Brussels, 22/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - With the possibility of the negotiations on the reunification of Cyprus resuming next week, the ambassador of the Repbulic of Cyprus, Kornelios Korneliou, explained the situation to EUROPE on 21 November, and spoke about what Cyprus expects from the EU and its position on Turkey. Elsewhere, on 22 November, the European Commission approved a new programme of €31 million financial aid to the Turkish Cypriot community. This aid is intended to promote the economic integration of the island and the improvement of contact between the two communities and the EU - with the general objective of facilitating reunification. (Interview conducted by CG)
Agence Europe: Where are you in the resumption of the negotiations on the Cyprus issue?
Kornelios Korneliou: President Anastasiades is very keen to promote the solution of the Cyprus problem. It is for this reason that he took a number of initiatives. The first was the appointment of a Greek Cypriot negotiator which would enable our side to speak directly to Turkey. At the same time, he called for a bigger involvement for the EU in the negotiating process. He also wanted to prepare the ground well before the official start of the talks in order to avoid the mistakes and misunderstandings of the past. That is why we attach so much importance to having a joint declaration which will be a substantial text explaining, in a few paragraphs, the methodology but also the goals of the negotiating process. There was another meeting on Wednesday between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot negotiators, and President Anastasiades also took the important initiative of inviting the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Eroglu to an informal meeting on 25 November in order to iron out the difficulties relating to the joint declaration. We are confident that soon we will be able to agree on this which will pave the way for the next steps in the process.
Mr Anastasiades made a proposal on Famagusta (city occupied by the Turkish army in the north part of the island). Can you explain what is this?
President Ananstasiades is very well aware of the mistrust that exists between the two communities, especially after the rejection of the Annan plan in 2004. He put forward this proposal which gives a number of incentives to all sides involved, so as to create a climate of confidence which will allow the two sides to also move on the substance of the issue. This proposal contains, amongst others, the reopening of the port of Varosha under the control of the EU which will allow the Turkish Cypriots to have direct trade in a legal way. Another new element is, of course, the push it can give to the accession process of Turkey.
What does Mr Anastasiades want in compensation?
He asks for the return of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants. Although the Turkish side says that this is part of the discussion on territory, Famagusta is a special case. There are specific UNSC resolutions as well as the 1979 Agreement between the leaders of the two communities. So, we are entitled to address the issue of Famagusta separately. We wouldn't mind if this process moves in parallel with the bigger one for an overall solution. We believe that the Famagusta proposal can assist our efforts in reaching a final compromise although, I understand, the Turkish side is not willing to discuss this prior to the official launch of the talks.
Will it be the official beginning of the negotiations?
The two negotiators have been meeting since September but, of course, the talks will move up a gear once we have an agreed basis through the joint declaration. The process will be formalised because you will also have meetings between the leaders of the two communities.
Mr Anastasiades asked the EU to be part of the negotiations. The EC seems not to be really in favour of that. Are you still asking for that?
I think the proposal has not been well understood. All parties involved in the Cyprus issue are directly or indirectly linked to the EU. For that reason, there is a need for a bigger role for the EU. As far as the guarantor powers are concerned, the UK and Greece are members and Turkey is an aspiring member. Cyprus is also a member state and the Turkish Cypriots live on EU territory. We, therefore, need more visibility, more clout from the EU. We do not expect the EU to have a seat at the negotiating table, because this process is under the aegis of the UN. The EU's involvement will not be a formal one, so to speak, but mainly a political and legal one because Cyprus is a member of this Union. So, we need the EU's advice. Also, only the EU can explain the benefits of a solution to the Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Only the EU can make sure that Cyprus, the day after the solution, can function as a normal member state.
We are pleased with the reaction of Presidents Barroso and Van Rompuy because they both stated that they have a clear interest in this issue and that they will be following developments very closely. What we have not managed to convince them of yet, is the need for this bigger involvement. They have not excluded it but, I believe, they are waiting for developments in the negotiating process first.
So do you think the EU is not doing enough?
As I have said, I believe the EU can do much more. The EU is our family and for this reason we expect our family to do much more.
Commissioner Füle has already said on several occasions that he would like the opening of chapters 23 and 24 with Turkey. These chapters are blocked by Cyprus…
We do not agree here with Mr Füle and he knows that. The government of Cyprus has put forward a proposal - the Famagusta proposal which you have already mentioned - and we have made clear to the EC that any discussions on chapters 23 and 24 are linked to this proposal. To be clear, apart from the confidence and the better climate which it can create, this proposal can be part of the normalisation process of relations between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey. We therefore have enough elements, enough incentives for this to be a win-win formula. The biggest one, along with the confidence building, is the dynamic it can create.
Mr Füle said there is discussion in the Council to unblock these chapters. Is this true?
No. There has been no discussion in the Council. Of course, the Presidency can initiate a discussion on these chapters when it thinks it is necessary but at this stage there is no discussion on this issue.