Visiting MEPs encouraged by political climate

Visiting MEPs, members of the Contact Group for relations with the Turkish Cypriot community, feel the prevailing political climate allows for optimism, informed sources told The Cyprus Weekly yesterday.

"They feel we – Cypriots – can now be optimistic, that all the right moves by our political leaders are taken," added the sources who asked for anonymity.

The MEPs, who arrived here on Wednesday, already met acting President Marios Garoyian and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, as well as EU ambassadors in Nicosia, other Greek and Turkish Cypriot politicians and technocrats.

Yesterday, they had a working luncheon with newly-arrived UN Special Representative Taye-Brook Zarihoun and then walked through the newly-opened Ledra Street crossing. Last night, they held a reception at the square there for mayors and civil society members.

Garoyian told reporters after his meeting with the Euro MPs that Group leader Francoise Grossetete had reiterated the European Parliament’s long-standing position that the right conditions should be created to enable the speedy reunification of Cyprus and its people.

Constructive

On his part, Garoyian stressed that the key to an overall solution to Cyprus lies in Ankara, and that "the focus of the international community should be on Turkey which has to feel the pressure for a more flexible policy on Cyprus.

"The international community seems to support President Christofias’ handling of the situation, it supports his initiatives and constructive moves that pave the way for talks on an overall settlement based on the July 8, 2006 agreement as well as other high-level ones," he added.

The Contact Group also took part in the monthly meeting of Greek and Turkish Cypriot parties meeting at the Ledra Palace under the auspices of the Slovak embassy.

A joint communique said the Group heard the party representatives from both sides exchange views on the current situation on the island and the possibility of a successful solution arising from the negotiations on a comprehensive settlement which are about to start.

Momentum

"The parties present put forward their assessment of the current situation and expressed the wish that the current improved climate and momentum be maintained by the political leadership avoiding negative public statements. They called on the European Union to do its utmost to support the negotiation process," it said.

An insider told The Weekly the Euro MPs did not have a chance to express any views, since they had to rush to another meeting.

"But they listened carefully to what all present had to say. Each party, as expected, put forward their own views with the ruling Akel party representative stressing, once again, that unless real progress is made at the technical committee level, the dialogue between the two leaders should be postponed," the insider said.

"Interestingly enough, Kutlay Erk of the Republican Turkish Party said this is a historic opportunity for an overall settlement since both leaders are truly keen to solve it and both know each other personally," the insider added.

Today, the Group will meet Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou, give a bicommunal press conference and then cross to the north to visit occupied Morphou, the mine in Skouriotissa and the Maronite village of Kormakitis.

Source: http://www.cyprusweekly.com.cy/default.aspx?FrontPageID=304_3 tomorrow (Saturday)