Papadopoulos getting fed up
In their 12th meeting since February 19, Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash failed yesterday to make any advance on the reunification of Cyprus. Papadopoulos, who is to visit Athens this weekend, accused Denktash of using haggling ploys, for which he also indirectly blamed the United Nations, which wants a peace deal before Cyprus’s May 1 European Union entry. «The standard tactic of the Turkish side is to increase their demands, submitting 10 or 12 issues, then play on making a good impression by abandoning some of these,» Papadopoulos said. «Others see this as a great concession and the Greek Cypriots are asked to respond in kind… The message conveyed to both sides is: ‘Have as many demands as you want so there is room to abandon the most unreasonable to achieve some of the least unreasonable ones.’» Denktash said he expected most issues to be left until after March 22, when Greece and Turkey will join the talks – provided no headway has been made.
