UN S-G may invite the two sides to New York

Ban Ki-moon will invite the community leaders to New York if no agreement is reached on the joint declaration, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris reports.

Sources close to the UN have said that what happens in January will be decisive as to whether the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon invites the two sides to New York.

The sources said that the S-G is waiting to see if anything comes out of tomorrow’s National Council meeting and the UN Secretary-General’s special adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer’s forthcoming visit to the island.

“If the sides could not agree, what else could the Secretary-General do? He will invite Mr Eroglu and Mr Anastasiades to New York and they will write the joint declaration together”, the sources said pointing out that the invitation to New York had been put onto the table before and should be perceived as “the last option in case the sides cannot agree”.

Meanwhile, in statements to Kibris, Osman Ertug, the special representative of the Turkish Cypriot leader, responded to Greek Cypriot press reports that the UN is preparing a short joint declaration that will launch the direct negotiations in Cyprus.

“That train has left a long time ago”, he said adding that he does not think that the UN would bring to the table a formula which had been tried and failed.

Ertug noted that the whole process started when they conveyed to the Greek Cypriot side a short text with the contribution of the self-styled foreign minister, Ozdil Nami, but from a few lines it turned into a two-page text.

“These are policies of delaying tactics implemented by the Greek Cypriots”. He noted that the last proposal of the Turkish Cypriot side is still on the table and the “most valid” option for them outside this proposal is to “sit at the table without preconditions”.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen reports that Ozdil Nami, the Turkish Cypriot foreign minister, has alleged that the debate on the joint declaration which “locked” the process for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem is “a difference of 3-4 words”.

“There is a serious convergence. The problem could easily be overcome with the will of both sides”, he said.

Nami noted that problems exists in phrases such as “neither of the constituent states can claim authority or power over the other” and that “neither of the constituent states can claim sovereignty”. He argued that this problem could be overcome and added that the principles of “single sovereignty, single international identity and single citizenship” have been indisputably accepted by both sides. He argued that the difficulties as regards the “internal citizenship” and the “residual powers” had been overcome.

Nami said that Downer is expected back on the island on 12 January when he will hold meetings with the aim of overcoming this deadlock.

Nami argued that in case the disagreement between the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot sides on the issue of the joint declaration continues, the UN might submit an “interim formula” and added that it is possible for the UN to send a letter inviting the sides to launch negotiations without a joint statement.

Nami said that the direct negotiations will be easier if agreement is reached on a joint declaration and noted that even now there is agreement on very important core issues.