“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;
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!”
No comments:
Post a Comment