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Cyprus, Cyprus Problem, dervis eroglu, President Demetris Christofias

everyone at dinner last night had the warm fuzzies

THE DINNER with the two Cypriot leaders and the UN at the mixed village of Pyla last night was a jolly affair, only a day after it appeared t the outlook was bleak for the New York Greentree talks at the end of this month.

President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu expressed their hope for a comprehensive settlement, saying this could be achieved even within 2012.

Both leaders made statements during the dinner, which was hosted at the Greek Cypriot restaurant Trochos in the centre of the mixed village. The leaders, and the UN team, which included Special Adviser Alexander Downer, then headed to the Turkish Cypriot restaurant Amnesia, a kilometre away for coffee.

Downer in his comments over dinner waxed lyrical about the “beautiful island” of Cyprus and how “warm friendly and extremely hospitable people were” and that “warmer and friendlier people” could not be found anywhere but in Cyprus.

He continued by saying that he dreamt of the day when the two leaders would be on the front page of Time magazine as the two people who reached an agreement in Cyprus, resulting to the island’s reunification. “I think all this is possible”, Downer said.

Christofias said in his address that he hoped 2012 would be’the year of the solution’, adding that this was possible. He noted that despite the problems, “we shall work more intensively to find a common language, the Cypriot language” in order to overcome the difficulties.

Christofias said only on Wednesday that going to New York would be meaningless unless progress was made before that, and that the main differences still remained. 

Eroglu said he agreed with everything that Christofias said, although he is insisting that a solution be reached before Cyprus takes over the presidency of the EU in July.

“I do believe that with our strong efforts, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can find a comprehensive settlement in this island,” Eroglu said.

Earlier, Christofias when he arrived at Pyla, visited the village's Community Council building where he was welcomed by newly elected Community Council President Simos Metides and the members of the Council.

“Your role is particularly important,” he told them, referring to the fact that Pyla is home to both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. He said the government was striving for Pyla to be an example followed throughout Cyprus in any solution.

After the meeting with the Community Council, the President met Eroglu in the village square and along with their spouses, before dinner, visited local associations. 

No statements were made after coffee, and the evening wrapped up around 11pm.