his “readiness” to initiate direct dialogue with the Turkish leadership, parallel to negotiations with the Turkish Cypriot leader.
He said he was willing to “share ideas about the future, which would greatly enhance the chances of a positive outcome to the negotiations.”
At the same time in his speech at the General Debate of the 64th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, the President accused Turkey of seeking a confederal solution on Cyprus, in breach of relevant UN Security Resolutions.
“Turkey should contribute in a practical way to a solution of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality as defined in the relevant Security Council resolutions. Instead Turkey pursues a confederal solution,” Christofias said.
“After the 1974 invasion and the occupation of 37 per cent of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, Turkey has become a key player for the solution of the Cyprus problem. The success of our efforts for a solution of the problem depends on Turkey’s political will and the policies it implements. It is not enough for the Turkish leadership to publicly state that it supports the negotiating process,” he noted.
Recapping progress in reunification talks which began more than a year ago, Christofias said he trusted the “sincerity of Mr. Talat’s intentions…we have engaged in a common effort to bring an end to the division of our country.
“Some progress has been achieved in the negotiations. But not such as to make us confident that we are close to a final solution to the Cyprus problem,” he noted.
Christofias blamed lack of progress on the Turkish side and its intransigence on a range of issues—the presence of Turkish troops on the island, the “illegal possession” of properties and the presence of settlers.
“We sincerely hope that during the second round of negotiations, which has just started, there will be a reconsideration of Turkish positions, so that we can, as soon as possible, reach an agreed solution which we can then present to the people in separate simultaneous referenda,” he said.
Wrapping up, the President said a reunified Cyprus would safeguard the rights of all Cypriots, Greek and Turkish.
“Nevertheless, the rights of our Turkish Cypriot compatriots cannot be implemented at the expense of the rights of the bigger community, which is the Greek-Cypriot community. There must be mutual respect.
“Real political leaders are not the ones who think of the next election but of the next generation. We have the responsibility to work together to achieve a lasting peace in our region,” he concluded.
Earlier, Christofias had held a half-hour meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Also attending the meeting were Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou, United Nations Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe and UN officials.
Christofias said that during a lunch hosted by the UN chief, he had the opportunity to have a “good” discussion with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan, to whom he underlined that Turkey is the key to a solution to the Cyprus issue.
“I told the UN, just as I told Mr. Erdogan, that Turkey is the key to a solution to the Cyprus issue. And that Talat must be helped by Turkey to change his stance. I analysed our positions on the property issue, where there is a difference of views, the positions on the settlers issue, security and governance. And I clearly stated that I have made offers to the Turkish Cypriot community and I am waiting for their response”, the Cypriot leader said.
Following his speech before the UN Assembly yesterday, the President held a number of separate meetings with foreign heads of state and senior officials, including the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Prime Minister of Malta Lawrence Gonzi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
On Tuesday, on the sidelines of the UN High-level Event on Climate-Change, Christofias had inter alia meetings with the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Christofias’ next stop is Cuba for talks with the political leadership there. He returns to Cyprus next Wednesday.