Christofias and Talat 'condemned to finding solution'.FORMER Cypriot President George Vassiliou says he is more convinced than ever before that President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat Mehmet Ali Talat (born July 6, 1952) is the current President of the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (or KKTC in Turkish), which controls the northern third of the island of Cyprus, but is unrecognized by any nation except Turkey. "are condemned to finding a political settlement". Vassiliou, former chief negotiator with the EU and currently head of the working group on EU issues, in the context of the ongoing UN-led negotiations, also believes that substantial progress has been achieved. "For the first time there is frank negotiation," he said. In an interview with the Cyprus News Agency
The Cyprus News Agency (Greek: Κυπριακό Πρακτορείο (CNA (Certified NetWare Administrator) See Novell certification. ) to mark the end of the first round of direct negotiations, which started in September last year, Vassiliou added: "This does not mean that the Cyprus problem has been resolved. However, it is wrong to say that the community leaders are wasting their time." "I hope that in the second phase of the talks, which begins in early September, more progress will be achieved until we get to the give-and-take phase. It could be this year, on the other hand it may not be," he said. Asked about the Turkish Cypriot position that an agreement could be reached by the end of this year to hold a referendum in the beginning of 2010, Vasiliou said: "This can be done but it's up to them. If they come to the negotiating table with acceptable to us and reasonable views, then we can reach a solution even in October," he said. The former President believes that the benefits of a solution far outweigh the fallout fallout, minute particles of radioactive material produced by nuclear explosions (see atomic bomb; hydrogen bomb; Chernobyl) or by discharge from nuclear-power or atomic installations and scattered throughout the earth's atmosphere by winds and convection currents. of a non-solution. Tourism would increase, so would investment, he said. There would be compensation, and foreign assistance would pour into the country for its reconstruction, something that would give the economy a boost. "Every Cypriot has to understand the benefits he will have from a solution," said Vassiliou. If there is no solution, he said, in years to come the Turkish Cypriot identity will cease to exist as such and the Greek Cypriots Greek Cypriots are the ethnic Greek population of Cyprus. They form the island's largest ethnic community, comprising nearly 80 percent of the population. The Greek Cypriots are mostly Eastern Orthodox Christians, members of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, an autocephalous church could continue to live with just the hope of a solution without an actual solution. Vasiliou believes that progress has been achieved on EU matters because the Turkish Cypriots Ethnically Turkish inhabitants of the Mediterranean island of Cyprus are referred to as Turkish Cypriots. The term is sometimes used to refer explicitly to the indigenous Turkish Cypriots, as opposed to the Turkish migrants who have settled there since the Cyprus conflict of 1974. "have realised, after a lot of discussion, that this cannot be negotiable NEGOTIABLE. That which is capable of being transferred by assignment; a thing, the title to which may be transferred by a sale and indorsement or delivery. 2. ". The fundamental values of EU such as the four freedoms cannot change because these form the foundations of Europe, he said. The issue of guarantees was irrelevant at present since Cyprus is a member of the EU but Vassiliou said this issue should be settled within Europe. A Cyprus solution, he said would benefit Turkey as well, which is facing financial difficulties "and understands fully that the Cyprus problem is an obstacle to the role of mediator mediator n. a person who conducts mediation. A mediator is usually a lawyer, or retired judge, but can be a non-attorney specialist in the subject matter (like child custody) who tries to bring people and their disputes to early resolution through a conference. it wishes to have" in the region. He said that anybody who believes that in December Cyprus will put Turkey at the dock is mistaken. The EU does not function in this way, he said. "If there is no possibility of reaching an immediate agreement in Cyprus, then they will find a way to postpone the decision on Turkey's accession process. I do not honestly believe that the EU will confront Turkey or breach its relations with Ankara in December. They will try to find a way out," Vassiliou added. Copyright Cyprus Mail Cyprus Mail is a Cypriot English-language newspaper. It is published daily (except Mondays) and a number of articles are available online. Its current chief editor is Kosta Pavlowitch. The managing director is Kyriakos Iacovides. 2009 Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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