TALAT PAPADOPOULOS MEETING

President Mehmet Ali Talat and the Leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration Tasos Papadopoulos came together on 8 July 2006 Saturday,  at a three way meeting with the UN Secretary General’s Undersecretary  for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari, at the residence of the UN Secretary General’s Representative in Cyprus and Chief of Mission Michael Moller in the UN controlled buffer zone. The  two leaders  committed on the set of principles   on the settlement of the Cyprus issue.

Following the  meeting which lasted around three hours, and was described as  an ”historic event” by  Gambari, a statement was issued on behalf of the leaders.

Gambari  said the leaders  agreed  to meet from time to time. Following is the  statement that was read  Ibrahim Gambari on behalf of the two leaders.

“After a very frank and very constructive discussions we have agreed on the following set of principles.

1. Commitment to the reunification of Cyprus based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and political equality as set out in the relevant Security Council resolution.

2. Recognition of the fact that the status quo is unacceptable and that its prolongation will have negative consequences for the Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

3. Commitment to the proposition that a comprehensive settlement would be desirable and possible and should be no further delayed.

4. Agreement to begin the process immediately involving bi-communal discussions of issues that are felt by day to day life of the people and concurrently those that concern sensitive issue both of which will contribute to a comprehensive settlement.

5. Commitment to assure that the right atmosphere prevail for this process to be successful in that connection confident building measures are essential both in terms of improving the atmosphere and improving the lives of all Turkish and Greek Cypriots and also in that connection an end to be put to the so called blame game. Those are the decision by the two leaders.

The technical committees, on issues that affect the day to day lives of people, will commence by the end of this July provided that at the same time the two leaders will also have exchanged a list of issues of substance and its contents to be studied by expert bi-communal working groups and finalized by the leaders.

The two leaders will meet further from time to time as appropriate to give directions to the expert bi communal working groups as well as to resume the work of the technical committees.”

President Mehmet Ali Talat has described the UN Secretary General’s Undersecretary Ibrahim Gambari’s contacts on the island as very constructive and fruitful.

President said  the Turkish Cypriot side  will force  a settlement based on the  Annan Plan with the aim of  ensuring its place as an equal political partner in the new partnership to be  established.

Expressing his pleasure from the result of the meeting,  President said if the time  process agreed between  him and Papadopoulos  became successful  the negotiations  would start at the end of July.

“We, as the Turkish Cypriot side, continue to see Annan Plan  as the bases of a  settlement” Talat said.  He furthermore added that any future talks on substantive issues with the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration will be held along the general parameters of the Annan Plan.

President Talat said  at the end of a long marathon  Mr. Gambari was not leaving the island ‘empty handed’,  and that the UN had placed a great importance to this.

President Talat said that agreement had finally been reached with the Greek Cypriot Side for the establishment of the technical committees which aimed at tackling what he described “day-to day” issues by the end of July the latest.

In addition to the setting up of the bi-communal technical committees, President Talat said that he and Mr. Papadopoulos had also agreed to launch a parallel  talks process with the aim of taking up substantive issues on the Cyprus Problem.