Downer: The Turkish side does not want to do something now on the Cyprus problem
Under the title “Alexander Downer: If there is no solution in Cyprus, the Turks might cross over to the Greek sector”, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (21.08.12) publishes an interview by UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for Cyprus, Alexander Downer with Turkish T-24 news website.

Asked where we are now in the Cyprus problem and whether the problem has been shelved, Downer responded that seven technical committees have been established with the approval of both sides and referred to the presidential elections of February 2013 in the Republic of Cyprus describing the results as “decisive”, because ruling left-wing AKEL party and main opposition right-wing DISY party have different views. He added: “If we speak in a broad sense, the candidates of both parties support the model which is in the centre of the negotiations. The other parties are more unwilling on the issue of the solution”.

Asked whether he was expecting any development until 2013, Downer said:

“I hope that the two sides work together as much as possible. If the sides want, we can exert more efforts for more frequent meetings. The Turkish side, however, does not want to do something right now. For this reason, this does not seem very possible. We have to talk continuously. But if there is no will for this, we can do nothing. The Turkish side says that an international conference should be organized and the Greek side that we should reach an agreement between ourselves first. As UN we think that it would be correct to convene international conference only in case both sides agree. Otherwise it would be nothing more than drinking coffee, eating lunch together. I think that the Turkish side wants to be recognized as independent state in case the process according to the timetable announced by the UN fails. However, this is difficult if the south does not agree. The Security Council says that the solution should be bi-zonal and bi-communal. It should be such a solution that both sides to be comfortable. There could be no unfavourable solution”.

Called to comment on the Annan Plan, Downer said that this belongs to the past, bygones are bygones and we should look to the future.

Responding to a question regarding the Cypriot EU term presidency, Downer said that the whole island is an EU member and that the acquis communautaire was suspended for the occupied north part of the island. Noting that this situation will end in case an agreement is reached between the sides, he added that the Turkish side is not participating in the Cypriot EU term presidency.

Asked whether the Greek Cypriots still need the solution as they are allegedly in a more advantageous position than the Turkish Cypriots, Downer replied:

“The Greek Cypriots say that they want to solve the problem. They do not want the status quo to continue. Different views exist regarding the solution, such as bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, permanent division etc. Very different views exist in both sides. However, I think that in 2004 the package was not accepted, not the model. The Greek Cypriot side is united and is cooperating with the EU. The Republic of Cyprus, that is the south, is recognized by the international community and the north only by Turkey. Could the conditions of living together be found after the solution of the problem? In my view this is an issue which should be analyzed more deeply. Christofias says that Eroglu does not want a solution and Eroglu that Christofias does not want a solution. The reality is the following: there are gaps. The Talat period is included in these. Bridges are needed to fill in these gaps”.

Downer said that there are differences between Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu and former leader Talat and noted that they had different teams in the negotiations. Noting that both teams have different methods, Downer said that the priorities also changed.

Asked on the cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus and Israel, especially on the issue of oil and natural gas, and whether Israel has become a side in the Cyprus problem, Downer noted that Israel is neither a side nor a player on this issue and that it has other problems to solve.

Asked whether the Mediterranean is warming up because of Syria, Downer expressed the view that Cyprus is not like Israel and Palestine, that there is no violence on the island and the people cross over from the one side to the other. He argued: “There is no violence. They do not kill each other. I can enter into the sea in the south and play golf in the north. The relations are sincere, there is no hatred, but a problem of division and lack of trust exists. The Greek Cypriots think that they are occupied by foreign forces. The Turkish side does not like being assimilated. They are not recognized, they cannot have commercial relations. They do not have direct relations with the international community. They say that this situation is not satisfactory. The current situation is not an appropriate one for the international community and a solution should be reached, an agreement on which both sides to agree. A pessimist in Cyprus says that things are bad. An optimist says that these could become worse. Yes, the situation before 1974 was worse”.

Called to comment on a statement made by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy that the natural gas in the Mediterranean could help in the reunification of Cyprus, Downer said: “If they reach an agreement, the natural gas will bring wealth economically. If there is no agreement, it will be centre of tension between the north and the south, Turkey and Greece. This is what is happening now. Warplanes, warships are going around there. Let us call wishful thinking the comment of the President of the Council”.

Asked whether the status quo on the island could continue, if there was no solution, Downer replied: “It is a good question. The Turkish side is economically depended on Turkey. If there is no solution, this dependency will further increase. They are going to the south. These numbers might increase. They could go and live there, work and visit EU countries. As far as I know, the children of Dervis Eroglu as well possess Cyprus passports. Their passports were lost and found and given back by Christofias. Christofias makes a political reference, even though diplomatically it is not a very ‘elegant’ method. We have to hear a common wish, equal to desire, for a solution in Cyprus. Life is good in Cyprus. There is a big young population which has not experienced a united Cyprus for 38 years. If no solution is found, the number of this population will further increase and finding a solution will become more difficult. We should not stick on the details. If there is a real wish for a solution, some things might be secondary, they could be solved afterwards. What is important is to do this job together”.