AKEL on the UN Secretary General’s Report
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 16th November 2019, Nicosia
The Report of the UN Secretary General on his mission of good offices, which was submitted at the request of the UN Security Council, moves in the spirit of previous relevant reports. Mr. Guterres has kept relatively low tones in view of the effort to reach a conclusion on the terms of reference, which he defines as the 2014 Joint Declaration, the convergences recorded to date and the Framework of 30th June. The UN Secretary General does not hide his dissatisfaction with the fact that this has still not been possible, given that the proposals on both sides have not bridged the differences, while the public negative rhetoric by both sides, in combination with the absence of a negotiating procedure, further exacerbates the already tense climate.
The UN Secretary General reiterates that the solution sought is that of bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality as set out in UN Security Council Resolution 716. Furthermore, he also refers to the recent Security Council statement whereby Resolutions 550 and 789 on Famagusta are reaffirmed. He notes the progress which has been registered in the technical committees and with regards the Confidence Building Measures. He considers that more can be done in these areas and indicatively underlines that only substantive progress in the direction of the return to the negotiating table focusing on yielding results can pave the way for an overall solution.
Regarding the issue of natural gas, we point out that the Report avoids mentioning Turkey’s illegal actions and aggression in the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone is problematic. In essence the Secretary General avoids assigning responsibilities and moves in the spirit of previous reports, content with the conclusion that the natural resources represent a powerful incentive for a solution, expressing great concern about developments and encouraging the sides to demonstrate self-restraint, avoid further escalations and reduce the tension.
The Secretary General simply presents without commenting the reports of the two leaders on what they did and what they intend to do with a view to achieving a viable comprehensive solution. This fact, coupled with the relatively pessimistic spirit underlying the report of the Secretary General, must be the subject of reflection on the part of the two leaders who must demonstrate consistency to their declared position that the terms of reference are the 2014 Joint Declaration, the convergences and the Framework of 30 June. If they adhere to this commitment and abandon any “new” ideas that annul existing convergences, then there will be a conclusion on the terms of reference. That in turn will pave the way for meaningful negotiations, which are the only way forward for liberation and reunification.
On the contrary, if the attempt to reach a conclusion on the terms of reference were to fail, the consequences will be painful for our country and people. The reference by the Secretary General of the UN that “the people of Cyprus deserve to know that this time it is different” is characteristic and eloquent. This reference follows previous similar references made by the Secretary General, which stress that time on the Cyprus problem is running out.
