WITH THE July 31 deadline to kick start twin-track talks on Cyprus fast approaching without any apparent sign of movement, the UN has sent a reminder to nudge the two sides to get into gear.
President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, agreed on July 8 to immediately begin a twin-track talks’ process for a solution to the Cyprus problem during a meeting with UN Undersecretary-general for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari in Nicosia.
The two leaders agreed that running in tandem with discussions on an overall solution to the island’s division, technical committees to discuss day-to-day issues would also be created.
Moves were to be under way by the end of this month but since Gambari’s visit, both sides have been quiet on what – if anything – has been happening.
The Cyprus problem has also been overshadowed somewhat in the past two weeks by the arrival on the island of evacuees from war-torn Lebanon. However with that situation under control, the Cyprus issue has begun to make a reappearance in public debate.
Government spokesman Christodoulos Pashardis said on Thursday that the Greek Cypriot side would meet the deadlines agreed on July 8.
But the UN is not taking any chances on letting things slide. Gambari yesterday issued an op-ed with a message to the two sides reminding them of their commitment and nudging them forward.
“Eyes turn now to the process of bi-communal discussions, slated to begin by the end of the month with the hands-on involvement of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus, Michael Moller,” said Gambari.
“Many will be looking to these discussions, rightly or wrongly, as a barometer of political will to move forward, which, in turn, would determine whether the time is ripe to re-launch negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.”
Gambari also urged all Cypriots and their leaders to take advantage of the opportunity now before them.
“What more can be done in the final months of the year will depend on what signals emerge on the Island. The 8 July agreement was a welcome step. What we are looking for now are further signs of climate change on Cyprus,” he added.
The first step in the process is the submission of the lists from both sides on the topics proposed for discussion, which will be exchanged and reviewed.
Pashardis said yesterday the lists would be exchanged simultaneously but he did not say when. He said the Greek Cypriot side was ready to submit its list but he did not know if they Turkish Cypriot side had completed its list.
“The agreement of July 8 provides for the simultaneous exchange of lists so that the discussions can begin to agree on what will be on the list for discussion,” he said.
Asked yesterday whether they think the process could run into trouble when it comes to the two sides agreeing on a list, one said the hope was that this time, things would move forward.
“Let’s hope that both sides agree the list and they get on and start talking,” said one diplomat.
“You could be really cynical and think that nothing’s going to develop…ever but you’ve got to hope that they will seize this opportunity”
The diplomat said however that the July 8 statement that came out of the joint meeting with Gambari had been very positive. “Hopefully in the spirit of that statement they will find a way to move forward,” he added.
A second was also hopeful. “Publicly both sides say they will meet the deadline,” said the second diplomat. “They have until the 31st to submit their lists.”
Left-wing coalition partner AKEL and Talat’s Republican Turkish Party (CTP) yesterday called for the start of talks as soon as possible. CTP officials yesterday visited the AKEL offices in Nicosia.
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