Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (28.02.14) reports that the negotiator of the Turkish Cypriot side in the Cyprus talks, Kudret Ozersayhas said that his meeting yesterday in Athens with officials from the Greek Foreign Ministry was “good and useful” and exceeded his expectations. Ozersay and his delegation met yesterday with the Secretary General of the Greek Foreign Ministry, Anastasios Mitsialis.
In short statements afterwards, Ozersay described the meeting as “the start of a healthy dialogue”. The delegations met for more than two hours at the Greek Ministry and continued their discussions over a working lunch.

After the lunch, Ozersay said that the Greek officials hosted them very well and added that they discussed all issues which are on the table in the Cyprus talks. Noting that they exchanged views with Mitsialis, Ozersay pointed out: “The negotiating process consists of various stages. The stage during which Turkey and Greece will interfere in the process will come. The meeting we held has a preparatory character for this stage”.

Arguing that the Turkish Cypriots have some prejudices against Greece and the Greek Cypriots have prejudices against Turkey, Ozersay noted that launching a dialogue to overcome these prejudices is “meaningful and positive”. He argued that this dialogue started with delay and added that the two “peoples” of the island are each other’s interlocutor and that the guarantors are included in the process, but the problem will be solved by the two “sides”.

Asked whether meetings will be held with Greek officials in the future, Ozersay replied that this issue will be decided by Turkey, Greece and the two communities of the island.

Replying to a question as to when he would talk with the Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis, Ozersay said: “I can call him now as soon as I return to the hotel. We have such a sincere relationship”.

Asked to clarify what surprises carried in his bag to Greece, Ozersay said: “What is important here is to explain before a meeting the issues which will be discussed before a meeting. This is how you should perceive the surprise. We discussed everything which we should have discussed, we conveyed our views, and we took Greece’s views. This meeting is by itself a historic meeting”.

Meanwhile, according to Kibris, the self-styled foreign ministry of the breakaway regime issued a statement yesterday describing as “extremely satisfying development” the visits of the negotiators to Greece and Turkey respectively. The “ministry” expressed the hope that the structured negotiations after these meetings will advance in an “effective manner”.