The differences between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots on the issue of property rights are huge, President Demetris Christofias said on Wednesday, after his latest meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.
The important thing is to concentrate on the fact that the talks are taking place now and we are fully behind them.
After returning to the presidential palace, Christofias said there was a huge gap between the two sides over property.
“We continued discussion on the property issue. Certainly it is unnecessary to tell you that there are serious differences and disagreements on the issue,” Christofias said.
“But on an interpersonal level things are not bad.”
The two leaders also had an open discussion on various other issues, he added.
The United Nations nonetheless appeared upbeat after the meeting.
“The fact that these meetings are taking place between the leaders and at the representatives’ level so many times in August is a very positive sign,” said Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Cyprus, Lisa Buttenheim, who also announced that the next meeting would take place next Tuesday.
Buttenheim said Christofias and Eroglu discussed the property issue in a constructive atmosphere.
Questioned on reports that the UN may be considering pulling out its Good Offices mission by the end of the year if a solution is not found, Buttenheim said she has not seen these reports.
“But the important thing is to concentrate on the fact that the talks are taking place now and we are fully behind them,” she added.
Christofias has recently re-tabled a proposal to link discussion of property chapter with those of territory and immigration in order to facilitate the resolution of the thorny matter of properties and expedite the dialogue.
The Turkish Cypriots have rejected this, arguing that it ends up being a means of sabotaging the talks.
Resolving the property issue is already complicated, so why insert other chapters into it, the Turkish Cypriots said.
The best way to deal with issues was on a one-by-one basis, and then trading off non-agreed subjects at the end of the process, they added.
The Turkish Cypriot leader said after the meeting yesterday that the two sides had submitted their views and positions on property.
Eroglu added that they will table more detailed positions during a meeting in the first week of September.
Also in September, the two leaders will have dinner at Christofias’ home in return for the one hosted by Eroglu at the end of July.