Cyprus-Forum.com

[YFred]

At last. The world has finally woken up. It now looks as though something may happen after all. We must be thankful for small mercies.

A sorry state of affairs
By Stefanos Evripidou

THE SECOND round of Cyprus negotiations began yesterday marred only by fireworks on the domestic front, when President Demetris Christofias said he regretted “our sorry state of affairs” following press leaks of confidential UN papers.

The recent UN documents featuring comments by high-ranking diplomats indicated that it was the Greek Cypriot side and not Turkey that was the obstacle to a settlement..

The President may have been in good spirits following a three-hour meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday, the first since the summer recess and the Ayios Mamas pilgrimage debacle.

But when asked to comment on confidential UN papers, which were published by Phileleftheros yesterday, Christofias referred to “our sorry state”.

“I have no comment. What I will comment on is our sorry state, because this (document) was not given by me, I am not aware of this paper. But everyday I see the TV stations and newspapers freely making public the documents responsibly given to members of the National Council,” he said.

“And those giving them (to the public) say they want a collective approach, and want to help the president and want to solve the Cyprus problem. With all due respect and love, allow me to have my doubts,” he added.

Christofias called on all parties to stop attacking the government and instead focus on giving their opinions at the National Council next Monday. He argued that the government has set aside two, three days to discuss everything on the table, both at the talks, and regarding Turkey’s December evaluation at the EU.

“Instead of that, everyone’s spending their whole time interpreting our positions as being those expressed by the other side, and exercising intense criticism against the president and government…what else can I say, I regret our sorry state of affairs,” he said.

The UN papers document minutes of meetings held over the summer between US Ambassador to Cyprus Frank Urbancic and UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Lynn Pascoe, as well as between UN Special Advisor on Cyprus, Alexander Downer, and Talat.

The gist of the minutes based on the excerpts released in the press is that the real obstacle to a solution this time is not Turkey, but the Greek Cypriots. Pascoe is reported saying that he gave instructions to Downer to submit proposals to move the talks forward, while ensuring the parties retained ownership of the talks.

The two appeared to bemoan the fact that the EU, particularly the UK, was not putting enough pressure on the Greek Cypriots. Pascoe reportedly told Urbancic that during the upcoming UN General Assembly, the Secretary-General would “impress on all interlocutors that it was important to remind the Greek Cypriots of the international community’s expectations”.

According to the minutes of the Pascoe-Urbancic meeting, “Both interlocutors (sic) agreed that Turkey, which was often castigated by the Greek Cypriots as the main obstacle to a solution, was not actually the problem this time.”

Predictably, the contents of the leaked papers caused quite a stir among coalition partners, DIKO and EDEK.

DIKO’s Fotis Fotiou rejected any effort to impose suffocating timeframes or behind-the-scenes arbitration, saying his party “greatly regretted the fact that UN officers played a key role in this”. Referring specifically to DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades, he added: “We regret more that Greek Cypriot politicians have the same views.”

EDEK spokesman Demetris Papadakis described Pascoe’s alleged comments as “deplorable behaviour and a departure of the UN officer’s role and mission”

Speaking after a meeting with Urbancic yesterday, Anastassiades said he was told that the US had no intention of getting involved in the Cyprus problem unless it was specifically asked to do so.

The opposition leader also rubbished claims that outside proposals on solving the conflict would harm the process, saying alternative proposals would provide “food for thought” to the leaders.

Downer put it more succinctly: “I know people have tried to ban a lot of things throughout human history but it will be a sad day if they decided to ban ideas.”

Talat, Christofias and their aides had a two-hour tête-à-tête yesterday where they discussed the Limnitis affair, without raised voices, before meeting Downer and his team to begin the official second reading, starting with the ‘executive’ part of the governance and power-sharing chapter.

Christofias said the two leaders agreed to put the Limnitis incident aside and look forward “in the hope that from now on, we won’t witness similar events”.

According to Downer, the two leaders discussed bridging proposals in relation to the diverging views on the election of the President and Vice-President of a United Republic of Cyprus. The two will continue their discussion and bring new “bridging proposals” to the table next Thursday.

After the talks, the UN held a reception for the two leaders and a group of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot artists who are exhibiting their artwork at the UN’s Good Offices.

Christofias noted that for “years now artists have reconciled”, adding that what remains is for the leaders to act upon the challenge to bring peace and the “reunification of our country and people”.


The leaked UN documents opened a window to the “opinions” of key players and policy-makers connected to the Cyprus talks. Pascoe is recorded saying to Urbancic that his main concern was that the second round might be as “unsubstantive as the first”. He said the EU had to put pressure on the Greek Cypriots and make it clear that the international community expected a solution this time round, while noting the UK was not doing enough in this regard.

Urbancic said France’s contributions to the talks were “often unhelpful” while “Germany was virtually inactive”. He praised the Nordic countries for being “extremely ‘helpful”. Noting that Central European countries were willing to help but did not know how, he said the rest of Europe broadly aligned itself with the Greek Cypriots.

During the Downer-Talat meeting, the UN Special Advisor noted Christofias’ balancing act with the talks on one hand and his coalition partners on the other. “Christofias needs to keep a consensus and hence the recent negative remarks aim to keep coalition partner on board,” Downer reportedly said.

Discussing the prospects of winning the referenda, the Australian diplomat noted it was easier to lose a referendum when you had a positive proposition, hence the need to “redefine the debate” or turn it from positive to negative.

So, a ‘no’ vote for Turkish Cypriots would mean the isolation would remain and they would never join the EU. For the Greek Cypriots, it meant permanent partition; the status quo would come to an end as would “the dream of unity”; a property settlement would depend on lengthy litigation, and Turkish troops would stay.

“Question marks over UNFICYP have appeared, lately by Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt. While this talk has annoyed Christofias to an extent, he has also changed his rhetoric by describing a no solution as a catastrophe,” the minutes record Downer saying.



Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009

[Jerry]

The two appeared to bemoan the fact that the EU, particularly the UK, was not putting enough pressure on the Greek Cypriots. Pascoe reportedly told Urbancic that during the upcoming UN General Assembly, the Secretary-General would “impress on all interlocutors that it was important to remind the Greek Cypriots of the international community’s expectations”.

It looks like once again people other than Cypriots are to determine the island's future.

Let's cut the crap and settle the Cyprus Problem by genuine arbitration based on the principles of the UN Charter, Talat himself has actually mentioned arbitration in the past.

[YFred]

The two appeared to bemoan the fact that the EU, particularly the UK, was not putting enough pressure on the Greek Cypriots. Pascoe reportedly told Urbancic that during the upcoming UN General Assembly, the Secretary-General would “impress on all interlocutors that it was important to remind the Greek Cypriots of the international community’s expectations”.

It looks like once again people other than Cypriots are to determine the island's future.

Let's cut the crap and settle the Cyprus Problem by genuine arbitration based on the principles of the UN Charter, Talat himself has actually mentioned arbitration in the past.

Jerry why did you not comment about outside interference when Muhtar X managed to get Muhtar of Italy to intervene with Turkey? Isn't that outside interference?

[Jerry]

The two appeared to bemoan the fact that the EU, particularly the UK, was not putting enough pressure on the Greek Cypriots. Pascoe reportedly told Urbancic that during the upcoming UN General Assembly, the Secretary-General would “impress on all interlocutors that it was important to remind the Greek Cypriots of the international community’s expectations”.

It looks like once again people other than Cypriots are to determine the island's future.

Let's cut the crap and settle the Cyprus Problem by genuine arbitration based on the principles of the UN Charter, Talat himself has actually mentioned arbitration in the past.

Jerry why did you not comment about outside interference when Muhtar X managed to get Muhtar of Italy to intervene with Turkey? Isn't that outside interference?

I don't know what you are on about but I would guess it is not a problem that has been going on for almost half a century, involves the displacement of one third of a country's population, thousands of deaths and a complete disregard of UN resolutions.

I'm afraid Turkish/Italian relations are not high on my agenda - Cyprus is, sorry.

[YFred]

The two appeared to bemoan the fact that the EU, particularly the UK, was not putting enough pressure on the Greek Cypriots. Pascoe reportedly told Urbancic that during the upcoming UN General Assembly, the Secretary-General would “impress on all interlocutors that it was important to remind the Greek Cypriots of the international community’s expectations”.

It looks like once again people other than Cypriots are to determine the island's future.

Let's cut the crap and settle the Cyprus Problem by genuine arbitration based on the principles of the UN Charter, Talat himself has actually mentioned arbitration in the past.

Jerry why did you not comment about outside interference when Muhtar X managed to get Muhtar of Italy to intervene with Turkey? Isn't that outside interference?

I don't know what you are on about but I would guess it is not a problem that has been going on for almost half a century, involves the displacement of one third of a country's population, thousands of deaths and a complete disregard of UN resolutions.

I'm afraid Turkish/Italian relations are not high on my agenda - Cyprus is, sorry.

I was referring to the visit of your Muhtar X's visit to Italy and enlisting the services of another crook Berlusconi to help him regarding Turkey.

[Jerry]

The two appeared to bemoan the fact that the EU, particularly the UK, was not putting enough pressure on the Greek Cypriots. Pascoe reportedly told Urbancic that during the upcoming UN General Assembly, the Secretary-General would “impress on all interlocutors that it was important to remind the Greek Cypriots of the international community’s expectations”.

It looks like once again people other than Cypriots are to determine the island's future.

Let's cut the crap and settle the Cyprus Problem by genuine arbitration based on the principles of the UN Charter, Talat himself has actually mentioned arbitration in the past.

Jerry why did you not comment about outside interference when Muhtar X managed to get Muhtar of Italy to intervene with Turkey? Isn't that outside interference?

I don't know what you are on about but I would guess it is not a problem that has been going on for almost half a century, involves the displacement of one third of a country's population, thousands of deaths and a complete disregard of UN resolutions.

I'm afraid Turkish/Italian relations are not high on my agenda - Cyprus is, sorry.

I was referring to the visit of your Muhtar X's visit to Italy and enlisting the services of another crook Berlusconi to help him regarding Turkey.

Your "cryptic" references are far too clever for me Fred, why couldn't you use plain English. As I understand it Christofias was simply asking for support from Berlusconi. That is a bit differnt from outsiders telling Cypriots how they should conduct their affairs. As I recall Erdogan has recently been flirting with Russia.

It's called politics

[paliometoxo]

sureeee right its not turkey who brings settlers and pushes so hard for two states in our island