Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Özersay held a press conference yesterday after the negotiators’ meeting. Özersay said that the Turkish Cypriot side submitted two comprehensive proposals on “federal executive” and “property” issues, while the Greek Cypriot side presented a proposal on the “federal legislative” process, ‘Kibris Postasi’ reports.
Özersay noted that during the meeting the negotiators also discussed the upcoming leaders’ meeting. The UN was expected to act as intermediary yesterday afternoon between the two sides in order to agree on an agenda for the presidents’ meeting scheduled for 2nd June.
The negotiators will meet again next Wednesday to discuss the submitted proposals and related headings.
Özersay said inter alia that they had agreed to submit proposals which could lead to convergence after the two presidents meet.
“We are in the phase of substantive negotiations but it would be valid to say that with the leaders meeting we will be entering a new phase.”
He also said that,“We reached to a consensus on submission of bridge-making proposals instead of new ones, starting from next week”.
With regard to technical committees, revitalising them could be on the agenda of the leaders’ meeting next week.
“The change of leadership in the south caused delays regarding the work of the technical committees as new members were not appointed for some time,” Özersay said.
On the subject of the restoration of Famagusta’s ancient walls he said:
“Restoration of the Famagusta Walls including Othello’s Tower and similar projects will be on the agenda of the technical committees in the upcoming period. Most probably the leaders will exchange ideas on the issue during their meeting”.
Upon being reminded of Eroğlu’s proposed timeline for the process which ends with a referendum at the end of the year, Özersay said:
“It is important that both sides share the same opinion on this. Our requests and opinions on increasing the momentum were communicated. There is a short term target in front of us; making progress before summer. If we progress then we can sustain the momentum. I can say that, if that happens some very important developments will be waiting for us. These developments are likely to increase international attention on the Cyprus problem.”
The negotiators are expected to visit London after the second round of cross-visits to Athens and Ankara.
“Our visit to London will be handled in a similar way used during the France visit but it will also have similarities with the cross-visits that we had in Athens and Ankara,” Özersay concluded.
