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During the press conference of the leader of the Cyprus party AKEL Andros Kyprianou became clear that Cyprus will not give in because of the pressure to sign temporary agreement before the elections for leader of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in April this year. Cypriots will not agree to a contract which does not lead to the unification of the island in accordance to the decisions of the United Nations for the creation of federative republic with two zones and two communities where the government is one, citizens have common citizenship and the federation is presented to the international nation united.

Andros Kyprianou was explicit that the only solution for Cyprus is formulated in 1977. Then the United Nations manages to organize a meeting in Nicosia between the leaders of the two communities  - archbishop Makarios and Rauf Denktash. At this meeting they sign a four points agreement according to which Cyprus will be federation divided into two areas with two communities.

At the time of resuming the negotiations in 2008 between the President of the Republic of Cyprus Dimitris Christofias and the lead f the Turkish Republic of Norther Cyprus Mehmet Ali Talat, Mr. Christofias has announced his offer for the unification of the two communities which were aimed at the practical functioning of the united country and the achievement of an agreement.

The offers of Talat which were refused in the previous week as a foundation for negotiation according to Andros Kyprianou do not lead in the state on which Talat and Christofias have already agreed and more specifically – the united country to have single government, common citizenship of the people and one face in front of the international community.

As an example for the Mr. Kyprianou quoted one of the suggestions of Talat according to which “the two comprising communities could make agreements separately with the other countries.” This means there will be two countries instead of one united country, commented the leader of AKEL.

Cyprus has no doubts on the Turkish involvement in the suggestions being made, said Mr. Kyprianou. The offers of Turkey, however, are outside the framework of the decision of the United Nations and outside the agreement on the part of Cyprus as they lead to confederation and not to federation.

“Theoretically Turkey and Talat agree with the decisions of the United Nation. What matters for us is for the suggestions to aim at the realization of what we had agreed on” he added. The question is how make Turkey want and be motivated for the achievement of a federative republic of Cyprus. Mr. Kyprianou pointed out that the strongest motivation for the country is its integration in the European Union.

Of great importance during the negotiations is the for the Cyprus president to show stability and hold on to the agreements without giving in because of the pressure to be signed a temporary agreement before the elections in April 2010 in the occupied territories said Mr. Kyprianou.

Now in Cyprus this topic is very often discussed and often Christofias is blamed that he did not meet terms to reach to an agreement by the beginning of this year. “We shouldn’t give so much attention on how much time it is necessary, but to focus on the suggestions which each part is making. If Talat insists to formulate suggestions that are outside the framework of the already agreed with the United Nations, then the negotiations will not make any progress.”

According to preliminary research on the elections for a leader of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in April, advantage has Eroglu, however his eventual election will have a negative effect on the negotiations between the two parties as he supports the position that the decision of the Cyprus problem is in the separation and not in the unification. The separation of the island will set the beginning of new problems and would not be a solution added Mr. Kyprianou.

If we look at the option that Eroglu wins the elections for leader of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in April in the long term the negotiations between the two parties will become harder and eventually it will lead to the separation of the island. Even though this scenario pressures Cyprus to make a decision and sign a temporary agreement and give up its positions, Mr. Kyprianou said that the only solution is the creation of a federation with two areas and two communities.

In case the two leaders reach an agreement it will be put to a referendum. If such an agreement is not signed the president will have to take his responsibility, points Mr. Kyprianou. One of the disputable and very much discussed points for a future united country is related to the transition of the presidency every two years from a Cypriot Greek to a Cypriot Turkish and the other way around. Mr. Kyprianou points out that it is not important the origin of the politician who will hold the executive power, but his qualities among which is his stability. “In the contemporary countries it is natural that the principle of the majority has to be followed, however it is also necessary to guarantee the rights of the minorities as well” said Mr. Kyprianou.   

Mr. Kyprianou thanks all the Greeks for the support which they lend for the unification of the island and the liberation of the occupied territories. He points out that his meetings with the president, with the prime minister, with the chairmen of the Parliament and the leaders of all Parliament parties in Greece were very helpful and the most important is that they all support the president Dimitris Chritsofias.