Progress on talks will be interdependent indicates Papadopoulos

Progress on the technical talks between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities will be interdependent, Cyprus President Tassos Papapdopoulos hinted on Wednesday.

In a joint statement issued after a meeting in Paris on February 28, 2006, between UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the Cypriot President said “the leaders of both communities (in Cyprus) have agreed that bicommunal discussions on a series of issues, agreement on which is needed for the benefit of all Cypriots, will be undertaken at the technical level”.

There has since been serious difference of opinion between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots about the substance of such talks, with Greek Cypriots arguing for matters of substance and Turkish Cypriots arguing for humanitarian issues only.

Papadopoulos said with respect to the talks, “We are ready whenever we are invited to participate.”

Invited to say if the technical committees will discuss technical issues and confidence building measures, Papadopoulos said that he has also noted in the most explicit and formal way that “in the new process, which we hope to begin, issues regarding preparatory talks to solve the Cyprus question, matters aiming at solving problems which come up and topics that could create a good climate will be discussed.’

He said “progress in one issue depends on the other”.