The United Nations Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Olgin, has described today, Monday, as critical for the continuation of efforts toward a solution to the Cyprus problem. She is awaiting responses from both sides regarding the opening of four new crossing points and the demining of areas on both sides of the line of separation.
In an extensive interview with the Turkish news agency ANKA, published on Sunday, Ms. Olgin warns that, if there is no progress on the Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs), her report to António Guterres will note that no progress has been made.
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The interview took place at the offices of the United Nations Good Offices Mission, at the old Nicosia airport, in the buffer zone, following a week of consecutive meetings between Angela Olgin and the two sides. At the same time, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman at the “presidential” complex, in occupied Nicosia.
Follow all the developments of the Trilateral Meeting here.
Referring to the expected outcome of the discussions on the Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs), Angela Olgin stated that she hopes this time a step forward will be taken.
“We’ll see what happens on Monday. I hope this time we can take a step forward on the Confidence-Building Measures,” she said.
She warned, however, of the consequences of another failure.
“If nothing happens, my report to the Secretary-General will say: ‘Nothing happened.’ Goodbye to everyone. Goodbye to me, goodbye to Guterres,” she said.
According to her, provided there is progress, efforts could continue into next year, even after the current UN Secretary-General’s term ends. “If the process remains alive, we can continue to push,” she noted.
Ms. Olgin explained that the package under discussion includes the opening of four new crossing points and the demining of an area of 70,000 square meters on each side, near United Nations Checkpoint No. 10, in the Deryneia area.
When asked about the Turkish Cypriot side’s request for a decision to be made on the demining of the entire island of Cyprus, she replied that the process must start somewhere.
“We have to start somewhere. They will begin with exactly the same area—70,000 square meters on each side,” she said.
The ultimate goal, he said, is a mine-free island, emphasizing that the pursuit of the ideal solution should not prevent the achievement of a smaller agreement.
“The perfect is the enemy of the good. We must not delay demining because we want more,” he said.
According to ANKA, the Greek Cypriot side cites the presence of a Turkish tank unit in Cyprus and believes that the removal of anti-tank mines should be discussed within the framework of the security negotiations.
Regarding the new crossing points, Ms. Olgin referred to the proposal to replace the Kokkina area with Kampos.
“I hope that removing Kokkina and including Kampos will help. We’ll see,” she said.
According to ANKA, the package expected to be agreed upon includes Mia Milia, the Athienou–Pyroi–Aglantzia route, Louroutzina–Lybia, and the Kampos–Karavostasi route.
Angela Olgin stated that the two leaders have demonstrated political will to advance the Confidence-Building Measures, but she expressed disappointment at the limited progress regarding how to resume substantive negotiations. “It may not be what we expected, but it’s a start,” she said.
As he pointed out, after one and a half to nearly two years of efforts, greater convergence between the two sides had been expected. “We expected them to have much more in common regarding the methodology, procedural steps, and framework for future negotiations,” she said.
The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy said that the process must move forward gradually, noting that “life goes on step by step.”
Referring to the next diplomatic steps, Ms. Olgin explained that one possible scenario calls for an initial meeting between the two leaders and António Guterres, in a 2+1 format, followed by an expanded 5+1 meeting, with the participation of Turkey, Greece, and the United Kingdom.
According to her, the two leaders should prepare their proposals in advance regarding the procedures and methodology of the new talks.
Ms. Olgin identified the 5+1 meeting as the stage at which formal negotiations could begin. She clarified, however, that it has not yet been decided whether the Secretary-General will initially prefer a trilateral meeting or choose to proceed directly to an expanded 5+1 meeting.
As he noted, once the package on crossing points and demining has been finalized, he will brief the Secretary-General and discuss the next steps with him.
She did not specify a date for either of the two potential meetings, noting that the decision would depend on António Guterres’s assessment and his schedule.
Referring to the rotating presidency, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy stated that the two sides had reached an agreement on political equality on December 11, (though the report did not specify the year in question).
“The issue relates more to the rotating presidency,” she said, adding that the rotating presidency is part of political equality. However, she described it as it would be “very difficult” to ask the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Christodoulides, to explicitly confirm acceptance of the rotating presidency before negotiations begin.
As he explained, the details of the equality policy must be the subject of the talks themselves and not be determined in advance. “You must work out the details during the negotiations, not before the negotiations,” she said.
Ms. Olgin noted that during the talks in Crans-Montana, the rotating presidency had been linked to issues of troops and security. According to her, there remains concern on the Greek Cypriot side that such a link could resurface in any potential new negotiations.
She called on Tufan Erhürman to translate the four points he has set forth as a framework for the resumption of negotiations into concrete proposals.
According to ANKA, the Turkish Cypriot side is requesting, among other things, that negotiations be conducted within a predetermined timeframe and that there be guarantees that, if they fail through no fault of its own, there will be no automatic return to the status quo.
The UN Personal Envoy asked Erhurman to specify what concrete measures he would like to see taken in such a case.
According to her, both leaders should consider what would happen if one of the sides walked away from the negotiating table.
This issue, she said, must be prepared in advance of any 2+1 meeting with the Secretary-General.
“I don’t know if they should do this separately or jointly. But they must prepare these issues,” he said.
In the context of the discussion on the guarantees sought by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Angela Olgin cited direct trade, direct flights, and direct contacts as possible options.
When the journalist pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot side’s top priority is direct trade with the European Union, Angela Olgin replied that the EU’s involvement is essential. “We need the European Union in this equation,” she said.
She clarified that the United Nations’ role is facilitative and that the international organization can present options to the two leaders. However, on issues such as direct trade, any settlement would also require the involvement of the European Union.
The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy also referred to President Nikos Christodoulides’ proposal for the resettlement of Greek Cypriots in Varosia, under temporary United Nations administration.
As she stated, she believes this proposal constitutes an effort to address the four points set forth by Tufan Erhürman for the resumption of negotiations.
Angela Olgin said that the process must include steps that cannot be easily reversed.
“There must be irreversible steps. Placing Varosha under United Nations administration could be an irreversible step,” she said.
On the other hand, he expressed doubts as to whether a similar arrangement could be secured in the case of the port of Famagusta and direct trade. “I don’t know if the same can be said for the port of Famagusta and direct trade,” he noted.
She also agreed that a trade arrangement based on some form of license could potentially be revoked in the future.
María Ángela Olguín stated that a potential takeover of the administration of Varosha by the United Nations would entail significant financial and practical requirements.
As she explained, the UN currently lacks the necessary resources and logistical capacity to administer an entire city.
“The United Nations does not have the resources or logistical capacity for something like that. This is not a small area. It is a city,” she said.
Referring to the issue of reconstruction, she noted that even ensuring security in the area would require significant funding. “Even just providing security in the city would require a substantial budget,” she pointed out.
He clarified, however, that if the two sides reached an agreement, the United Nations could request funding from the Security Council. “If you agree, we will go to the Security Council to request funding,” he said.
She disagrees with the principle that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”
Ms. Olgin expressed reservations about the principle that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed,” which, she noted, she had also encountered during the peace process in Colombia.
She characterized this approach as negative, arguing that certain confidence-building measures should be implemented immediately upon reaching an agreement, without waiting for the conclusion of the overall negotiations.
In her view, it is only through the implementation of agreements that people can see that real change has taken place.
“It is only through implementation that people see that something has changed, that the current status quo has been overcome, and that things are moving forward,” she said.
She explained that when agreements have a practical impact on daily life, the two communities’ confidence in the ability to achieve results is strengthened.
Referring to the role of the guarantor powers, Ms. Olgin argued that Turkey, Greece, and the United Kingdom must support whatever the two leaders agree upon.
“Whatever the leaders agree upon, the guarantor powers must be there to support them,” she said.
She explained that the expanded 5+1 meeting provides the framework within which the guarantor powers could provide this support.
Referring specifically to Ankara, she said that “Turkey has a very important role to play.”
The UN Special Envoy spoke positively about the work of the bicommunal technical committees and the collaboration between young people from both communities.
She described the technical committees as “a bridge between one community and the other,” emphasizing the importance of practical cooperation.
He made special mention of a rapid-response mechanism currently under development for fires and other natural disasters.
As she explained, the goal is for both sides to be able to act jointly and immediately when an emergency arises, without first having to go through a lengthy chain of communication and approvals.
In her characteristic phrasing, she said the two sides should be able to cooperate without first having to make “15 phone calls.”
Ms. Olgin said that such practical collaborations can help build trust between the two communities, alongside political efforts to resume talks.
Source: CNA
