President Demetris Christofias, during a policy speech he gave to Greek and Cypriot organisations in New York, said he had tried to make an honest attempt to persuade Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to join with him in speaking a common language.
“But the behaviour of the occupying forces and sometimes the conduct of Mr Talat is a challenge to our feelings and emotions,” he said.
“And because we often operate with emotion first and then the logic, we must reverse this,” he added.
Christofias did not elaborate further on that aspect but it was not the first time he has made statements about Talat’s attitude at the talks.
He has accused Talat in recent weeks of saying one thing inside the talks and another when he emerges.
Meanwhile accusations have also continued to flow from north to south. Talat was quoted yesterday accusing Christofias of psychological warfare.
“Their (Greek Cypriot) aims are obvious. They are trying to stir up troubles between me and my people. However, they will not succeed on this,” Talat said.
The Turkish Cypriot leader said he had asked Christofias to explain what he meant by the accusations of differing statements inside and outside the talks.
He said it was obvious Christofias was trying to discredit him in the eyes of the Turkish Cypriots, and to make Talat appear unreliable in the eyes of the international community.
“This is a more dangerous game than the one played by Papadooulos,” said Talat, adding that if this continues, he doesn’t know how the Cyprus problem will ever be solved.
The leaders are due to meet again on October 10. Christofias returns to the island today after his New York trip to attend the UN General Assembly.
On Friday night he managed to pass a few words with Turkish President Abdullah Gul on the sidelines of the assembly.
Christofias said he had asked Gul to assist in finding a settlement.
“It was a good conversation,” said Christofias. “He (Gul) said that he backs the negotiations but of course this is not enough. We need positive moves from Turkey in order to create the conditions for the final solution of the problem. If we really want a solution, the solution must be based on this reality, I mean on the reality of the existence of the Republic of Cyprus and the evolution of this Republic into a bizonal, bicommunal federal state,” the Cypriot President said.
By Jean Christou, 28/9/08 Cyprus Mail
