Cyprus President Demetris Christofias has analysed the progress achieved so far during his meetings with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, outlined his expectations from the negotiating process, referred to the difficulties that may arise, explained the government positions and his vision for a unified Cyprus.
The President told his audience in Sweden that future generations in Cyprus must live without the agony of survival, as other generations have experienced, and expressed hope that the Talat will overcome his problems.
Speaking at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, President Christofias said that his vision is a free from the Turkish troops Republic of Cyprus, a homeland of the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who will live together under the umbrella of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, without any rights of intervention or guarantor powers.
Replying to a question about the property issue, President Christofias acknowledged that this will be one of the difficult issues during the direct talks with Talat and said that it will be the second issue on the agenda of the talks, after governance.
“Unfortunately, in a very well planned way, the Turkish side has encroached Greek Cypriot properties, a development that has made the negotiation on that issue very difficult,” President Christofias stressed.
Christofias noted that in an agreed solution, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots should retain the right to choose how to use their properties.
“They should have the right of free access to their property, the right to get compensated for it and the right to exchange it,” President Christofias said, and added: “Our side insists that all property owners should retain all three rights, but the Turkish side is in favour of the latter.”
On implementing a solution, Christofias pointed out that it would be more difficult to implement the solution than to agree on. Nevertheless, he said, an eventual solution will be implemented gradually.
The President referred also to the issue of the illegal Turkish settlers, saying that the government, taking into account humanitarian factors, has made compromises.
“I have already said that I am ready to accept 50 thousand settlers as legal citizens of the Republic o Cyprus,” the President said and added that the large majority of Turkish settlers should return back to Turkey,
Regarding the issue of Turkey’s guarantor status, President Christofias made it clear that it is time for the Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, to get detached from their mother-lands (Greece and Turkey, both of which are guarantor powers according to the 1960 treaties that established the Republic of Cyprus.”
Referring to Turkey’s EU accession course, President Christofias stressed that the country should fulfill its obligations towards the EU and normalise its relations with the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member since 2004. At the same time he noted that in Turkey there is a struggle that will shape its future, between premier Erdogan’s party and the military.
Asked about a UN-proposed solution plan (Anan plan) of 2004, President Christofias said that it was an imposed plan that was rejected by the overwhelming majority of the Greek Cypriots in a referendum in April 2004.
“Of course, Talat will insist on bringing some provisions of the Anan plan, because they are in favour of the Turkish Cypriot side. I will set my positions, which are based on principles, on UN resolutions, the High Level agreements and the international and the European law,” Christofias pointed out.
In addition, the President of the Republic of Cyprus said that after a series of meetings with Talat, “we have agreed on common principles. that the solution should be based on a federal, bi-zonal, bi-communal state, with one sovereignty, one citizenship, and one international personality.”
“We can build a federal, multicultural state, by avoiding what separates us, and promoting what connects us,” he said and concluded: “It is the time for the new generation to live without the agony of their survival, and without the psychological barriers that we used to have for many years. This is my vision and I hope Talat will overcome his problems, in order to achieve our target.”
