THE UN needs more time to find a way of persuading Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to return to negotiations on the Cyprus problem, diplomatic sources have told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).
Hopes are high that after next month’s parliamentary elections new efforts will be made for the resumption of the UN-led proximity talks, but the diplomatic community believes that now would not be a good time to exert pressure on Turkey over Cyprus.
The international community believes the UN does not want to make any move which might alienate Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash any further from the talks, and is said to have asked for more time with regard to the preparation and release of the UN Secretary-general’s report on Cyprus, usually issued in June.
Denktash backed out of the ongoing talks in January, saying he would not return unless his breakaway regime in the north is recognised. He also wants a confederal rather than a federal solution.
The Greek Cypriot side, which is willing to return to the talks, has already warned the international community against any attempt to appease Denktash.
Developments in Turkey have prompted diplomatic circles to suggest three possible scenarios: Denktash could continue to insist on recognition and halt any prospects for resuming negotiations, Turkey might decide to abandon its EU aspirations and make no concessions on Cyprus, or Denktash could be persuaded to return to the talks if he were offered something he would interpret as satisfactory to his demands.
“All three perspectives are ideas floating among diplomatic circles, adamant
to see the talks resume,” CNA said.
The diplomatic sources also said that Cyprus’ EU accession was a factor which needed to be taken into consideration.
“Time is working for Cyprus, as far as EU accession is concerned,” EU diplomatic sources said. “It’s too late and morally unacceptable for Brussels to overturn its previous decisions that a settlement is not a precondition for accession.”
Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh yesterday reiterated that Cyprus could become a member before a settlement, which could also put some pressure on Turkey to facilitate a solution.
Lindh, whose country holds the six-monthly rotating EU presidency, also said she hoped the UN would come up with specific proposals by this summer for a solution.
“The EU cannot reunite Cyprus but hope that Turkey and everybody in Cyprus will understand the benefits emanating from EU accession,” Lindh told Swedish TV.
“There is still time, and I believe people in Cyprus have to seize the opportunity. I hope that by this summer we shall have concrete proposals from the UN on the solution of the problem,” she said.
The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.
