The hope that the trilateral meeting on November 9 will serve as an incentive for the two leaders to reach a compromise on the initiatives they have discussed in their bilateral meetings, was expressed by the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, María Angela Olguín.
In an interview with the newspaper “Alithia” published today, when asked what needs to be agreed upon at the trilateral meeting to pave the way for the resumption of substantive negotiations, Ms. Olgin said that “I hope that the trilateral meeting during my visit will serve as an incentive for the two leaders to reach a compromise on the initiatives they have discussed in their bilateral meetings.”
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“I also hope that they will share with me their views on the methodology of future negotiations, possible confidence-building measures, and any other issues they consider important. “I would like to reiterate that practical cooperation, political will, and Cypriot ownership of the process are essential prerequisites for reaching a solution,” she said.
Ms. Olgin welcomed the meetings between the two leaders over the past few months, noting that direct dialogue is always useful. However, she noted, these meetings alone do not demonstrate the political will required to change the current situation.
“That is why I continue to urge both leaders to implement confidence-building measures—any measures that would demonstrate their willingness to work and cooperate with one another,”she said, adding that the resumption of negotiations depends on both sides.
When asked about Nicosia’s position regarding her absence from the island, she said that the purpose of the bilateral meetings is to give the two leaders the opportunity to meet one-on-one and discuss issues freely. “There is no need,” she noted, “for me to be present.” She added that her role is to facilitate communication between the sides; her mission is to help them find common ground so they can move forward.
I am not, she said, a part of the dialogue, nor do I participate in the negotiations themselves, so I do not need to relocate to Cyprus to take part in the talks or to ensure that the leaders continue their dialogue.
“The Cypriots hold their future in their own hands. I only hope that they will prioritize everything that unites them rather than the painful past that both communities have experienced,” she emphasized.
As far as I know, Ms. Olgin said, the meetings have not led to any progress regarding crossing points or other confidence-building measures, nor have steps been taken to reach an agreement on the methodology required prior to any negotiation process.
Ms. Olgin stated that she believes both sides know what is needed to move forward, where compromises could be reached, what steps could create a favorable environment, and what needs to be done to make negotiations possible.
The sides, he added, simply need to decide to begin negotiations and continue them until a final agreement is reached.
He noted that changing the status quo after so many years “is extremely difficult. It will only happen when a leader decides that coexistence in a united Cyprus is more important than the political calculations that so often determine the decisions of those in leadership positions.”
“I only hope that they will be ready to take this step soon, before regional and global developments exert even greater pressure on all the nations in this part of the world,” Ms. Olgin emphasized.
Responding to a question, she said she is aware of the ongoing discussions surrounding the various proposals. We can, she said, talk about four, five, seven, 10, or 19 proposals, but the issue is not the number of proposals.
“The issue is whether leaders have the ability and the political will to agree on some or all of them and, most importantly, to implement them,” she said, adding that at the same time, “and perhaps paradoxically, we are both very far from and very close to an agreement.”
She explained her position by saying that “we are far from an agreement because, at this moment, it appears that there is insufficient political will to seriously address the difficult issues that must be resolved in order to reach a comprehensivesettlement.”
However, he added, “we are also close because both sides know their interests and realize that these could be reconciled.”
He expressed the hope that one day this gap will be bridged.
“Perhaps one day the leaders will bridge this gap, engage meaningfully in the process, resolve the outstanding issues, and adopt a long-term strategy that will transform the current model of coexistence and the deep division in Cyprus,” he said.
Noting that the participation of Cypriots is essential in this process, she said that neither side will achieve all of its positions, but both communities have something to gain.
A solution, Ms. Olgin said, would bring political, economic, and social benefits to all communities.
Ultimately, however, the decision to move forward with the process rests with the leaders and, above all, with the Cypriots themselves, she concluded.
Source: CNA
