President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias has called on the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to appeal to Turkey so that the Turkish Cypriot side will become more logical during the ongoing discussions for a Cyprus settlement.
Christofias and Ban reviewed the course of the direct talks underway in Nicosia between the leaders of the two communities, during their meeting on Sunday at the UN headquarters.
Sources said the Secretary General was positive towards the need to implement further confidence-building measures, including opening the Limnitis checkpoint.
“It seems there is chemistry and that satisfies me”, said President Christofias, expressing certainty that Ban, who showed warm interest, will seriously take into consideration his appeals.
President Christofias said he called on the Secretary General to urge Turkey so that the Turkish Cypriot side will become more logical on the issues that are under discussion.
“I had the opportunity to give our own estimation on the course of the direct dialogue and to ask the SG to appeal to Turkey, because I believe that irrespective of my friend Mehmet Ali Talat’s reaction, the key lies with Ankara. This way the Turkish Cypriot side will become more logical on the issues that we are discussing on governance and not merely the course of the negotiations”, the President said.
He made it clear that the Greek Cypriot side will show flexibility and understanding but “will not deviate from the fundamental principles for a solution to the Cyprus problem”.
“There will be understanding and flexibility on my part, but the principles which deal with the unity of the state, the economy and the people, will not be violated by me. We are an EU country and a federation should be functional and to be able to operate without special problems so that we can play a positive role within the EU”, the President told journalists.
Commenting on statements made by Talat that President Christofias is slowing down the process, Christofias expressed his regret pointing out that exactly the opposite is taking place.
“I read that Mr. Talat accused me of protracting. What can I say, instead of me saying this, I hear it from Mr, Talat. I am sorry about these positions; there is no way Demetris Christofias will deviate from the fundamental principles concerning a Cyprus settlement. I conveyed this message to Mr. Talat and I convey it once again from inside the UN headquarters”, he said.
Asked if the UNSG has plans to become actively involved in the process, President Christofias said that it is too early to talk about more involvement on the UNSG’s or anyone else’s part since there is a procedure underway and the key players have been appointed by the UN.
“I repeat, however, the UNSG is showing a warm, personal interest and I think that says a lot”, President Christofias said.
He said that the whole procedure is part of the Secretary-General’s good offices mission and according to the Security Council decisions. “We should never forget this, that the procedure is a UN procedure”, the President said, adding that the talks are bicommunal”. As far as Turkey is concerned, he said, the international aspects of the Cyprus problem will be raised on the negotiating table, but the talks are bicommunal. We have an agreement between the two communities and not between two states, President Christofias added.
On Monday, President Christofias will address the High-level Meeting on Africa's Development Needs and later will meet Archbishop of America Demetrios.
Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou, who is accompanying the President, will meet his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice, at the 27 EU foreign Ministers meeting with Rice. He will also meet US Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island’s 37 percent.
