By This post is also available in: ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ (GREEK) TÜRKÇE (TURKISH)
More than three months after the New York dinner, in the presence of the UN Secretary General, the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus accepted Guterres’s suggestion to return to Cyprus and begin a joint effort aimed at cultivating a climate of trust, beginning with an agreement to open more crossings between the government-controlled and occupied areas. Indeed, the way it was put forward, and confirmed in the relevant UN Secretary-General’s report later this month, the cultivation of a climate of confidence was made a precondition for the convening of the expanded conference with the participation of the guarantor powers. In essence, the two sides were being asked to confirm their willingness and determination to make decisions at the next step, which will supposedly be the enlarged conference.
The truth is that the impression has been given that this would have taken place in the days following the dinner and that the enlarged conference would take place at the end of last year. However, albeit belatedly, the meeting between Christodoulides and Tatar took place yesterday and was aimed at cultivating a climate of trust and would lead to an agreement on the opening of new roadblocks. The first to emerge from the meeting was Ersin Tatar, who was immediately asked by journalists ‘whether an agreement had taken place’. “Not yet,” he replied, allowing a message of optimism to be felt that this could probably happen later. He even said there would be another meeting next week.
President Christodoulides did not talk to the Turkish Cypriot journalists but preferred to answer the reporters waiting for him at the presidential palace. He said that he had presented Tatar with an eight-point package proposal, which “Tatar was not ready to reply to”. He said that Antonio Guterres also (curiously) agreed with his package and that Tatar was asked to accept all eight points, otherwise there would be no way forward. When asked about it he replied, “It is all or nothing”. He did not confirm that there would be another meeting next week.
Mr Christodoulides explained that his package includes our side’s proposals on the Pyroi and Kokkina roadblocks, as well as proposals for the formation of a “Truth Commission” and a technical committee for youth. And since it is “all or nothing”, it means that if Tatar accepts the seven points and rejects the technical committee on youth, then neither Pyroi nor Kokkines will be opened. And of course, if Mr. Christodoulides, who was not ready to respond to Tatar’s package either, does not accept the opening of Lympia, then no roadblocks will open. In all other aspects, the meeting was held in a very good climate and the UN Secretary General will easily see that the cultivation of a climate of trust is deepening more and more. With the exchange of ultimatums.
This article was originally published on 21.01.2025
Source: THE CLIMATE OF CONFIDENCE AND THE PACKAGES
