EU eyes breakthrough

But Cyprus president warns Turkish side UN plan has to be shelved for good

President of Cyprus Dimitris Christo-fias (left) and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso address a joint news conference after a meeting in Brussels, yesterday.

BRUSSELS (Combined reports) – The European Union stands ready to assist in a revived effort to reunify the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said yesterdy.

Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat are due to meet on March 21 at the disused Nicosia airport inside the buffer zone that serves as the UN headquarters on the island.

“The European Union will firmly stand behind a renewed process to resolve this issue,” Barroso said at a joint news conference with Christofias.

“The lack of real progress... has been detrimental for both Cyprus and the European Union.” One of the main issues in next week’s talks will be a potential deal to open new crossing points along the UN-controlled buffer zone. Barroso urged both sides to be prepared to make concessions in the negotiations. “It’s important that everyone make a real contribution to solve the Cyprus problem,” the EC president said.

“But a process of reconciliation and peace and reunification means at least two, so I hope we find the same spirit on the Turkish-Cypriot side,” Barroso said, adding that Turkey also had a “constructive role” to play in the process.

Christofias said it would not be possible to make progress this month on restarting reunification talks if the Turkish side stuck to a UN settlement blueprint. He said there had been statements from Talat and Turkey that the Turkish-Cypriot side planned to table the UN plan.

“I hope that these statements are statements of tactics and they don’t mean what they say, because if Mr Talat is going to insist on this position you understand that it is not so easy to overcome the deadlock,” Christofias said. He said he would be going into talks scheduled for March 21 “full of good will.” “I hope that the hand I give to Mr Talat will be taken and will be shaken,” he said. (AP, Reuters)