Cyprus President Took A Tough Stance In Cyprus Greentree Talks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 28, 2012 -- The President’s efforts, he pointed out, were in line with decisions taken by the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus question.

Speaking here Friday at the Presidential Palace, Christofides said that at Greentree, where the talks took place, limited progress was achieved on the chapters under discussion, something which the UN SG also noted in his statement at the conclusion of the two-day talks.

“This reality belies those who were predicting that the President would renege on issues of principles,” he said.

Christofides said that UN Secretary General, in his statement, reassured that the process of the negotiations is a Cypriot owned and Cypriot guided process and that the UN would not impose solutions to the two sides.

As regards Ban Ki-Moon’s statement on his intention to convene a multilateral conference in late April or early May under specific prerequisites, Christofides explained that the most important precondition is that this international conference would be consistent with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.

“In the latest resolution on the renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate, the Security Council’s intention on such an international conference is very specifically and clearly expressed”, Christofides recalled and added that the resolution notes that “all the internal aspects of a settlement should be resolved by then, in order to be able to proceed with a multilateral conference right after, with the consent of the two sides”.

“This is what we strongly support. We cannot proceed to an international conference without an agreement on the internal aspects and without the consent of the two sides”, he stressed.

In addition, he said that President Christofias made it clear once again that the Greek Cypriot side would not consent or participate in an international conference if specific prerequisites are not met, adding that the Greek Cypriot side would not accept any kind of arbitration or strict timeframes.

Christofides expressed the government’s satisfaction with the positions of the majority of the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council on the process of the negotiations, during the latest briefing of the body by UNSG Special Advisor Alexander Downer, and especially with the position that timeframes should not be imposed. “We also express our satisfaction with the position of the majority as regards the role of UNFICYP in Cyprus”, he added.

Downer briefed the members of the Council in the framework of the UN Secretary General’s statement at Greentree, noting that progress achieved at Greentree was limited and this is disappointing. He noted that despite this he remains optimistic that there can be a successful outcome.

The members of the Security Council welcomed efforts made by the UNSG and Downer. The British raised the issue of UNFICYP restructuring, noting that the Security Council will have to reassess the presence of the force in Cyprus, on the basis of its resolutions on peace operations.

The US supported the British position, posing questions about expenditure for the force and its presence on the island for many years. They also asked whether it is time for the Council to begin contemplating a plan B.

Russia, France and China disagreed with the suggestion, underlining that the issue is irrelevant to the discussion and the negotiations which are carried out. The three countries also noted that no timetables must be laid down, nor must the process be speeded up more than necessary, because this could halt the process. As regards the issue of the international conference, they reiterated the preconditions set out by the latest Security Council resolution.

UN Secretary General has urged the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus to make decisive steps towards a final agreement on the Cyprus problem. He also said that at the end of March he would be hearing about the process from his Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer and, ``if his report is positive, consistent with the relevant Security Council resolutions and following consultations with the two sides, I intend to call a multilateral conference in late April or early May.``

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN-led talks have been underway since 2008 with an aim to reunify the island under a federal roof.CNA
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