Cyprus-Forum.com

[brother]

The United Nations have not been fooled
By Loucas Charalambous


A COUPLE of months ago, this column had appealed to the UN Secretary-general, warning him that he would be committing a fatal error if he called a new round of negotiations without first securing agreement on a pre-defined procedure within a sensible timeframe. The column had pointed out that neither the president nor the AKEL leadership were sincere in seeking a new peace initiative, something that Kofi Annan should have borne in mind.

I had argued that their main concern was to give AKEL members, who fear that the government’s actions are cementing the island’s partition, the illusion that something was being done for a settlement. The AKEL leadership had hoped that the UN would initiate a new bout of negotiations, without a timeframe or rigid procedure, to allow our side not to commit itself to anything while keeping the talks going until next year’s parliamentary elections. With talks in progress, the party would have been able to tell its disaffected members that a settlement was nigh and persuade them to return to the fold for the elections.

Things have not gone the way AKEL and the president would have liked. The UN, as it transpires from the briefing given to the permanent members of the Security Council by assistant Secretary-General, Sir Kieran Prendergast last Wednesday, did not fall into the Christofias-Papadopoulos trap. The fact that the UN clearly stated that there was no justification for a new initiative suggests that the organisation’s top brass have realised the Greek Cypriot leadership is not sincerely committed to a solution based on the Annan plan.

This insincerity was noted by Prendergast, who claimed the president had declined to tell him the changes he wanted made to the plan. Admittedly, President Papadopoulos and Christofias are maintaining a suspicious silence regarding the points raised by the former in his three meetings in Nicosia with the assistant Secretary-general.

It is obvious, however, that the stance of the president not only closed the door to a new initiative, but must also have been so provocative that it angered the UN officials. There is no other explanation for the announcement of Annan’s decision – before Sir Kieran had even returned to New York from his tour – to resubmit to the Security Council his report of a year ago, in which he blamed Papadopoulos for the failure of his previous initiative.

Another serious issue is raised though, for our president and co-president. The representative of the UN Secretary-general came to Cyprus, after our initiative, so we could tell him the changes we wanted made the Annan plan. Do the people not have the right to know what the president asked for? In similar instances in the past, Papadopoulos and Christofias would criticise former president Clerides for engaging in talks that he kept secret from the people. So what happens now?

Many things are being said about the issues brought up by Papadopoulos during the talks. If we believe just half of what the Turkish side has been saying, then we can only conclude that Papadopoulos is taking the Cyprus problem 50 years back. He is inclined to accept neither a federal settlement nor a return to the 1960 constitution, which six months ago, on finding his balance, he described as a “blessing”.

It is becoming abundantly clear that Papadopoulos and Christofias are demanding whatever they can think of as part of their filibustering tactics which allow them to enjoy their time in power, oblivious to the fact that, with every passing day, the partition of the island is being further cemented. Their only problem is that everyone is now aware of the game they are playing.

This was why they failed this time to fool the United Nations. It is also the reason they will not dare tell people what the president had told Prendergast.






Now do the many tassos supporting GC believe that he is bad for cyprus and wants partition or are you still going to blindly follow his bullshit that is designed to make fools of the decent GC out there.

[Kifeas]

Loucas Charalambous.

[Bananiot]

Well, this is exactly the point I have made on several occasions. Instead of examining the substance of what Loucas says, Kifeas responds in the most unproductive way. In effect he is saying "for me this Loucas Charalampous does not exist" because he disagrees with him. Thus, even if Loucas was 100% correct Kifeas will not listen to him, let alone allow himself to produce some thoughts on what Loucas is telling us. A few days ago, another fanatic of this forum became incensed because I said that I listen to Lazaros Mavros's radio show.

Back to the article now. I probably disagree with Loucas about Papadopoulos (and Christofias) receiving another hiding by the SG of the UN. The SG has clearly indicated that there is no ground for starting a new round of talks. I believe, and I said this many times, that this is exactly what Papadopoulos wants. In fact, Papadopoulos has scored a huge personal victory. Christofias, on the other hand may now find it more difficult to appease the many members of AKEL who heeded his advise ie the cementing of the "yes" vote after the soft "no". These members of AKEL will now seriously start asking questions about the policies of Papadopoulos.

Federalism and bizonality have never been among the options of Papadopoulos. He has written countless articles in newspapers and magazines before becoming president. I challenge anyone to show me just one line that shows Papadopoulos to be a proponent of this solution which is the only option open to us.

[JustAnAmerican]

I challenge anyone to show me just one line that shows Papadopoulos to be a proponent of this solution which is the only option open to us.

I second it. I have knowledge of personal conversations that he has had with other parties and he just does not show a desire for a solution.

[-mikkie2-]

I second it. I have knowledge of personal conversations that he has had with other parties and he just does not show a desire for a solution.

He has no desire for a solution? Perhaps he has no desire to accept the Annan Plan V, which is probably closer to the truth.

[brother]

Mikkie he has no intention for solution fullstop, please, please, please open your eyes to what this person you call president is doing, his actions are undermining all cypriots for his and his families benefits.

[-mikkie2-]

Brother,

In the absence of anyone better to lead us, what do you suggest? Hothead Anastasiades who shouts his head off when you don't agree withhim? At the end of the day I also think that Talat does not really want a solution or unification unless it is on his terms. So where does that leave us?

[brother]

I am not going to say who is better but not many can be as bad as tassos, talat is 10 times better than denktas but we have to wait till real negotiations start before we give him his marks.

I am sure many GC will soon see the real face of tassos if they haven't already, then it will be a case of wait for his term is up or .......i don't know what.

[Kifeas]

I challenge anyone to show me just one line that shows Papadopoulos to be a proponent of this solution which is the only option open to us.

I second it. I have knowledge of personal conversations that he has had with other parties and he just does not show a desire for a solution.

Nonsense!
Tell us then what you “heard” and under what circumstances. Do not give us names if it is going to be a problem.

[Kifeas]

Well, this is exactly the point I have made on several occasions. Instead of examining the substance of what Loucas says, Kifeas responds in the most unproductive way.

Substance? What substance? There is absolutely no substance and no sense in any of his past articles I had the misfortune to waste my time reading.

In effect he is saying "for me this Loucas Charalampous does not exist" because he disagrees with him.

No the man does exist! He is a member of the lunatics club!

Thus, even if Loucas was 100% correct Kifeas will not listen to him, let alone allow himself to produce some thoughts on what Loucas is telling us.

100% correct! That’s a good jock! How can someone be even 1% correct on something if he make absolutely no sense and only expresses his pervasive hatred against Papadopoullos?

A few days ago, another fanatic of this forum became incensed because I said that I listen to Lazaros Mavros's radio show.

Of course with the term “another fanatic of this forum,” Bananiot clearly implies that I am also a fanatic!