Brussels, 16/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 13 June, the negotiator-in-chief of the Greek Cypriot community, Andreas Mavroyannis, stressed that there are not yet any tangible results in negotiations with the Turkish Cypriot community on the reunification of the island, although serious proposals have been put forward. “I am unable to report that there are any tangible results so far, but serious proposals have been presented”, he said at a conference at the European Policy Centre.
He explained that there were, or that there soon would be, discussions on “tough issues” such as the territory, power-sharing, citizenship and the economy. “It is important to discuss all of these issues independently”, he added. He stressed that the aim is to be able to table negotiations by the end of July on all aspects of all issues. “Until everything is on the table and we have discussed everything, we cannot move to a next stage” in the negotiations, Mavroyannis stated. He went on to say that the two sides are committed, serious and determined, and that the negotiations are intense.
Mavroyannis explained that certain issues, such as the “territory, security and colonies” (the Turks settled in the northern part of the island of Cyprus) had never been discussed in previous negotiations, even under the Annan plan.
He laid emphasis on a major stumbling block: the presence of Turkish troops in the northern part of the island since 1974. “We cannot accept the presence of foreign troops in Cyprus and Turkish Cypriots cannot envisage a solution without Turkish troops (…). They associate these troops with a feeling of security, but we associate them with a feeling of insecurity”, he stated. He said that Turkey is becoming more open on the subject. More generally, he stressed that he feels that the Turkish government was serious in saying that it is ready to move forward, but that he did not know how far it is prepared to go.
Mavroyannis also touched upon the EU's role in the reconciliation, with the Republic hoping for greater EU involvement. “For us, this is fundamental. (…). I cannot even imagine our finding a solution in a framework other than the EU”, he added. He said that Cyprus does not want an opt-out or any other derogation, no Europe “à la carte” in connection with the reconciliation, even though he stressed that adjustment time would be needed. He stressed that the EU must act as a catalyst to bring the two communities together. “We will do nothing to endanger Cyprus' membership of the EU”, he made clear. (CG)