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Criminal prosecution against father, Social Services officials, members of police and others.
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Main News
Anastasiades: Pursuits for two states have no place in Cyprob peace efforts
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations,
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades said Friday that positions in favour of two states and sovereign equality have no place in attempts to resolve of the Cyprus problem, the dailies report.
Politis reports that Anastasiades’ comment came as an immediate response to statements issued in the north by Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu, TC leader Ersin Tatar and ‘foreign minister’ Tahsin Ertugruloglu following their meeting on Friday to prepare and coordinate ahead of the informal Geneva summit.
Politis reports that Cavusoglu reiterated Turkey’s and the TC side’s pursuit for a two-state solution with sovereign equality, and stressed the need for an alteration of UN parameters. Cavusoglu also said that in Geneva, Turkey and the TC side have no intention of resuming talks from where they left off in Crans-Montana. Politis reports that Cavusoglu also said TCs do not trust the EU, adding that both Tatar and Ertugruloglu reiterated that the EU cannot be impartial in negotiations.
However, Phileleftheros reports that Cavusoglu appeared to take a positive approach to EU presence in Geneva. The paper reports that Cavusoglu said that Turkey expects all parties, including observers, to table their opinions with honesty. Cavusoglu said that if common ground is found at the informal summit, negotiations can resume with new parameters, Phileleftheros reports.
Haravgi reports that before the Geneva summit, the TC side will fly to Ankara for a final meeting with Turkey, with the two parties to then depart for Geneva from there.
Phileleftheros, which posits that the Turkish side’s pursuits are a recipe for a non-solution, reports that Anastasiades in response clarified that positions seeking a two-state solution and sovereign equality have no place at Cyprus problem talks, since they assume in advance that sovereignty exists. The paper writes that Anastasiades said that the GC side is seeking a solution within UN parameters and one that builds upon existing work and convergences. Anastasiades said the aim of the new peace initiative is to transform the Republic of Cyprus into a bicommunal federal state, “which will not be transformed into a protectorate of Anakara, which will safeguard the rights of all Cypriot citizens, be they Greek Cypriot or Turkish Cypriot.”
Anastasiades said the GC side has never striven to assume sovereignty through political equality, neither in discussions on the matter nor in the interpretation of UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 716, which he said does not necessarily require a TC positive vote on all decisions. Anastasiades said he accepts a positive vote, if and when a proposal tabled before the Cabinet could affect the interests of the TC community, adding that this would also depend on the existence of an effective deadlock-breaking mechanism, the dailiesreport.
He also called on the political leadership to stop trying to dictate to him that he must accept positions without first negotiating and without securing things in return for the GC side. Politis reports this is something Anastasiades has been constantly reiterating over the past few days, indicating his intentions ahead of the Geneva summit.
Politis reports that on the reactions to the on-air spat between Dendias and Cavusoglu. The paper writes that the majority of parties in Nicosia and Athens viewed Dendia’s statements as positive and as correctly calling out Turkish provocations. Contrastingly, Turkish press viewed Dendias’ statements as provocative and embarrassing, since Ankara was attempting to mend relations. Citing diplomatic sources, Politis reports that Dendias’ contacts with both Cavusoglu and the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it became clear that Turkey was unwilling to budge in its positions as regards matters open for discussion. The paper writes that during his tete-a-tete with Dendias, Erdogan also raised a series of issues relating to Greco-Turkish relations, throwing in historical references and attributing blame to Greece. The paper writes that this approach led Dendias to contact the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in order to coordinate his response, which was seen during the press conference that followed.
Politis reports that Athens appears ready to promote a positive agenda with Turkey despite their differences, noting that it proposed 15 areas of cooperation in the economic field while Turkey tabled its own proposals for cooperation. The paper writes that the sole condition for Athens is a continuation of de-escalation in the region and respect for international law and the EU acquis.
The dailies report that the day after the heated press conference between Dendias and Cavusoglu after their meeting in Ankara, both Foreign Ministers travelled to Cyprus for different reasons. Cavusoglu flew to the north for the meeting with Tatar and Ertugruloglu, while Dendias participated in a meeting in Paphos with his Cypriot, Israeli, and UAE counterparts.
Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said the quadrilateral meeting was of symbolic importance, pointing to a new era for the region driven by a common vision for stability, prosperity and peace. Christodoulides said he also briefed his counterparts on latest Cyprus problem developments, noting that all agreed “that a reunified Cyprus must be a functional, viable sovereign state, with no foreign interference and anachronistic systems that have no place in the 21st century.”
Anastasiades said the meeting was proof that Cyprus constitutes a stabilising factor and has over the last few years developed close friendships with all countries in the region and beyond, as well as with countries in the Arabian Gulf. He added that Cyprus is not seeking to exclude anyone, noting that Turkey can participate as long as it respects international law.
Meanwhile, the dailies report that Erdogan threatened repercussions after a court in the north terminated the teaching of the Quran in schools, with Erdogan’s comments drawing fire from the TC community, including former leader Mustafa Akinci, who said Erdogan’s approach openly shows that he views the north as a ‘vilayet’ (province) of Turkey.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Positions in favour of two states and sovereign equality have no place in attempts to resolve of the Cyprus problem
>> GC side is seeking a solution within UN parameters and one that builds upon existing work and convergences
>> Aim of new initiative is to transform the RoC into a bicommunal federal state, not into a Turkish protectorate, which will safeguard the rights of all Cypriot citizens, both GC and TC
>> GC side has never striven to assume sovereignty through political equality, which involves a TC positive vote only on matters that could affect the interests of the TC community
Cavusoglu (Turkey)
>> Turkey and TC side will pursue solution of two states and sovereign equality
>> UN parameters can be altered
>> In Geneva, Turkey and the TC side will not consent to resuming talks from where they left off in Crans-Montana
Christodoulides
>> FMs of Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and UAE agreed that that a reunified Cyprus must be a functional, viable sovereign state, with no foreign interference and anachronistic systems that have no place in the 21st century