Prospects are positive for proximity talks opening today in Geneva on Cyprus. Before leaving, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, asserted confidently: "I cannot say if it will be in three or five months' time, but the Cyprus problem will be solved by talks and not weapons."
His optimism surprised the Greek Cypriot side which considers the climate is right for progress but believes a breakthrough will not come until after the Turkish Cypriot presidential election in April. President Glafkos Clerides of Cyprus is encouraged by agreement on confidence-building measures ahead of the Geneva talks.
Britain's envoy, Sir David Hannay, observed that Greece and Turkey had at last "broken out of what I call the vicious circle of negativism and deadlock".
The Cypriot deadlock was broken when Mr Denktash accepted the proximity formula. He had previously made his participation conditional on recognition of the Turkish Cypriot state and acceptance of a two-state confederal solution.
However, in the run-up to the poll, he has come under pressure from rivals adopting a softer line. The Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the opposition Republican Turkish Party, said: "The solution to the Cyprus problem is a federation," adopting the line taken by the Greek Cypriots. He dismissed "confederation", saying it "was proposed with the object of blocking a settlement".
Mr Talat is eager for a settlement so the Turkish Cypriots will join the EU along with the Greek Cypriots.
