Cyprus Talks: Talks on security and guarantees still poses an issue as both sides disagrees

The Cyprus Conference aimed at reunifying the divided Cyprus island in Crans-Montana, Switzerland entered the seventh day on Tuesday with security and guarantees still posing an issue for both sides. 

According to reports emerging from media sources in Cyprus, Monday's night negotiations on the issue of security and guarantees ended in a row, after written proposals covering all features of the political problem were presented leading to a heated public spat between delegations from both sides.

Both sides said that the other had failed to bring adequate proposals as none were sound enough to forge an agreement, reports Greek Cypriot daily ‘Cyprus Weekly.’
 
The issue will however receive some calm when key figures face each other again on Tuesday to discuss security and guarantees.

other reports say Turkey, the Turkish Cypriot side and the Greek Cypriots also tabled proposals for the internal aspects of the problem, mainly covering the contentious issues of property, governance and European affairs.

The Greek Cypriot side and Greece felt that the Turkish proposals were vague, lacking the analysis, details and the depth which Nicosia and Athens were expecting, reports the ‘Cyprus Weekly.’

On the thorny issue of guarantees, the Turkish document suggested tailoring the 1960 Treaty to suit today’s current circumstances, rather than completely abolishing the treaty.

Regarding troop withdrawal from the island in the event of a solution, there was no mention of a “sunset clause” (a firm date for the troops to leave), although there was an indication about keeping small Turkish and Greek contingents on the island, with Ankara suggesting that the guarantors review the situation after 15 years.

Photo and news source: Cyprus Weekly