U.N. Seeks Way Out of Tough Days of Cyprus

In the new process, U.N. Special Envoy to Cyprus, Alvaro De Soto, will launch separate intensive talks with the sides in addition to direct negotiations. The leaders will meet not every day, but only when it is necessary. The Cypriot Greek side Foreign Minister, Georges Yakuvu, pointing out that the Turkish side keeps departing from the Annan plan, said, "The ‘Give and Take’ process is very difficult."

During his brief about yesterday’s talks, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President, Rauf Denktas, said that De Soto requested them to submit their suggestions of change item by item. Denktas emphasized the fact that the Cypriot Turkish side had wanted this from the very beginning. He then disclosed that De Soto would try to determine whether or not the Give and Take’ process will be launched.

The Turkish side will try to submit their suggestions for change by Monday. Denktas remarked that the calendar was ‘ferocious’ because of the delays the beginning.

The TRNC President added that after unification, the Greeks want the right of unlimited return to the North; on the other side, the Turks brought to the agenda the fact that they would need a long term transitional time in the economy.

Within this framework, the Turkish side also dwelt upon approval of the Turkish Lira as official monetary unit during the transitional period. Denktas went on to explain that the parties tried to overcome the legal difficulties in the founding state Constitution; however, he said that the sides did not agree upon the Constitutional drafts. He elaborated that the law experts made intensive efforts on the subject and that the documents exchanged in the talks have not been completed.

Yakovu, on the other hand, countered that the Greek recommendations aim at improving upon the Annan plan and reaching solution. Yakovu said that Denktas’ demands about the land are too big; however, Denktas neither presented a map, nor offered alternative suggestions. The Cypriot Greek Minister also claimed that if the differences of opinions are not cleared up, the U.N. Secretary-General will not present a plan drastically different from the one already exists.

On the contrary, the U.S. State Department criticized the Greek lobby for stating ‘this plan does not work out.’