Anxious to avert any unpleasant developments, the U.N. Secretary-General announced at a
press conference in Geneva on 7 July 1983 that he intended to undertake a new effort to
establish whether it was possible to accelerate a solution to the Cyprus problem.
On 8 August 1983 the U.N. Secretary-General conveyed to both sides "informal and
confidential soundings" containing certain "indicators" designed to "narrow the gap
between the positions" of the two sides on the outstanding issues arising from his
evaluation paper. The U.N. Spokesman in Cyprus said the soundings were intended to
"further the negotiating process" and that Mr. Perez de Cuellar had not conveyed to the
parties "any plans or proposals for the solution of the Cyprus problem". The U.N.
document covered the executive, legislature and question of territory.
The then President of Cyprus, Mr. Kyprianou held a series of consultations with the
Council of Ministers and party leaders to assess the U.N. Secretary-General's initiative.
As for the Turkish Cypriot leadership, it demanded that the Greek Cypriots, comprising of
over 4/5 of the population should overlook the fact that the Turkish Cypriots are a small
ethnic minority and accept them as "equal partners" in the body politic even though this
would strike at the foundations of democracy. Brandishing the threat of U.D.I. once more,
they demanded further that the Cyprus Government renounces its sovereignty over the
entire territory of the Republic, that it recognizes the Turkish Cypriot community as a
separate autonomous people and that it stops seeking support for its case at international
fora.
On 30 September 1983 the then President of Cyprus, Mr. Kyprianou handed to the U.N.
Secretary-General the Greek Cypriot side's response to the soundings. The Greek Cypriot
side accepted the Secretary General's initiative and methodology and expressed its views as
requested. The Secretary-General described the Greek Cypriot side's response as a
"positive and constructive step".
Mr. Denktash, however, after some procrastination, verbally informed the SecretaryGeneral
that he had rejected his initiative. He let it be understood that he disagreed with the
methodology and would not be submitting any comments on the soundings. Mr. Denktash
then called for the resumption of the talks from where they had left off.
Seeing that his stand would make him appear in a bad light internationally, Mr. Denktash
suddenly proposed a high-level meeting with Mr. Kyprianou to divert attention from the
issue.
Although wary of Mr. Denktash's stalling tactics, the Greek Cypriot side, as a further
demonstration of goodwill, said it would leave it to the U.N. Secretary-General to decide
whether to call such a meeting.
For his part, the Secretary-General said he would arrange for a high-level meeting provided
it was well - prepared and both sides cooperated in ensuring its success. Mr. Kyprianou
informed the Secretary-General that he would attend a meeting convened on the lines he
had suggested.
In the meantime the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe refused to accept
"deputies" from Mr. Denktash's illegal regime. As a consequence of the European body's
decision, Mr. Denktash demanded that the two Cyprus deputies represented in the
Assembly be withdrawn. This was coupled with new threats of U.D.I.
On 14 November 1983 Mr. Gobbi returned from abroad with instructions to prepare the
ground for a high-level meeting and start consultations with the interested parties. He also
brought letters from the U.N. Secretary-General stating that the meeting would be based on
an agreed agenda with the aim of achieving substantive progress towards a global solution
or a mini package deal. The letters were delivered to the then President Mr. Kyprianou and
Mr. Denktash the following day.
