THE UN is cranking up the pressure for a quick resumption of Cyprus talks now that the parliamentary elections are over.
Hot on the heels of the publication of a statement by UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan on Tuesday that it was time the two sides resumed contact, his Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari said he would be visiting Cyprus soon.
Gambari, who was speaking at UN headquarters on his visit to Myanmar, was asked if he would be dealing with the question of Zimbabwe.
He replied: “You have mentioned only Zimbabwe. You could have also added Cyprus, as you know I will probably be going there.”
Gambari added that the UN always utilised an opportunity for dialogue, “whenever such an opportunity arises”.
In Annan’s comments on Tuesday, quoted from his report on the renewal of the UNFICYP mandate, the Secretary-general said that at this juncture, it was important for the parties to resume contacts and to begin to think about how to re-engage in the search for a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.
Commenting on the developments yesterday, Government Spokesman George Lillikas said the Greek Cypriot side supported every effort towards discussions on a technical level that could facilitate a resumption of negotiations.
UN-backed technical committees to discuss everyday problems, but not the core issues of the Cyprus problem, are to be set up to improve the climate and to get the two sides talking again.
“We must understand that the Secretary-general is in a transitional period when efforts are indeed being made by his representative here and which was preceded by the meeting in Paris between Mr Annan and President Tassos Papadopoulos,” said Lillikas.
“The aim of the Secretary-general is to achieve the preparation of a new round or a new initiative of talks on the Cyprus problem; in his reports, he must maintain a balance, otherwise he hinders the efforts of the UN.”
Lilliaks said the efforts were already under way.
“We will do everything possible and everything that depends on us, at least, to maintain the best possible climate to give a real chance for a new process that will be able to bring us to well prepared talks with possibilities of reaching an agreed solution,” he added.
Asked about the Gambari visit, Lillikas said possibility of such a visit did exist. He also said it would be welcomed, but he had no specific dates in mind.
“The position of the President of the Republic is that Mr Gambari’s visit could have preceded the parliamentary elections,” said Lillikas.
He said this was because the Cyprus problem was dealt with by the government and the National Council, and not the House of Representatives.
Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis also said yesterday that the Cyprus government was ready to undertake a fresh effort to solve the Cyprus problem.
“There is an effort made by many sides – and of course the Greek government is participating – to prepare the ground for a new possible initiative to solve the Cyprus question,” said Karamanlis.
“I believe the Cypriot government is prepared to help undertake this initiative, the new effort. And I believe we must prepare this issue very carefully so there is no new failure, which no one needs or wishes,” he said.
