New impetus needed, says US Vice President Jo Biden

US Vice President Jo Biden on Friday affirmed the USA’s longstanding commitment to the reunification of Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation and looked forward to the opening of a new round of intensive negotiations under UN auspices. 

During a meeting with President Nicos Anastasiades on Friday, the two men agreed that a new impetus to talks was needed.   

The Vice President also welcomed prospects for broadening cooperation among countries in the Eastern Mediterranean and said Cyprus was a strong partner in support of international efforts to promote security and stability in the region.

Finally, the Vice President offered his congratulations to President Anastasiades on his birthday that day and to the people of Cyprus, who will celebrate more than 50 years of independence on 1 October.

Gul says this is a first

Turkish President Abdullah Gul told journalists in New York on Thursday that this was the first time that the Greek Cypriots did not walk out of the hall while he was addressing the UN General Assembly.

He also said he had spoken with the Cyprus delegation at the reception. “I told them to cover the distance, be determined, don’t prolong this job. With the cooperation of Turkey, Cyprus and Greece, a separate pillar may be formed for the European Union in the Eastern Mediterranean”, he said, Turkish daily Zaman reports.

UN S-G meets with Eroglu

The UN Secretary-General met yesterday in New York with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu.

A statement from the UN S-G’s spokesman’s office said they discussed preparations for the anticipated resumption in October of negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.

They exchanged views on progress made in preparing the ground for the resumption of talks, as well as outstanding challenges, and possible confidence-building measures. 

Speaking to the press afterwards, Mr Eroglu said the Turkish side wanted to start negotiations in October and said that the problem could be resolved by March 2014 if the Greek side comes to the table, Ankara Anatolia news agency reports.

"We are ready to start negotiations intensively in October and get results from it," he said, "We have stressed that we are ready to make a result oriented negotiation immediately for a comprehensive solution." 

"The Turkish side wants to solve the problem and has proved this with the referendum but the Greek side has shown they don't want to solve the problem by rejecting all the plans proposed so far."

He expressed the belief that an agreement can be reached on the fundamental issues by the end of the year and on the details by January or February 2014. “Thus, we could resolve the problem completely by March with a referendum to be held on both sides," he told the press.

He added that Anastasiades was wasting time by raising the issue of Varosha, as neither Turkey nor Northern Cyprus have this on their agenda.

Coffeeshop

The Cyprus Mail’s satirical column Coffeeshop says poor old Prez Nik came under attack from our bash-patriotic nay-sayers for his alleged failure to use the full armoury of Cyprob clichés and slogans, bequeathed to him by his predecessors, when he addressed the UN General Assembly for the first time on Thursday.

The used-rhetoric salesmen were livid with Nik, because, as EDEK’s spokesman Demetris Papadakis complained, the ‘condemnation of Turkey’ was absent from his ‘cautious’ speech aimed at ‘not upsetting’ the occupiers. In previous years, the use of the condemnatory Cyprob clichés was a sure-fire method of upsetting members of the Turkish delegation at the UN.

The General Assembly “was offered as an opportunity to say certain things by their name, to condemn Turkey for its continuing aggressive behaviour and to inform the international community about the continuing crimes by Turkey,” a disappointed Papadakis said on Friday.

Self-regarding, green, freedom fighter Perdikis saw not a single sign of goodwill by Turkey to justify Nik’s decision to adopt a “mild tone and appear even more conciliatory than previous presidents.”

In fact he saw “very negative developments” in New York, even though he was still sleeping well at night in contrast to Papadakis who was being kept awake at night because “the nightmare of a new version of the Annan plan is visible.”

The Lillikas movement was also having Annan nightmares over Nik’s dealings in New York. It was disgusted that Nik referred to Turkey’s foreign minister as a ‘friend’ instead of as a ‘conqueror’ and made no mention of the occupation in his speech.

“We would have expected Mr Anastasiades, once the Turkish delegation has walked out of the General Assembly and did not hear his speech, to defend the dignity of the Cyprus Republic and Cypriot Hellenism,” said a statement.

If Lillikas was president he would have taken a platoon of fully-armed National Guardsmen to the General Assembly to defend our dignity. And if the platoon was not allowed into the building he could have fought for our dignity by bombarding the General Assembly with the full force of the Cyprob clichés that ‘put Turkey in the dock’ and make her want to withdraw the occupation troops.

Solution should not be delayed, Anastasiades tells UN

Safeguarding peace and stability in Cyprus by working toward a settlement of the decades-long dispute, is his government’s primary objective, President Nicos Anastasiades told world leaders yesterday, the Cyprus Mail reports.

“A few months ago my country received unprecedented international attention due to the economic crisis,” Anastasiades said in an address to the UN General Assembly in New York.

“My political vision is for Cyprus to receive yet again international attention, but this time for all the right reasons,” he said. “And this points to the end of the long-standing anachronistic division of my country.”

He added: “It is my firm belief that the current status quo is unacceptable and its prolongation would have further negative consequences for the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Thus, a comprehensive settlement is not only desirable, but should not be further delayed,” Anastasiades noted.

Giving renewed impetus to stalled reunification efforts requires bold action, “game changers,” creating a win-win situation for both communities on the island but also for all interested stakeholders, the President said.

One such bold step, he said, is his own package of proposals which includes the return of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants under UN auspices in line with UN Security Council Resolution 550.

In addition to boosting economic activity and creating jobs in both communities, Famagusta’s infrastructural restoration would re-invigorate hopes for a solution.

“Greek and Turkish Cypriots will come closer to the realisation of the benefits of sharing together a prosperous future, just as we have done so in the past,” he said.

Referring to Turkish President Abdullah Gul as “my friend,” Anastasiades said Greek Cypriots’ rejection of a UN peace blueprint in a 2004 referendum does not absolve Ankara from its obligation in seeking a just settlement on Cyprus.

Nonetheless, Anastasiades welcomed Turkey’s “positive response” to a recent proposal of holding meetings with the chief Greek Cypriot negotiator.

Anastasiades stressed that before new talks can begin in earnest, the two sides must agree some ground rules and objectives, the key being “the evolving transformation of the Republic of Cyprus in a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal state, with a single international personality, single sovereignty and single citizenship.”

Although the European Union should play a part in the negotiating process, its role would “merely supplement and complement the UN Good Offices Mission.”

Referring to the discovery of hydrocarbons in the Levant basin, Anastasiades said energy should not be a source of conflict but rather a catalyst for conflict resolution.

Anastasiades will be meeting with the US Vice President Joe Biden in Washington, DC today.

This opportunity must not be lost, says Davutoglu; Varosha part of overall deal

Turkey views Varosha as part of the overall solution of the Cyprus problem, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said speaking at the UN yesterday.

Greek Cypriot daily Politis reports that, as ways to build confidence, he counterproposed the removal of travel restrictions on the ports and airports in the north of Cyprus, in exchange for allowing access to Greek Cypriot ships and airplanes arriving at Turkish ports and airports.

He acknowledged that there was a thawing of relations between Turkey and the Republic of  Cyprus, saying that Turkey has worked very hard in order to create this climate.

He said the Anan plan was a lost opportunity, but Anastasiades had vote yes in the referendum and now he is in power.

“Over these last 4-5 years the negotiations have been intense, but brought no result and, with respect to the efforts of the UN and Mr Downer, we had no deadline so no tangible results”, he added.

He said that during the last 2-3 weeks, Alexander Downer had visited him and later he met with Mr Venizelos in Ankara and in New York. “We had a very constructive meeting and we decided to make a proposal to the two sides in Cyprus to allow mutual contacts in Ankara and Athens. Thankfully, both sides accepted”.

He said this was a very important agreement and a significant step towards restoring confidence, both psychologically and procedurally, as was reflected in both Anastasiades’ and Gul’s speeches before the UN General Assembly.

He said this positive momentum must be properly exploited. Too many opportunities have been lost in the past. This one must not. We are ready for a comprehensive solution and the contribution of Greece and Turkey in the procedure, as guarantor states, is important. I hope this momentum brings results”.

As regards Anastasiades’ proposal regarding Varosha, he said he considers the town part of the comprehensive settlement. He said Turkey will open transportation for Greek Cypriots at the ports and airports, and expects tthe Turkish Cypriot airport to allow arrivals from all over the world as well.  

"If all these things occur, then great progress will have been achieved. Everything else can be discussed afterwards, including Varosha”, he concluded.  

Anastasiades has achieved something no other Greek Cypriot leader has

Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News columnist Yusuf Kanli says “There is jubilation in Nikos Anastasiades’ team. It’s no joke, they have achieved something that no other Greek Cypriot leader has managed over the past so many decades since the 1974 Turkish intervention in Cyprus. Thanks to American background diplomacy, Turkey has succumbed to the demands of opening “direct talks” with the Greek Cypriot leadership, bypassing the Turkish Cypriot side.

However, he says, if Turkey is to receive the Greek Cypriot envoy, according him the same status that Greece would be according the visiting Turkish Cypriot envoy, this would mean Ankara has recognized the Cyprus Republic. With the same logic, Greece receiving the Turkish Cypriot envoy would mean that Athens has recognized the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

But presenting this development to make it look as if Turkey has succumbed to successful Greek Cypriot diplomacy supported by Washington and Tel Aviv, cannot be conducive at all to the spirit of the forthcoming talks.

The idea of Turkey and Greece receiving representatives of the two leaders was first proposed by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during the 2011 meeting in Geneva with the two leaders. The Turkish Cypriot side immediately accepted the proposal on condition that representatives of the two leaders were treated equally. Christofias asked for time to consider the proposal but never delivered an answer, probably because he was bothered by the “equal treatment” clause, scared that Greece meeting with a Turkish Cypriot representative would be considered by some other countries as tacit recognition.

As long as one side, he concludes, is considered the “sole legitimate state” and the other side as a “minority demanding some rights” from that legitimate state, there cannot be a Cyprus settlement. “Such a process can only take us to divorce - negotiated, velvet, or whatever!”

New Cyprus foreign policy

Six months worth of work was done in New York, Cyprus Foreign Minster, Ioannis Kasoulides, adding that the ground has been laid for talks to start and so that the efforts towards a solution of the Cyprus problem can be substantial.

According to Politis, the Minister also said that his contacts in New York were not just on the Cyprus problem, but that a great part of his discussions on Cyprus’ relations with the US, the island’s role in the Middle East, its new foreign policy and the new image it is trying to create in regional politics.

He said Cyprus has a key role to play in the fight against terrorism, drugs, weapons of mass destruction, and the trafficking of persons, according to the Cyprus Mail.

“Cyprus’ principal role right now is its participation in the fight against terrorism, in combating trafficking of materials of weapons of mass destruction, organised crime, drugs and people trafficking,” he said.

These were the main points of focus, said the Minister, who noted that Cyprus’ responsible role in the region is being recognised.

Kasoulides has embarked on a clear policy shift since taking over the ministry, stating his intention to move Cyprus away from, at best, “doubtful” positions of the past to clear positions on key issues, with Western values and interests as its compass.

He expressed hope that as a result, the improved relationship between the US and Cyprus will bear fruit in the coming months.

Evidence of this paradigm shift was seen in Cyprus’ clear support for the new interim government of Egypt, opposition to the Assad regime in Syria and stated desire to apply for membership of NATO’s anteroom, Partnership for Peace.

Asked about the Cyprus problem, he said the two sides need to prepare the ground so that the two leaders could meet, issue a joint declaration and agree on a new methodology for the talks from this point on, to ensure that the two sides can “achieve results and not talk for the sake of talking”.

On energy matters, Kasoulides highlighted Cyprus’ right to explore for and exploit hydrocarbons within its exclusive economic zone. He added, however, that energy could also play a motivational role in achieving cooperation with neighbouring countries, including energy-hungry Turkey, and between the two communities in Cyprus.

We are committed to a solution, says Gul

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has told the UN General Assembly that his country, as guarantor power in Cyprus, is fully and sincerely committed to finding a just and negotiated solution to the Cyprus problem, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris reports.

“Repeated attempts towards a peaceful settlement have ended in failure, including the rejection of the Annan Plan in 2004. Turkey, as a guarantor, is fully and sincerely committed to finding a just and negotiated settlement. We therefore expect the international community to urge the Greek Cypriots to reciprocate by engaging in result-oriented and time-framed negotiations in good faith. Those who must solve this question are the Turks and Greeks of Cyprus. They must start negotiating as soon as next month, with no ifs or buts. The settlement of the Cyprus question is essential to a stable and peaceful Eastern Mediterranean”, he said.

New procedure could help break prejudices against Turkey

Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper reports that Kudret Ozersay, Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu’s former representative, has said that a proposal on the issue of reciprocal visits by the special representatives of the Cypriot leaders to Athens and Ankara had been raised in 2011 in Geneva but the then President Christofias had wanted time to think about it.

Ozersay said that, while this procedure will not solve the problem by itself, it was a positive development because it could help dispel certain Greek Cypriot prejudices about Turkey.  

Peace for gas?

A report in the German newspaper Die Zeit says that the value of Cyprus’ natural gas deposits comes to between 30 and 100 billion euro, enough to cover the island’s public debt and bring prosperity to the country.

It adds, however, that Cyprus’ insistence on building a massive liquification terminal and transporting the gas on ships is not logical in view of the fact that the gas could be transported by pipeline through Turkey, which is only 70 km away. This plan makes no sense financially since it would cost around 15 billion euro, practically its entire debt, while it would also lose five years in construction time. 

The paper refers to the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and quotes a UN official as saying “The solution could be simple. Peace in return for gas”. The official goes on to express the fear that if Cyprus were to make a unilateral move towards exploiting the gas, Turkey could very well object.

Moreover, the paper says that the EU should act towards finding solutions. It says the EU has more power to influence things on the island now than in the past since Cyprus depends on the Europeans for money.

Mavroyiannis says agreement could be reached in a few months

Agreement on the fundamental issues of the Cyprus problem could be reached within a few months if the two sides are clear on what they are negotiating towards, Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis said yesterday.

In an interview with Cyprus News Agency, Mavroyiannis stressed that there must be “clear and tangible” results from the first meeting of the two leaders, Anastasiades and Eroglu.

October was a welcome milestone for starting the talks, as long as the necessary preparatory work was done, said Mavroyiannis.

The Cypriot diplomat said no programme of meetings had been scheduled between him and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Osman Ertug yet, but that he would make himself available at any time.

“The coming weeks are quite critical. Things are not easy but I am optimistic that we can succeed. And the more clear the result of the first meeting of the leaders, the better for all of us,” he said.

He said he favoured taking a holistic approach to the talks, not a piecemeal discussion, going chapter by chapter, since the issues at play are interconnected. All issues should be put on the table for discussion, noting that the Turkish Cypriot negotiating team wants to negotiate on issues it believes it has something to gain and refuses to negotiate on issues where it feels it has something to give. “This situation cannot continue forever.”

He hoped that the Greek Cypriots would be able to convince their interlocutors that real progress could be made if everything was put on the table as they too have things to gain. It’s not just about extracting concessions from the Turkish Cypriots, said Mavroyiannis. He noted, however, that so far the two sides had “big difference in our approaches”. A way needs to be found for them to come closer so that a meeting of the two leaders could be well prepared, otherwise there was no point in Eroglu and Anastasiades meeting, he said.

“Everything is at our disposal… We are talking about free negotiations that will lead to an acceptable outcome at a referendum”, he added, but said he was against a timeframe.

“We do not accept that there will be this timeframe which acts like a guillotine. In other words, when you get there, you stop. It feels suspect and leads one to the think that those who support this line have something else in mind.”

He added: “We believe there is no plan B that is implementable. We want to sit at the table, discuss seriously, day and night if possible, to solve the problem.”

Asked how long it might take, he said: “As soon as possible,” assuming the result will be the existence of a functioning European state. “I don’t believe we need more than a few months to come up with something, at least on the fundamental issues.”

Asked to comment on whether Turkey had shown any change in approach, Mavroyiannis noted some indications that Turkey has a slightly different and more positive approach to a solution. “They look a little more willing to act to see if something can be done,” he said.

A positive step that could turn out to be a catalyst

An editorial in the Cyprus Mail says that for years our politicians had been arguing that the only way to solve the Cyprus problem is through direct talks with the Turkish government and that ‘the key is in Ankara’. They were right, because there could never be a settlement without the agreement and support of the Turkish government, which has been running the occupied north ever since 1974. For Ankara, however, this was not an option as it had always disingenuously argued that the Cyprus problem was a bi-communal dispute, which had nothing to do with Turkey but that the responsibility for reaching a deal belonged to the two communities.

In Cyprus there was the predictable knee-jerk reaction by the small hard-line political parties which identified all types of risks. Direct contacts would supposedly lead to the downgrading of the Cyprus Republic (or its disappearance from the talks) and, inevitably the upgrading of the pseudo-state; it would also pave the way for the dreaded ‘four-party conference’ which was by definition a bad thing. It was the usual paranoid rhetoric the hard-liners routinely resort to when there is a move away from the normal procedure that never yields results.

The reality is that Anastasiades achieved the objective of having direct contact with the Turkish government during the talks. There is no harm in the Turkish Cypriot negotiator having direct contact with the Athens government as part of the deal – the agreement has to work both ways. Nobody can say with any certainty that this agreement would make the difference once talks start, but it is a positive step that could turn out to be a catalyst for real progress.

This is what the hardliners fear and not the supposed downgrading of the Republic.

Greece and Turkey to participate in Cyprus talks

Greece and Turkey have agreed to hold separate meetings with the negotiators of the two communities in Cyprus, the Cyprus Mail reports.

Greece’s Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday that following a request from the Cyprus government, Greece has agreed to meet the Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Osman Ertug, in Athens, provided that the Greek Cypriot negotiator, Andreas Mavrogenis could have direct contact with Ankara.

The disclosure was made following a lengthy meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Venizelos in New York.

“We can create a new momentum in the Cyprus problem, based on the proposals made by President Anastasiades,” Venizelos told reporters.

Anastasiades meets UN Secretary-General

President Anastasiades had a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday in New York during which he informed the Secretary-General of the need to adequately prepare the ground before talks could start in order “to create valid hopes for a solution.”

“I informed the Secretary-General of my strong conviction that the active participation of the European Union would not only benefit the procedure but would significantly reinforce the efforts to achieve a right solution,” said Anastasiades, who is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly.

Responding to criticism from various Greek Cypriot political parties the latest developments in the Cyprus problem to the effect that a Turkish official meeting the Greek Cypriot negotiator would undermine the status of the Republic of Cyprus, President Anastasiades said that “It would have undermined it if the President of the Republic was the negotiator”.

Turkey’s involvement, Anastasiades said, as the force that controls the northern part of Cyprus, would be beneficial to the talks. Turkey could not remain outside the dialogue, he added.

“Turkey is involved and should actively contribute towards the solution of the Cyprus problem,” he said.

Contacts in New York

President Anastasiades and his wife attended an evening reception hosted by US President Barack Obama in honour of the heads of state and government attending the 68th session of the UN General Assembly.

According to a released statement, Obama thanked Anastasiades for Cyprus’ role and contribution towards peace and stability in the region of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. He also expressed appreciation of Anastasiades’ efforts towards the restart of peace talks.

President Anastasiades will meet with US Vice President, Joe Biden, on Friday.

On the sidelines of the reception, the Anastasiades held a 20-minute meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry, who expressed his intention to visit Cyprus.

Earlier on Monday, Anastasiades hosted a working lunch with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council where he discussed three main issues: the need for adequate preparations before talks start; a more active EU involvement in the talks; and the return of Famagusta.

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides met Deputy UN Secretary-General Jan Eliasson at the UN headquarters on Monday, to elaborate on what “good preparation” means for the Greek Cypriot negotiating team.

According to Cyprus News Agency sources, Kasoulides told Eliasson that both negotiators need to negotiate a text declaration and agree on a methodology for the new round of talks to achieve a holistic approach rather than endless discussions on governance issues.

Eroglu says four-party conference likely

Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu welcomed the news of the meetings of the negotiators with Greece and Turkey, saying that he believed this would lead to a four-party conference between the two sides on the island and Greece and Turkey.

According to Turkish Cypriot press reports, Eroglu, who is also currently in New York where he is due to hold a meeting with Mr Ban Ki-moon, called for a meeting between himself, President Anastasiades and the UN Secretary-General. He called on Anastasiades to begin peace talks as soon as possible at the level of community leaders.

He said, moreover, that he expected that, after their meetings in New York, suggestions would be made to President Anastasiades towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. 



Eroglu said that the negotiations should resume in October from the point they had left off.

He said that the progress that had been achieved could not be thrown away and that what should be done is to reach an agreement on the main issues the soonest. 

Eroglu said he would convey these views during his contacts in New York and mainly during his meeting with the UN Secretary-General.

This makes negotiations based on equality, says Ertug

Kibris reports that Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Osman Ertug, has said that the development was something that the Turkish Cypriot side wanted as the Greek Cypriot side had demanded to meet with Ankara.

“We insisted on the negotiations being held on the basis of equality. After this, such an arrangement came up. It is an important development”, he said.

Noting that the timing and the format of the mutual visits of the representatives to Athens and Ankara has not been decided yet, Ertug said that this is a decision in principle, “but the logic points out that the meetings will be held simultaneously”. He added, though, that it would not be correct to enter into details from now and “create a climate as if these are preconditions”.

Ertug said that the Turkish Cypriot side has been demanding that the two leaders should meet in New York and argued that it would be a “good opportunity” for the negotiations to begin at the leaders’ level, as both leaders are in New York. “This process could resume under the Secretary-General’s supervision”, he noted.

Ertug said that Eroglu would meet today with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul and on Saturday with the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.

Commenting on the proposals submitted by President Anastasiades to Ban Ki-moon, especially on the issue of Varosha, Ertug said that the views of the Turkish Cypriot side have not changed and argued that no proposal was submitted to them on this issue.

“In principle, Varosha is a part of the comprehensive solution and if a comprehensive solution is reached, this problem will also be solved”, he added.

Ertug expressed also the view that the EU could contribute in the negotiations at a consultative level and the agreement to be reached should be adapted to the EU legislation.

Turkey’s desire for solution is clear

According to Ankara Anatolia news agency, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said after a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York that Turkey’s desire for a resolution of the Cyprus issue is certain and clear, an approach that is shared by the Turkish Cypriots as well. He added that if the Greek Cypriots responded positively, progress would be made towards a resolution.