President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias said on Thursday that the Turkish side had shifted its stance on the issue of executive powers, in the context of negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem, adding that the new revised proposals on governance would be sent to experts for further consideration.
Speaking on his return to the Presidential Palace from his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, President Christofias said the meeting scheduled for October 2 has been postponed and that two or more meetings would be held per week.
''We had a tete-a-tete meeting. It was short because I will be departing for Brussels. We have decided that the proposals given by the two sides on the issue of governance, the new revised proposals, will be sent to the experts for further processing,'' he said.
He added that the meeting scheduled for October 2 has been postponed and that meetings would be held on October 7, 8, 14 and 15.
''We will hold two meetings per week and will see if we can arrange more,'' President Christofias said.
Asked if the new proposals bring the two sides closer together, President Christofias said ''the proposals are, in any case, improved,'' adding that ''there is a shift by the Turkish side on the issue of the executive powers.''
To a comment that there have been suggestions at the talks that the president and the vice-president should be elected by the senate, of a reunited Cyprus, President Christofias said ''we have our views, which we will discuss, in any case, and of course our reservations.''
''We have a different view. We want the President and the Vice-President to be elected by the people,'' he added.
Replying to questions, President Christofias said ''today we just chatted about the procedure and of course exchanged views in a broader manner, in a friendly spirit.''
Invited to say if the issue of property would be discussed during the next meeting, since the proposals on governance would be sent to the experts, President Christofias said ''Yes, I think so.''
Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
President Christofias and Talat have been engaged in UN-led direct negotiations since September 2008, with an aim to reunite the island.
