Thorough preparation to ensure that the next round of expanded talks will focus on resuming discussions, based on a federal framework as the basis for a solution, said the negotiator for the Greek Cypriot side, Menelaos Menelaou, in interviews with “Fileleftheros” and “Haravgi” published on Sunday.
Regarding confidence-building measures, Mr. Menelaou referred to obstruction by the other side in achieving progress, “citing the lack of progress as an excuse for not moving things forward and addressing the substance.”
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
He said that the process of documenting areas of convergence has begun and that these will subsequently be shared with all parties involved, to both sides in Cyprus regarding internal aspects, and to the guarantor powers—the signatories to the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance—regarding external aspects. He went on to say that they will then proceed by convening an expanded meeting, with the aim of deciding to resume talks to achieve a comprehensive solution.
Speaking to “F,” Mr. Menelaou stated that the two sides are in contact and that, as announced, a new meeting between the two leaders will take place on August 26.
He noted that meetings at the leadership level have become more frequent since last October, but beyond the number and frequency of the meetings, it is primarily the substance of the discussions that matters. “There must be political will to achieve results,” he noted.
He stated that the focus of discussions in the coming period will be on the substantive preparations that must be made to ensure that the next expanded meeting takes place, the purpose of which is to decide on the resumption of talks.
“And if possible, to go into the next expanded meeting having secured this outcome in advance,” he said, according to “F.”
He also said that the outcome of the Secretary-General’s visit “was definitely positive because there are next steps; the necessary groundwork will be laid, based on the points of convergence which, as we have said, constitute the federal framework. This is clear. And it is of great importance that this reference was made, given that Turkey continues to reiterate its positions on a ‘two-state solution,’” he emphasized.
Mr. Menelaou also noted that to date we have been confronted with a recurring pattern on the Turkish side—Ankara’s reiteration of its well-known position on a “two-state solution,” which was reiterated even after the Secretary-General’s visit, as he noted, but also “an ambiguity regarding the stance of the Turkish Cypriot side, which has not clearly expressed a public commitment to the federal framework.” He also referred to a more general approach on the part of Turkey throughout the previous period, “which serves as a distraction and slows down progress.”
He expressed the hope that this would not be the pattern the Greek Cypriot side would continue to face in the coming period. “In any case, the Secretary-General is determined and committed to moving forward, as he stated in his declaration. And for our part, we will do everything that falls to us to move things forward,” he said.
Regarding confidence-building measures, Mr. Menelaou referred to obstruction by the other side in making progress “and then using the lack of progress as an excuse to prevent things from moving forward on the substance of the matter.” “I’m stating the facts. We’re not interested in, nor does it serve us to play the blame game,” he said.
He noted that, during the Secretary-General’s visit here, a renewed effort was made to reach an agreement on the issue of opening additional crossing points, specifically regarding a compromise solution for the route of the AThienou-Pyroi-Aglantzia, as part of a package that would also include the Mia Milia crossing point.
“Our response to this proposal was positive. The same could not be said for the response from the Turkish Cypriot side,” which made additional demands, one of which was to include the crossing point connecting Lybia with Louroutzina, he said. He noted that the Greek Cypriot side stated this could be achieved by also including its own proposal regarding Kokkina, but that this, too, was not accepted by the Turkish Cypriot side. He added that there is also a Greek Cypriot proposal for a pedestrian crossing point within the walls of Nicosia, as a first step.
She noted that the Greek Cypriot side wants an agreement on the crossing points and will continue to be cooperative in order to reach an agreement, but that “substantive steps, however, must move forward.”
“Because the impression given by the Turkish Cypriot side’s statements is that it appears to treat the issue as a precondition,” and, as he noted, this follows the same pattern that has been evident throughout the entire previous period. “Blocking progress and then using that as an excuse to block steps toward the substance of the issue,” he noted.
“The basis for a solution is the federal framework”
In his interview with “X,” Mr. Menelaou noted that the basis for a solution is the federal framework—“one state.”
He also noted that, throughout the previous period, “we have faced an approach by the Turkish side aimed at slowing down developments.” He expressed hope that the next steps and the convening of the expanded meeting would not face the same obstacle.
He also said that the Greek Cypriot side is committed to the basis for a solution and to safeguarding the achievements of the talks, the convergences, and the six points of the Guterres framework, but that on the Turkish side, there have been statements from Ankara as well as within the Turkish Cypriot community that reiterate the demand for a “two-state” solution.
He noted that, since the change in leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community, there has been no public reference by the new Turkish Cypriot leadership to a federal solution, and that, in fact, “we cannot assess the Turkish Cypriot side’s stance independently of the line proclaimed by Turkey.” Consequently, he pointed out, there is an issue here regarding the Turkish side’s stance that needs to be clarified.
He noted that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhurman, “shifted his position last December by referring to political equality in accordance with UN resolutions, which we acknowledged.”
“And we said that political equality is inextricably linked to the federal framework—that is, a single state—which is different from sovereign equality, which is the ‘two-state’ solution,” he added. Acknowledging the limitations due to Turkey’s stance, Mr. Menelaou noted, “We gave Mr. Erhurman the necessary credit. However, we cannot overlook the prolonged absence of any public reference to the federal solution. Nor can we overlook the approach of slowing down the effort,” he added.
He cited as an example the Turkish Cypriot side’s rejection of the UN’s compromise proposal to open crossing points. “And then we hear references from the Turkish Cypriot side to progress on the MOEs as a precondition for moving the process forward and addressing the substance,” he noted.
Regarding the areas of convergence, he said that the process of documenting them has begun, and they will subsequently be shared with all parties involved— to both sides in Cyprus regarding the internal aspects, and to the guarantor powers—the signatories to the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance—regarding the external aspects. He then stated that they would proceed by convening an expanded meeting, with the aim of deciding to resume talks to achieve a comprehensive solution.
He said that keeping the public informed is an essential step and that this will also be done in tandem with the progress of the process.
Finally, he said that a federation “is not only not divisive by definition, but is the path forward to achieve the strategic goal of the liberation and reunification of Cyprus”.
Source: CNA
