UN Undersecretary for Political Affairs Sir Kieran Prendergast said yesterday that he was under no illusion regarding the difficulties in moving forward on the Cyprus issue.
Prendergast was speaking on arrival at Larnaca Airport at the start of a four-day visit he said was aimed at taking the “pulse” of the two sides before UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan decides whether or not to restart negotiations.
But he said he could give no indication of when that might be, saying; “it depends”. Prendergast will visit Athens and Ankara as part of his trip to the region.
“The whole plan is to see whether there is common ground. So it’s not a question of setting a date. It is seeing whether the criteria, the requirements are met,” he told reporters.
“Only through constructive efforts by the parties themselves is there hope that progress can be achieved and I am under no illusions about the difficulties in making progress.”
Prendergast said he would also be underlining the responsibilities that the two sides will have in case of any new talks.
“The objective in coming is to take the pulse on the island and in the region after a period of reflection by all sides following the results of last year’s referenda,” he said referring to the Greek Cypriot rejection and Turkish Cypriot acceptance of the Annan reunification plan.
“The UN respects the outcome of the referendum here. Primarily therefore this means that I am here to listen to both sides. We know that Greek Cypriots have concerns about the Anan Plan and about a number of developments. We know that Turkish Cypriots have concerns about a number of developments too,” he added.
Commenting on his recent meetings in New York with Greek Cypriot Presidential envoy Tasos Tzionis, Prendergast said he had a detailed exchange throughout the week-long series of meetings. “We listened carefully to them and I think that they also found useful what we had to say from our part,” he said.
“I am here to continue in the same spirit with all parties. I am also here to underline the responsibilities that lie on the parties for the pursuit of a comprehensive settlement. I spoke about that with the Greek Cypriot delegation in New York and I will be stressing that with all my interlocutors.”
Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said yesterday the Greek Cypriot side’s meeting with Prendergast would be picking up where they left off in New York.
“His visit is the continuation of the investigative consultations that have started in New York and he will submit his report to the UN Secretary-general once he completes his tour of meetings in Nicosia, Athens and Ankara,” Chrysostomides said.
Prendergast will meet President Tassos Papadopoulos today and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat tomorrow.
IN AN interview with Turkish NTV television at the weekend Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said Kofi Annan had long planned to send Prendergast to the region, and that the Greek Cypriot side’s decision to send an envoy to New York had in fact been an attempt to head off the visit by a UN envoy.
”Indeed, the Secretary-general did accept a Greek Cypriot envoy going to New York as long as it did not stop his own envoy from going to Cyprus,” said Talat.
“Papadopoulos is trying to do this: There used to be a Republic of Cyprus back in 1960. If we look at that republic by taking into account its half-baked so-called bi-communal character governed by a Greek Cypriot heavy administration, then what he is trying to do as popular level is recreate that State in the south today. In other words, he is trying to create a Republic of Cyprus where Papadopoulos and his team are in charge, and where the Turkish Cypriots will only be citizens but without any administrative powers. The conditions are conducive to this.”
Talat said Annan had not been satisfied with what he heard from the Greek Cypriot side during the week-long New York meetings.
Later this week, Talat will travel to Ankara for meetings with the Turkish leadership on Cyprus. Turkish media are referring to the visit as a “Cyprus summit” to be held ahead of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to the US on June 9, where he will meet Annan.
Turkish daily Hurriyet reported yesterday that Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul had outlined new Cyprus proposals to include the free movement of people, goods and services, between the north and the government-controlled areas, the lifting of all restrictions on the north including on ports and airports, the lifting of restrictions on Turkish settlers and the inclusion of the Turkish Cypriot side in the EU customs union.
”We will continue to take initiative for securing lasting peace in the island. The Turkish Cypriots as well are ready. We will be pleased if the Annan Plan, which was rejected by the Greek Cypriot section, is put to referendum again. We are ready for this. If there are changes, I have my proposals as well,” Gul said, adding that Ankara would submit Turkey’s proposals to the Secretary-general.
Chrysostomides dismissed Gul’s suggestions yesterday.
“This is an effort to create certain impressions, especially with regard to the settlers. It is not possible to tolerate their illegal presence on this island, in the form of free movement throughout Cyprus,” Chrysostomides said.
”Such ideas cannot be put into force before a full discussion, before negotiation and an agreed settlement.”
