The Greek Cypriot side has expressed satisfaction over the contents of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s statement following the end of the two-day talks in New York for a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus issue, according to reliable sources.
The same sources also describing the statement the best for the Greek Cypriot side, compared to the statements the UN chief had made at the end of his previous three meetings with Demetris Christofias and Dervis Eroglu.
The sources note that Turkish Cypriot leader’s negative stance in the SG and his aides’ efforts left no other alternative.
According to diplomatic sources, the SG’s statement indicates that the UN wants to test the effectiveness of a new mixed procedure of shuttle talks by its officials and other international players, which, to some extent, was applied in the Greentree talks and showed encouraging signs.
A Greek Cypriot source said that Ban Ki-moon’s statement had an optimistic tone, rather than depicting what really happened at Greentree, in an effort to justify the new invitation he extended.
The source said that Ban’s reference to “some encouraging progress” made at the Greentree talks, referred to each side appreciating the positions of the other as well as the improved understanding on the part of the SG of each side’s positions as well as the good climate that prevailed during the talks.
According to the source, Ban’s reference to “the end game of negotiations” means that at some point in 2012, the procedure that began in September 2008 will reach a crossroads. Either one path will lead to a solution, another perhaps a break until the Cyprus EU presidency is concluded and the Presidential elections in the government controlled areas of the Republic are held in early 2013 or the UN might declare a deadlock.
Even though the international factor is favouring a break of the procedure until the presidential elections, a Greek Cypriot source said the third alternative could not be ruled out. The fact that we are reaching the end does not necessarily mean a solution to the Cyprus issue that is not agreed. The end might also mean deadlock.
An official who was present at the Greentree negotiations noted that the UN SG clarified that if until the January meeting there is no substantial progress, most likely Ban will announce a break until the presidential elections in Cyprus.
Regarding the procedure, a Greek Cypriot source indicated that the idea of shuttle talks was suggested by the Greek Cypriot side and from what it seems it will be adopted during the negotiations in Cyprus.
“This is helping us”, the source said, reminding that during the last intensive round of negotiations, after each leader outlined his positions, the procedure was more relaxed as the aides were meeting in between. “This surely is a lot different than having direct talks”, the source added.
The SG’s aides will formulate the details of the negotiating procedure that will be followed until the January meeting, when the leaders will return to New York.
UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer already started informing permanent members of the Security Council on what happened at Greentree. He already met the permanent representatives of Greece and Turkey.
In his statement after the end of the Greentree talks, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had said that President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu have agreed that efforts are essential over the next two months to move to the end game of the negotiations for a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus issue.
He also said that the leaders assured him that they can finalize a deal, acknowledging that there is still work to be done and that by January, when they will meet again with the SG, Ban expects that the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem will have been resolved so that they can move to the multilateral conference shortly thereafter.
