Front Page Headlines
‘Red’ in relaxations until we’re vaccinated
The rise in cases brings a reversal of plans.
- Informal five-party: The President in Athens for a coordination of moves
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‘We’re ready for a different solution’
Ersin Tatar exclusively to ‘Ph’: “We wish that our neighbours understand us.” The leader of the Turkish Cypriots records his positions ahead of Geneva.
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Main News
Anastasiades to travel to Athens to coordinate Cyprob positions
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades is set to travel to Athens on Wednesday to coordinate positions with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ahead of the informal five-party summit to be held in Geneva next week, the dailies report.
Preparations ahead of the summit scheduled for April 27-29 will also feature a National Council meeting, allowing the political leadership to examine all possible scenarios that may play out in Geneva. Haravgi reports the National Council will precede Anastasiades’ departure for Athens.
In statements on Sunday, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said the GC side is travelling to Geneva with the aim of securing a positive outcome, which he said would take the form of a resumption of formal negotiations from where they left off in Crans-Montana and will be based on the six points of the Guterres Framework, with the sole aim of agreeing on a bi-zonal, bicommunal federal (BBF) solution. Christodoulides said we should also take into consideration that in the past, both recent and distant, the GC side often arrived at meetings having at the back of its head the idea that Turkey’s stance will lead talks to an impasse, adding that the GC side has often been required to fall back.
Christodoulides said above all else, the GC side must clarify that it will not be a part of any discussion seeking to change the solution framework, regardless of whether this involves a two-state solution or a confederation, both of which are not up for discussion for the GC side. He added that the negotiating team is equipped with specific scenarios that remain within the boundaries of a BBF framework.
The GC side does not expect Geneva to bring about a solution to the Cyprus problem, but to at least mark the resumption of a substantive dialogue, DISY President Averof Neophytou said. Haravgi reports that Neophytou said his recent contacts in Berlin sought to clarify that progress in the Cyprus problem would assist in achieving progress in the EU’s goals and to enhance EU-Turkey relations. Neophytou is also set to depart for Brussels on Monday for contacts with European Parliament and Commission officials, to whom he said his message will also be conveyed, noting that the EU’s support is necessary if a positive outcome is to be achieved.
Politis reports that a week before he is set to depart for Geneva, TC leader Ersin Tatar continues to stand behind a two-state solution, which he describes as a new vision. Tatar said according to the dailies that chances of a federal solution ended with Crans-Montana, where the GC side abandoned talks. He added that it is not possible to return to the specific solution framework, since efforts for a federal solution have been exhausted. Rather, Tatar said his vision entails the cooperation of two equal, sovereign states that will be based on sovereign equality. Areas of cooperation could include water, natural gas, combatting crime, electricity, and other areas, Tatar said.
Regarding Varosha, Tatar said the area continues to be an important tourist destination, adding that the reopening of the fenced-off town is a “service to humanity.” Tatar said that in the framework of international law, property owners could apply with the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) to secure ownership rights. But Tatar also said that Varosha also hosts properties belonging to the Turkish Cypriot religious endowment foundation Evkaf which during British rule changed hands in a way that violated Evkaf regulations, noting that the foundation could in the coming period refer its case to the IPC.
In statements to Phileleftheros, Tatar said he hopes the new UN initiative will provide both sides with the opportunity to honestly express their feelings, noting that until today TCs were considered the weaker party and as outsiders. He said the TC side wants a solution and seeks to avoid “a new 1974”, clarifying that he is not willing to sign onto a wrong solution that could lead the island back to a pre-1974 situation. Tatar said the TC side is seeking a continuation of peace and stability, highlighting the importance of Turkish guarantees to protect the TC community.
Tatar told Phileleftheros that TCs have been running their own state since 1963 and are equally sovereign as GCs, noting that the Republic’s EU membership does not change the fact that TCs require their own sovereignty. Tatar said the accession of the Republic of Cyprus in the EU before securing a solution has had adverse consequences, since it meant that the EU can no longer be impartial. Tatar stressed that he is preparing to travel to Geneva with the aim of negotiating a solution, which he said must be different this time.
Haravgi reports that AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou expressed concern that a negative outcome in Geneva would result in partition, noting that given current reality in which the EU has backed down from the imposition of sanctions against Turkey, which is in turn now openly demanding two states and creating new faits accomplis in Varosha, Anastasiades must accept political equality as interpreted by the UN and be prepared to submit proposals that bridge differences on the six points of the Guterres Framework. Then, Kyprianou said, Anastasiades must be prepared to discuss the potential participation of TCs in the management of hydrocarbon funds and be ready to launch a discussion with Turkey on ways of cooperating on economic and trade matters, if Turkey assists in resolving the Cyprus problem appropriately.
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>> GC side aiming for positive outcome in Geneva, which would be the resumption of talks from where they left off and on the basis of the Guterres Framework
>> Sole aim is agreement on BBF solution
>> GC side refuses to discuss any changes to solution framework
Neophytou (DISY)
>> Cyprob progress could assist in achieving progress in EU goals, such as an enhancement of EU-Turkey relations
>> EU support is necessary if a positive outcome is to be achieved
Tatar
>> New vision of two states entails the cooperation of two equal, sovereign states
>> Areas of cooperation could include water, natural gas, combatting crime, electricity, and other areas
>> Efforts for federal solution exhausted at Crans-Montana, where GC side abandoned talks
>> Aim is to secure a solution that will not risk a return to pre-1974 situation
>> TC side seeking a continuation of peace and stability
>> Turkish guarantees important for protection of TC community
>> Republic’s EU accession has had adverse consequences, since EU can no longer be impartial
>> Reopening of Varosha a service to humanity
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> Negative outcome in Geneva risks bringing about partition
>> Anastasiades must be prepared to accept political equality as interpreted by the UN and to submit proposals to bridge differences on Guterres Framework
>> Anastasiades must be prepared to discuss the potential participation of TCs in the management of hydrocarbon funds
>> If Turkey assists in resolving the Cyprus problem appropriately, Anastasiades must be ready to launch a discussion with Turkey on ways of cooperating on economic and trade matters