A positive climate in Cyprus raises hope for a bright future

Mehmet Ali Talat and Demetris Christofias, the Turkish and Greek leaders of the divided island of Cyprus met on Friday, March 21st. The newspaper is impressed: "Conditions for a successful conclusion have never been more favourable. For the first time since 1974 the leaders of the two communities are pro-solution and pragmatic supporters of a bizonal, bicommunal federation. ... The creation and maintenance of a positive climate is, arguably, the most important responsibility of the Talat and Christofias for the next few months. To achieve this, they need to avoid public statements that might provoke hostile reactions on either side ... . Differences that may arise during the talks by the technical committees and working groups should be resolved behind closed doors and kept off the airwaves, because the media, which had often played a destructive part in the past, and anti-solution politicians will be waiting to pounce and scupper the procedure."

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