AN INTRODUCTORY statement made by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan at the fourth round of proximity talks in New York referring to the "political equality" of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots, has unleashed a tide of controversy and anger in the Greek Cypriot camp.
Fears were heightened by a refusal from UN special envoy to Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto to explain the precise meaning of "political equality", taken by some as a firm step towards recognition of a ‘state’ branded ‘illegal’ by the Republic and the international community.
"The precise and elaborate definition of this point will have to wait until negotiations on a comprehensive settlement conclude," De Soto said on Tuesday.
Annan read the original statement to the two delegations separately. De Soto said meetings had been "interesting" and that "we got reactions". The news blackout precluded further comment.
Reactions from the Greek Cypriot delegation will depend on what exact interpretation they decide to give to "political equality".
For some, it’s nothing that hasn’t been said before. The UN has always treated Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and President Glafcos Clerides as equals throughout the negotiating process, started in December 1999.
De Soto pointed out that Annan "is acting within the framework of Resolution 1250," drawn up before that date.
Without mentioning "equality", political or otherwise, the Resolution appears to uphold the same value. "Both sides" are urged to "participate constructively", "both sides have legitimate concerns that should be addressed through comprehensive negotiations" and it "calls upon the two leaders, in this context, to give their full support to such a comprehensive negotiation".
Political commentator Sofronis Sofroniou yesterday pointed the finger even further back. "In the London-Zurich agreement (that established independence), the Turks were the co-founders of the Republic, which can be seen as amounting to political equality in a sense. That could be one possible explanation," he told the Cyprus Mail.
But for political correspondent Loizos Antoniou, it’s a serious and dangerous departure "towards acknowledgement". And to many it’s a sly diplomatic endorsement of the Greek Cypriot’s greatest fear – acceptance of Denktash demands for a confederation.
All this despite UN insistence that Annan’s comment was "merely a portion of the statement and does not purport to enshrine all of the UN positions in these talks".
Equality between Clerides and Denktash at the UN negotiating table is understood. As De Soto spelt out, "the parties represent their side and no-one else".
But the statement denies Clerides any representation of the Turkish Cypriot people, which as President of the Republic, he legally exercises, as expressed for example in his invitation to Turkish Cypriots to participate in the island’s accession talks to the EU.
But commentators agree that political equality does fall short of international recognition. And the Secretary General made no request for agreement in his statement.
The drive of his speech was that "the time has now come to move ahead". Denktash has insisted on recognition of the legitimacy of his regime before entering into comprehensive negotiations – something the Greek Cypriot side is adamant it will never grant.
The mention in a sub-clause of a statement outlining the framework for the talks of "political equality" could in fact provide Denktash an opportunity to extricate himself from this stumbling block without losing face, and come to the table and talk.
"In a way, it could be not so much placating as inducing the Turks into entering serious negotiations," Sofroniou told the Cyprus Mail.
Accepting the term is an olive branch to the Turkish Cypriots, the question is, how far would it be rational for the Greeks to object?
Abandoning the talks seems extremely unlikely. Not only would it paint the Greek Cypriots as unco-operative, it would also damage their cause in the European Union, given that a settlement is desirable for membership.
Antoniou thought the delegation might drag their heels, waste time and make De Soto’s job more difficult. Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess.
