UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will return to Switzerland on Thursday to try and avert what appeared to be a looming impasse in the discussions on security and guarantees in Crans-Montana on Tuesday.
The move was announced after numerous calls went out on ‘Day Seven’ of the talks, mainly from the Turkish side, for Guterres to help bring the discussions talks back on track.
After a rollercoaster day of meetings and side meetings that appeared to go nowhere, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu – and Greek Cypriot party Akel- said Guterres should return to ensure the framework he had set for the discussions was being adhered to.
Cavusoglu accused the Greek Cypriot side of acting outside of what was agreed, and said even though he was sure Guterres did not wish to return so soon to Crans-Montana without seeing enough progress, he felt the UN chief should return.
Akinci also said it would be good if Guterres returned so that the parties could stay within the framework set by him last Friday.
On his way out of the evening conference, Anastasiades confirmed the return of Guterres saying: “I hope that there will be such progress that justifies the presence of the UN Secretary-General so as to avoid unnecessary expectations that will not produce substantial results.” He said everyone had agreed to follow the methodology set out by the UNSG.
“If we all work together, towards and within, the framework as established, progress can be made. If you do not cooperate, then I don’t know…”
He said whether or not there would be enough progress “this will be proven in the coming days and hours. We are talking about tangible progress, not theories nor words.”
Commenting on a Cavusoglu remark that this was the final conference, Anastasiades said: “What I know is that we are here to make a progress so that we can be optimistic about a solution. How one perceives the conference is a matter for himself.”
Asked if there was a change in the attitude of Turkey, the president said: “There is substantial difference between the UNSG’s framework and the positions of the Turkish side.”
Exiting the morning session, Anastasiades said there had been a “glimmer of hope” in the meeting with Akinci, which was later “overturned”.
Most of the back and forth that took place on Tuesday, which showed the continued polarised positions on security and guarantees, was between Cavusoglu and his Greek counterpart Nicos Kotzias.
“We are not here to make the other side happy,” Cavusoglu said in response to comments by Kotzias, who said earlier: “I think the Turks are very nervous, and we are very determined.”
Cavusoglu responded: “When we say something they do not like, then the Turkish side is nervous.”
At another point, Kotzias had said cryptically that “at some point I will tell you how Turkey yesterday [Monday], amid painful negotiation, revealed its true intentions”.
It was later leaked that he was referring to an exchange he had had with Cavusoglu during Monday night’s session.
Pressed by Kotzias to explain why the Turkish side insisted on maintaining rights to unilateral intervention in the new state of affairs, sources told reporters, Cavusoglu had retorted that “we might need to use them”, before clarifying that he hoped Turkey would never be forced to.
Cavusoglu also criticised Anastasiades for calling on the sides to fall in line with the UN, saying: “Anyone who made ludicrous proposals does not have the right to ask Turkey to fall in line”.
The Turkish foreign minister said that from the first day, Turkey had shared its positions and concrete proposals, “not philosophical ones”, that meet the expectations of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.
“We know what we want. We have announced our ‘red line’. A decision on the final solution must be taken this week. We show flexibility. However, we did not see reciprocity. There may be other reasons for this. There are still leaks. In order to reach a solution, the other side must reciprocate our positive steps,” he said.
Cavusoglu also said the Turkish side’s document was within the framework defined by the Secretary-General.
“Zero troops and zero guarantees is a non-starter for Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots,” he said. “Security concerns for both sides are important but I am responsible to meet the security concerns of the Turkish Cypriots and they have been clear they have even more concerns. Instead of accusing them, try to understand why they have these concerns.”
He also said there would be no sunset clause – the withdrawal of all Turkish troops. “This cannot be even a dream for us. If there is anybody dreaming this they should wake up,” he added.
The only concrete development from the day’s work appeared to be Kotzias announcing the setting up of a workgroup to discuss security issues, and expressing hope that a second workgroup would be formed on Wednesday regarding the withdrawal of troops from Cyprus. Speaking on arrival for the afternoon session Kotzias said two workgroups would be set up. “We have agreed on one and it has started work. I hope we will agree on the second one by tomorrow morning,” Kotzias said.
