‘Positive climate’ for restart of talks on Cyprus issue

Nicosia, 5 May 2015 (MIA) - Talks for a settlement of the Cyprus problem will resume in a constructive climate that can lead to truly substantive negotiations, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advisor Espen Barth Eide said on Monday.

Talks to solve the decades-old conflict had been on a six-month hiatus since President Nicos Anastasiades withdrew last October, citing the Turkish seismic vessel Barbaros’ excursions into the Cypriot exclusive economic zone.

Barth Eide arrived in Cyprus on Monday hoping to kickstart a new round of negotiations. Following Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci’s landslide victory last week, Barth Eide moved swiftly to announce that he will be hosting a dinner for the two leaders on Monday, May 11, at the Ledra Palace hotel in the Nicosia buffer zone.

But before that, Barth Eide met with the Turkish Cypriot leader on Monday afternoon, and scheduled Anastasiades for Tuesday morning.

After meeting with Akinci, Eide confirmed the impending resumption of the process, but pointed out that his role is only supportive.

“I think there’s a very positive momentum, but it’s not the UN that runs this process – it is the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots,” he said.

Asked to comment on the contentious issue of a possible return of Varosha, Barth Eide was visibly cautious.

“My primary focus is the final settlement, and how to move towards a real settlement of the Cyprus problem,” he said.

“Anything that helps us move in that direction is welcome, and anything that will derail the process by placing emphasis on something else may not necessarily be the right thing to do.”

After his first Cyprus-problem meeting, Akinci tapped the vein of optimism his election brought to the fore.

“I am convinced that Mr Eide will be very helpful and we will not forget what he always says: he’s here to assist us, he is not going to solve the Cyprus problem for us,” he said.

“We are to solve the problem ourselves.”

Akinci used a not-so-subtle allusion to the 2004 referendum on the Annan plan – the last real chance at a solution – to demonstrate that time works against the prospects for peace, and invited Anastasiades to match his own “determination and political will”.

“I hope that Mr Anastasiades will share the same vision: that we need a solution, and that we should have found a solution long ago,” he said.

“If we don’t solve it now, the future generations perhaps will have more difficulties in solving it. I want to underline the fact that perhaps today, it is not going to be any easier than it was 10 years ago. We missed that opportunity 10 years ago. I wish that we had solved it then. We have an opportunity now. I will do the best on my part, I will show the necessary determination and political will to solve it now, but of course I am not a magician.”

On Varosha, the Turkish Cypriot leader also argued in favour of the big picture.

“The steps that we should be taking should be helpful to take us to the comprehensive settlement – not to devote all our time to CBMs and lose sight of the comprehensive settlement. This is very important to note.”

Earlier on Monday, government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides announced that the Greek Cypriot side will seek to involve all five permanent members of the UN Security Council, as well as the European Union, in the renewed effort.