We shall support every step leading to peace....
We well come with great pleasure, like all the others who wish peace sincerely, the statement made by CTP and AKEL following their meeting, that it has been agreed “to begin the negotiations process on the 8 July agreement”. CTP and AKEL are the major political parties of the coalition governments on both sides. We are expecting that Mr. Talat too, who will represent the Turkish Cypriot community at the negotiations, to elaborate on the 8 July agreement.
On the other hand, we have to wait and see their willingness, attitude and the result of their meeting before we can evaluate if the decision of Mr. Talat and Mr. Christofias to meet on 21 March will create a hope, particularly from the Turkish Cypriots’ point of view who face extinction.
However, it is obvious that with repeated expressions kept on the agenda, like “virgin birth” and “new state formed by two states”, it is impossible to reach a peace agreement. The parties to the agreement to be reached will be the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots within their capacity of being co-founders of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960. The Treaty of Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus will remain in force and shall apply mutatis mutandis to the new state of affairs. The United Republic of Cyprus founded as the result of the new state of affairs will take over the responsibilities of the Republic of Cyprus at United Nations, European Union and Council of Europe.
The shape of the solution is embedded in the 8 July agreement which has been agreed on as the starting point of negotiations. “The final solution shall be; as described in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions that a Cyprus settlement must be based on a single sovereignty and international personality and a single citizenship, with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded, and comprising two politically equal communities in a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation, and that a such settlement must exclude union in whole or in part with any other country or any form of partition or secession.”
To convince the UN Secretary General to start a new initiative, it is necessary that the political will should turn into deeds for example; establishment of the working committees, Ledra Street check point is opened for civilian crossings and an end is put to the expressions that do not encourage peace process. 8 July agreement signed by the parties, together with the previous relevant UN resolutions form the necessary parameters and the bases for starting the negotiations.
We, the Cyprus EU Association, are closely pursuing all the developments and should good will is demonstrated in starting negotiations towards a settlement, confirm our commitment that we shall work with all our energy, to cooperate and join forces with all those who ever are for peace, settlement and the European Union, as we did during the Annan Plan process, without any self interests or benefits.
Ali Erel – President