The most essential part of the UN Secretary-General’s Report is that fifteen months after the collapse of the Crans Montana conference, Mr. Guterres has regrettably not been convinced that the two sides are ready to resume meaningful negotiations. At the same time, he gives an extension to the exploratory effort, but with the sense of urgency.
The fact that the UN Secretary-General leaves the prospect alive is positive. At the same time, however, he stresses that the periods of conducting endless negotiations are definitely over and not before us. He goes on to add that the procedure must be oriented towards achieving concrete results. These are positions that are mentioned for the first time so clearly in a report of the UN Secretary-General.
The Report underlines that an unchanged status quo, that is to say the non-solution of the Cyprus problem, does not constitute a viable option. This of course means, inter alia, that if the solution on the basis of the agreed framework is not feasible, other solutions may possibly be sought.
The UN Secretary-General insists on the Six-Point Framework of 30th June, as he poignantly notes. He acknowledges that additional new ideas may be required to consequently immediately add the sense of urgency and the need to focus on the will of the two sides to negotiate. It is therefore evident that the Secretary-General does not intend to give another fifteen months for preparation.
What the Secretary-General mentions about the issue of natural gas, must be the subject of reflection, especially on the part of the Presidential Palace. He stresses that the natural resources should benefit both communities and provide a strong incentive for a solution. Furthermore, he adds that every effort must be made to avoid any unnecessary escalation and that a dialogue on this issue should be conducted. Indeed he warns that the new rounds of drilling scheduled for the end of 2018 may lead to new tensions and significantly complicate the prospect of the talks. It is obvious that our correct position that the natural gas cannot be discussed at the negotiating table and that our energy program should continue unhindered does not appear by the results to be understood by the international community. This fact demonstrates that it be difficult to address the problems in relation to natural gas with the Cyprus problem unresolved.
Finally, the UN Secretary-General is calling on the two leaders to explain to their communities the benefits of the solution. The least that could be said about this matter is that this is not being done at present.
The Presidential Palace is currently engaging in communication games on the Report; a Report that favors a speedy procedure with a beginning and an end, while the only certain thing with regards the natural gas issue is that the Report does not adopt our own approaches.
Based on the above and to the sense of urgency to which Mr. Guterres refers to, shouldn’t Mr. Anastasiades perhaps ask himself whether it is at long last imperative to act in a way that will convince the UN Secretary-General that the Greek Cypriot side is indeed ready for a resumption of the negotiation procedure?
