Cyprus Negotiations Start in Buffered Zone

De Soto made final evaluations before the negotiations that will be held at Lefkosa (Nicosia) International Airport with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek-Cypriot administrator, Tasos Paadopoulos. After the meeting, Denktas revealed that leaders will meet during the morning session followed by an inter-delegation meeting in the afternoon.

Although neither the E.U. nor the Union’s Enlargement Commissioner, Günther Verheugen, have any role in the negotiations, Denktas expressed his wishes for their contributions and added that Verheugen will meet with both leaders for a half hour.

Denktas, TRNC Prime Minister, Mehmet Ali Talat, and Foreign Minister, Serdar Denktas, will represent the Turkish-Cypriots in the negotiations. Consultants will be able to attend the meetings.

Holding an emergency meeting before the negotiations, the TRNC Parliament was briefed on the preparations behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, the Greek-Cypriots fully support Papadopoulos with the exception of those in the New Horizons Party in the National Council, the highest entity in southern Cyprus.

Yesterday, in addition to Verheugen, Belgian Foreign Minister, Louis Michel, conveyed a message to both parties for encouragement. Michel briefed the sides on the ‘Belgium Model’ discussed for a ‘New Cyprus’.

Sides to Bring Suggestions for Revisions Over the Negotiations

The Greek-Cypriot newspaper, Politis, reported yesterday that Greek Leader Tasos Papadopoulos has six revisions to the Annan plan and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President, Rauf Denktas, will request four revisions.

According to the news, the four revisions on Denktas’ agenda are: dual party rule, flattening of the borders, sovereignty and guarantees. The Simerini newspaper listed Papadopoulos’ revision requests as follows:

-To have six Greek-Cypriot and three Turkish-Cypriot members in the Presidential Council instead of four Greek-Cypriots and two Turkish-Cypriots. For the Council to have presidential and deputy presidential functions. And approval in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) should be held before the referenda. Thus, the reconciliation should be with no return. And the security issue.

-To avoid taking every case to the High Court, form a judicial court consisting of three Greeks, three Turks and three foreign judges.

-The constitutions of the states and a joint third constitution will be in compliance with European norms.

-Economic integration issue.

-And the issue of immigrants from Turkey.

-Property issue and the solution method for the issue.