News from Cyprus

CYPRUS MAIL

Moller to leave Cyprus post at end of March

Moller will be leaving his post at the end of the month UNFICYP confirmed yesterday. UNFICYP Spokesman Jose Luis Diaz, responding to reports over the past few days that Moller would be replaced, said the Danish diplomat would be leaving at the end of the month. “His contract is up,” Diaz said, adding that Moller’s last major task in Cyprus would be to facilitate the setting up of the first expected meeting between Christofias and Talat... Diaz did not want to comment yesterday on speculation that it was the Turkish side that did not want Moller involved in Cyprus talks due to its long-standing perception that Moller was biased towards the Greek Cypriot position... Unconfirmed reports touted Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini as a possible replacement for Moller. Tagliavini served as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Georgia and head of the UN Observer Mission in the country.

CYPRUS MAIL

Christofias optimistic on Ledra deal before Talat talks

Christofias yesterday said he hoped his forthcoming meeting with Talat would bring the opening of Ledra Street. From now on until the day of the meeting, discussions surrounding the opening of the checkpoint are expected to be complete he added. “I want to believe that on the day of the meeting, we will not need to make special discussions (over Ledra Street) and any pending issues will be sorted so we can announce the openin of Ledra Street,” he said before departing for Athens yesterday. He pointed out however that the opening of the Limnitis checkpoint was not expected to happen any time soon. Christofias said the aim was to open the Limnitis checkpoint as well but not as soon as he was expecting Ledra to open. According to the CyBC last night, the government has put forward four points regarding the opening of Ledra Street. The first is for the UN to have control over the checkpoint. A second is that under no circumstances should Turkish troops be able to cross Ledra Stree in any way. Another point was the renovation of the old buildings either side of the checkpoint. And finally the desire to work on the opening of Limnitis was reiterated.

Tuesday, March 4

FINANCIAL MIRROR

Karoyan likely to become new Cyprus House President

The House of Representatives plenary will elect the new President of the parliament on Thursday, after Christofias was elected President. DIKO President Marios Karoyan is widely expected to be become the new President of the House after his party joined the government of Christofias in a grand coalition that also includes the socialist EDEK.

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

UNSC expects “something new” on Cyprus issue

There is this general expectation in the UN Security Council that something new might be happening now on the Cyprus issue, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, Vitaly Churkin has said. Asked by a Turkish reporter during a press briefing on the Council's programme of work, if there is more hope for a Cyprus solution after the presidential elections in the island, Churkin said “On Cyprus, I might say that there’s this general expectation in the Council that something new might be happening now on the Cyprus issue”. “As to the treating of the situation the Security Council will not be the first to inject eject in the situation. There are other formats as you know, diplomatically to deal with this matter. So the Security Council will be observing the developments very closely I can assure you,” the Russian Ambassador concluded.

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Greek President: Time to end the “unaccaptable occupation” of Cyprus

President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias expressed the conviction that the time has come to end the “unacceptable occupation of Cyprus”. Addressing the state dinner given in Athens in honour of Christofias, President Papoulias reiterated Greece’s steadfast support towards Cyprus’ struggle for justice. “We would like to reassure you that we will continue to be by your side, to see, soon, a free and reunited Cyprus with all its citizens in prosperity”, he said. President Papoulias expressed the conviction that “the time has come to end the unacceptable occupation of Cyprus, a member state of the EU, by Turkey, in order to see the last wall, still dividing a European capital, fall”. He also described the July 8th Agreement, as "an important step towards the above goal" and added that the Agreement should be implemented as soon as possible. Addressing Christofias, he said: “You are assuming the highest rank of the Republic of Cyprus, at a time, which is still difficult”. He continued by saying that “we look forward to a solution of the Cyprus problem without suffocating timeframes, a viable and functional solution, which will ensure the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops and settlers, which will ensure the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus in the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation”. The Cyprus solution, he added, “should be based on the relevant UN decisions and resolutions, respect the European values and principles, fully respect the human rights, without foreign interventions or arbitrations”. Christofias arrived Tuesday in Athens for a working visit, during which he will meet with his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias, the Greek Premier Kostas Karamanlis and the leaders of the Greek political parties.

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

President Christofias arrives in Athens on working visit

Speaking at Larnaca airport upon departure for Athens, Christofias said he will brief the Greek political leadership on Cyprus efforts and will be informed on issues of Greek concern such as the on going dispute on the FYROM issue, noting that the Cyprus Government position is to support the decisions of the Greek Government. As regards the consultations which take place for a meeting with Talat, Christofias, noted that for him the nature of such a meeting is to explore the intentions of his interlocutor. “I would like to ascertain the intentions of Mr. Talat, my intentions are the best, to start a dialogue on the basis of the Agreement of the 8th July”, Christofias said, noting that he wishes to see which were the obstacles that prevented the implementation of the Agreement. Responding to questions on the opening of Ledra Street, Christofias expressed the hope that by the meeting all discussions on the issue will be resolved and the opening of the street will be announced. He further repeated his call for less public statements on either side in Cyprus, if serious work is to be done towards a negotiated settlement. Asked whether he discussed during a meeting this morning with Syrian Charge d’ Affaires to Cyprus, the issue of illegal immigrants coming to the south through the north, Christofias said that on Friday Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister, will visit Cyprus to convey to him a message from President Bashar al-Assad for discussions on issues of common interest. He also described as a pleasant development an invitation extended to him by Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt to visit Sweden, conveyed this morning by Ambassador of Sweden to Cyprus Igmar Lindahl.

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Swedish PM invites Cyprus President to visit Sweden

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has extended an invitation to Christofias to visit Sweden. In statements to the press after a meeting with Christofias, Ambassador of Sweden to Cyprus Igmar Lindahl said he conveyed Christofias the invitation by the Swedish Prime Minister, noting that he also expressed his country’s support for the future efforts Christofias will make on the Cyprus issue. “I had a very good meeting with the new President of Cyprus Mr. Christofias and I wanted also to express my best wishes to him,” Lindahl said. Asked how Sweden will contribute to efforts for a Cyprus settlement, the Ambassador said “the Cyprus problem is first of all a problem for the Cypriots,” adding that “we are hoping that the matter will be brought forward at the meeting of the two leaders and Sweden like the other European countries, would like to support efforts in any way we can.” On bilateral relations, Lindahl said “our relations are excellent, which is also shown by the fact that our Prime Minister would very much like to see Mr. Christofias in Sweden to continue our good relations so far.” On the timing of Christofias’ visit to Sweden, he said that Christofias has lots of things to do “and when it’s convenient for his schedule we hope to see him in Stockholm.”

COMMENTARY

FINANCIAL TIMES

Cyprus must overcome challenges and set up a partnership state by Mr Mehmet Ali Talat.

“Last month's elections on the Greek Cypriot side have opened a new chapter in the history of our island. The newly elected leader of the Greek Cypriots, Demetris Christofias, and I now share a grave responsibility: to reach a settlement for Cyprus acceptable to both peoples, based on political equality in a new partnership structure. Much has changed since 2004, when the Turkish Cypriot people voted in favour of the comprehensive settlement plan proposed by then United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan, while Greek Cypriots voted against. Ironically, a few days later the Greek Cypriots, who had rejected the UN settlement proposal, were admitted to full membership of the European Union, whereas we, who had just voted to end the division of the island, remained excluded. Despite that disappointment, we remain committed to a European approach and a UN-sponsored comprehensive solution for Cyprus. It will be a comprehensive solution, with a great deal of input from our friends in the EU; but the process must be led by the UN. For four decades the UN has been at the centre of peace-making efforts. There is a vast accumulation of work on the Cyprus problem, which will be the basis of any future discussion and should not be wasted. There will be difficult issues to deal with. Mr Christofias starts from a 75 per cent No vote, whereas I start from a 65 per cent Yes vote. The questions of property rights, of the preservation of our cultural heritage, of security arrangements, and most importantly for partnership in the future government of our island, will not be easy to resolve. But they can and must be resolved. The details can be worked out; the goal is to establish a new partnership state in Cyprus, based on the political equality of the two peoples and the equal status of two constituent states. Only a settlement on that basis will be approved by the peoples of the island in a simultaneous and separate popular vote. The election result demonstrates the desire of Greek Cypriots to change and move forward. I am unreservedly committed to the search for a settlement. I believe a settlement to be in the interests of my people, of the Greek Cypriots, of the island as a whole and of the European Union and the wider international community. I am realistic. There will be tough talking ahead, and problems will inevitably arise. But I am determined to overcome them.”

Mehmet Ali Talat,

President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus