Christofias Signals Reunification Hope at UN Summit

With talks under way every week, optimists would be right to see a potentially secure solution to the Cyprus problem.

Indeed, Cypriot leaders Mehmet Ali Talat and Dimitris Christofias have been described by many sources as staunch allies and close friends, and both have stated separately their intentions to make reunification the centre of what they achieve whilst in office; in fact, it was one of the main points in both of their election campaigns.

Things seem to be moving positively, and Talat has suggested that they set an end of the year deadline for the talks, cementing his genuine desire for a resolution.

That desire was hammered home by Christofias, who spoke for the first time as president of the Republic of Cyprus at the 63rd General Assembly, and made it quite clear that his aim in his presidential term was to resolve the problem once and for all.

He spoke thus:

"On September 3, a new intensive effort started with the aim of overcoming the impasses of the past and achieving progress that would lead to the reunification of Cyprus under mutually agreed terms and to the withdrawal of foreign troops after 34 years of division and foreign occupation. For this effort to succeed what is needed is political will on the part of the Cypriots, but also the positive engagement of other important players which for historical reasons have been part of the problem and need to become part of the solution.

For my part, I want to assure you from this podium that my political will to do what is necessary to solve the problem is firm and deep-rooted. My origins are in the popular movement of Cyprus which prides itself of a long history of struggles and indeed sacrifices in defence of friendship, cooperation and peaceful coexistence between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots"

He closed the promising address with the line, "I wish our community of nations a successful 63rd General Assembly session".

and that community of nations will be wishing Christofias all the best in his endeavours. Because it is the first time in the often tense political climate of the island, that two leaders have been so resolved to work together, and so resolved to solve the Cyprus problem and schedule a reform for reunification; before them, two leaders, Tassos Papadopoulos and Rauf Denktash were in office for substantial amounts fo time, and both were staunchly against reunification; in fact, Denktash and Talat locked horns a number of times when the latter was prime minister under Denktash's presidency.

But now the way to reunification seems clear. And Christofias and Talat are ready to walk it together, which is the true key; they have agreed to a media silence over the exact details of their weekly talks, but what actually marks that as a positive thing is that they are both expressing their reunification plans and hopes globally, and firmly in the public sphere.

Now Cyprus must wait and hope that the words Christofias used to seduce the U.N assembly can compliment the work done by Mehmet Ali Talat since he took up presidency in 2005.