Filenews 24 January 2021 - by Kostas Venizelos
The "common ground", which will be sought during the "Informal" Pentamer, seems to be prepared with intense behind-the-scenes movements and shots. It is clear that nothing will be allowed to happen at the last minute, although much is invested on the part of the United Nations in the separate meetings that the Secretary-General will have with the participants in the meeting.
Until the convening of the Pentamer, which is timed in the second half of February in New York, contacts and discussions are taking place. What seems to be happening is to find the "golden incision" in the positions on both sides. The various third parties who intervene flirt with a model, which, regardless of nomenclature, will be federal. As the British say, among other things, one approach is a "loose federation", which, as they explain, will allow the two communities to run their areas and some key issues, a small number, will remain in central power.
In Brussels, however, The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mevlut Tsavousoglu, reiterated to his interlocutors last Thursday the position on two states, noting, however, that they are open to discussing anything put in the Pentamer. "We are not dogmatic," Tsavousoglou was quoted as saying.
What is indicated by potential mediators, in a way that causes concern and fear in Nicosia, is that Turkey is not bluffing with the two states and as long as this position is repeated without a process or agreement, it will be consolidated and in the end they will not be able to back down. These reports obviously act as a lever of pressure towards Nicosia, which indicates that "its position" is the loose/decentralised federation. But what seems to be on their minds is not what the Cypriot side might mean (to be fair it is not clear what Nicosia means by the "invention" of the loose/decentralised federation).
Informed sources noted that what is being launched is a confederation, which will be baptized a federation. It is also a question of what role the occupying Turkey will play in the new formation. The degree of intervention in the functioning of the State, but also its control. This is an issue that will concern not only Cyprus, but also the EU, which has to deal with the role and reason that Ankara will have in the Union.
As part of the behind-the-scenes efforts and contacts, in Cyprus was last Thursday and Friday, the Deputy Political Director of Forin Ofis, Ajay Sharma, who travelled for the third time in the last period to the island. Mr Ajaiy Sharma on his previous trip, at the end of November, focused on convincing Nicosia not to insist on sanctions against Turkey, within the framework of the EU. , however, he explains it as an attempt to "welcome" Ankara. The British approach is as it is done between now and the start of the Pentamer, a move by Nicosia on the issue of "political equality", to... encourage the Turks.
It is important to mention that behind the references to "political equality" lies the narrative of acceptance of the Turkish version. It is said that this is the main demand made by Ankara for the process to proceed and that it could be accepted by Nicosia. Of course, the question is why should Ankara, when it secures the issue of political equality, take a step back on territorial and security?
The British official met successively with the Foreign Minister, Nikos Christodoulides, the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cornelius Cornelius and the Director of the Diplomatic Office of the President of the Republic, Kyriakos Kouros. Mr Ajay Sharma also crossed into the occupied territories and met with the occupying leader, Ersin Tatar. Before Cyprus he visited Greece, where he met with the G.G. of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Themistocles Demiris.
London considers the situation in the region to be dangerous and that through mobility it is trying to help create conditions for stability. Continuing, however, the contacts of the official of Foreign Office is the upcoming visit of the British foreign minister, Dominique Raab, early in February. These visits, especially the behind-the-scenes moves, come as Britain wants to keep the lead on the Cyprus issue. Brexit has left the British behind on the various issues and now with interventions they want to come back strongly. Only, which is interesting and even enhanced, seems to be with the the EU.
The question, however, is not what interest is being made, but in which direction it is moving. And so far there has been both an attempt by London and Brussels to reach out to Ankara and facilitate it.
The Turks, however, who are more concerned with... openings to the EU in order to avoid discussions on sanctions now seem to want to be the Five-Day March. This is because - again - they want the European Council, which will discuss Euro-Turkish, to pass and then come to the Conference. It is recalled that Mrs Lutt was accepted in Ankara after the December European Council.
THE NON-DOGMATIC TURKEY AND THE CHRISTODULE CONTACTS AND NOT IN BRUSSELS
In addition to the increased mobility of the British, the United Nations, moves are also being made on the part of the European Union with regard to Cyprus and Greek-Turkish. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Tsavousoglu had a number of contacts. It should be noted in this regard that during his contacts, notably in the meeting with Joseph Borrell, responsible for the Union's foreign policy, he referred to a two-state solution, noting however that Ankara is not... dogmatic and that he discusses everything. He explained that this choice was driven by, he claimed, the attitude of the Greek side, referring, among other things, to the rejection of the Annan plan!
However, mr. Borrell and Mr. Varhelis (responsible for Enlargement) will meet separately with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cyprus and Greece, Christodoulides and Dendias, next Tuesday. The meetings will take place in view of the Five-party and exploratory contacts between Greece and Turkey, but also to learn about what Mevlut Tsavousoglu said in Brussels. It is clear that Nicosia will not consent to European gifts being given to occupying Turkey. This is because the 'positive agenda' is being brought back to the agenda by Turkey and the Turkish lobby in the EU.
