Cyprus-Forum.com

[Piratis]

The Government of the Republic of Cyprus, in its effort to reduce tensions, enhance the climate of cooperation and confidence among the two communities, materializing its ultimate goal of the reunification of the country, has taken a series of measures that serve this purpose:

A. The Government suggests the opening of eight further crossing points along the cease fire lines.
B. The process of demining, which has already started unilaterally by the Government of Cyprus for mine fields of the National Guard within the buffer zone, to be extended.
C. Τhe unmanning of military forces in the walled town of Nicosia and also at the area of Derineia - Famagusta, the town that has been occupied and empty since 1974.
D. At the same time the Government suggests the limitation of military manoeuvres across the cease fire lines and to an extent of two kilometres each side north and south.
E. Furthermore the Government has suggested the return, the freeing of the closed town of Famagusta, which has been occupied since 1974 and remains empty, in connection with the efforts for the opening of the Famagusta port in a legitimate manner to be operated for the benefit of both communities. The freeing of the town of Famagusta is of course a prerequisite for further discussions in relation of the operation of the Famagusta port.

Of course all these measures are being suggested on the basis of reciprocity.

These are the measures announced by the Government today and of course further measures that are now being discussed with the European Union will be announced at a later stage.

[mehmet]

the measures in themselves are welcome, I hope the TRNC will reciprocate with demining and demilitarisation. Personally I don't see why Maras shouldn't be handed back to RoC, it would cost nothing to TRNC as it is unoccuopied and would gain it some positive publicity.

[Piratis]

Talad (apparently after getting directions from Turkey) rejected the proposals.

Do you still thing that the "steps" that your administration is taking are steps for reunification and peace? If that was the case, then why would they reject the above measures?

It is now even more clear, that those "steps" by Talad and Turkey, have as only aim to pretend that "TRNC" is an independent state within EU, and have nothing to do with helping the reunification.

[mehmet]

When Papdopoulos go to Athens he is going as a head of one state to visit a neighbouring friendly state. When Talat goes apparently it is something else.

My understanding from the Cyprus Mail is that the proposals are being considered but that reactoion is negative. There is still anger and frustration over April 24, I hope Talat can overcome his emotions and act with wisdom. What RoC has proposed is to make Cyprus safer by demining and to open up more border posts. I think in time this will happen whatever the public pronouncements, no one seriously expects another military situation so demining is inevitable.

What Talat wants is not clear, neither is what Papadopilos wants. On the face of it the measures he has proposed seem more about normalising relations between two states so I don't think you can just makle that accusation against Talat. After all the measures in themselves are not a substitute for a political settlement.

What is important is to try and build goodwill by actions.

Let's be serious, reunification was an option that was there to be negotiated recently and Papadopoulos prefer not to contribute to process and then to work against plan that was agreed by others.