* Guarantees will be the subject of a multilateral conference *
President Nicos Anastasiades said he is hopeful of substantial progress in the talks to reach a settlement to the island’s division within 2016, telling the association of the mayors that “there is understanding on a significant number of issues” during the talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and that “there has been progress in a number of issues”.
He said that he hoped that in 2016 “we will be in a position to tell the people of Cyprus that we are ridding ourselves of the Turkish occupation, we are reunifying our homeland, we are creating conditions of a modern, European, functional state, but especially securing the prospects and future of the whole of our people, whether Turkish Cypriots or Greek Cypriots”.
Addressing the 32nd annual general assembly of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, President Anastasiades said that, “we are still facing problems. But it was and remains obvious that 41 years after the Turkish invasion, some realities are creating the problems. And they must be addressed in an effective manner.”
He said that “no one is aiming to abolish the Republic of Cyprus” and that “what we are pursuing is the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus” into a “bizonal bicommunal federation”, adding that “the acquis communautaire, human rights, the four fundamental freedoms will necessarily be guaranteed”.
“I would like to believe that at the end we will arrive at an agreement which will not allow further existence of anachronistic institutions or agreements”, he said, adding that “Cyprus is and will remain an EU member”.
Earlier in the day and prior to his departure to meet Akinci at the UN compound at the Old Nicosia Airport, Anastasiades said that guarantor powers in Cyprus will have to consult with each other, when the issue of guarantees comes up.
He added that "this is not a matter of a five-party conference or not, it is a matter of a multilateral conference" with regards to an international treaty, in which other countries, apart form Cyprus, are also involved.
The President’s statement was made at the Presidential Palace, in Nicosia, prior to his departure for a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, in the framework of ongoing settlement talks. He was responding to a question, in relation to a statement made earlier today by Espen Barth Eide, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus.
According to the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, Greece, Turkey and the UK are guarantor powers of the Republic of Cyprus.
Greece has repeatedly stated that it does not wish to continue with the privilege, echoing the opinion of the Greek Cypriot side that the system of guarantees is anachronistic and not in line with a modern, European state.
President Anastasiades reiterated that the ongoing dialogue is Cypriot-led and made particular reference in upholding the legitimacy of the Republic of Cyprus.
"When the time comes to discuss guarantees, undoubtedly the guarantor powers will have to consult," he noted.
The President added that guarantees concern an international treaty, which will have no bearing on the agreement between the two sides in Cyprus.
Asked finally about the format of such a meeting, he said that this will be the last thing on his mind, in case a solution is found for the rest.
Meanwhile, Special Adviser of the UN Secretary General Espen Barth Eid said that at some stage a meeting with the participation of the guarantor countries will take place.
Speaking after a meeting with President Anastasiades, Eide said that the most issues of the Cyprus problem are for the Cypriots to decide but there are some issues with international nature that requires the involvement of the three guarantors.
“Tonight we have a leaders’ meeting between Anastasiades and Akinci and another on Sunday, which will be the last one this year. We are moving forward on many issues and it is very convenient and practical for me to have these meetings with the leaders just before the leaders’ meeting”, he said.
Eide stated that he informed President Anastasiades about his meetings in Ankara, which as he noted, were very constructive. He said that he had deep and good conversations and that it is part of our preparation for the very final phase, “which we don’t know when will happen but will happen someday and where the guarantor countries also need to be involved. So, there is serious engagement also from Turkey as well as from the other guarantor countries”, he added.
Eide clarified that the issue of guarantees is not on today’s agenda and expressed hope that there will soon be a final agreement on the property issue. However, he said, nothing will be final before we are at the end.
Asked if there will be a five part meeting at the final phase, Eide said that at some stage that will part of the process, because it is clear that we need the guarantors to deal with specific issues that pertain to them. “Most issues that we are discussing are for the Cypriots to decide, the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots through their leaders, but there are some issues with international nature and of course we cannot have a final settlement before they are involved in some form”, he added.
Eide stated however that when this will happen depends on the progress on other fronts and stressed that it is genuinely true that we do not have a time-line. “But there is also an understanding that we have to use our time properly and as the leaders said some meetings ago, they are increasingly confident and hopeful that a solution can be found in the near future and I agree with that”, he said.
Asked if he has any indications that Ankara is planning to change its position on the issue of guarantees, Eide said that he had good conversations with the Prime Minister and other officials in Ankara about this and other issues. “I feel that all guarantors, including Turkey, is looking forward to being able to see that this conflict is finally solved and they all know that they have to do their part for getting there”, he said.
Replying to a question about the forthcoming meetings of the two leaders he said that this is actually a topic of the discussions for today and Sunday. “So, when it comes to schedule that will be announced by the leaders, probably on Sunday or immediately after Sunday. What is clear is that we will use January actively”, he concluded.
