Cyprus: UN Security Council encourages new effort to resume talks

The UN Security Council wants to see the Cyprus issue back on the rails of negotiations, something that can be seen through the last resolution it adopted for the renewal of the mandate of UNFICYP. Through the resolution, the Security Council encourages a new effort in the Cyprus issue. A position that may help the Secretary-General of the United Nations to proceed with the appointment of an envoy for the Cyprus issue.

Diplomatic circles in Nicosia estimate that with the decision, both in terms of the efforts for the resumption of the efforts in the Cyprus issue and in terms of the basis for the solution of the problem, the Security Council substantially facilitates Antonio Guterres in his extreme manipulations. . However, any moves by the UN Secretary General towards the appointment of an envoy, or in the Cyprus issue in general, are indicated by the same diplomatic circles, will not be made without taking into account the position of Turkey.

A special reading is made by Nicosia and the reference to the resolution of the form of solution of the Cyprus problem. As diplomatic circles have told us, the fact that the Security Council corrected an omission in the Secretary-General’s report is something that should be noted. At the same time, raising the issue of the side effects that would be caused if the Security Council chose to follow the text of the Secretary General faithfully and omitted any reference to the form of a solution to the Cyprus problem.

It is further pointed out that it is of particular importance that for the last three years the Security Council has taken care through its resolutions to reiterate that the basis for a solution to the Cyprus problem remains the bi-zonal bi-communal federation. As it is within the same period of time that the Turkish side insists on changing the basis of the talks and refusing to negotiate the solution of a bi-zonal bi-communal federation.

In addition, the reference to the issue of Famagusta is considered important, where it is recalled that the status of Varos is defined by resolutions 55 (1984) and 789 (1992), while underlining the demand of the UN to the Turkish side to reverse the course of action in closed area.

Three plus and one minus

The Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the UN recorded three plus and one minus in the resolution of the Security Council for the renewal of the mandate of the peacekeeping force. According to Andreas Hadjichrysanthou, the three pluses are:

1. The clear recording of the basis for the solution of the Cyprus problem, as defined by the resolutions of the Security Council.

2. The reference to the resolution on the necessity of appointing an envoy of the Secretary-General, an issue that has been pending since last September, when the two leaders met with the Secretary-General. The SA calls for the appointment to be expedited with a view to resuming negotiations.

3. The resolution contains the same strict wording, which he had repeated last July, when he adopted a Presidential Statement and after the resolution for the renewal of the term of UNFICYP, by which he condemned the violations of the SA resolutions on Varosia. There was no compliance by the Turkish side with the demands of the SA and therefore a new wording is observed in the resolution, with the addition of a new wording in the operative paragraph 13, requesting the observation and the report of the mission on the issue of Varosia. With this change, the SA expresses the need for more systematic and important monitoring by the Peacekeeping Force and reporting to the SA.

A. Hadjichrysanthou expressed, at the same time, the incomplete satisfaction of the Cypriot side regarding the paragraph on the missing, which “could include a stronger word and its messages louder”, so that the current situation, which exists in all , regarding the CMP and the non-detection of remains in the exhumations, to change and the Investigative Committee to become more efficient.

The positions of the opposition for the resolution

AKEL in its announcement for the UNFICYP resolution records positive and negative in the decision of the Security Council. On the plus side of the resolution, according to AKEL, is the reaffirmation and explicit reference to the basis of negotiation and solution of the Cyprus problem, especially in the current conditions. AKEL also considers that the reference to resolution 1251 is important, which provides for a single sovereignty, international personality and citizenship as well as for a solution of a bi-communal bi-zonal federation with political equality as defined in the relevant resolutions.

According to the opposition party, “the call to the parties to reach an agreement – with a sense of urgency – on the Secretary-General’s proposal for the appointment of a Special Envoy, without any illusions that such a development is capable of put the Cyprus issue on the path of solution on its own “.

He also said that “the reiteration of the Security Council’s position on Varosia is positively assessed, with the central point of reference being the presidential statement condemning the Turkish actions and calling for their immediate reversal. The emphasis given by this resolution to the need for respect “The terms of reference of the peacekeeping force and the possibility of effective control and reporting, in particular on the situation in Varos, is a significant addition.”

Continuing, AKEL states that “in any case, the positive formulations that are identified should not cause complacency” because “the big picture that is conveyed is worrying, because at a time when Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership have intensified the rhetoric of the two countries, “the Security Council does not take an absolute stance on safeguarding the existing workload.”

AKEL does not expect “President Anastasiadis or the ruling party to agree that their failures, setbacks and dangerous experiments in the management of the Cyprus problem are what make the international community feel guilty and our side for the deadlocks that remain” . For Hezekiah Papaioannou “the fact that at a time when Turkish provocations have reached their zenith, the UN shares responsibilities for the impasse and on our side, speaks for itself.” He points out that what is needed are persuasive initiatives and not proposals for impressing.

EDEK, for its part, underlines that “while it is noted that from the Turkish side there is a deviation from the resolutions and their obedience, it does not proceed to the suggestion of taking concrete measures for their implementation”. He further states that “at the same time no reference is made to Turkey’s illegal activities to the detriment of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus and mainly to its EEZ”.

It stands for improvement

The Government sees improvements in the UN Security Council resolution on the renewal of the mandate of the peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), in relation to the report of the UN Secretary General, expressing its satisfaction.

“We are satisfied with the text of the resolution as it substantially significantly improves the report of the Secretary General of the International Organization, Antonio Guterres,” Government Spokesman Marios Pelekanos told KYPE, noting three elements, which the Government considers quite important.

Asked about this, Mr. Pelekanos said that Nicosia expects that the Secretary General will proceed with the appointment of an envoy, noting that the consultations continue.

Source: Philenews