Nicosia, Cyprus. Former European commissioner Androulla Vassiliou on Friday warned against continued speculation about the contents of ongoing talks aimed at resuming negotiations on the Cyprus problem. She said publishing such speculation could adversely affect the process.
Warning over reports
Vassiliou said it was a mistake to publish speculation about possible provisions of a new plan for a solution to the Cyprus problem. She said she believed this would adversely affect the entire process.
Media reports and reaction
Reports on the alleged content of a package solution deal emerged last weekend, with related reports appearing in media in both Cyprus and Turkey in recent days. The reports prompted a reaction from Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on Thursday.
Erhurman said a debate had continued for days based on an article written by a Greek Cypriot journalist and was being accepted as completely true. He said some were questioning who leaked the information, how accurately it had been leaked, and whether baseless messages had been inserted during the leak to provoke Turkish Cypriots.
He added that if the aim was to provoke the Turkish Cypriot side with baseless claims, derail the process, and then send a message to the world that Turkish Cypriots did not want a solution, his side would not fall for such games.
Later, he said he was not at all bothered by the discussions but was following them carefully. He added that his office had enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to understand who was trying to do what, who was trying to contribute in good faith, and who had other agendas.
Claims about proposed framework
The initial reports suggested that United Nations envoy Maria Angela Holguin had presented a looser solution to the Cyprus problem to the involved parties.
According to the reports, the proposal would entail two constituent states in a structure in which the island’s central government would retain only absolutely necessary competences so that the new state could function internationally, within the European Union, and institutionally.
The reports also said such a solution would be implemented during a transitional phase of two or three years, with territory ceded by the Turkish Cypriots during that period. In return, the Turkish Cypriot side would be allowed direct trade, direct contact and direct flights to Ercan (Tymbou) airport.
Government response
Deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou was asked about the matter by the Cyprus Mail on Wednesday and declined to comment on the substance of the reports. He said the content of any given solution was not currently a matter for discussion.
