President Nicos Anastasiades makes no apologies as he comes under criticism over his handling of Cyprus talks
Newsroom
President Nicos Anastasiades is firing back at critics both north and south of the Green Line, who are accusing him of tripping over a UN document that many believe could serve as a basis for peace talks.
Anastasiades, the Greek Cypriot leader, responded in early May to a call by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci who called for the resumption of talks. The invitation was based on a set of guidelines put together last year by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
But it quickly emerged that Anastasiades and Akinci were not referring to the same terms, with the Greek Cypriot leader referring to a draft as it developed by July 4 while the Turkish Cypriot leader was referring to its original version dated June 30.
According to the president, the language used in the latter document has important nuances regarding a number of issues, primarily the issue of guarantees and military troops on the island. He believes the second version of the document spells out more clearly the abolition of guarantees.
But critics pointed out that the UN Secretary General had not proposed the specific guidelines as they were framed on July 4.
Anastasiades says the Greek Cypriot side would not accept Turkish guarantees, which he described as “anachronistic” and “unfitting” for a modern member state of the European Union.
But Turkish Cypriots insist that some form of guarantees and military presence is important to any solution in a future bicommunal, bizonal federal republic, citing safety concerns for their community.
Akel says Anastasiades is trying to confuse people
Akel leader Andros Kyprianou says there was only one document, dated June 30, which would either help abolish guarantees or put Turkey in a difficult position for not accepting a military withdrawal.
“Only god knows how the government came to discover a second Guterres document,” Kyprianou said.
The opposition leader was speaking live on a television show on Tuesday and added that the government was “trying to confuse things for the Cypriot people.”
Akel has challenged the position by Anastasiades, who says he is ready for talks as long as the other side accepts the Guterres framework.
Anastasiades fired back
Anastasiades fired back Wednesday, saying he regretted that he had to take a strict tone in his response.
“It is truly sad that we are every day witnessing support for the Turkish position that the Greek Cypriot side is responsible for the failure in Crans Montana,” he said.
The president made no apologies for his positions, saying he was clear about ending military guarantees.
“I made my position crystal clear to the Secretary General and all the members of the Security Council, as well as the European Council, all our partners and countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Everyone knows my positions and my intentions, and they know whether it is justified or non-justified that we should enter into a system that does not exist in any of the 195 member states of the United Nations,” Anastasiades said.
The president said he would not give in no matter what others might attempt to attribute to him, reiterating that a situation that he described as ‘detrimental to all’ is not acceptable.
Akinci blames Anastasiades
Akinci also expressed sadness over the president’s comments, accusing Anastasiades of taking his time and finally not responding positively to the Turkish Cypriot leader’s call for resumption of talks.
“Mr. Anastasiades, even if he has said repeatedly after Crans Montana that he wishes to adopt the Guterres framework, it is obvious again that this is not actually true,” Akinci said.
Akinci had previously asked Anastasiades to state publicly whether he would accept the UN framework as a basis to resume talks, with the president initially responding positively.
But it quickly became obvious that Akinci was referring to the non-paper dated June 30, days before hopes for a breakthrough were dashed in Switzerland’s Cyprus Conference at the Crans Montana resort in early July.
Akinci also accuses Anastasiades of not having accepted yet full equality between the two communities in a future solution.
Anastasiades insists that the initial call by Akinci was positive, as long as the Turkish Cypriot leader had in mind the parameters as defined during a meeting at Crans Montana on July 4.
Kyprianou has asked an Akel member, seasoned constitutional expert Toumazos Tsielepis, to visit the Presidential Palace and go over letters that Anastasiades sent to Guterres in an effort to clear once and for all any mix up with UN framework.
Akinci also says that he confirmed with Guterres last September that the framework in question was the one dated June 30, not later.
