Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos briefed the members of the National Council Tuesday on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus problem, in the light of the July 8 agreement in Nicosia between the leaders of the two communities.
Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat had agreed to set up bicommunal technical committees and teams of experts to discuss day-to-day problems and issues of substance, with a view to pave the way for high level talks aiming to reach a settlement of the Cyprus problem.
Later in July, the Director of the the President’s Diplomatic Office Tasos Tzionis and the Turkish Cypriot leader’s aide Rasit Pertev began discussions aiming to implement the July 8 agreement.
In statements to the press after the meeting, Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardes said that there is no deadlock at the meetings of the two community representatives, Tasos Tzionis and Rasit Pertev, but noted that “there are some difficulties and some unjustified delays”.
He added that the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus Michael Moller, in the presence of whom seven meetings have already taken place, “is well aware of whom is to blame for the difficulties and the delays (at the discussions)”.
“Our issue now is not to start a blame game, but to overcome the difficulties and to avoid further delays. Our side will continue to display and prove that it has a constructive spirit and good will aiming to fully implement the July 8 agreement”, he said.
Tzionis and Pertev were expected to meet Tuesday after the August break.
Asked about a future meeting between Papadopoulos and Talat, Pashiardes said that the meeting will take place at the proper time, in order to be substantive.
“A meeting between the leaders should not be an end in itself, nor can it take place only to create impressions”, he said.
Replying to questions, the spokesman said that according to the July 8 agreement, matters of substance will be discussed at the first stage by working teams of experts.
The National Council is composed of two members of all parliamentary parties, but main opposition party Democratic Rally (DISY) suspended its participation in the National Council, due to “functional weaknesses and cover-up of dysfunctions of the Council”.
Pashiardes said that the National Council did not discuss any changes in the way it functions, a demand raised by DISY.
Also present at the meetings were former president George Vassiliou, Foreign Minister George Lillykas, and Tasos Tzionis.
