THE PRESIDENT yesterday declined to be drawn into a public discussion of the proposals submitted by the Turkish Cypriot side regarding governance and power sharing as government partners DIKO said they “effectively torpedoed” the talks.
The proposals were handed over to Demetris Christofias on Thursday through the United Nations.
Pressed by the media, Christofias said it would not be right to discuss the proposals in public.
“I gave the proposals to the party chiefs and asked them to study them,” Christofias said. “I am sorry, it is not possible to give any information on the proposals.”
Christofias has convened an informal meeting of party leaders for tomorrow to discuss the matter.
However the president called upon Ankara to “come to its senses and that all it declares about (resolving the issue in) 2010 become action” and are not just said for public relations reasons.
According to reports, the Turkish Cypriots accept the weighted vote or cross voting suggested by the Greek Cypriots but under certain conditions.
Included in the conditions is Turkish nationals wanting to reside on the island will enjoy the four basic freedoms, and there will be two separate flight information regions or FIRs.
It also suggests the rotating presidency to be on a 3:2 ratio – three years for the Greek Cypriot president and two years for the Turkish Cypriot, reports said.
The Turkish Cypriot side also wants the cabinet to be made up of seven Greek Cypriots and five Turkish Cypriots and not six to three as proposed by the Greek Cypriot side.
DIKO said the Turkish Cypriot proposals “effectively torpedoed the negotiations” making absolutely clear the Turkish intransigence.
Party spokesman Fotis Fotiou said the Turkish proposals were outside the defined framework of principles regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem – bizonal, bicommunal federation.
DISY spokesman Haris Georgiades said the proposals were being studied by the party chief and his associates and any views will be expressed during the Sunday meeting.
He was echoed by AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou who said the issues would be studied and the party’s views will be voiced on Sunday.
Kyprianou declined to comment on the specifics of the proposals but warned that any “positions outside the defined framework of principles” will not be accepted.
Meanwhile United Nations Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon encouraged both leaders to “remain committed and show flexibility and leadership.”
In phone calls with Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Ban said he is convinced that win-win solutions in many different areas are available and he is confident that together both leaders have the political courage and vision required to make progress.
The two leaders will on Monday kick start two three-day rounds of intensive talks.
