President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades said on Wednesday that a game-changer as regards defusing tensions and addressing concerns of both sides on the island would be to adopt bold Confidence Building Measures.
Addressing the annual reception given on the occassion of Queen Elizabeth’s 95th birthday at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Nicosia, President Anastasiades also said that that the only way forward is the resumption of the negotiating process within the UN parameters.
He described the UK’s role in its capacity as a contracting party to the Treaty of Establishment and the Treaty of Guarantee and permanent member of the Security Council of critical importance. The president said it is critical as regards the external dimensions of the settlement and also as it is prescribed in the framework of the UN SG to put an end to the Treaty of Guarantee and establish robust implementation and security mechanisms with an active role of the permanent members of the UN Security Council for the smooth implementation of the settlement.
Furthermore, the President noted the role of the UK is equally vital in ensuring that all parties remain committed to the UN Security Council resolutions which call for a final settlement of the Cyprus problem to be based on a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality.
President Anastasiades said the UK can also be instrumental in ensuring that neither side should insist on setting preconditions in resuming the negotiating process which run contrary to the envisioned form of settlement as already described. Additionally, the role of the UK is critical in impressing upon Turkey the absolute necessity for having an environment conducive for productive negotiations.
“Pertinent to the above I strongly believe that a game-changer as regards defusing tensions and addressing concerns of both sides would be to adopt the bold Confidence Building Measures I have already submitted, measures which can address in an equitable, legally robust manner all the issues related with Varosha, including its port, the airport at the northern part of the island, the additional protocol as well as the exploitation of the hydrocarbons”, the President added.
The adoption of the said CBMS would also greatly help us in “resuming the substantive peace process and aim at reaching a strategic agreement on the six elements of the framework of the UN Secretary General always in full respect of the Joint Declaration of the 2014 and the convergences reached thus far”.
The President reiterated his unwavering position is that the only way forward is the resumption of the negotiating process within the UN parameters.
In his speech, British High Commissioner Stephen Lillie said that as a Guarantor Power, P5 member and a friend of the Cypriot people, his country remains steadfast in supporting an enduring, comprehensive and just solution to the Cyprus problem, noting the established UN parameters of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality are broad and flexible enough to accommodate the interests and aspirations of Greek and Turkish Cypriots alike.
He said the past year has been one of immense challenges for Britain, with the death of the Queen’s husband and lifelong companion HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh in April this year, Britain leaving the EU and opening a new chapter in our national story, open to the world, and determined to forge a confident new path as a force for good on the global stage.
At the same time, he added, the UK remains by every measure a European country, linked to our friends and allies in Europe by ties of history, culture, friendship, values and geography. Our relations with Cyprus in particular, he said, are as strong as ever, underpinned by a wealth of personal, professional and institutional connections and a shared history.
He noted the challenges of Covid-19, adding that they have continued to work hard over the past year further to strengthen collaboration, with noteworthy advances in a number of areas, including e-governance and e-justice, non-military development in the Sovereign Base Areas, and the Royal Navy’s largest ever deployment to Cyprus last autumn for combined exercises.
As Global Britain, the United Kingdom is committed to addressing the vital issues of today, and to playing its part to secure a better, fairer and safer world for tomorrow. Of direct relevance to Cyprus is our activism on climate change, he underlined.
In addition, Lillie said the UK is “committed to working with our partners and allies to prevent instability and resolve conflict, including here in the Eastern Mediterranean region. As a Guarantor Power, P5 member and a friend of the Cypriot people, we remain steadfast in our support for an enduring, comprehensive and just solution to the Cyprus problem.”
Britain, he added, “welcomes and supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General to make progress through the informal 5+UN meeting which took place in Geneva in April, and we continue to work with urgency and determination for a successful follow-up meeting at the earliest opportunity”.
Lillie said his country is clear “that the established UN parameters of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality are broad and flexible enough to accommodate the interests and aspirations of Greek and Turkish Cypriots alike. With political will and commitment, and with flexibility and creativity, I am convinced that it will be possible to find the necessary common ground between the two communities so that they can build a common future together in conditions of peace, security and harmony”.
Reunited, he said, “Cyprus can achieve its full potential as a regional hub of peace, stability and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean”.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results.
