Nicosia: Confidence-building measures, including the opening of new crossing points, are not a prerequisite for convening the next expanded conference on the Cyprus issue in the 5+1 format, whilst UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres' reference to the methodology concerns the necessary preparations for a meeting aimed at leading to a substantive resumption of negotiations, government sources told CNA, in response to the criticism voiced following the UN SG's recent visit to Cyprus.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the same sources maintained that the process is now at a completely different stage compared with the previous period, noting that, while initially there was limited involvement from both the UN Secretary-General and the European Union, there is now active engagement from both.
In this context, they regard Antonio Guterres' statement following his visit to Cyprus as particularly significant, pointing out that he reintroduced explicit references to the United Nations parameters and the points of convergence achieved in the negotiations, whilst announcing the agreement of all sides to convene a new, expanded conference in a 5+1 format.
According to government sources, the Secretary-General has now set out the framework for the next stage of the process through the prospect of convening the conference, and responsibility now lies with the two sides. As stated, the Greek Cypriot side has already made it clear that it is ready to participate whenever called upon, reaffirming its position in favour of a solution based on the relevant Security Council resolutions, the convergences that have been achieved, and the resumption of negotiations from the point at which they were suspended at Crans-Montana.
The same sources maintained that the aim of the expanded meeting is not merely a procedural one, but to address the substance of the Cyprus issue with a view to announcing the resumption of substantive negotiations. According to the same information, both the Secretary-General and his personal envoy, Mara ngela Olgun, have conveyed this approach in their contacts with Turkey.
However, government sources have assessed that the final decision on whether the expanded conference will take place still lies with the Turkish side.
Responding to the criticisms levelled at the Secretary-General's reference to the methodology, the same sources noted it goes without saying that, prior to an expanded conference which aims to achieve a substantive outcome, appropriate preparation is required. As they explained, the methodology relates precisely to this preparatory work and not to the introduction of new political terms or conditions.
With regard to the CBMs and the crossing points in particular, government sources rejected the interpretation that these constitute a precondition for the 5+1 talks to take place. They pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side had responded positively to the compromise proposal put before it and noted that, if the CBMs were a precondition, then any side that disagreed could effectively block the entire process.
According to the same sources, the proposal currently on the table concerns the procedure and technical arrangements, rather than the substance of the process for convening the conference. They added that reaching an agreement on new crossing points would be a positive development, either before the conference or even during it, without, however, being linked to its actual convention.
Government sources reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side's position remains unchanged, with the aim of a solution based on the Security Council resolutions, resuming the process from the point at which it was suspended at Crans-Montana, and building on the areas of convergence already achieved, whilst emphasising that what is required is not merely agreement on a framework, but the ability to implement whatever is agreed.
As for the next steps, government sources reported that the process is now entering a preparatory phase, with the necessary methodology being drawn up under the coordination of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy.
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 due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in a broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. Mara Angela Holgun, Guterres' Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission's Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.