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The purpose of President Anastasiades' recent letter to T/C leader Ersin Tatar is to "corner" the Turkish Cypriot side, which has been avoiding even discussing these issues (of the MoU) for a long time, said CL Chairman Kudret Ozersai.
According to the GMP, the T/C press referred to a post by Mr. Ozersai on the issue in the MDM, where he writes that if the TC side were to pursue an active policy on these issues, "as we had called for many times before, if it constantly put forward its own proposals and could develop counter-proposals, if they could be put on the table from the last stage of the process in Switzerland on behalf of Mr. Tatar, today it would not have been possible to be cornered in this way."
The E/C political leadership - in his words by leaking to the press the letter, which contains the proposals that the E/C characterize as MOUs, as Mr. Ozersai said, "is trying to put pressure through public diplomacy on the Turkish Cypriot side, which for a long time has not shown any attitude on this issue. It is essentially doing something very right from its own point of view."
Recalling that the CL has long been making an appeal to Ersin Tatar to make new different and creative proposals to the G/C side even if the G/C proposals "are not acceptable in this form," Ozersay admitted that there is deep disagreement between the sides on the overall solution and there is no common ground. "That is why at this stage the negotiation process cannot begin with regard to the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem. However, at a time when we are going through a serious shortage, when the economy has been hit so deeply, the most appropriate step would be to develop relations between the two sides in the economic sector and to cooperate in a way that is to the economic benefit of both sides. We have in the past developed some counter-proposals and appealed to the presidency of the republic. We had said that it is worth working on the thought of port versus port instead of port versus Varosha."
The letter is also referred to in the T/C press. Under the headline "Anastasiades' letter to Tatar leaked to press", Avroupa writes that the six-page letter dated May 23 sent by President Anastasiades to Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, inviting him to negotiations on the Cyprus problem in a framework "that he himself drew up", has been leaked to the press.
Detai reported the story under the headline "Appeal 'let's get started' from Anastasiades to Tatar".
Under the headline "Greek Cypriot leader's letter to President Tatar leaked to the press", the online Kipris Post writes that Phileleftheros has published an extensive summary of President Anastasiades' letter to Tatar.
[BR][BR]The director of Yeni Douzen, Jenc Mutluyakali, writes in his column today that a letter was sent to Tatar, but he remains silent. "He challenges the world, but does not take even one step that will connect our homeland with the world," the columnist says of Tatar, noting that President Anastasiades called on the TC leader to meet, open the airport in occupied Tybos for direct flights and the port of Famagusta for direct trade under UN and EU control.
"For years they have been calling for direct flights from Ercan to the world. They blamed the south for preventing this. Now what has happened? The Greek Cypriot leader puts the issue back on the agenda. 'Open Ercan for direct flights,' he says. He doesn't even discuss it!" he says."
You said - he continues - 'we will give Varosha to its rightful owners'. "It is said exactly that. 'Give it to their rightful owners'. In return for this, we will open Erjian Airport to the world in full compliance with the relevant rules of international law. This will allow flights from the four corners of the world to come to the northern part of the island. Tourists will come from everywhere. The economy will grow."
Mutluyakali wonders why they have not discussed this. "Is it simply to form a government with 'instructions' to make a so-called prime minister out of an MP who flopped at the party conference? Do you reject this proposal so that you can appoint a foreign minister from Ankara under the lie of 'equal sovereignty'? Why?"
The Famagusta port will be opened to direct trade in a process managed on behalf of the European Commission, this is what is proposed, the T/C columnist said, saying that this will advance the rapprochement between Turkey and Cyprus. Perhaps this will increase trust, start a new planning of the future, open the doors of a new process with the European Union, he adds. "Who knows, the transition to the euro may become possible. There will be a path towards a solution step by step," he concludes.
Source: CNA
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