International conference ‘won’t be forced upon us’
By Stefanos Evripidou Published on February 15, 2012 - Cyprus Mail
THERE IS no chance of going to an international conference on the Cyprus problem if the conditions set by the UN Security Council are not met first, President Demetris Christofias said yesterday.
Christofias yesterday met Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu for two hours in their first meeting since the two got back from talks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York.
Speaking after the meeting, Christofias said the two leaders discussed procedural issues during which he clarified the conditions in which the Greek Cypriot negotiating team would consider moving towards an international conference.
“I was given the opportunity to clarify that forcing the process was unacceptable and that if the conditions set by the Security Council itself are not met, then in no case will we accept an international conference,” he said.
“I clarified what we mean by international conference, what we consider the content could be, as well as its composition,” he added.
The president said he made it clear that should a conference take place, the Republic of Cyprus would have to be represented.
“First of all, the SG has not made it clear who he intends to invite. So, we want to clarify this issue,” he said.
On the issue of property, Christofias said he expected the exchange of data as requested by Ban to be completed very soon, adding, “and I hope that at some point we’ll find a common language”.
He noted that to date the delivery of relevant data by the Turkish Cypriot team has been “very poor”.
Following their meeting in New York last month, Ban said he will await a review of the peace process by his special adviser Alexander Downer at the end of March, after which the UN chief will decide whether to hold a multilateral conference in April or May.
Christofias has long specified that the two sides must reach agreement on the internal aspects of a solution before taking the negotiations to an international conference where issues of security, troops and guarantees could be discussed.
The talks currently appear stuck on the election of the federal executive, though no deal is in sight yet on the property chapter either. While Christofias wants to deal with territory and property together to get a sense of how many refugees will have the right to return, Eroglu refuses to discuss territory until a date has been set for an international conference.
The Turkish Cypriot leader has shown a keen desire to move the process to its endgame, calling on the UNSG to convene a conference regardless of whether progress has been achieved or not.
The two leaders will meet again next Tuesday to discuss property and on February 28.
Christofias yesterday met Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu for two hours in their first meeting since the two got back from talks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York.
Speaking after the meeting, Christofias said the two leaders discussed procedural issues during which he clarified the conditions in which the Greek Cypriot negotiating team would consider moving towards an international conference.
“I was given the opportunity to clarify that forcing the process was unacceptable and that if the conditions set by the Security Council itself are not met, then in no case will we accept an international conference,” he said.
“I clarified what we mean by international conference, what we consider the content could be, as well as its composition,” he added.
The president said he made it clear that should a conference take place, the Republic of Cyprus would have to be represented.
“First of all, the SG has not made it clear who he intends to invite. So, we want to clarify this issue,” he said.
On the issue of property, Christofias said he expected the exchange of data as requested by Ban to be completed very soon, adding, “and I hope that at some point we’ll find a common language”.
He noted that to date the delivery of relevant data by the Turkish Cypriot team has been “very poor”.
Following their meeting in New York last month, Ban said he will await a review of the peace process by his special adviser Alexander Downer at the end of March, after which the UN chief will decide whether to hold a multilateral conference in April or May.
Christofias has long specified that the two sides must reach agreement on the internal aspects of a solution before taking the negotiations to an international conference where issues of security, troops and guarantees could be discussed.
The talks currently appear stuck on the election of the federal executive, though no deal is in sight yet on the property chapter either. While Christofias wants to deal with territory and property together to get a sense of how many refugees will have the right to return, Eroglu refuses to discuss territory until a date has been set for an international conference.
The Turkish Cypriot leader has shown a keen desire to move the process to its endgame, calling on the UNSG to convene a conference regardless of whether progress has been achieved or not.
The two leaders will meet again next Tuesday to discuss property and on February 28.
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