THE UN’s beleaguered special envoy Alexander Downer fended off a barrage of questions yesterday on leaked UN documents, insisting that the negotiation process was not about him but about finding a solution.
Parties yesterday continued to vent anger at alleged leaked UN documents which have hit the newsstands in recent weeks, apparently revealing reports amassed by the UN’s good offices in Cyprus, including profiles of local players like the Church and coalition partner DIKO.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with President Demetris Christofias, Downer advised Cypriots on both sides to concentrate 100 per cent on “doing what they can to achieve a satisfactory outcome to these negotiations”.
Still fuming from leaked documents which reportedly have the UN categorising DIKO officials in terms of how solution-friendly they are, DIKO spokesman Fotis Fotiou yesterday returned the advice, calling on Downer “to focus 100 per cent” on the terms of his brief, “in other words, offer his good services to both sides based on the decisions and resolutions of the UN”.
EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou even spoke of the international organisation suffering a “serious trauma”. The coalition partner head said the objectivity, impartiality and consequently credibility of UN officials had unfortunately suffered serious damage as a result of the latest alleged revelations.
AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said UN officials “have functioned in a way which goes beyond their mandate”, undermining Downer’s own role. “He will have to be very careful to maintain his credibility and objectivity as the UN Secretary-General’s advisor,” said the communist leader, adding that it was a serious issue which required delicate handling.
Meanwhile, Downer had to face the music before a group of reporters yesterday, firmly refusing to comment on any leaked documents after meeting with Christofias at the Presidential Palace.
“We need to get back to the talks, which is going to happen (today),” he said, after meeting both Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday. Talat’s spokesman Hasan Ercakica said the Greek Cypriot campaign against Downer was “significantly damaging the negotiation process”.
The two leaders are due to meet today and tomorrow to discuss the “bridging proposals” on the executive, as well as touch on the property chapter. Two more back-to-back meetings are scheduled for next week.
“It is good to see the process getting some momentum back and we need to really concentrate on that because that is the main issue and if they can succeed in these talks it is going to be a great thing for Cyprus,” said Downer.
After fielding a number of questions on the hot topic of the day, Downer made it perfectly clear he was not going to get into an “endless discussion” on allegations of leaked documents or on his supposed business interests in Turkey.
“We are simply not going to get into that game…This process is not about me. This process is about Cyprus, it is about the Cypriots and it is about the two leaders trying to negotiate a solution.
“And I think the piece of advice I would give to Cypriots is to concentrate 100 per cent both sides in doing what they can to achieve a satisfactory outcome to these negotiations,” he said, adding, “these are very difficult negotiations”.
Asked to comment on recent statements by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu on a Cyprus solution based on two states, two democracies and two peoples in Cyprus, Downer maintained that the UN’s basis was a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality and a single international personality, as stipulated by the UN Security Council.
Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said the government wanted everyone involved in the negotiations to “act based on the role they have assumed” according to their mandate.
Quizzed on a leaked document attributed to one of Downer’s associates, referring to a Greek Cypriot proposal on the ‘executive’ which would facilitate the monopoly of left-wing political parties in a united Republic, Stefanou said this document was not a proposal but merely an exchange of views with the advisers of the president.
DIKO’s spokesman Fotiou wondered what else was being exchanged without the knowledge of the National Council.
