GREEK AND Turkish Cypriot leaders have launched three days of intensive talks with the aim of achieving agreement on elements of a deal to reunify the island, divided since Turkey occupied the north in 1974.
Although President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat are old comrades and have committed themselves to reaching a settlement this year, they have been unable to overcome major obstacles during more than 60 meetings over the past 15 months.
The negotiators are currently focusing on the less contentious issues of power-sharing, federal structures, the economy and EU matters in the hope that they can reach accommodations by the end of this month.
The postponed highly contentious issues include borders, property, mainland Turkish settlers and Turkey’s right to intervene.
A second round of talks will be held from January 25th to 27th. The leaders are expected to pause during February and March to allow Mr Talat to campaign ahead of the April presidential election in the breakaway state in the north.
The prospects are poor. Last week the Turkish side reintroduced proposals calling for the right of each region to conclude international agreements and for the establishment of separate air traffic control regions.
Cyprus government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou dismissed these ideas as “unacceptable” while Mr Christofias called upon Ankara, the power-broker in the north, to “come to its senses” and behave as if is committed to reunification.
The world community and Greek Cypriots agree that the objective of negotiations is a bizonal, bicommunal federation with a single citizenship and international personality. Turkey, however, favours a “two-state solution” involving separate sovereignties within a weak confederation.
These incompatible visions have, so far, prevented the sides from reaching “convergence”.
Mr Christofias faces criticism from coalition partners that he has made too many concessions while the opposition says he has wasted time in talks without tackling Turkey. Mr Talat is likely to adopt a hard line ahead of the election to boost his chances against rival Dervis Eroglu, who enjoys a lead in opinion polls, largely due to an economic downturn.
Ankara could, however, swing the settler vote behind Mr Talat, viewed as a more credible negotiator than Mr Eroglu.