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Cypriot President Demetris Christofias said on Tuesday he was disappointed with peace talks with rival Turkish Cypriots on the ethnically divided island, but that he was still optimistic there could be a deal.
Christofias, who leads the Greek Cypriot community, started talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat on Sept. 3, hoping to end a conflict which has dragged on for decades and troubles Turkey's bid to join the European Union.
But his comments during an official visit to Bulgaria added to a chorus of sentiment expressed both publicly and privately that an initial burst of optimism when talks started could have been misplaced.
"I feel huge disappointment," Christofias told journalists, saying that the two sides still held diverging views.
Cyprus has been divided since a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek inspired coup. While both sides agree that the island should be united as a bizonal bicommunal federation, there are deep-rooted differences on issues ranging from power-sharing to territorial adjustments and property disputes.
Christofias said he took issue with public comments from Talat that there were two countries in Cyprus and what was being discussed was their unification.
MAIN HURDLES
That debate goes to the heart of the Cyprus logjam, where Greek Cypriots view a settlement as an evolution of the existing Republic of Cyprus rather than a federation created by the powers vested in it by the two sides.
The Republic of Cyprus is run by the Greek Cypriots, who represent the island in the European Union. North Cyprus is a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state recognised only by Ankara.
"This is one of the main hurdles. We are either talking about a federation or a confederation. A confederation will never be accepted by the (Greek) Cypriot community," Christofias said, speaking through an interpreter.
Christofias said he was optimistic about the outcome of the talks, despite the problems. A fourth round of negotiations is slated for Oct. 10.
The president said his country backed Turkey's efforts to join the EU because the membership would force Ankara to implement democratic reforms and end its "occupation in Cyprus". Turkey has 30,000 troops in northern Cyprus.
"It would have to recognise the Cyprus Republic and open its airports and ports for our planes and ships," he added. "Based on that we fully support Turkey entering the European Union."
