Tsipras brought up the matters in Beijing meeting with Erdogan-the latter unwilling to discuss
Turkey quiet on the security front over Cyprus
Cyprus Government Spokesperson Nikos Christodoulides says Turkey remains coy over whether they are willing to discuss security and guarantees at a potential second ‘Conference On Cyprus’.
Speaking to state radio on Monday morning, Christodoulides said the main topic of the discussion over the weekend in Beijing between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was the progress being made in the Cyprus negotiations on the island – so that there could be a conclusion at a possible second conference in Geneva.
Although the matter of security was brought up during the meeting by Tsipras, the Turkish leader appeared unwilling to enter to enter into a discussion on the matter.
“Prime Minister Tsipras briefly informed President Nicos Anastasiades about his meeting with the Turkish President. He was informed that the main topics of discussion between the two leaders were matters relating to a solution. The positions put forward by the Greek side included those of security and guarantees as well as the Four Freedoms of the EU.”
According to sources close to Phileleftheros, Turkey has indicated that she would be more ‘flexible’ on the issues of guarantees and security within the framework of a conference if Nicosia accepts the issue of the four freedoms.
The demand by Turkey to afford its nationals living in a post solution Cyprus the European Union’s four freedoms, although in the background and despite Nicosia’s objections, have been kept very much alive.
There did not appear to be anything to back up those claims from the recent talks in China.
“On Thursday, there will be a better briefing by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias who will arrive on the island and meet with the President. We are waiting to hear the official positions of Greece and Turkey on the matter of security at the conference in Geneva.”
Tsipras also met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres during the forum in China with the UN chief expressing his support to the talks between the two communities on the island. President Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci will meet in a crucial meeting this Wednesday to discuss a possible second Conference On Cyprus.
“On May 17 [Wednesday], we expect to see some headway with regards to how to move forward on a possible second conference in Geneva. It is the belief from both sides that the groundwork must be laid down properly.”
Talks between Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have still to make a significant breakthrough to end the dispute despite hopes from the UN and the international community that a settlement could finally be reached after the ‘Conference On Cyprus’ in Geneva earlier this year.
Anastasiades and Akinci have resumed negotiations following a frosty spell in relations between the two sides and will meet again on May 11 and then on May 17.
The talks were in danger of coming to a crashing halt following a series of incidents which angered each side since the start of the year.
These included a controversial bill to commemorate Enosis in schools, a move to block a Greek Orthodox Church mass in the north during Easter to take place while Anastasiades’ government and Turkey are currently at loggerheads over gas exploration and drilling rights off Cyprus’ shores.
Anastasiades was also left fuming over recent comments made UN Special Envoy Espen Barth Eide over his outlook on the talks in New York.
