By Melina Demetriou
GEORGE Vassiliou, the head of Cyprus’ EU negotiating team, yesterday sought to play down some of the euphoria created by this week’s agreement to resume talks to solve the Cyprus problem, warning there was still no proof of progress.
President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash agreed on Tuesday to return to face-to-face talks to be held under UN auspices in Cyprus starting in mid-January. On Wednesday night, Clerides attended a dinner in the north hosted by Denktash at his residence.
” We should not start celebrating because Denktash said he was ready to return to negotiations. Although I am happy for this development I do not think there is any real proof of a positive climate,”Vassiliou said.
The chief of the EU negotiating team pointed out he and House President Demetris Christofias had been denied access to the occupied areas last Sunday, as was a group of Greek Cypriots who planned to cross over to the north for a bi-communal meeting yesterday.
” There is still a long way to go until we reach a point when we will be able to say that there is a change of climate,”Vassiliou said.
Professor of political economy at Intercollege Andreas Theophanous was not too optimistic either.
Theophanous yesterday warned against cultivating a climate of euphoria about the Cyprus problem, and said coming developments could be both good and bad.
” In the first few hours (after the news of the talks) there was a feeling of euphoria in the air which subsided later on. Now people are positive and maintain some reservations about developments,”Theophanous said.
He admitted the climate was now better than before but warned of possible negative developments to come.
Theophanous cited a toughly worded speech by Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz on Wednesday in which Yilmaz said the EU’s policy on Cyprus was sure to lead to ” confrontation” .
” Turkey’s move towards resuming the stalled Cyprus talks had been foreseen because of US and EU pressures to achieve progress before Cyprus’ accession to the European Union.
” Also keep in mind that Turkey is trying to strengthen its ties with the European union,”Theophanous said.
But a European diplomat sounded more positive yesterday.
” People are excited because in a week we have seen the most encouraging news on Cyprus for a long time. It is quite clear that Denktash has made a life move in his willingness to engage in this direction,”he told the Mail .
The diplomat, however, cautioned against expecting an instant solution.
” We must accept that there is a hard and long road ahead. But if everybody keeps working hard and approaches the negotiations in a spirit of trying to find a solution then there is no reason why we should not get one.”
He said Cypriots should be positive in a sustained way instead of a burst of euphoria that would lead to disappointment later.
” Even when things are looking bad, people have to continue to support the two leaders to find a solution and not let themselves get distracted by leaks about this or that,”he said.
” In other words, don’t get disappointed if a solution does not happen straight away.”
In Ankara, the Turkish Daily Newsyesterday warned that ” the positive climate might be ruined if the EU sticks to its decision to admit Cyprus as a full member before a solution.”
Turkish Cypriot newspapers appear positive about recent developments but maintain some reservations.
Papapetrou said on Thursday the government was cautiously optimistic, adding that at this stage there were no indications that Turkish policy on Cyprus had changed. He said things would become clearer as the dialogue on substantive issues progressed.
Denktash has also cautioned against high hopes that the recent thaw in relations would lead to a quick solution to the island’s 27-year-long division.
But UN envoy for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto appeared hopeful on Thursday that a political settlement could be found within the next six months.
