By Stefanos Evripidou
THE TWO negotiators tasked with ending the island’s ongoing division yesterday held “historic” parallel meetings with Greek and Turkish diplomats in Athens and Ankara, breaking the ice with the so-called respective “motherlands”.
Andreas Mavroyiannis met with Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu in Ankara while at the same time Kudret Ozersay met the General Secretary of the Greek Foreign Ministry, Anastassis Mitsialis, in Athens, far from the watchful eye of the media.
No statements were made after both meetings, while the media were kept at a distance from the buildings where the negotiations took place.
Prior to his Athens visit, Ozersay had highighted that the last Turkish Cypriot negotiator to visit Greece was the late Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in 1959. Also, the last official visit by a Greek Cypriot to Ankara was made by then President Archbishop Makarios in 1962.
Government spokesman Christos Stylianides yesterday said the meeting in Ankara was “a very important meeting”, and expressed hope that more would follow.
“This is the first time a Cypriot negotiator arrives in Ankara for such a meeting with a Turkish official. We hope that this meeting will mark the beginning of many more to come. This was the intention of the government and the President, who proposed this procedure and we believe it can still yield more positive results for both sides,” he said.
Deputy spokesman Victoras Papadopoulos described it as a “historic day” as President Nicos Anastasiades succeeded in achieving what the Greek Cypriots have been demanding for 40 years, to have direct contact with the country occupying the island’s northern third.
According to reports from various media in Cyprus, Greece and Turkey, both negotiators were warmly received by their hosts while the meetings were held in a positive climate.
Public broadcaster CyBC yesterday cited reports saying that the Mavroyiannis-Sinirlioglu meeting was held in a very good and friendly climate. The two had a constructive discussion in a climate of understanding and cooperation where Turkey expressed its support to the peace process, said the broadcaster.
The CyBC’s Istanbul correspondent also reported that Mavroyiannis did not raise specific issues during the meeting- earlier reports had him ready to discuss Turkish troops, settlers, guarantees and the opening of Varosha with Ankara- but instead laid out Anastasiades’ political vision and determination for a solution.
According to Hurriyet Daily News, a Turkish diplomat said the meeting was “a positive beginning”, noting particularly the importance of the “psychological influence” of these mutual meetings.
Asked if the visits would continue, the same source said they foresee they will, though no date has been set.
Ozersay was reportedly going to discuss the need to lift the ‘embargo’ on the Turkish Cypriots. Before meeting with the Greek diplomat, the Turkish Cypriot negotiator was quoted saying he was going to Athens with a “briefcase full of surprises”.
He also said the mutual visits would help to remove prejudices.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the visits would have a positive impact on the talks, and called for their continuation and in greater depth.
“The island of Cyprus belongs to both communities. The Cyprus Republic was established by the 1959-1960 agreements and by the two communities. Today, both communities have the political will to overcome this problem. Turkey and Greece support this political will,” he said.
Ozersay was quoted by Turkish Cypriot paper Realist saying that Davutoglu would visit the island on Monday, though this could not be confirmed yesterday.
Greek paper To Vima yesterday reported that Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was uncomfortable with the decision taken last September to initiate parallel visits of the two negotiators to Athens and Ankara, but had agreed not to become an obstacle to Anastasiades’ aim to open direct lines of communication with Ankara.
It remains to be seen how often visits to Athens and Ankara will take place, and whether they will always be simultaneous. The two negotiators are also likely to visit other capitals, such as London and possibly Washington, as part of the peace process.
Mavroyiannis was accompanied yesterday by lawyer Polys Polyviou and head of his office Polly Ioannou.
Ozersay took with him political affairs head at the Turkish Cypriot ‘foreign ministry’ Gunes Onar and Gulfem Veziroglu Svikili.
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