UN Secretary-General’s Call for Action on Cyprus Falls on Deaf Ears
Despite the urgency conveyed by the UN Secretary-General’s recent report, it seems that his call for action in Cyprus has been ignored. Antonio Guterres’ report clearly states the UN’s position on initiating a new process, emphasizing the need for the two leaders to send a strong signal that this time the talks will have a different outcome.
The main concern raised by Guterres is the risk of another failed attempt at a settlement, similar to the collapse at Crans Montana. It is reasonable for the Secretary-General to seek some form of guarantee that the UN’s time, effort, and resources will not be wasted on a futile process.
With time running out for a mutually acceptable political settlement, Guterres has urged the leaders of the two communities to take urgent action to address the distrust between them. He has called for the establishment of a direct channel of communication and emphasized the importance of seeking mutually acceptable modalities of dialogue. Additionally, Guterres has encouraged more contact between the people of both communities, as well as increased trade and business cooperation.
However, it appears that none of these recommendations have been heeded. Instead, the two leaders have chosen to address their respective audiences without engaging with each other. Ersin Tatar has demanded acceptance of sovereignty as a precondition for talks, a demand that President Christodoulides refuses to accept. On the other hand, Christodoulides believes that the EU should play a more active and leading role, a proposition that the Turkish side has rejected.
Neither leader has made an effort to engage with the other or find common ground for the resumption of talks. The lack of trust-building and goodwill has led both sides to believe that the conditions for negotiation and agreement will magically materialize. Meanwhile, Guterres has refused to appoint a new UN envoy under the current circumstances.
Christodoulides’ repeated assurances of readiness to resume talks have been implicitly dismissed by Guterres’ report, which demands concrete action from both sides instead of empty words that have perpetuated the Cyprus problem for 50 years.
In conclusion, the UN Secretary-General’s call for action on Cyprus has fallen on deaf ears. The two leaders have failed to take the necessary steps to build trust and create goodwill. It is evident that an external mediator is needed to facilitate meaningful dialogue and guide the negotiation process. Without a genuine commitment to change and a clear signal that this time things will be different, any future talks are likely to end in failure once again.
