U.S. STATE Department Special Co-ordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston yesterday met party leaders, seeking to play down the furore caused by his warnings that whoever rejected the Annan plan would have to pay a heavy price.
On his arrival at Larnaca airport on Sunday, Weston said the question now becomes “whether the people of Cyprus will assume their historic responsibilities in voting ‘yes’ for the settlement, thereby achieving a settlement before Cyprus enters the EU.”
The cost of either side turning down an agreement in the referenda would be unbearably high, added the US diplomat.
Weston’s comments provoked angry reaction from Greek Cypriot politicians, protesting that foreign powers could not pressure the people of Cyprus into accepting any settlement.
But the US diplomat yesterday sought to mend fences.
Following a meeting with Weston yesterday, DISY leader Anastassiades said the diplomat had “clarified” to him that his comments “were a warning on the consequences of a non-solution, such as the continuation of the status quo; they were not meant as a threat that the United States would take measures against the one or the other side.”
Asked whether the US government understood Greek Cypriot concerns over a number of issues it regards as critical, Anastassiades said Weston “realised that the concerns raised are justified”.
Later in the day, Weston crossed over to the north where he had a working lunche with Turkish Cypriot ‘Prime Minister’ Mehmet Ali Talat and ‘Foreign Minister’ Serdar Denktash, both of whom accompany Rauf Denktash in the UN-led talks.
Talat’s take on the US diplomat’s warning was somewhat different: “For sure the side that says ‘no’ in the referenda will pay the price; and the Turkish Cypriot side does not want to do that because we are already saddled with heavy burdens.”
Weston next met with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, who later told journalists that “contrary to what was said in the press, he (Weston) did not come here with a carrot-and-stick approach.” Denktash went on to say their meeting was constructive, describing the diplomat as a “good listener”.
Back in the free areas, Weston held a one-hour meeting with President Papadopoulos; no statements were made.
The US diplomat was also set to meet the UN Secretary-General’s special advisor on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, who co-ordinates the talks.
Weston’s visit comes at a critical time in the ongoing negotiations, with reports suggesting the two sides will engage in hard bargaining as of this week.
The US diplomat leaves the island today.
