Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos believes that the current period could serve towards preparing the ground for a new UN initiative towards a settlement.
Commenting on reports that the UN were preparing for a new initiative in 2008, President Papadopoulos pointed out the position of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon that if the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides were willing to begin substantive negotiations, then he would examine the possibility of launching a fresh initiative.
Speaking on Sunday during a visit to Kato Pyrgos, in the Paphos area, President Papadopoulos reiterated his position that this period should not be wasted but used to prepare for issues of substance, as provided for in the UN Security Council resolution of June.
”Preparation is not something we have discovered. It is the quintessence of the Gambari process. So, this period, and we are ready for it, could be used to begin work at working groups to prepare the ground, so that the Secretary General can have additional motives and more reasons to begin his initiative,” he added.
Referring to the opening of the Ledra Street crossing point in Nicosia, President Papadopoulos said that in order for it to open the Turkish Cypriot side should agree to the opening of the Pyrgos-Limnitis crossing point, on the northwest.
”The two are connected. In order for the Ledra Street crossing point to open, which is a very symbolic move but at the same time it will help mainly the Turkish Cypriot community, the Turks must show their good will, allowing the opening of this crossing point. I do not agree with opening the one crossing point and not the other,” the President added.
Replying to questions about Ledra Street, President Papadopoulos said that ”when the Turkish Cypriots, the Turkish army, is saying that the buffer zone between the two crossing points is under the control of the Turkish forces, it is not possible for us to accept the opening of the crossing point.”
”We have said, and I reiterated this to the UN Secretary General and I reiterate it now, that irrespective of our positions on where the buffer zone begins – something which will emerge in time – the moment the UN secure the consent of the Turks that the buffer zone is under the absolute control of the UN, we are ready to open the crossing point, as long as we get the consent of the Turkish Cypriots for the opening of the Limnitis crossing point,” he concluded.
Efforts to open a crossing point to and from the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus at Ledra street have so far failed because the Turkish military refuses to move from the vicinity and in addition it claims part of the buffer zone, created after the end of hostilities during the 1974 Turkish invasion.
