The postponement, sought by Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias, was the first hiccup in talks since Eroğlu’s election in April. Eroğlu had questioned the basis of the UN-assisted process in public comments, Christofias said. “I thought today may produce deadlock and a possible crisis so I considered it best to avoid a meeting,” he told reporters.
Thursday was to have been the second meeting between the two leaders. The talks are focused on re-linking the two disparate sides as a loose federation, but there are differences between the sides on how close that merger should be. In the remark that triggered the dispute Eroğlu said he was not bound by an appeal made by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last week, which called for talks on the basis of “UN parameters, Security Council resolutions” and two joint statements issued in the past. Cypriot politicians from both sides of the divide are known for focusing on the fine print in talks, which have defied an army of mediators. The United Nations had said Eroğlu, along with Christofias, had welcomed Ban’s comments last week.
