BRITISH confidential papers from 1979 published yesterday said the outcome of the meeting between then President Spyros Kyprianou and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash was “a great deal”.
A document from the British High Commission in Nicosia pointed out that both leaders showed a high degree of flexibility. Kyprianou was said to be the more ready to try to find compromises although the Turkish Cypriot side seemed to have made the more significant concessions. The same document referred to major differences still remaining between the two sides with the danger of the accord being undermined before the inter-communal talks even resumed on June 15 that year.
According to the papers, difficulties arose from the second meeting of the interlocutors George Joannides and Umit Souleiman Oman on June 18, with the main subject of discussion that of the missing perons.
With Varosha being the main subject of discussion at the third meeting, on the 20th of the month, the atmosphere of the talks became even worse. The initial difficulties could have been overcome if it was not for the insistence by the Turkish Cypriot side on acceptance of the concepts of bi-zonality and security.
Speaking at a press conference on June 24, 1979, Denktash, alleged that his agreement with President Makarios on February 12, 1977, provided for a bi-zonal federation. He further alleged that Makarios had asked for the avoidance of words and terms, which could cause difficulties for him within the community. He also made a reference to a speech by the then Foreign Minister John Christofides, to the Security Council on the August 31, 1977, acknowledging that the Greek Cypriot side had agreed to bi-zonality.
Joannides categorically denied that any agreement had been reached with regard to bi-zonality or security. A Greek Cypriot spokesman said that neither in the Guidelines agreed at the meeting between the late President nor in the UN minutes was there any reference to bizonality. The spokesman said that it was right to say that the bizonal question was raised at the Makarios- Denktash meeting but it was rejected by the Greek Cypriot side as the Turkish Cypriot side rejected a number of Greek Cypriot proposals.
Kyprianou stated that the Turkish Cypriot side could raise the questions of bizonality and security at the inter-communal talks. What the Greek Cypriot side could not agree on was the acceptance of the two concepts as preconditions for the resumption of the inter-communal talks.
Despite this, 1979 ended without the resumption of the inter-communal talks. According to the documents, this could be explained by a reference in a British High Commission document dated September 24,1979. ”There is increasing evidence that the 19th May Agreement was not welcome by the Turkish government which has since apparently sought ways of preventing any chance that resumed inter-communal talks might make progress,” it was noted.
A Foreign Office paper prepared for the then Foreign Minister Sir Ian Gilmour, who would see the Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Rolandis, on April 21, 1979, said that under the 1960 Treaty of Establishment, – which provides the framework for the British bases – the UK undertook to provide aid of £12 million sterling to Cyprus over the five years to 1965 and to make a number of other special payments. From 1965 no aid has been given.
The Cyprus Government, the same document goes on to say, have regularly drawn attention to the British commitment. It has at times been suggested that rent should be paid for the SBAs. If this should be ruled out, rent should be paid for retained areas and for facilities such as roads.
The British Government supported that Cypriot claims had no legal validity but with pressure from the Cyprus Government building up an offer was made, in June 1978, of a loan of £7.5 at 6% 25 years maturity. The money will be used for purposes benefiting both communities. This offer, the British Government said, represents the total bilateral aid that will be available to Cyprus for the foreseeable future. It is to be regarded as discharging Britain’s obligation to the Cyprus Government. (CNA)
