The UN’s chief mediator for Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, arrived on Monday in an effort to restart the peace talks that were stalled last year when Turkey sent a survey ship into Cyprus commercial waters, as international energy giants were conducting exploration drills.
The Norwegian will host a joint dinner with the two community leaders – Nicos Anstasiades and recently-elected Mustafa Akinci – on Monday, May 11, at the iconic Ledra Palace hotel, with in the UN-controlled “buffer zone” dividing the two sides since 1974.
This is the first time the two leaders will meet after Akinci won the leadership elections in the north last month, giving political analysts a mild hope of progress as both men seem willing to negotiate a settlement.
Eide’s first meeting was scheduled on Monday afternoon with Akinci and Tuesday morning with Anastasiades.
He will remain on the island until May 12 and will hold meetings with other relevant interlocutors from the two sides to finalise arrangements for the resumption of full-fledged negotiations.
The Turkish Cypriot leader, whose comments about finding a local solution to the division and occupation were criticised by Ankara, will see Turkish President Racip Teyep Erdogan on Wednesday.
President Anastasiades said on Sunday that developments during the current period create hope for the beginning of substantial negotiations that will lead to a permanent solution to the Cyprus problem.
He called on everyone to cooperate “so that we can all form a united front in order to overcome the difficulties ahead. This is the only way,” he added, “which will help us to tell our children that they don’t have to migrate to find jobs and to face the economic instability,” noting that economic problems get worse due to the fact that there is no settlement of the Cyprus problem or because there is uncertainty among both the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots.
He added that a solution needs to be just and viable, on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation that will safeguard the human rights and the fundamental principles of the EU.
During his visit to Ankara, Akinci will be accompanied by the newly appointed negotiator Ozdil Nami, who has taken part at various levels of the negotiations during the past 15 years. His appointment was hailed by Turkish Cypriot politicians.
Meanwhile, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker sent a congratulatory letter to Akinci stating that the determination to reach a comprehensive agreement in the island is welcomed and emphasised the importance of resumption of negotiations as soon as possible.
President Juncker stated in the letter that an agreement reached in Cyprus will be for the benefit of both communities in Cyprus, as well as for the European Union and added that European Commission will continue to give full support to the negotiations to be restarted under the auspices of the UN.
