AS TIME moves closer to new Cyprus negotiations, the pressure is mounting on both leaders from factions on their respective sides after a five-year sabbatical when the Cyprus issue went nowhere.
Mediators see the planned July 25 meeting of President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat as the last hurdle before full-fledged negotiations.
A date for new talks beginning in September is due to be announced at the meeting in three weeks time.
“As long as we can get them to the 25th without them falling out…,” said one mediation source yesterday.
Since they met on Tuesday both leaders have faced criticism over the latest joint statement they made. The statement, committing in principle to a “single sovereignty and citizenship” as part of a solution, was aimed as easing Greek Cypriot concerns, which emerged from the previous leaders’ meeting on May 23.
The two major political parties, ruling AKEL and opposition DISY hailed the move but the smaller parties disparaged the effort.
In the north, criticism against Talat was even stronger, particularly after his comment on Thursday that there was no state in the world with two sovereignties or two citizenships.
“If we desire a solution in Cyprus, and if there shall be a united Cyprus than surely there shall be single sovereignty and single citizenship,” he said.
The other issue that drew criticism in the north was the fact that Talat did not leave the meeting with a date for new talks.
“But he will deliver on the talks,” said the mediator. “There is a give and take [between the leaders[. The mentality here has always tended towards a zero sum game…a winner and loser. This has always been a problem.”
Some factions of the Turkish Cypriot press called on Talat to resign, while political parties were also critical. The National Unity Party (UBP) also called on him to resign.
Serdar Denktash said a single sovereignty would mean Turkish Cypriots becoming a minority. He said it would never be accepted.
He said the process began by Talat and Christofias was without hope.
“We are heading to submission,” Denktash said.
Meanwhile, according to reports in the Greek Cypriot press yesterday, Christofias is getting ready to prepare people for new negotiations and would be addressing the public after the July 25 meeting with Talat.
The public address to the nation is to inform the public about the realistic expectations, framework and timeframe for the talks that will begin in September.
