Upcoming Cyprus Conference ‘a unique opportunity,’ says UN negotiator

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27 June 2017 – A fresh round of talks on Cyprus will last &#8220as long as it takes,&#8221 but there are no guarantees of success, the United Nations negotiator facilitating the process said today.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Espen Barth Eide, the UN Special Adviser on Cyprus, said that the reconvening of the Conference is &#8220not the last chance&#8221 but the &#8220the best chance&#8221 of reaching an agreement between Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots.

&#8220It is a unique opportunity, and it would be extremely sad if it was wasted […] and I think frankly that’s recognized by all participants.&#8221

He highlighted however that sticking points remain between the delegations as they prepared to meet tomorrow in Mont Pèlerin, Switzerland.

&#8220Make no mistake; it’s not going to be easy,&#8221 he said, explaining that the he and Secretary-General and will &#8220do our utmost&#8221 to help. So would the Security Council which has remained &#8220very united&#8221 throughout the process, so would the [European Union], which is lending extremely important and productive support, and so would the international financial institutions which are directly involved.

&#8220But none of us can do it for the participants, they have to take the responsibility and try to make the best out of what I see is a unique opportunity,&#8221 Mr. Eide underscored.

After decades of division in Cyprus dating back to 1974, the UN envoy said that this was the &#8220best chance&#8221 for successful talks and not the last chance, despite the &#8220risks&#8221 and the &#8220tense situation&#8221 on the Mediterranean island.

There are six main topics up for discussion; they include new territorial boundaries, power-sharing and the economy. Agreement has been found on most of these so-called ‘chapters,’ broadly, and concrete progress achieved, Mr Eide said.

The Turkish-Cypriot delegation had assented to what he called a &#8220significant return of territory&#8221 to the Greek-Cypriots, and both sides had also exchanged maps in Geneva in January &#8211 an historic first, the UN negotiator told journalists.

Nonetheless, Mr. Eide said that the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot positions still diverge on the issue of security and guarantees.

&#8220What I’m saying is that on these five chapters, we have made substantive process, on the issue which is most complicated right now and very much in focus now and by the guarantors &#8211 Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom &#8211 and others who will be present, is the security and guarantees chapter; that’s where the sides are so far opposed,&#8221 he said.

&#8220But they have also told each other and the world many times that are trying to seek a common vision also on that chapter, and that is what we are trying to do,&#8221 said Mr. Eide, insisting that this shared viewpoint is something only the Greek-Cypriots and the Turkish-Cypriots could do by talking together.

The UN would be there to help both sides find common ground, he said, so that an agreement owned by the people of Cyprus could prevail.

In a statement issued in New York, the Secretary-General picked up that thread saying that welcomed the reconvening of the Cyprus Conference and that the &#8220the opportunity for the reunification of Cyprus is now finally before us.&#8221

Calling on all concerned players to seize this opportunity, &#8220for Cyprus first and foremost, but also for the wider Eastern Mediterranean region,&#8221 Mr. Guterres reiterated his steadfast commitment to supporting this effort.

&#8220I urge all participants to demonstrate the will and leadership required to conclude a comprehensive settlement,&#8221 he concluded.