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Cyprus peace negotiations will be terminated in July 2012.
Long-term peace negotiations to reunify divided Cyprus are likely to end in July when southern Cyprus will take on the six-month EU presidency. All three parties of the talks have agreed on this.
"You would not be able to satisfy the Greek Cypriots, even if I gave them the whole island"
TRNC President Dervis Eroglu, expressed his opinion about the end of negotiations in June, in front of the press and the cabinet of Ministers last week. Dr. Eroglu has made this statement during the height of the criticism from the UN about lack of progress in the current negotiations. UN Secretary-General has repeatedly stated its concern that the two leaders of Cyprus are being publicly negative in their views on the peace negotiations.
The president of Northern Cyprus, Dr. Eroglu is concerned that after South side will take on EU presidency, the country will no longer be able to devote all its attention to the peace talks.
"If one party does not come to meetings, negotiations are over"
Alexander Downer, the UN special adviser for the Cyprus issue, said that the TRNC believes that there is no point in continuing the peace talks, when southern Cyprus will assume the EU presidency. According to Mr Downer, if any of the parties fails to appear to the meetings, the negotiations will come to an end. He was unusually somber at a news conference about the fact that the two sides of Cyprus were unable to reach an agreed solution. He said that the two powers of Cyprus asked for an international conference, but this could not be without solving the fundamental problems of communities.
“The resolution of disputes between two countries should take here in Cyprus, we didn’t decide the key issues yet, chief among which are real estate of Cyprus, where both sides have important differences, as well as the question of governance and power sharing. We must come to an agreement of such fundamental issues before diving into the multilateral and international conferences "
Mr. Downer also commented on the upcoming presidency of Southern Cyprus in the EU.
"It [the presidency of the EU] is very complicated and time-consuming work, and as you know, the Greek Cypriot government has invested much effort and money. They are taking it very seriously, and the presidency will be the main focus of their activities. "
"I do not see a solution in sight"
Southern Cyprus is expected to have a very busy and eventful year. The end of talks in July, the EU presidency, and the presidential elections in early 2013. President of the Republic of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias said that he would not seek re-election if he cannot bring peace to communities of Cyprus, and this week in a televised address to the nation, he admitted that he "sees no solution to the Cyprus problem in sight."
Mr Christofias said: "Will I run or not depends on further events, and the will of my party. I want a solution to the Cyprus problem to be made before the end of my term, but I must point out that in view of the behavior on the other hand, I see no solution "
The reign of Mr Christofias was not happy one - with the process of negotiations at its last breath, the Greek economy dipping to the lowest level, as well as a significant criticism of his side after a fatal explosion in the country last year.
Numerous rounds of peace talks led by UN did not end up with a solution. The latest round of negotiations began in 2008 and has achieved limited progress and both countries began to accuse each other of not co-operating.
With the latest statement of Dr. Eroglu, that it is pointless to continue the talks post-July, Mr. Christofias saying that he cannot see a solution between the communities in the future, and Mr. Downer’s statement that the sides did not come to any settlement on the fundamental issues, the whole island with the held breath awaits for the final decision. So what will it be truce or complete detachment? After all, we know that history repeats itself.
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