By Jean Christou
THE GOVERNMENT yesterday offered a cautious official welcome to Sunday’s G8 resolution on Cyprus, though privately it is understood to be pleased with the group’s call for direct talks without preconditions.
Spokesman Costas Serezis said the government would not be responding at this time, and would only position itself after a relevant UN resolution.
“What I can tell you is that when we say that all issues will be on the table, this is something that satisfies the Greek Cypriot side. This is something we asked for,” he said.
“This does not mean a danger of the Turkish side tabling a confederation proposal because this is not in the UN resolutions.”
However, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash insisted yesterday the talks should include his demand for a confederation.
He said he would evaluate any possible invitation by the UN in line with the G8 call, but ruled out the idea of his being treated as a mere “community leader”.
“We have played this game before. We both went into talks as leaders and as soon as we walked out Clerides became my government and I walked out as leader of my community,” Denktash said.
“There is nothing more (to be discussed) than our suggestion of a confederation. Clerides says he won’t talk about it. If he won’t talk abut it then what are we going to talk about?”
At a summit in Cologne on Sunday, the seven most industrialised nations and Russia urged the United Nations to invite the two sides to talks in the autumn.
The G8 resolution says that the Cyprus problem has gone unresolved for too long and that a solution would not only benefit the people of Cyprus, but also contribute to peace and stability in the region.
It also recognises that both parties to the dispute have legitimate concerns “that can and must be addressed”, and urges the UN Secretary- general to invite the leaders of the two communities to negotiations.
The negotiations would probably take place in the US at the beginning of October. The resolution calls on the two leaders to give their full support to comprehensive negotiations with no preconditions, all issues on the table, commitment in good faith to continue until a settlement is reached and full consideration of relevant UN resolutions and treaties.
In relation to the latter part of the resolution, the final draft is seen by the Greek Cypriot side as an improvement to the draft put before the G8 on Saturday.
That stated that UN resolutions on Cyprus should be used as a “reference point” in future direct talks between the two sides.
The wording sent the Greek Cypriot side scrambling for last-minute changes because it was seen by observers as an attempt to mollify the Turkish side’s strong objections to the G8 involvement on Cyprus.
Cypriot diplomatic sources told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) in Cologne on Sunday that the wording was an improvement on the earlier draft.
“We now have the appropriate G8 involvement through the UN Secretary- general,” the source said.
Western diplomats in Nicosia yesterday welcomed the G8 initiative.
US ambassador Kenneth Brill said the G8 statement spoke for itself. “It would be presumptuous for a diplomat to try and interpret the words of the presidents of the eight richest nations,” he said.
“The G8 has been talking about Cyprus for a number of years and the summit’s statement, which I think is useful and underscores the interest of the leading countries of the world, to resume a comprehensive negotiations process. It is certainly something that we endorse and we look forward to moving for.”
Commenting on the reaction of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Brill said there had been negative reactions from various quarters. “If everybody reacted positively to everything we wouldn’t be here talking about it,” he said.
The G8 resolution was also welcomed by new British High Commissioner Edward Clay. Speaking after a meeting with President Clerides, Clay said: “We are very glad to see the declaration, which we hope will strengthen the arm of the United Nations, first of all when the Security Council deals with Cyprus, as they must do, next week.”
