President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades stressed Monday that there is still a way to go before the two communities in Cyprus reach the desired outcome that would pave the way for the commencement of a substantive dialogue for a solution of the Cyprus problem.
President Anastasiades was speaking after a meeting he held with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, at a restaurant in the UN-controlled buffer zone, opposite Ledra Palace hotel, in the capital Nicosia.
Both leaders made a brief statement to the press after the meeting, each in his own language.
President Anastasiades pointed out that he has undertaken the initiative for an informal meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader with the aim to find out whether they can agree on a joint statement that would pave the way for the resumption of talks, leading to a political settlement.
Describing the meeting, which lasted two and a half hours, as useful, President Anastasiades noted that the meeting allowed the two sides to better understand the positions of the other side as well as the reasons why there has not been a joint statement so far.
President Anastasiades said that “unfortunately we still have a way to go until we reach the desired outcome, that would allow the commencement of a substantive dialogue among the leaders of the two communities and that would create prospects of a successful outcome”.
"Our intention is to continue the consultations between the negotiators of the two communities with a view to concluding the joint statement that would allow us to resume the talks", he pointed out.
In his statement, the Turkish Cypriot leader said that upon the election of President Anastasiades in February 2013, the Turkish Cypriot side “declared its readiness to resume negotiations from where they were left off”.
However, he went on to say, “Mr Anastasiades insisted on a joint statement for the resumption of fully fledged negotiations and in time he turned this into a precondition”.
Eroglu claimed that “the reason why the joint statement exercise has not produced a result is the Greek Cypriot side’s efforts to include issues of substance that need to be discussed within the framework of the comprehensive settlement negotiations in the joint statement”.
During the meeting, he added, the Turkish Cypriot side proposed “new formulas in order to overcome these difficulties”.
He added that “all issues of substance raised within the joint statement are elements of the Governance and Power Sharing chapter. This is why I proposed to Mr Anastasiades that we resume the fully fledged negotiations with the Governance and Power Sharing chapter as soon as he returns from his visit abroad with a view to concluding them”.
Eroglu said that during their meeting he reiterated his proposal of 30 of May 2013 to visit the Apostolos Andreas Monastery, situated in the northern Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus, together with President Anastasiades.
“I think the realization of such a visit before Christmas will give a positive message to our respective publics”, Eroglu said.
He added that “the necessary basis exists in the form of convergences which are on the negotiation table. I am ready to sit at the table without any preconditions upon Mr Anastasiades’ return from abroad”.
President Anastasiades arrived at the venue first accompanied by the Greek Cypriot negotiator at the Cyprus talks Andreas Mavroyiannis, the Director of the President’s Diplomatic Office Nicos Christodoulides and another officer.
Eroglu arrived some minutes later, escorted by his adviser and Turkish Cypriot negotiator Osman Ertug and two officers.
The meeting was covered by Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot media, as well as foreign news agencies correspondents.
President Anastasiades took last Thursday the initiative to invite Eroglu to this informal meeting with a view to conclude a joint declaration that will pave the way for the resumption of direct talks on the Cyprus problem.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Repeated UN-led efforts to find a negotiated settlement have so far failed. A renewed effort has begun in September this year, with meetings between the two negotiators.
