Greek Cyprus agrees on joint statement as Turks 'evaluate'

ANKARA

A statement of agreement from Nicos Anastasiades came after his meeting with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades has agreed on a draft of joint communiqué which will open the way for the resumption of U.N.-sponsored talks to reunite the island.

A decision of agreement from the Turkish Cypriot side is expected in order to kick off a new round of negotiations. 

A statement of agreement from Anastasiades came after his meeting with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. The joint statement paves the way for dialogue aiming at a resolution and designates parameters for a solution, Anastasiades noted.

A draft of the joint declaration was presented to the Turkish Cypriot side Feb. 6, and Turkish Cypriot President Derviş Eroğlu was set to discuss the text of joint communiqué with political parties in Parliament on Feb. 7 and determine a position, sources told the Hürriyet Daily News.

The text of the joint declaration is a modified version of the Greek Cypriot proposal submitted Dec. 13, 2013, but there are achievements for the Turkish side in the wording, such as the specification that sovereignty “emanates equally from Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.” The addition to Article 3, “Neither side may claim authority or jurisdiction over the other,” is interpreted as acquisition by the Turkish side.

President Derviş Eroğlu said moving forward for resolution was not possible merely with a joint statement since there were six topics waiting to be negotiated. He stressed the necessity of discussing the joint statement with Parliament.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu held separate telephone conversations with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Feb. 6 evening. While Syria was the topic of conversation with Ban, Cyprus was also discussed between Davutoğlu and Hague, according to what diplomatic sources told the Anadolu Agency. 

Phone conversations between Turkish and British politicians came only hours after Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades said there were “serious prospects” that long-stalled talks to reunify the island could resume between the estranged Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.