By Jean Christou
THE CLIMATE inside the buffer zone residence yesterday may have been warm and sunny judging by the meeting’s outcome, but the event became a washout for the hordes of waiting journalists when the skies opened into torrential rains.
It had been a lovely sunny morning when, in scenes reminiscent of a film premiere, President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash arrived for their first face-to-face talks since 1997 at the residence of the UN Permanent Representative in the United Nations Protected Area (UNPA) near Nicosia Airport.
Greek Cypriot journalists were outnumbered at least three to one by Turkish and Turkish Cypriot journalists and television crews, and the media scrum of 200 or so elbowed for space in front of the secluded house, which had been fenced off close to the inside gate.
UNFICYP spokesman Brian Kelly warned that, as soon as both leaders were inside, the house would be closed and everyone would have to leave the grounds until the meeting finished.
First to arrive 20 minutes before the expected 10am kick off was UN special envoy for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, the ‘Sean Connery of the Cyprus problem’, looking every inch the celebrity.
” My role here is very limited,”De Soto told journalists as he held up a tiny orange-coloured notepad and pencil before turning and entering the building.
The weather was the main topic of conversation among journalists and UN personnel monitoring the fenced-off area, as the morning had turned out to be unexpectedly sunny after days of stormy rain.
UNFICYP had set up a tent outside the house, where an unlimited supply of hot drinks was being served up, as no one knew how long the meeting would last.
President Clerides then arrived at the house at 9.55am, accompanied only by Presidential Undersecretary Pantelis Kouros and another aide carrying a large box briefcase. Clerides made no statements as he was welcomed by De Soto and host Zbigniew Wlosowicz, the UNFICYP chief of mission who occupies the house.
Eight minutes later, Denktash arrived, also accompanied by two close aides. He told waiting journalists: ” I love you all.”Both leaders then appeared on the steps for a photo call, shaking hands and clapping each other on the back as they went inside. De Soto turned back, put his hands together and mouthed the word ” pray”before the door closed.
Within 15 minutes, the skies opened and journalists and UN personnel ran for cover into the coffee tent, huddling there for an hour as others just stayed out in the rain.
Five minutes before the meeting ended at around 11.10am, everyone was instructed to return to the fenced area, battling for space as torrents of rain poured over cameras and tape recorders.
De Soto, who read out a brief statement while Spokesman Brian Kelly covered his head with a broken yellow umbrella, could barely be heard above the noise of the rain. When journalists called him to move closer, the normally poised envoy stumbled and almost fell as he descended the slippery steps.
Sheltering under the porch, the two leaders waited for their respective minders, shook hands one last time and went their separate ways. I bet their suits were still dry when they got home.
