Cyprus leaders to tackle property as governance talks end

 

 

 

NICOSIA (AFP) -- Rival Cypriot leaders have ended the first phase of unification talks, covering governance of the divided Mediterranean island, and will move on to the property topic, they said on Friday.

President Demetris Christofias, the Greek Cypriot leader, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat still disagree over some governance questions but will put these to one side until the end of the peace process.

The two men closed the governance chapter on Friday when they met for the 16th time since fresh peace negotiations were launched on September 3. At their next session, on January 28, they will move on to the prickly property issue.

""I am telling you that not everything is all black,"" Christofias told reporters.

""There are issues where we have achieved progress, there are issues that still remain open and those were there is disagreement,"" he added, without elaborating.

UN special envoy Alexander Downer was also guardedly optimistic over the process arriving at a positive outcome at some stage -- although no diplomat will hazard a guess at when.

""It wouldn't be helpful to negotiations to impose a timeline -- they need to keep making progress gradually but surely.""

However, the United Nations believes there is a ""real possibility"" of reaching a settlement when push comes to shove.

""It is an incredibly difficult task, nobody should under-estimate how hard it is after so many years and such deep conflict -- I remain cautiously optimistic,"" said the former Australian foreign minister.

The breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was declared in 1983.

A UN reunification blueprint was approved by Turkish Cypriots but rejected overwhelmingly by Greek Cypriots in 2004 just a week before the island joined the European Union, leaving only Greek Cypriots enjoying the benefits of EU membership.

The lack of a Cyprus settlement is also harming Turkey's bid to join the 27-member bloc.

The EU court's top legal adviser last month backed the right of Greek Cypriots to reclaim their property in the north.

Tehran Times

18.01.2009