By Andrew Adamides
United States presidential envoy for Cyprus Richard Holbrooke was cautious on his arrival at Larnaca Airport last night, saying he did “not expect any breakthroughs”.
To all effects, Holbrooke was reiterating statements made by US State Department Cyprus co-ordinator Thomas Miller, who said after his morning meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, that there would “not be spectacular results overnight”.
In his brief press conference last night, Holbrooke said he was glad that Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had agreed to meet with him and to attend a joint meeting at the Ledra Palace hotel this morning, saying the fact that “both men are willing to continue talking about issues of immense complexity” was positive.
He added that the US “is committed to using whatever influence it has to assist the two communities” in the search for a solution. Holbrooke also stressed the fact that his visit had come about after five meetings with Denktash in Washington and three telephone calls to Clerides.
He also denied that the visit had anything to do with the upcoming Cypriot presidential elections, noting that there “was always” a pre-election campaign in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey or the US.
Asked about the purpose of his visit to Moscow, from where he flew to Nicosia, Holbrooke said it had nothing to do with the S-300 missiles, and that he had been in Moscow on personal business. He had not met with any Russian officials, he said, and was only now “wearing the hat as the President’s emissary.”
On the subject of European Union accession prospects for both Cyprus and Turkey, Holbrooke said he was “delighted” by the prospects of Cyprus’ accession and repeated the US position on Turkey’s accession saying “Even though we (the US) cannot tell the EU who should join, we believe that Turkey should ultimately be a member”.
He concluded by reiterating Miller’s earlier position that for confidential talks to bring about results, they should remain confidential and repeated that “there would be no final solutions in the coming hours” before excusing himself to leave for his meeting with Clerides at the Presidential Palace.
Holbrooke met Clerides for more than an hour last night and then headed to the occupied part of Nicosia for a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. No comments were made following the meeting with President Clerides.
This is Holbrooke’s first visit to the island since his appointment by US President Bill Clinton in the summer. It has sparked speculation as to the content of the meetings, which Miller specified were “discussions, not negotiations”. Washington has said the agenda is open.
Diplomatic sources have said that Holbrooke’s strategy will be to try and improve the Turkish prospects for EU accession, while at the same time persuade the two sides to consider a joint EU delegation for Cyprus.
