NICOSIA -- Meetings between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus are “a waste of time” because of the stance of the Turkish Cypriot leader, President Demetris Christofias said today, adding at the same time that talks will continue between the top aides to the two leaders.

Furthermore the President expressed his readiness to bring back to the table his three-tier proposal of summer 2010, aiming to help make headway at the Cyprus talks.

Replying to questions on possible Turkish moves to create tension as Cyprus prepares to assume the six monthly rotating EU presidency in July, the President said “we are ready to confront these plans”.

Turkish government officials have talked about “plan B” to allow Turkish settlers into Varosha and attempts to annex the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime to mainland Turkey.

Asked to comment on Turkish Cypriot statements that shuttle-diplomacy will not be conducted between the two leaders and the UN, the President, who was talking to the press during a visit to the offices of the Cyprus EU Secretariat, said the process of the talks is not changing.

“The Turkish Cypriot leader does not want any meetings between the two leaders. Such meetings are a waste of time. I have told Dervis Eroglu that talking to him is like trying to bring down a wall by throwing eggs at it,” he said.

Downer announced last Friday that the UN will engage over the next couple of weeks in shuttle diplomacy between the two sides, to negotiate the way forward and the precise way in which matters should be handled concerning Cyprus talks.

The President expressed satisfaction over the fact that the dialogue would continue between the representatives of the two leaders and between the technical committees, adding that any concrete decisions taken will be brought before the leaders.

“Turkey is trying to put an end to the talks to free itself from the negotiating process in order to impose plan B in Cyprus. I have no intention of doing Ankara such a favor,” he stressed, recalling that Eroglu was a staunch supporter of interrupting the talks and of a two-state solution.

On the reintroduction of his 2010 proposal, leading to unfreezing EU accession negotiation chapters for Turkey, he said it would have a positive fallout on all sides involved, adding that the statehood of the Republic of Cyprus must be safeguarded in any such undertaking.

The President dismissed a Turkish proposal to open to international air traffic the illegal airport in Turkish occupied Tympou, close to the capital Nicosia, saying it infringes on the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.

“Should our proposal be accepted, hundreds not to say thousands of jobs will be on offer and the opening of Famagusta port will promote daily trade exchange between the two communities,” he pointed out.
On a proposed international conference on Cyprus, the President explained that the UN Secretary General agrees with him that conditions are not ripe for such a meeting.

The proposal provides for simultaneous discussions on property and territory, it calls for the implementation of Security Council resolution 550 on the return of the fenced off area of Varosha - under Turkish occupation since 1974 - to the UN and provides for the opening of the city’s port for trade for the Turkish Cypriots under EU supervision. It also proposes to convene an international conference on Cyprus, once the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides are within reach of an agreement on the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem.

Replying to other questions, President Christofias said UNSG’s top envoy on Cyprus Alexander Downer had not talked to him about July 1 – when Cyprus assumes the EU presidency – as an unofficial deadline for the Cyprus talks, noting that Downer had expressed the wish of the SG to see interested parties to be ready for an international conference on Cyprus.

Deputy Minister for European Affairs Andreas Mavroyiannis noted from his part that July 1st is a milestone for the Republic of Cyprus but not a deadline for the Cyprus issue.

President Christofias has been engaged in peace talks since September 2008 with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, to find a negotiated settlement that would reunite Cyprus, divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

The latest direct meeting between Christofias and Eroglu took place last month. Now the UN, through Downer, will engage in shuttle diplomacy in a bid to make headway.