FOLLOWING dinner at President Demetris Christofias’ holiday home last night, the leaders of the two communities highlighted the importance of social events in improving the climate in the negotiations to reunite the island, which in contrast to the banquet were not so smooth.
“I want to express a wish. To have such smooth negotiations as the dinners we offered each other and to have the understanding we have around the dinner table in the near future because our common target is to find a common, acceptable and viable solution of our problem,” Christofias said afterwards.
Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, accompanied by their wives, spoke to waiting reporters at the gate of the president’s holiday home at Kellaki.
“Negotiations do not just take place at the negotiation table. These types of contacts are also important – they contribute to the negotiations and the good atmosphere we need to have at the negotiations,” Eroglu said through an interpreter.
Also present at the dinner, were UN special adviser Alexander Downer, the leaders’ aides, as well as members of negotiating teams.
The dinner started at around 9pm and lasted for two hours.
The two leaders agreed they were not comrades, but the social gatherings would build friendship.
Both agreed to continue meeting at a social level and build their relationship further.
“As Mr. Eroglu said, maybe we are not comrades but we are children of the same land of Cyprus and as children of Cyprus we have to work for the wellbeing of our children and our grandchildren,” Christofias said. “Since we work to reunite Cyprus in the framework of a bizonal bicommunal federation I think it is our duty to meet on a social level to break the ice. We shall continue in this direction even if we face some difficulties in the negotiations – we don’t hide it – we shall try to overcome the difficulties for the sakes of both communities.”
Eroglu agreed that this would not be the last dinner they have.
“Our desire is to find a lasting and viable settlement in Cyprus and all our efforts are to this end,” the Turkish Cypriot leader said.
Last night’s dinner was the third between the two leaders and their spouses, following their first culinary exchange in a restaurant on the buffer zone in May hosted by the UN, and a banquet hosted by Eroglu in July.
