In view of the wide gap between the sides owing to the uncompromising nature of the
Turkish proposals, the U.N. Secretary-General decided to present an evaluation of the talks
in an effort to overcome the difficulties encountered and give momentum to the negotiating
process. It was stressed that the evaluation was only intended to establish a method for
discussion and would in no way replace the U.N. resolutions and high level agreements as
a basis for negotiations.
As the Secretary-General's evaluation contained both positive and negative points, the
Greek Cypriot side expressed its reservations but accepted it in order to give the talks a
final chance. The Cyprus Government hoped that the Turkish Cypriot side could show
equal goodwill and demonstrate commitment to a negotiated settlement. But the Turkish
Cypriot leadership, who is at Turkey's beck and call, continued to maintain an intransigent
attitude and the talks failed to produce substantive results.
The Turkish Cypriot side insisted on partition through the establishment of two separate
administrations under a loose federal system. Furthermore, the Turkish Cypriot side
indicated that it was not prepared to relinquish any significant part of the territory under
occupation. The Turkish Cypriot leadership gave clear evidence of its intention to
consolidate the faits accomplis rather than seek a solution, when in July 1982 it decided to
grant Turkish Cypriots and settlers from Anatolia title deeds to Greek Cypriot property.
By 1983 it was obvious that the talks in their present form were not leading anywhere. The
situation, moreover, was aggravated by Turkish threats to take military action against the
Government-controlled area under the pretext that members of Armenian liberation
organisations were being harboured there, although, following investigations carried out
freely in the region, UNFICYP had established that the Turkish allegations were totally
unfounded.
In view of the lack of progress in the talks and the serious threat to security of the Greek
Cypriots, the Government felt it had no option but to internationalize the Cyprus problem
by taking its case to the United Nations once again.
The United Nations itself also gave signs that it was concerned about the stalemate and
deteriorating situation, and finally, following a meeting between the then President, Mr.
Kyprianou and the new U.N. Secretary-General, Mr. Perez de Cuellar, in Paris on 24
April 1983, the latter disclosed that he intended to strengthen his personal involvement in
the efforts to achieve a settlement. He said he planned to sound out all the interested parties
about the new ideas and initiatives that might help the search for a solution.
