So lets list what people were expecting or wanted to see and what actually
happened.
What was expected was an agreement to immediately reopen Ledra Street the
very same day. No agreement was made to that effect. Instead the leaders
advisers will discuss it further, just like they've been doing for nearly
2
years.
What was also expected was a statement saying that the agendas of the
working groups and technical committees had finally been agreed and that
these groups and committees would start operating immediately the very
same
day. Instead the leaders advisers will discuss it further, just like
they've
been doing for nearly 2 years.
As for the press conference, the foreign media behaved with no respect
whatsoever to either leader and their behaviour was insulting and
patronising. They were like a pack of heckling dogs and the leaders should
have refused to speak to them unless they stopped shouting, stated their
name, who they worked for and put their questions to the leaders one by
one.
The reaction from the US and UK was a repetition of their usual hypocrisy
welcoming the outcome of a meeting which produced nothing new and made no
progress whatsoever just like Tassos Papadopoulos predicated.
The statement below is exactly the same as the one made two years ago. The
leaders advisers are already meeting every other week in order to decide
the
agendas of the working groups and technical committees, but nothing
happens
because the Turks refuse to agree to the setting up of technical
committees
to discuss substantive issues unless the Annan plan is brought back as the
basis of a solution contrary to what they agreed to in the July 8th
Agreement (which was on the basis of UN resolutions and the High Level
Agreements, the EU Aquis and international law) and contrary to the terms
of
the Annan plan itself which rendered it null and void. For two years they
have been saying they will reopen Ledra Street as soon as technically
possible but the operation of the crossing is made impossible because the
Turks refuse to withdraw their troops for them as demanded by the UN. And
as
for meeting in three months to review progress. They last met 6 months ago
and because no progress had been made and there were no results thanks to
the Turks refusal to set up technical committees, full-fledged
negotiations
could not begin.
Statement of the two community leaders - Full text
21/03/2008
The UN Special Representative of the Secretary General and Chief of
Mission
of UNFICYP Michael Moller read the following statement of the leaders of
the
Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities in Cyprus, following
their
meeting today.
The full text of the statement is as follows:
"I am very pleased to announce the following on behalf of the two leaders.
The leaders met today in a very positive and cordial atmosphere and
exchanged views on a number of issues, achieving a great degree of
convergence. They have decided to ask their respective advisers to meet
this
coming week in order to set up a number of working groups and technical
committees, establish their agendas, and to do so in the most expeditious
way possible.
In taking full responsibility for the conduct of future negotiations, the
leaders have also agreed to meet three months from now to review the work
of
the working groups and technical committees, and using their results, to
start full-fledged negotiations under the auspices of the
Secretary-General
of the United Nations.
The leaders have also agreed to meet as and when needed prior to the
commencement of their formal negotiations.
The leaders have also agreed that Ledra Street will, as soon as
technically
possible, open and function in accordance with the established practices
at
other crossings.
The issue of the opening of the Limnitis crossing and other crossings is
also on the agenda for the coming meetings of their advisers."
http://www.financialmirror.com/more_news.php?id=10389&nt=Politics
BRITAIN - STATEMENT
The outcome of the meeting of Cypriot President Demetris Christofias
and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat is an important first step
towards negotiations, aiming at Cyprus reunification, British High
Commissioner in Nicosia Peter Millett has said. Invited by CNA to
comment on the meeting of the two leaders held in Nicosia Friday
morning, Millett said in a written statement that he welcomes the
outcome of the meeting between the two leaders and their agreement to
launch the procedure of working groups and technical committees
immediately.
This is an important first step towards negotiations, which we hope,
will lead to the reunification of the island, British High Commissioner
said and added: it is a clear demonstration that the two leaders have
the political will to tackle the issues and work for a solution.
According to the statement, The opening of Ledra street is also an
important measure, which will contribute to building trust between the
two communities.
Finally, the British High Commissioner underlined that the UK stands
ready to support this process working with the United Nations and
together with the P5 (five permanent members of the UN Security
Council).`` A crossing point to and from the islands northern Turkish
occupied areas is set to open at Ledra street, one of the capitals main
commercial streets, to facilitate movement of people.
USA - STATEMENT
The US has welcomed the outcome of a meeting here earlier today between
the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities,
saying it is ready to lend its full support to their efforts to reach a
negotiated settlement. The embassy of the United States of America in
Nicosia, in a written statement issued here regarding the meeting of
President Demetris Christofias with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali
Talat, refers to a positive outcome.
We welcome the positive outcome of todays meeting between President
Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, and
wish them great success in their efforts to reach a comprehensive
Cyprus settlement under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the
United Nations, the statement says. The US embassy considers the
agreement of the leaders to start working group and technical committee
negotiations for a three-month period and the willingness of the
leaders to meet as and when needed prior to the commencement of formal
negotiations as promising developments.
According to the statement, the US embassy also welcomes the imminent
opening of Ledra street, which it considers as an important step to
revitalise relations and bring the two communities closer together.
Furthermore, the US embassy reiterates that as always, we are ready to
lend our full support for these efforts. A crossing point to and from
the islands northern Turkish occupied areas is set to open at Ledra
street, one of the capitals main commercial streets, in the heart of
the city, following todays announcement by the two leaders.
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