Cyprus rivals upbeat as they launch fresh peace push

Greece welcomes new round of talks, expects more of Turkey

Cypriot president Dimitris Christofias, left, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat shake hands after their meeting at a UN compound at the buffer zone in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, yesterday. Cyprus’s rival leaders have launched a new round of peace talks, seen as the most promising bid to reunite the island since Turkey’s invasion 34 years ago.

NICOSIA (AFP) – Rival Cypriot leaders launched intensive talks yesterday on reunifying the Mediterranean island, a move the United Nations described as “historic” after three decades of failed diplomacy.

President Dimitris Christofias, a Greek Cypriot, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who are both seen as pro-settlement moderates, held well over an hour of talks in a renewed push for unity.

“Today is a historic day for Cyprus,” said UN chief Ban Ki-moon’s special envoy, former Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer, who was at the meeting in the UN-patrolled buffer zone in the divided capital Nicosia.

Downer said “significant progress” had been made to build confidence and create a solid foundation for the negotiations.

“There have been difficult moments over the past months and there will likely be further difficulties and challenges ahead. At the same time, the Cyprus problem is not insurmountable and the negotiations which begin today can and must have a successful outcome,” he said.

Yesterday’s meeting – the fifth this year between the two leaders – paved the way for substantive negotiations to begin on September 11, initially focusing on power-sharing.

Christofias and Talat are then expected to meet at least once a week. The two have also agreed to set up a hotline so they can remain in constant contact throughout the talks.

“We are confident that we will succeed in concluding an agreement and hopefully as soon as possible... and hopefully... this year,” the Turkish Cypriot leader said.

“There is a common will and a common desire and a common effort to achieve this target,” added Christofias. The negotiation process has an open-ended timeline but the UN has warned that the talks cannot go on indefinitely without tangible progress.

Greece said it was hoping for a positive approach to the new talks process from Turkey. “We would like to hope that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side will approach this new process with the requisite political will, moderation and constructive stance, so that this effort can have a positive outcome,” Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said.

Talat said he was entering the talks with the Turkish government’s full backing. “Ankara is supporting us in a solution,” the Turkish Cypriot leader said.