Christofias said “important differences” still divide both sides on several key issues. Turkish Cypriot positions conflict with an envisioned federation between a Turkish Cypriot north and a Greek Cypriot south, he argued.
Cyprus was divided in 1974 when Turkey intervened after a coup by supporters who wanted union with Greece. The dispute is undermining NATO and European Union cooperation on security and hindering Turkey’s bid for EU membership.
Both sides still disagree on how to settle claims by owners of property lost during the war and about granting Turkey military intervention rights. But Christofias said he remains “cautiously optimistic” that an accord can be reached with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.
“We sincerely hope that the Turkish Cypriot side will rectify its stance by submitting more reasonable positions in order to pave the way to an agreed solution,” Christofias said. Talat said the talks have produced “significant progress” but repeated a call for more active UN involvement to speed up the process. He also endorsed a proposal by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for a summit of the two sides joined by Britain, Greece and Turkey. Christofias rejected the idea, insisting an agreement must be Cypriot-born.
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