The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, have decided to intensify the UN-backed talks for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
On Wednesday the leaders met in the framework of the peace talks under the aegis of the UN and in statements to the press following the meeting, President Anastasiades said that they will be meeting twice a week, with a concrete agenda, to intensify consultations.
The first meeting has been scheduled for June 17.
The President told the press that if the intensification of talks leads to more convergences and given that there is a will, then there is hope for a solution to the Cyprus problem in 2016.
He describes today`s meeting as productive, noting that they discussed the methodology and also decided to speed up the talks. Thus they will be meeting twice a week, unless there is a serious obstacle.
The President said that the talks will be taking place with a specific agenda so that there is more intensive consultation on pending issues in order to achieve the intended convergences.
Asked about his proposal to the UNSG Special Envoy Espen Barth Eide to put down on paper the convergences and mutual understandings achieved so far and the differences which remain, the President said that it has been agreed that there is no need to record the convergences in a column, but rather to register the divergences.
He said that the focus is on this issue in order to have a separate discussion on outstanding differences for a specific aspect of the Cyprus problem in each of the meetings to follow. This, he added, “will enable us to have a more creative and productive discussion, in order to indicate whether, at last, we can achieve a comprehensive solution as soon as possible.”
Replying to another question whether today they touched upon the events in Istanbul which led to the postponement of scheduled meetings, the President said that the matter should be considered closed. He noted that “in general we should all acknowledge that no problems must be generated by either of the two sides which could put in doubt, undermine or in any way jeopardise the existing situation.”
Asked whether he remains hopeful for a solution in 2016, President Anastasiades said that if the intensification of talks leads to more convergences and given that there is a will, then there is hope and certainty for a solution to the Cyprus problem in 2016. He noted however that each side, and especially the one that creates some expectations towards specific directions, should realise that “the solution we are seeking is nothing more than what has been agreed as the basis of the talks.”
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. The two sides have been engaged in peace talks to find a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country, under a federal roof.