By Costas Apostolides
The title of this article is not inspired by the successful film produced by Sofia Coppola and released in 2003, but by the state of affairs on the Greek Cypriot side in response to the gauntlet thrown down by the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci to get Cyprus peace talks started. Last Monday he called on both communities in Cyprus to agree to accept the framework proposed by the United Nations secretary-general for peace talks.
The phrase “lost in translation” was used in a radio interview by Diko leader Nicolas Papadopoulos who failed in the recently held presidential elections and is in the middle of a witch hunt against party members who did not support him. On Thursday he described the problem of deciphering what the Guterres framework was, given that it was put forward verbally to participants at the Crans-Montana conference on June 30 2017 by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Before proceeding to consider the UN framework, it should be noted that the Greek Cypriot side’s version is based on a note transcribed by the secretary-general’s then special advisor Espen Barth Eide, then corrected by the secretary-general, and transcribed again by the Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis. Mavroyiannis’ text is the one used by the Greek Cypriots.
Problems Oral Presentations
In my long involvement in the Cyprus problem I have always been against verbal presentation of positions, or important ideas, not backed by supporting documents. Verbal presentations are unfortunately often favoured, because it is felt that you can always deny that you said something when criticised or challenged. While for the listener you are dependent on the accuracy of the notes kept by a secretary or junior official, since in negotiations it is difficult to take accurate notes and simultaneously participate in the discussion.
An example of the type of problems that can be created was the difference of opinion between the secretary-general and the Turkish foreign minister on what was the Turkish government’s position at Crans-Montana, which had also been verbally presented. In response the secretary-general did not use his own notes on the Turkish position in his above report.
To get the Cyprus talks restarted the secretary-general should present a clear written statement of his proposed framework, including his non-paper on implementation of a Cyprus settlement given out at Crans Montana (but not discussed). The “non-paper” is useful because it offers solutions to some of the problems in the talks.
Greek Cypriot Confusion
The Greek Cypriot political leaders were thrown into confusion because Mustafa Akinci’s proposal for both sides to agree to restart negotiations on the basis of the Guterres framework provides a reasonable basis for the two leaders to demonstrate to the secretary-general that they are ready to negotiate. In which case negotiations should start again more or less where they were at Crans-Montana but structured according to the framework.
President Nicos Anastasiades has replied that in order to accept Akinci’s challenge for mutual acceptance of the framework, Akinci should explain what the position of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots is on security – Turkish troops in Cyprus – and guarantees, namely, the 1960 agreement on right of intervention of the guarantor parties, Greece, Turkey and the UK. Bear in mind though that the UN has never clarified that such interventions are contrary to the UN Charter.
Therefore, the first thing that needs to be clarified is whether the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots are using the same text, since I am sure that Mavroyiannis’ text is not used by the Turkish Cypriots.
In the secretary-general’s report on his good offices mission in Cyprus (28/9/2017) there is a description of the framework, but it is not clear cut and not in the summarised form that has been presented in the press. Furthermore, the UN should clarify whether the non-paper on implementation is part of the framework.
The two wisest Greek Cypriot representatives that have been involved in negotiations, namely Alecos Markides, the former attorney-general and the chief negotiator under former president Glafcos Clerides, and Tomassos Tselepis the Akel expert on the Cyprus problem and in the Greek Cypriot negotiating team, have come out strongly in favour of accepting the challenge and agreeing for negotiations on the basis of the Guterres framework.
In contrast Anastasiades has yet to clarify his position. Given his movement away from the guidance of his mentor Glafcos Clerides, during the recent presidential elections, he is now in a difficult position, particularly since he has repeatedly stated that he is ready to restart the talks from where they stopped at Crans-Montana.
Framework is not a Settlement.
Part of the problem is that the secretary-general has set a “framework for discussion”. The problems have to be negotiated, the framework itself is not a settlement. For example, how can the issue of a rotating federal presidency be introduced under democratic conditions, and how can apartheid conditions be avoided for Greek and Turkish Cypriots who decide to live in the “other community”?
For progress to be made the following measures are required:
The principle that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed is confirmed.
The February 11, 2014 agreement on a bicommunal, bizonal and democratic federal constitution is confirmed.
The UN should present a complete and clear presentation of the Guterres framework.
The UN non-paper on how to implement a settlement should be included in the process.
If these measures are agreed then we should all welcome Mustafa Akinci’s initiative, which is in essence a brave effort to get the Cyprus talks going.
Costas Apostolides is a founder member of Pax Cypria Cyprus Institute for Peace
22 Comments
costaskarseras
May 6, 2018 at 15:42The Cyprus talks/problem is not lost in translation but because of the refusal to abide by the UN resolutions and not respecting the fundamental principal of human rights.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 2 Freedom from Discrimination – Article 9 Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest and Exile- Article 13 Right to Free Movement in and out of the Country
– Article 17 Right to Own Property. This should be applicable for all Cypriots without exceptions.
Our history has taught us to be suspicious of foreign meddling in our affairs and this was confirmed by Mr. Eide, the then Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Cyprus, who concluded: “That the Cyprus problem would have been solved by now if it were up to the Cypriots”. Cyprus’ geopolitical has always been useful to foreign powers and the discovery of Hydrocarbons in her EEZ has made Cyprus also economically attractive. I wonder who is behind President Anastasiades’ attitude? Of course, President Erdogan is not helping, he could easily allow the reconstruction of the ghost town of Varosha. Aware of Erdogan’s antagonistic attitude toward the US which is supporting the Kurds in Syria and has “temporarily frozen” the sale of defence equipment in Turkey I assume that Anastasiades is now under the influence of the US and Cyprus could be used a the stick to beat Erdogan.
Dogmeat
May 6, 2018 at 15:58Will you open the ports and airports then? Offer has been made before your Govt choose to keep Varosha as a ghost town.
Bob
May 6, 2018 at 14:23Please close the crossings for our safety and humanity.
Ozay Mehmet
May 6, 2018 at 13:33Two States is the only functional and lasting solution. Let’s face it, BBF or power sharing is not functional or workable.
HighTide
May 6, 2018 at 13:39While each government within a BBF is capable to run the affairs of its ethnic zone without difficulty, the central government has built in explosion potential such as witnessed in 1963. The constant haggling and bickering as we witnessed during the Cyprob would carry on ad infinitum with a possible disastrous end. So, why not cut it out and keep the two ‘zones’ sovereign?
Ozay Mehmet
May 6, 2018 at 14:17Pls see above.
Bob
May 6, 2018 at 14:12Two states with rights to your own zone not ours.
Ozay Mehmet
May 6, 2018 at 14:15Each state with its own set of rights and powers. You run your zone, TCs theirs.
Bob
May 6, 2018 at 14:17But that’s not how you want it you want to impose your guarantee army and invasion rights and that’s not too zones ethic leansing all over again. You must cut ties from all functionality if you want your state no rights no interferences no crossings and us your own passport not cyprus Turkish passport protectorate passport you must take all the luggage with your descision
Ozay Mehmet
May 6, 2018 at 14:22Do you want something from TCs? Give and Take for peace and cooperation.
TCs need security of Turkish army…in their zone…so no attacks like in 1960s.
Bob
May 6, 2018 at 14:28Listen my friend you want present too? You take my property kill my family and you have military in my village now you want take more. Mr ise sta kala Sou?
Tc need to clear the brainwashing from their gefali before any other option is taken
Bob
May 6, 2018 at 14:14Don expect to come and get you pension from south
Ozay Mehmet
May 6, 2018 at 14:16Only what is owed.
Bob
May 6, 2018 at 14:18If we talk owed we see you in the courts after non solution I cannot wait
Ozay Mehmet
May 6, 2018 at 14:24Dead end…
Bob
May 6, 2018 at 14:31Like cyprus problem every year we start talking same with courts we can talk for along time
Bob
May 6, 2018 at 14:34The cyprus problem will end with individual court descision. Whoever is keen. If you have courage you make it happen if not you problem
Muffin the Mule
May 6, 2018 at 12:20There is no loss in translation. It is purely semantics and a Lawyers ruse to avoid picking up the threads. Nic, sadly, is a charlatan.
Nazaret Shamlian
May 6, 2018 at 11:02It’s astonishing that time is still being wasted talking piffle!
A two state solution has been in place since 15 November 1983.
Why on earth are the GCs not waking up to reality?Stop insulting our intelligence.
There is NO other way out of this conundrum.
Bob
May 6, 2018 at 11:36If it was in place then why is Acinci wanting to negotiate what his mother has stolen? It shows that the Tc do not even believe in their independence and I’m sure nobody else does either. Forget 1983 that’s a dead horse lol
Evergreen
May 6, 2018 at 10:17A farce.A futile show again.
HighTide
May 6, 2018 at 08:13The lack of convergence between the two parties cannot be papered over, even if the sheet comes from Guterres. What’s the point of repeating the same questions over and over again? How often should the parties sit together, giving the same answers?