THE FIFTH round of direct talks between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash begins today, and political crisis in Turkey and speculation that the UN will submit written proposals to both sides.
UN special envoy for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, who returned to the island on Sunday, yesterday met Clerides prior to today’s talks and was scheduled to meet Denktash later in the afternoon in occupied Nicosia. Speaking after the meeting with Clerides, De Soto told journalists he hoped the two leaders would make progress.
“There is a lot of work to be done,” he said. “We will be working during the summer.”
Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said yesterday that the government would not be negative towards any suggestions or proposals put forward by the UN, as long as they were within the parameters of UN resolutions on Cyprus.
“It is the right of the Greek Cypriot side to pursue and struggle and demand and request that these proposals to be submitted be within the framework of UN decisions,” he said.
Papapetrou added the government had no information about the plans or proposals to be submitted by the UN.
But House President Demetris Christofias said the UN Secretary-general was widely expected to table a plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem during the new round of talks.
“The Greek Cypriot side continues to strive for an honourable compromise with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, remaining steadfast in its constructive position and honouring its commitment for a solution providing for a bizonal, bicommunal federation,” he said.
But he added that if this fresh effort for a settlement did not produce results, the Secretary-general would be entitled to recommend that the Security Council allocate responsibilities and name the side responsible for the deadlock.
“Otherwise Denktash and Ankara will be allowed to let time pass by without any cost for the intransigence they are showing,” he added.
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.
