The UN Secretary-General has maintained a “fully equidistant logic” despite the Turkish Cypriot side’s clear departure from the established framework, legal expert Achilles Emilianides stated regarding the dinner between the two leaders in New York.
Analysing the outcome of the dinner involving President Nikos Christodoulides, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Emilianides noted that the UN chief’s statement lacked any substantial reference to the situation.
“The important aspect of the Secretary-General’s statement is his reference to the failure of efforts by his personal envoy, Holguin, and his mention of the divergent positions between the leaders that prevent the process from moving forward”, Emilianides added.
He pointed out that despite Tatar’s repeated public calls for sovereign equality as a precondition for progress on the Cyprus issue, which clearly deviates from the framework set by UN Security Council resolutions, the Secretary-General made no reference to these positions as unacceptable or outside the framework.
Emilianides criticised the UN chief’s approach, stating, “The Secretary-General has maintained a fully equidistant logic, despite it being clear that the Turkish Cypriot side has deviated from the framework”.
He expressed concern over the continuation of a process where Tatar repeatedly states positions outside the framework without any reaction from the UN.
Emilianides emphasised that the UN Secretary-General is bound by UN and Security Council resolutions, which are both legally and politically binding.
The legal expert recalled that previous UN Secretaries-General had made “clear statements” when Turkish Cypriot leaders and others had deviated from the framework with their declarations.
He noted that Guterres has repeatedly taken strong positions on other international issues, such as criticising Israel’s actions.
“Therefore, it is not unusual for the Secretary-General to take a clear and public stance when there is an issue of violating the framework,” Emilianides concluded.
(information from CNA)
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