The chapter on security and guarantees is the basic issue on the agenda of back-stage diplomatic contacts in New York prior to the meeting of the UNSG Ban Ki-moon with President Anastasiades and President Akinci on Sunday, Turkish Cypriot daily ‘Havadis’ reports.
Noting that UNSG’s Special Adviser for Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide has been holding frequent meetings with Turkish and Greek officials, Turkish Cypriot daily ‘Havadis’ comments that the target of these meetings is to make the necessary preparations for the chapter of security and guarantees, in order for both sides to be ready to reach a final agreement when the time to discuss this chapter comes. It is said that all guarantor powers are showing a constructive stance on the guarantees and security issue, and there has been open-minded discussion of a number of formulas which aim to satisfy both sides.
According to diplomatic sources, which argue that after the new round of intensified negotiations to be held for several weeks in Cyprus after the leaders return from New York, the negotiations are expected to be continued outside Cyprus. This will be the stage at which the guarantor powers will also take part, but the guarantees will be discussed only in the final stage of the negotiations.
During these Green Tree or Burgenstock type negotiations abroad, the issues on which agreement have not been reached are expected to be discussed. Within the framework of the final “give and take”, issues such as the rotating presidency, some elements of property, territory and security and guarantees will be tackled.
Referring to Sunday’s meeting, ‘Havadis’ reports that the leaders will brief the UNSG about the current stage of the negotiations and convey the message that they are ready to move on to the next stage. They will also ask Ban to undertake a more active part in rest of the process.
Havadis
