FOREIGN Minister George Iacovou yesterday called on the Turkish side to rise to the occasion and co-operate with UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan on Cyprus.
Meanwhile Government Spokesman George Lillikas said the government had not been expecting the negative reaction of a portion of the Turkish Cypriot leadership to the agreement reached between President Tassos Papadopoulos and Annan in Paris.
Turkish Cypriot politicians were outraged after a joint communiqu? from Papadopoulos and Annan suggested the technical issues up for discussion might include issues such as Varosha, demilitarisation and settlers. The Turkish Cypriot side insists these topics are only negotiable as part of a comprehensive settlement, and says what it signed up to was talks on everyday issues such as the environment, health and traffic issues.
Commenting on the Turkish Cypriot reaction, Iacovou said there was no doubt the joint statement issued in Paris was an agreed document between the Cyprus Republic and the Secretary-general.
He said the document contained indications that these efforts initiated by Papadopoulos had at least some support from the Turkish Cypriot side.
Concerning the objections of the Turkish Cypriot side regarding Varosha and demilitarisation, Iacovou said preparatory work on the agenda was made by the UN and these were only a few of the many issues discussed.
He noted that the two issues “were discussed in detail in Paris and that is why they found their way in the joint statement”.
Lillikas added: “We did not expect this reaction from the Turkish Cypriot side when indications the Secretary-general himself had, and which could not have been unfounded, were in the right direction. It is with disappointment that we’ve seen a portion of the Turkish Cypriot leadership take this position, which constitutes a refusal of everything we and the Secretary-general discussed and concluded.”
UNFICYP spokesman Brian Kelly told the Cyprus Mail it was “common practice when two parties meet to agree on a text for a joint statement” but pointed out it was not “a binding diplomatic treaty”.
Kelly said the statement clearly distinguished between what meetings of the technical committees would entail and what might happen at a later date, describing what could happen at a later date as “building blocks for trust”.
The UN would force neither side to talk about issues they did not want to and nothing would be agreed without the agreement of both the Greek and Turkish Cypriots, a diplomatic source added.
Noting that Ankara had remained unusually “astounded”, Iacovou urged the Turkish side “to realise how serious the moment is, rise to the occasion and participate in the process, which is supported by the UN”.
And Lillikas said that as there had been no official response from Turkey he could not he could not prejudge its final position or that of the Turkish Cypriots.
Nevertheless, he said the government was willing to work towards starting procedures to implement what had been agreed, saying it was not only up to the government and the UN Secretary-general, but also the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot side.
He added: “We will wait for the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot side on this and hope the Secretary-general and UN will go ahead as agreed at a swift pace to implement the agreement. With our proposals we aim to lead to the reunification of Cyprus and not to engage in measures that simply prolong the present situation.”
As for UN Special Representative Michael Moller’s visit to Ankara and Athens, Iacovou said it had been announced before the meeting in Paris with a view to discuss its outcome.
