“From negotiations from scratch to natural gas” by Stavri Kalopsidiotou
Article of Stavri Kalopsidiotou, Lawyer, International Law expert, Member of the Cyprus problem Office of AKEL and the Central Committee of AKEL.
22nd November 2014, “HARAVGI” daily newspaper
Those people with less bad faith will say that we are in a dangerous position as a result of the policies of experimentation pursued. Others will apportion responsibilities for the policies serving petty-party considerations, deliberate delaying tactics, the erroneous handling of issues in the absence of any foresight. Of course, in politics policy options are judged by developments themselves. Even if we were to credit the government’s policy with good intentions, this wouldn’t change in any way whatsoever the patent realities that make up the current situation surrounding the Cyprus problem. And certainly they do not relieve all those who did not identify pitfalls and dangers earlier on of their responsibilities.
Today, we are faced with the danger of the natural gas being converted from an incentive for a solution into a disincentive. The raising of an issue, again, where agreement had been reached obviously is not intended to achieve improvements as perceived by the Greek Cypriot side. With the previous convergences agreed between Christofias-Talat, that had on the horizon their application after the solution of the Cyprus problem, it had been safeguarded that the responsibility for the maritime zones and distribution of revenues from the natural gas would be a federal competency. Consequently, the goal of Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot leadership is clearly obvious, when they invoke the protection supposedly of Turkish Cypriot interests; when they are blackmailing for the discussion of natural gas at the negotiating table. Their goal is none other than the co-management of natural gas with the Cyprus problem unsolved, which would in fact signify the abandonment of the rights of sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.
Pressures however are also being exerted by foreign forces and powers, which affirms something that should not escape our attention, even more so when we must utilize it in the right direction. Bearing in mind geostrategic and economic interests stretching far beyond Cyprus’ scope, the international community is looking towards to “closing” the Cyprus problem. We must find ways to use this juncture constructively, not for the “closure” of the Cyprus problem, but to reach a solution with the content in line with the agreed framework, the Christofias- Talat and Eroglu-Christofias agreements or on the basis of improvements where they can be agreed.
There are ways to stop dangerous objectives and initiatives, to combat the pressures being exerted on us. Starting with the natural gas issue and the restoration of the previous positively-judged convergences on this issue, a comprehensive review of negotiations from scratch must subsequently be made. The policy of “everything on the table” is anything but productive regarding the Cyprus problem and Turkey does anything but not exploit it. Turkey is seeking to find an excuse precisely in this policy – the withdrawal of the Christofias-Talat convergences that had been achieved with difficulties without alternative proposals being tabled that would constructively cover the gap that has been created – and in the negotiating gap it caused. The growing pressures exerted on us, in particular concerning the natural gas issue as a form of questioning our own credibility internationally, stem from this policy.
In addition, the pro-NATO orientation flamboyantly pursued by the Anastasiades government must end, given that, as demonstrated by developments themselves, not only has it not brought substantial benefits, but much worse it is creating problems in the relations of the Republic of Cyprus with traditional allies.
Most importantly, the President of the Republic is called upon to finally chart a course. If one calculates the time that has elapsed since Anastasiades decided to run for the presidential post until today, almost five years have gone by. That is to say enough time for charting a coherent, comprehensive and convincing strategy on the Cyprus problem. Instead, at the centre of the Anastasiades’ and the governing DISY Rally party’s approach is an unproductive, endless and empty sound bites tactic about abandoning the previously achieved convergences.
In the period since the assumption of the handling of the Cyprus problem by the Anastasiades government so far it has achieved the drawing up of an inferior Joint Communique after months of regressions and many unfulfilled promises about the content – and a depressing widening of the gap in the talks. Unfortunately the result of the policy pursued of negotiations from scratch, which plagues us today, is harming the perspective of an overall solution.
We are currently at a critical juncture. The Cyprus problem as the prisoner of self-preserving nationalist circles has ended its cycle. The critical situation today demands seriousness in the handling of the Cyprus problem, as well as credibility both inside and outside Cyprus, that is to say, visible proof of the much-declared wish for a solution based on principles.
