UN Secretary-General António Guterres set out seven parameters underpinning his renewed push on the Cyprus problem during talks in Nicosia last week, sources familiar with the discussions told Phileleftheros. At the same meetings, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman raised a new condition tied to opening additional crossing points.
What Guterres favours
Guterres favours a “normal state” able to function within the European Union, built on two pillars: UN Security Council resolutions and EU principles.
According to the sources, the seven parameters Guterres has linked to his continued effort on the Cyprus problem are:
- A solution must lead to a federal state.
- It must rest on Security Council resolutions, “to which I am committed,” Guterres said.
- “I exclude the two states,” he said.
- “I agree with the three singles,” meaning one sovereignty, one international personality and one citizenship.
- Cyprus will be an EU member state, with the European acquis applying across its entire territory.
- Guarantees would be abolished.
- Foreign troops would withdraw from the island.
The positions show Guterres made clear to his interlocutors that he is operating, and intends to keep operating, within the framework of UN resolutions. A source with knowledge of what was said at a dinner on July 28 told Phileleftheros that Guterres, during the discussion, stated plainly that he is bound by the Security Council resolutions and cannot act otherwise.
At the meeting, Erhürman appeared notably negative and irritated; his manner may be linked to Guterres’s positions, which tracked a federal solution based on Security Council resolutions and the EU acquis, according to the source.
On next steps, Guterres told his interlocutors he will announce, at a press conference on Wednesday, his intention to convene an international conference, without giving a date. He made clear, however, that the conference must result in the resumption of negotiations.
Convergences — and divergences
The record of convergences the UN is preparing will bring two things into focus. First, whether it will be limited to pre-2017 convergences, as the Turkish side wants, or will also include Crans-Montana, as the Greek Cypriot side wants. Second, beyond the convergences, the divergences between the parties’ positions will also emerge, forming the basis for the negotiating agenda.
Those divergences will fall into two categories: ones involving domestic aspects, to be discussed between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides, and ones involving international aspects, to be discussed with the guarantor powers also taking part.
Erhürman’s and Turkey’s conditions
Two further points emerged from the talks held during Guterres’s visit to Cyprus, concerning conditions set by Erhürman and by Turkey.
Erhürman’s condition: during the discussion on opening crossing points, responding to Guterres’s proposal on the Athienou–Pyroi road, Erhürman said he would accept it only if the Arsos–Pyla road also opened, along with Mia Milia. The President of the Republic told Guterres that he accepts the compromise proposal on Athienou–Pyroi, together with Mia Milia.
Turkey’s condition: Turkey asked Guterres to secure progress on confidence-building measures before announcing the international conference. Guterres did not accept this, telling the two Cypriot interlocutors that he alone would decide what to say in his statement and would not have it dictated to him.
EU to review convergences
The convergences document the UN prepares will not go only to the parties involved — it will also be reviewed by the European Union. According to yesterday’s briefing of the political leadership by President Nikos Christodoulides, EU envoy Raffaele Fitto said he wants the convergences checked for compatibility with the EU acquis. To that end, the EU’s envoy for the Cyprus problem intends to assemble a group of experts.
