THE GOVERNMENT has lodged a strong demarche with the United Nations in connection with alleged moves by Britain and the US to link UNFICYP’s presence with progress in the ongoing direct negotiations, under UN auspices.
Quoting reliable sources, the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) said President Demetris Christofias had already sent a letter of protest to the UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Cyprus Alexander Downer.
“Nicosia is being blackmailed that the mandate of UNFICYP will not be renewed,” the same sources said, noting that Nicosia was fighting a battle on the matter and its stance could become more tough, if need be.
Reports in yesterday’s Phileleftheros suggested that in a draft resolution on UNFICYP’s mandate there was a thinly veiled blackmail directed towards Nicosia.
According to the report the Security Council said it would take up the matter again in December 2009, taking into consideration the situation on the ground and both sides’ positions, with recommendations to amend the terms of reference of the force and its operational structure in the light of progress at the talks.
According to CNA Nicosia believes that such moves are unfair as they take place at a time when efforts are underway to find a negotiated settlement after four years of stalemate.
Commenting on the issue yesterday, US Ambassador Frank Urbancic said was a state that did not need UNFICYP to exist.
“The UNFICYP mandate is renewed every six months and is being reviewed now as it is and as it was last December and there is nothing extraordinary about that. Cyprus as a state, it clearly exists. Cyprus doesn’t need UNFICYP to exist,” he said.
Urbancic was speaking at a news conference at the US pavilion of the State Fair in Nicosia.
“What I am trying to do is break the link. There is nothing between the two. Cyprus is a member of the EU and there is no possibility of an alteration of that,” he added.
Asked if there were efforts to change UNFICYP’s mandate behind the scenes, the ambassador said “there is no behind the scenes per se”.
“The UNFICYP mandate expires every six months and is up for renewal now. So, that is where we are,” he said.
The US diplomat went on to say there were no secrets in the UN.
“The draft (resolution) is being reviewed and is in New York which is where it properly belongs and governments talk.”
He said: “This is the normal process. A draft resolution is put out for whatever purpose it is you are talking about and then it is discussed and adopted or not adopted. But I see no possibility that it won’t be extended.”
Commenting on a journalist’s remark that the new US government has a new approach about its relationship with Ankara, Urbancic said that “there is no surprise that the US has and will maintain a very solid relationship with Turkey and that’s to everybody’s benefit”.
“You frequently encourage us to talk to Turkey and we couldn’t talk to Turkey if we didn’t have a relationship with them”, he said, adding that the solution of the Cyprus problem “is something that is going to be good for everybody’s business including your own and we want to be part of that”.
Britain’s High Commissioner Peter Millett also jumped in saying that discussions at the Security Council concern the importance of the UN starting to prepare for the future of UNFICYP in a reunified Cyprus.
”The UK is, and always has been, the strongest supporter of UNFICYP – just as we are strong supporters of President Christofias’ efforts to solve the Cyprus Problem,” Millett says in a written statement, issued.
He added: “Discussions on the Resolution in New York are all about the importance of the UN starting to prepare for the future of UNFICYP in a reunified Cyprus.”
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband , after a meeting in Athens yesterday with his Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyianni said the UK was determined to play a supportive role.
“The settlement must be by Cypriots and for Cypriots. And the United Kingdom is determined to play only a supportive role for the vital negotiations that are taking place at the moment, and which need to make progress over the next few months”, he said.
The British Foreign Secretary went on to say that, courage and flexibility would be needed in the search for the goal of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with a single identity.
“One history lesson we have learnt in Cyprus is that efforts for a solution must be made by Cypriots for Cypriots and we respect this important principle in every discussion or negotiation,” he said.
