THE NICOSIA-Athens-Ankara triangle was abuzz with diplomatic activity yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s start of substantive Cyprus negotiations.
UN special envoy Alexander Downer was in Athens on Monday, and is due to have contacts in Ankara today before flying back to Cyprus tonight, while Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou was in the Greek capital.
In Nicosia, President Demetris Christofias accepted the credentials of new US ambassador Frank Urbancic, while Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat was in Brussels. On Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke by phone with both leaders, and with Downer ahead of tomorrow’s meeting.
Talks held a week ago between the two men, which were aimed at ceremonially marking the start of the new process, left a sour taste on the Greek Cypriot side after Talat appeared to be laying down his side’s ‘red lines’ ahead of any negotiations, and served merely to highlight the gaps between the two sides. The feeling was that this did not bode well for prospects.
“It is appreciated that we should not harbour any illusions,” Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyianni said yesterday in Athens after meeting Kyprianou.
“The road will be long and difficult but we are determined. President Christofias and the Cypriot leadership have confirmed its will for candid and constructive negotiations which may lead to a successful outcome.”
Bakoyianni expressed the hope that the Turkish Cypriot leadership would approach the negotiations in a similar manner and with good will.
“We also expect Turkey to encourage the Turkish Cypriot side in this direction and not in the opposite direction,” Bakoyianni added, expressing Greece’s full support for the talks process.
“This is the moment of truth,” Kyprianou said. “The statements of the Turkish Cypriot side will be tested at the negotiating table.” Kyprianou said the Cyprus issue was at a critical juncture in its history.
“We are moving forward with cautious optimism and we believe there are prospects but it is necessary that the good will to do so be demonstrated,” the Foreign Minister added.
However, his statements also hinted at little room for more concessions from the Greek Cypriot side. Kyprianou said the division of the island was artificial and a result of invasion, and that the acceptance of a federal solution was already a huge concession.
He acknowledged there would be problems. “But what is more important is to have the perseverance to overcome the obstacles and to move towards a solution,” he said.
During his visit to Athens on Monday, Downer was asked about the gaps between the two sides. He said it was not worrying because that was the whole point of negotiating.
“The negotiations are about taking a position from where they are to – I hope – a point of agreement, so we have to wait and see how it all goes,” he told reporters.
In Nicosia yesterday, new US ambassador Frank Urbanic also expressed Washington’s support for the process.
In his official speech at the accreditation ceremony, Christofias said he was wiling to spare no effort to create the conditions for a settlement and was ready to tackle the problems ahead with the necessary good will.
“At the same time, we expect a new conciliatory spirit from all interested parties and that everybody will respect our independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he warned.
“Every effort should be made by the international community to allow the Cypriots to retain ownership of the process.”
Christofias also asked the new ambassador that the US exert its influence over Turkey so that the new process would lead to a lasting settlement in accordance with international law.
