Author:  Stefanos Evripidou AS THE dust settles on Dervis Eroglu’s election as the new Turkish Cypriot leader, the question on everyone’s lips is ‘what next for the talks?’ Officially, the UN have adopted a “wait and see” attitude as to whether the talks will continue in their current format and within the parameters already agreed by President Demetris Christofias and Eroglu’s predecessor Mehmet Ali ... Full story

A senior analyst says attempts by both sides to put conditions on the talks will only increase mistrust. Full story

Author:  Stefanos Evripidou REACTIONS TO the withdrawal from government and Christofias’ response came thick and fast yesterday. Socialist leader Omirou said the president’s reply reflected unchanging positions which proved that EDEK’s decision was the right one. He argued again that the party’s requests for more briefings and “collective consultations” on the negotiations had fallen on deaf ears in two years. Full story

Author:  Stefanos Evripidou UNCERTAINTY REIGNS over the future of the government coalition with the domestic political front showing signs of disarray in the wake of the UN Secretary-General’s visit and the conclusion of the intensified negotiations. Following President Demetris Christofias’ briefing of the National Council on Friday, rumblings are once again being heard among government partners DIKO and EDEK regarding their potential departure from ... Full story

WHEN THE news that the UN Secretary-General was to visit Cyprus were announced we expressed the hope that his presence would give a fresh impetus to the talks which had been moving at a snail’s pace. Perhaps he would persuade the two leaders to show a greater sense of urgency in the talk or help them bridge the outstanding differences in the governance and ... Full story

Author:  Stefanos Evripidou THERE IS no doubt that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s arrival injected a dose of enthusiasm to the peace process which until now has displayed symptoms of a heavily sedated patient; sometimes dull, often grave and always depressed. Full story

Author:  Stefanos Evripidou THE SECOND round of intensive talks ended yesterday with the two leaders “feeling positive” after making “significant progress” on the governance chapter. UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer said the leaders authorised him to say that “significant progress has been made in a series of areas of governance” Full story

Author:  Patroclos   BRITISH cuckoos in the north may require the help of the odd sleeping pill before they go to bed at night, since the announcement of the Orams judgment on Tuesday. Not friendly at the best of times, the Brits in the north seemed particularly edgy and hostile when they were approached by a Mail journalist for comments, after the judgment Full story

Author: Stefanos Evripidou THE BRITISH Appeals Court ruling on the Orams case could weaken Mehmet Ali Talat's chances of re-election as Turkish Cypriot leader, in turn diminishing the chances of a solution, said diplomats and officials close to the talks yesterday. The international community is Publication: Cyprus Mail (Cyprus) Full story

Author:  Stefanos Evripidou THE TWO leaders ended the first three-day session of intensive talks yesterday on a low key, leaving nearly two weeks for thought, reflection, a National Council meeting and trips to Athens and Ankara before resuming intensive talks on January 25. The meeting lasted eight hours, after which UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer said the two had “a free and very open ... Full story