President Demetris Christofias yesterday became the first president in the history of the republic to not to seek a second term when he formally announced he would not stand in the presidential elections next February.In an address to the public, Christofias cited the lack of progress in finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, which he blamed on Turkey and current Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu. He said the failure meant he would stick to his pre-election pledge to stand down if he failed to find a solution to the Cyprus problem... 40 comments

TURKISH Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu yesterday said President Demetris Christofias’ statement that a solution to the Cyprus problem was far from near was significant, as he was expressing the Greek Cypriots’ position that they don’t want a solution.He added that Christofias wasn’t being honest when referring to the Cyprus problem’s resolution.The decision to not seek re-election belongs to Christofias and his party, Eroglu said, adding that he would soon offer a detailed assessment of the president’s address.Earlier in the day, Eroglu said the Cypriot-owned negotiations for the Cyprus problem ended with the United Nations’ Secretary-General’s decision not to hold a multilateral conference... 22 comments

A DRAFT report on common positions for a common election programme of the four minority opposition parties was distributed yesterday with the glaring absence of any reference to a bizonal, bicommunal federation. DIKO deputy Nicolas Papadopoulos put together the draft framework as a starting point for further discussion on fielding a common candidate in next February’s presidential elections among DIKO, EDEK, EVROKO and the Greens.  Papadopoulos distributed the draft report to all four parties yesterday morning while the committee formed to prepare a common election programme was due to meet in the evening to discuss it. ... 5 comments

 THE UNITED Nations yesterday informed the two leaders of its decision to downgrade the peace talks, putting an end to “unproductive” leaders’ meetings while calling on the leaders to figure out a way to convene a multilateral conference in the summer.  In a rare address to the public at large, UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer held a press conference in the buffer zone yesterday, saying: “It is clear to me and to both leaders that the negotiations have recently come to something of a standstill.” He added: “It is clear something has to change... 19 comments

THE CYPRUS Community Media Centre (CCMC) is in a unique position to facilitate closer collaboration between media professionals from both communities, says the final report of the Collaborative Media Initiative (CMI) to be launched today at the CCMC Community Space in Nicosia’s Green Line... Read on

 DISY chief and presidential candidate Nicos Anastassiades has riled the government and ruling party AKEL by claiming that he will withdraw President Demetris Christofias’ proposals on the Cyprus problem, if he is elected president next year.Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said yesterday the statements were a resounding example of “Nicos Anastassiades’ mutations and transformations”, adding that Anastassiades was sacrificing the Cyprus problem in favour of the presidential chair.“In his attempt to opportunistically approach other political powers, Mr Anastassiades is transforming his positions on the Cyprus problem, obviously to become more liked,” said Stefanou. ... 7 comments

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed the United Nations’ next steps in the Cyprus problem in a meeting with his special adviser in Cyprus, Alexander Downer, late on Friday.No official announcements have been made, nor statements on their departure from the half-hour meeting, which took place in the presence - among others - of Under-Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe and the advisor on governance to the UN-led negotiations for the Cyprus problem, John McGarry.Tomorrow, Downer, who is staying in New York until Wednesday, plans to meet with representatives of all sides, while he also expected to meet with members of the Security Council... 7 comments

TURKISH CYPRIOT leader Dervis Eroglu has made a “last plea” for a five-party conference, warning that if this is rejected, then each side will go its own way.Eroglu was quoted by Turkish Cypriot press yesterday making the comment at a speech in Istanbul. The latest threat to break free from the talks and put the Turkish Cypriots on their own path adds weight to the numerous Turkish reports of a ‘Plan B’ for the breakaway regime to be implemented post July 1 when Cyprus takes over the EU Presidency. ... 10 comments

THE CURRENT round of talks seems to be leading nowhere; Eight years after the accession of Cyprus to the European Union, the Cyprus Presidency of the EU finds Cyprus still divided, while leaders have so far failed to utilise the discovery of natural gas in a way that will promote peace rather than war.In parallel, the financial crisis has emphasised the unhealthy economic links with the so called ’motherlands’, the lack of autonomy of the Turkish Cypriots versus, and on the other, the financial investments made by Greek Cypriots in Greece, which were excessive and risky and to the detriment of the Cypriot economy.The way ahead for the Cypriots does not lie in holding the hands of the motherlands but in holding the hands of each other. ... 2 comments

TALKS TO resolve the Cyprus problem will most likely come to a halt in July, when the Republic takes over EU Presidency, UN special adviser in Cyprus Alexander Downer said in an interview.Downer relayed Turkish Cypriots’ belief that negotiations during that period would be “meaningless” since President Demetris Christofias would be preoccupied with EU matters; even though Christofias has stated that the talks could continue despite the presidency."If one side chooses not to turn up to the talks anymore, that is the end," Downer told the Associated Press in Nicosia. He doubted whether any progress would be made after the presidency ends, especially with the upcoming presidential elections in February... 18 comments