UN special adviser Espen Barth Eide with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı (left) and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades (right)
The positive mood surrounding Cyprus’s peace negotiations picked up after the island’s leaders announced substantive talks would begin at the end of this month.
Some of the thorniest issues preventing a reunification deal on the island will be discussed by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı and his Greek Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades when they next meet, a United Nations intermediary announced on Wednesday.
UN special adviser Espen Barth Eide said following talks between the two leaders that they had instructed their respective negotiators to work on these core differences before meeting again on 29 June.
MEETING AGAIN IN 12 DAYS
The main issues preventing a deal on a united Cyprus include governance, property, territory and security.
“Upon completing the baseline assessment, the leaders are now entering into substantive negotiations on unresolved core issues,” Mr Eide told reporters in a press conference on Wednesday, where he was flanked by the two community leaders.
“The leaders agreed that these negotiations will be the centrepiece of their work from now on and that they will be dealt with in a holistic and interdependent manner.
“Therefore, Mr Anastasiades and Mr Akıncı have tasked their negotiators to focus their work on a specific set of core issues across chapters.”
Wednesday was the third meeting between the two community leaders since April, when Mr Akıncı’s election to the Turkish Cypriot presidency raised hopes for a deal.
ANASTASIADES ‘CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMSITIC’
Mr Anastasiades, president of the internationally-recognised Republic of Cyprus, said the talks had not yet entered deep waters but added they were cautiously optimistic.
He was quoted by the Famagusta Gazette as saying: “Our effort is for a solution to be found at the earliest possible. That, of course, will depend on the course of the dialogue.
“Therefore, we are all cautiously optimistic that, with the prevailing atmosphere and the work that is being done, it is possible to have a happy conclusion, but, I repeat, we are cautiously optimistic in order to see, when we enter the final negotiation, what it is that unites us, what it is that divides us, and what are those things that could unite us – and to overcome problems”.
AKINCI: WE ALL WANT A FEDERAL SOLUTION
Speaking after his return to the North, Mr Akıncı said his objective was for a comprehensive solution in Cyprus.
“Losing time will not benefit any side. The aim of all of us is for a federal structure that is accept by both side, that saves future generations from uncertainty, that places the Turkish Cypriot community into international law and that is made up of two founder states.”
He said that he had discussed confidence-building measures with Mr Anastasiades but that these would be revealed when they are ready to be announced.
The two had already agreed to open more border crossings between the island’s north and south in an attempt to build confidence between the two sides.
In full: Espen Barth Eide’s statement
“The Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Mustafa Akıncı, and the Greek Cypriot leader, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, held their third meeting today. With strong determination, and driven by their joint commitment, they pursued their goal of reaching a comprehensive settlement as soon as possible.
Today, the leaders jointly reviewed the work achieved by their negotiators to date. They welcomed the successful conclusion of the baseline assessment that they had entrusted to the negotiators in their first meeting on 15 May 2015.
“Upon completing the baseline assessment, the leaders are now entering into substantive negotiations on unresolved core issues. The leaders agreed that these negotiations will be the centrepiece of their work from now on and that they will be dealt with in a holistic and interdependent manner. Therefore, Mr. Anastasiades and Mr. Akıncı have tasked their negotiators to focus their work on a specific set of core issues across chapters. They will work intensively on this task and report back to the next leaders’ meeting to be held on 29 June 2015.
“The leaders also reviewed the implementation of those confidence building measures that were previously announced. Mr. Akıncı and Mr. Anastasiades continued their work on further confidence-building measures in parallel to the negotiation process.
“The leaders formulated a mandate for the new committee on gender equality and appointed its members.
“Reaffirming the constructive atmosphere at the negotiating table, Mr. Anastasiades and Mr. Akıncı expressed once again their resolve to move forward without delay and to achieve further progress towards reaching a comprehensive settlement.
As previously agreed, the next leaders’ meeting will take place here on Monday, 29 June 2015.”
