Brussels, 21/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - The leader of the Greek Cypriot community, Nicos Anastasiades, and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Dervis Eroglu, are to meet again on 2 June to discuss the partition of the island, the United Nations announced on Tuesday 20 May.
“The negotiators announced the agreement of the leaders to meet on 2 June 2014 in the UN Protected Area”, the UN says in a press release, following the meeting between the Greek Cypriot negotiator, Andreas Mavroyiannis, and his Turkish counterpart, Kudret Özersay. At their meeting, they held “substantive” negotiations on property and external relations. “The negotiators agreed to meet again on Friday 30 May and to continue negotiations on these and other subjects, including federal public service and federal competences”, the UN states. In the meantime, the United Nations will hold bilateral meetings with the two negotiators to prepare for their next joint meeting, and property experts will also meet.
Elections: Republic relaxes voting conditions for Turkish Cypriots
Additionally, the government of the Republic of Cyprus has decided to be more flexible on the voting rights of Turkish Cypriot citizens of the Republic of Cyprus for the European elections of 25 May, making procedures easier. These citizens will be able to vote in the Republic of Cyprus with just an identity card and will not have to register on an electoral roll, unlike other Cypriots. “Citizens of the Republic of Cyprus who are enclaved in areas occupied by the Turkish invasion troops such as Karpasia and Kyrenia, may, by exception, vote in a special polling station which shall be operating to this end in the free areas of the Republic, by producing their civil identity card or passport or driving licence, if any, or any other official document of the Republic bearing their photograph”, the Cypriot government states on its website http://www.euroelections2014.gov.cy . Polling stations will be set up near passage points in the controlled area by the Cypriot government, along the demarcation line and Turkish-speaking agents will be present. The Republic of Cyprus has also launched a Turkish-language communication campaign to inform Turkish Cypriots about their voting conditions.
And for the first time ever, Turkish Cypriots are standing for election. “I hope that there will be a Turkish Cypriot in the next Parliament; this would be the best sign that the two communities can live together”, a European source told us. The Cypriots will vote six representatives into the European Parliament. (CG)