The Government Spokesperson of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, will be the Guest Speaker at an event called “Cyprus: The Quest for a Solution”. The event will be held on Tuesday 11 July in the Grand Committee Room at 7:15pm. Nikos Christodoulides had been participating in the Conference on Cyprus in Crans-Montana, Switzerland and will be sharing the latest news from the Cyprus talks.
Conference on Cyprus in Crans-Montana ends due to Turkey’s unwillingness to cooperate on security and guarantees
Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, announced at 2am on Friday 7 July that the Conference on Cyprus in Crans-Montana, Switzerland had failed to reach a solution. The UN-sponsored talks in Crans-Montana began on 28 June where President Nicos Anastasiades and Mr Mustafa Akinci were joined by delegations from the UK, Greece and Turkey as well the European Union. Despite this setback, our commitment to a just and viable solution that reunites Cyprus and its people, free from foreign interference, remains steadfast.
It has emerged that the talks failed to reach a solution due to Turkey’s refusal to submit proposals in line with the framework outlined by the UN Secretary General, in particular on the key issue of Security and Guarantees. Mr Guterres said that Cyprus should be a “normal state” post-solution and explained that “we must begin to recognise that in Cyprus we need a new security system and not a continuation of the existing one. I believe we must end the right to intervene and the treaty of guarantee. They need to be replaced by a new system in which all Cypriots would feel safe. We need a fast implementation mechanism, which includes external features such as the United Nations, and multilateral and international aspects. Today’s guarantors may not implement and supervise themselves.” In doing so, the UN Secretary General called on Turkey to join the UK and Greece in their calls to end the guarantor system and abolish the 1960 Treaty of Guarantees.
Mr Guterres’ intervention looked like it may prove vital at one point however Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu declared it was “impossible to reach a deal under Guterres’ parameters.” Turkey’s positions on the key issues prevented a solution from being reached.
Security and Guarantees
Turkey’s insistence, during the negotiations, on being a guarantor, with the right of intervention, and stationing its troops on the island indefinitely, would only undermine the safety and security of all Cypriots. By contrast, the UK and Greece, the other current guarantor powers, both expressed a desire to scrap the 1960 Treaty of Guarantees in order to give Cyprus full independence from foreign interference.
This outdated system of guarantees failed to protect Cyprus in the past, and therefore should have no role in its future. And the indefinite, continued presence of the same army that invaded and occupied Cyprus in 1974 would only serve as a reminder of Cyprus’ past, rather than a beacon of hope that would bring together all Cypriots. The best form of security for Cyprus is Cyprus’ membership of the UN and the EU.
Anastasiades compromises rejected
President Anastasiades submitted a proposal for a comprehensive solution on 5 July, in line with the framework set out by the UN Secretary General that called for Cyprus to be free from guarantor powers, for Turkey to withdraw its occupying troops and for the key town of Morphou to be returned to Greek Cypriot administration. In return, he offered a significant number of concessions including a joint-ticket rotating presidency, effective participation of Turkish Cypriots in Government, a managed approach to the issue of property, a gradual withdrawal of Turkish soldiers, and an international police force (including Turkish police officers). Turkey rejected the proposal and refused to make its own concessions.
Christodoulides: President will intensify his efforts
In the immediate aftermath of the Crans Montana conference, Republic of Cyprus Government Spokesperson Nikos Christodoulides stressed that President Anastasiades would intensify his efforts and continue to work for the end of the Turkish occupation and the reunification of Cyprus. The UN also said it would remain at the disposal of Cyprus.
Cavusoglu: Turkey needs rights to “intervene throughout Cyprus whenever it deems it necessary.”
The unequivocal position of Turkey’s Foreign Minister left no room for negotiation. Foreign Minister Cavusoglu told reporters early on that “there will be no sunset clause… and Turkish troops will be staying on the island” and, unfortunately, this remained the position of Turkey. The continued presence of Turkish troops and intervention rights represents a serious security concern, in particular for Greek Cypriots.
UK reaffirms “unwavering” support for a solution
In the immediate aftermath of the talks, Sir Alan Duncan, Minister for Europe, said that “the UK continues to be a strong supporter of a settlement. Now is a time for calm reflection and consideration of future steps. The commitment of the UK to a deal on Cyprus remains unwavering.”