By Charlie Charalambous
THE ARRIVAL of the S-300 missiles could derail United Nations efforts to prepare the ground for direct talks between the two communities, UN resident representative Dame Ann Hercus warned yesterday.
“The Security Council has expressed concern for some time over the level and sophistication of armaments on both sides.
“The presence of a plethora of weapons and the arrival of even more weaponry does not support discussions,” Hercus said.
Dame Anne’s warning on the missiles came at a press conference at the Ledra Palace in Nicosia to announce the start of her “shuttle talks” between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.
Hercus has been instructed by UN chief Kofi Annan to develop a process of contacts between both sides with the aim of reducing tension and promoting progress towards substantial peace negotiations.
“I want to explore quietly and carefully how that process might develop and what subjects might be discussed. I will do so by frequently visiting the two leaders,” she said yesterday.
“I would describe the process as shuttle talks. I expect this to take some weeks and possibly longer.”
Although Hercus said there would be no timetable for talks, she did say her efforts to set an agenda on what could be discussed would “start pretty much straight away”.
But Hercus, who has been Chief of Mission for three months, was giving nothing away on the substance of negotiations.
“The process is going to be private. The process is going to be confidential.”
There was also little indication as to when the UN would like to see direct talks take place.
“There is no intention whatsoever at this early stage of the process to give consideration to how and when there might be joint meetings,” said Hercus.
But she made clear that UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan was pushing for a breakthrough in the deadlocked peace process in view of rising tensions over the government’s missile deal and Turkey’s vow to strike the system if deployed on the island.
“As each year passes, without an agreed settlement for Cyprus, the environment in which to find a solution becomes more difficult. Therefore the Secretary-general is particularly anxious that every effort be made now.”
On Friday, it was reported that Cyprus had delayed the arrival of the S-300 surface-to-air missiles in order to allow UN mediation to reduce tension and kick-start settlement negotiations.
Denktash said in New York on Friday that Clerides had “assured everybody that the missiles will not come”.
There was no government reaction to the reports yesterday, except an evasive ‘no comment’ from its spokesman, Christos Stylianides, who told the Cyprus Mail: “We have decided not to make any comments on this issue.”
Clerides has repeatedly insisted that the missiles will be deployed unless there is substantial progress in settlement talks or unless his proposal for demilitarisation is accepted by Turkey.
