It’s not the expectations of progress, by any means, pragmatic or otherwise. These are decidedly on the low by quite the simple ‘read of the room’, as Ankara and the Turkish-Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar are pushing their two states agenda firmly to the middle of the table, with the two day 5-party informal meeting looming tomorrow in Geneva, featuring the two sides and guarantor powers Greece, Turkey and the UK.
Always under the auspices of the UNSG, with Antonio Guterres expected in the organisations’ European headquarters and a question mark over the EU’s presence.
In a televised national message, aimed at firmly establishing the fact that whatever odds he might be faced with, sheer political will is the most valued capital on our side, President Christodoulides reiterated readiness to kickstart negotiations on the Cyprus issue.
‘The 5-party conference, a result of the 15th October meeting in New York is part of a new impetus that has been forged, also a result of our own coordinated action, initiatives and clear political will, recognised by the international community’, the President added.
Christodoulides further stressed that he travels to Geneva with responsibility and readiness to engage in a substantive discussion that can pave the way to resuming negotiations on the settlement of the Cyprus issue,, ‘based on the agreed framework and where it broke off at Cran Montana, in the summer of 2017’.
‘We are prepared to be constructive’, the President noted, with the compass leading the way being what’s already being achieved in negotiations, so the substance can be discussed and most of all, ‘achieving a result that will keep the process active’.
Christodoulides clarified that according to international standard practice in meetings of such an extended form, including the signatories to the 1960 Treaties of Establishment and Guarantees, he will be representing Cyprus in his capacity as President of the Republic, party to the treaties in question, while also ‘representing the Greek-Cypriot community in the bicommunal aspects of deliberations’.
In light of regional and international developments, including major challenges to international peace and security, the President said, and within the framework of the Geneva meeting, adhering to the respect and defence of International Law, the UN Charter, relevant Security Council resolutions and EU values and principles, becomes even more imperative.
‘Besides, such an approach is demanded by the integrity of international relations architecture’, he added.
In the closing remarks of his address, President Christodoulides issued the relevant, steadfast reminder that the sole basis for the settlement of the Cyprus is a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality as prescribed in Security Council resolutions, with a single sovereignty, citizenship and international personality, securing the independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus.
‘It’s the only option’, he concluded.
The Geneva meeting will be launched with a Guterres hosted dinner tomorrow, followed by extended talks on Tuesday.
