Latest Developments
The new round of talks began on 26 October 1992 in New York and meetings between the
U.N. Secretary-General and former President Vassiliou and Mr. Denktash took place until
11 November 1992 when the talks were adjourned to be resumed in March 1993.
As the third round of UN - sponsored Cyprus peace talks ended in New York on 11
November, Secretary-General Boutros Ghali presented an 18-page document codifying the
positions of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides on UN proposals for an overall Cyprus
settlement.
Entitled "Summary of the current positions of the two sides in relation to the set of ideas"
(S/24472), the U.N. paper is divided into three columns; the first two columns represent
the positions of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides, while in the third column the
U.N. position is quoted as this appears in the relevant U.N. Resolutions and the set of
ideas. It is apparent from the above document that Mr. Denktash maintains the same
intransigent stand portraying a difference of position from the U.N. document on several
outstanding issues.
In a report (S/24830) submitted to the Security Council on 19 November on the course of
the talks, the U.N. Chief suggested eight concrete measures "that would help create a new
climate of confidence".
These include among others the reduction in the number of Turkish occupation forces in
Cyprus, the return of the occupied town of Varosha to U.N. control and an island-wide
census. The 24-page report takes a harsh stand against Denktash, noting the solution he
sought was "incompatible" with the UN-prepared set of ideas, endorsed by the Security
Council as the appropriate basis for reaching an overall agreement that will reunite Cyprus
into a bizonal, bicommunal federation.
After considering the report of the Secretary General, the Security Council approved
Resolution 789/92 on 24 November 1992. The main provisions of this Resolution refer
to the confidence-building measures, and are given below:
(a) that, as a first step towards the withdrawal of non-Cypriot forces envisaged in the set of
ideas, the number of foreign troops in the Republic of Cyprus undergo a significant
reduction and that a reduction of defence spending be affected in the Republic of Cyprus;
(b) that the military authorities on each side cooperate with the United Nations PeaceKeeping
Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in order to extend the unmanning agreement of
1989 to all areas of the United Nations-controlled Buffer Zone where the two sides are in
close proximity to each other;
(c) that, with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present
under the control of UNFICYP be extended to include Varosha;
(d) that each side takes active measures to promote people - to - people contact between the
two communities by reducing restrictions to the movement of persons across the Buffer
Zone;
(e) that restrictions imposed on foreign visitors crossing the Buffer Zone be reduced;
(f) that each side proposes bi-communal projects, for possible financing by lending and
donor Governments as well as international institutions;
(g) that both sides commit themselves to the holding of a Cyprus-wide census under the
auspices of the United Nations; and
(h) that both sides cooperate to enable the United Nations to undertake, in the relevant
locations, feasibility studies (i) in connection with the resettlement and rehabilitation of
persons who would be affected by the territorial adjustments as part of the overall
agreement, and (ii) in connection with the program of economic development that would,
as part of the overall agreement, benefit those persons who would resettle in the area under
Turkish Cypriot administration;
Former President Vassiliou said the main elements of the resolution were very important
for Cyprus' cause and helpful for the efforts made by the Greek Cypriot side for a solution.
However, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has reacted angrily to Resolution 789 and
threatened to resign if forced to sign a Cyprus settlement based on UN Security Council
lines.
On 20 January, 1993, the European Parliament adopted a resolution in which it calls on
the Government of Turkey to withdraw its occupation troops from the Republic of Cyprus,
it also calls on the Turkish side to accept without further delay the confidence-building
measures adopted by Security Council Resolution 789/92 and to co-operate with other
interested parties for their immediate implementation.
On February 28, Glafcos Clerides was sworn in as the fourth President of Cyprus. In his
investiture speech the new President stressed that the policy of his Government will centre
on the attainment of a viable solution through peaceful means, based on the U.N.
Resolutions on Cyprus, the European principles, understanding of the fears and
sensitivities of both communities and seeking effective guarantees through Cyprus' entry
into the European community.
On March 30, 1993, the Secretary General met jointly with President Clerides and Turkish
Cypriot leader Mr. Denktash at United Nations Headquarters. The purpose of the meeting
was to discuss the timing, modalities and preparations for the resumption of substantive,
direct, negotiations. The two leaders expressed their willingness to resume the joint
negotiations on 24 May, 1993, in New York. The joint negotiations were preceded by a
preparatory process in which the representatives of the Secretary-General met in Nicosia
with the leaders of the two communities.
Meanwhile the Secretary-General has appointed Mr. Gustave Feissel, a U.N. aide involved
in the U.N. peace negotiating process on Cyprus, as his Deputy Special Representative in
Cyprus on 6 April, 1993.
Also on May 21, he appointed former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark as his Special
Representative for Cyprus. Mr. Clark replaced Mr. Oscar Camilion.
On May 24, a new round of U.N. sponsored Cyprus peace talks resumed in New York
under the auspices of U.N. Secretary General. Mr. Ghali presented to the Cyprus President
Mr. Glafcos Clerides and to the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Denktash, three U.N.
documents which included a series of confidence-building measures. These U.N. papers
proposed the transfer of the fenced part of the Turkish occupied eastern coastal town of
Famagusta to the U.N. administration, the re-opening of the Nicosia International Airport
under U.N. control and the implementation of measures to boost inter-communal contacts
in the island.
The Greek Cypriot side has accepted in principle the three U.N. documents, provided that
no provisions were added that would have the effect, directly or indirectly of recognizing
the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus".
Mr. Denktash, however, presented a series of unreasonable demands such as the
recognition of an illegal airport and two ports in the occupied area of Cyprus, which were
turned down by Mr. Clerides and the United Nations.
The representatives of the five Permanent Members of the Security Council each made
statements in specific support of the proposals related to Varosha and Nicosia International
Airport and called for prompt acceptance of these proposals.
Mr. Denktash reiterated his wish to undertake consultations in the occupied Nicosia and
Ankara. On the explicit undertaking by Mr. Denktash that the purpose of his consultations
would be to promote acceptance of the proposals on Varosha and the Nicosia International
Airport, it was agreed that the joint meetings would resume no later than Monday 14 June,
1993.
However the Turkish Cypriot leader, following his usual stalling tactics stated in Ankara
that he would not return to New York on June 14 to resume negotiations as agreed and
expressed strong criticism of the Varosha/Nicosia International Airport package, stating that
he would be obliged to reject the package if pressed to give a positive or negative reply.
The Secretary General in his report on his mission of good offices on Cyprus on 1 July,
1993, gives a full record of the events as these developed at the meeting regarding the
confidence-building measures, which were held in New York in May and makes reference
to all the stages in the formulation of the documents, the discussions held at the United
Nations and the events that followed.
The Secretary-General repeats his statement of 12 June, that Mr. Denktash unilaterally
failed to honour the agreement of 1 June on the confidence-building measures. He also
expresses disappointment that, despite the assurances Mr. Denktash gave on 1 June in the
presence of the President of the Security Council and the Representatives of the five
Permanent Members, the Turkish side did not accept the documents on the confidencebuilding
measures and failed to honour the agreement of 1 June to resume the joint
meetings on 14 June.
The Secretary-General warned that if we do not achieve an agreement on the package of
confidence-building measures, the effort to seek an overall settlement to the Cyprus
problem will suffer a major setback.
Moreover the U.N. Security Council adopted on 27 May with 14 votes in favour and one
abstention (Pakistan) a resolution on the U.N. Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus
(UNFICYP). The Council decided that, with effect from the next extension of
UNFICYP's mandate on June 15, 1993, the force's costs which are not covered by
voluntary contributions should be treated as expenses of the organization under article 17
(2) of the U.N. Charter, namely through assessed contributions.
Cyprus and Greece have increased their contributions to 18,5 million dollars and 6,5
million dollars, respectively, thus covering more than half of UNFICYP's annual
expenses, amounting to 47 million dollars.
According to the resolution, the Council will conduct a comprehensive reassessment of
UNFICYP in December 1993, when the force's mandate will be examined, "including the
implications of progress on confidence-building measures and towards a political settlement
for the future of the force".
As a first step, the force should be restructured in accordance with the Secretary-General's
report "with the addition of a limited number of observers for reconnaissance".
Meanwhile Mr. Ghali, in his report (S/25912) on the United Nations operations in Cyprus
on 9 June, 1993, outlined his views on UNFICYP and covered the whole spectrum of
activities, functions and responsibilities undertaken by the force. He further recommended
that the Council extends UNFICYP's mandate for a further six month period. The Security
Council in his resolution 839/93 of 11 June, 1993, extended once more the stationing in
Cyprus of the United Nations Peace-Keeping Force established under resolution 186
(1964) for a further period ending on 15 December, 1993.
The Cyprus Government remains committed to a bi-communal federal solution to the
Cyprus Problem without the presence of foreign troops and settlers, that would safeguard
the political independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus and fully protect and guarantee
the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots. In a United Federal Republic
the people of Cyprus both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will be able to maximize
the potential of their communities and share in prosperity and peace in a common future.
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