Turkish scenario takes Holguin and the UN out of the Cyprus issue equation
Source: in-cyprus.com
Following the end of the mission of the UN Secretary General’s envoy on the Cyprus problem, María Ángela Holguín Cuellar, occupying Turkey is preparing moves. According to well-informed sources, Ankara and its representative in the occupied territories, Ersin Tatar, are planning to take action, and manoeuvres, if and when Mrs. Holguin’s mission ends in early July and a deadlock is established.
Ankara, considering that there will no longer be an initiative based on specific terms of reference, the resolutions, will present itself “ready” to accept even a meeting between the occupation leader, Ersin Tatar, and the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides. The objectives of the occupation side are obvious, and it will present this action as a gesture of “goodwill” and “differentiation.” However, it is clear that in case this scenario is confirmed, the aim will be for the talks to take place in the context of the Turkish side’s attempt to change the basis of the Cyprus problem and impose its agenda.
It should be recalled that from the beginning of Mrs. Holguin’s mission, Turkey wanted to bring the effort to a standstill, claiming that her appointment was intended to establish whether there was “common ground.” According to the Turkish argumentation, the SG’s envoy was not and is not authorized to work on “common ground” and therefore did not discuss with her anything in this direction. Of course, the reality is that the UN has no reason to discuss the formation of “common ground” as this exists and it is the resolution of the International Organization. Something the occupying side does not accept.
But what would a meeting between Christodoulides and Tatar after the end of Mrs. Holguin’s mission mean? In particular, will the Turks request that it take place without the presence of the United Nations? It means a meeting without context and outside the UN.
The occupying side is demanding, as is well known, recognition of the “inherent rights” of Turkish Cypriots, sovereign equality, and equal international status of the Republic of Cyprus (“Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus”, as they call it) and the “TRNC”. And what is the goal of the meetings and discussions based on the Turkish narrative? To reach a “COOPERATION AGREEMENT” between the “two entities”.
It is clear from moves that are being made and what is being stated publicly that they do not want the presence of the United Nations in the processes unless the International Organization proceeds to change the negotiating basis and Resolution 186 of 1964, which recognizes the Republic of Cyprus as the only state on the island. Both of these objectives are difficult to achieve, but they are not being abandoned.
In the context of this systematic effort, however, the Turkish occupation side is exerting great pressure on the United Nations and especially on UNFICYP to reach a separate agreement between the Force and the occupation regime. That is, to negotiate an agreement in the form of a SOFA (A status of forces agreement).
Turkey wants to upgrade the pseudo-state as a separate entity and make it an official interlocutor of international organizations such as the UN. The United Nations has made it clear that it will not negotiate a separate agreement because, according to an opinion of the international organization, this is illegal. However, wanting to exert pressure, the occupying side cannot rule out the possibility of going ahead and banning UNFICYP from moving into the occupied territories without the permission of the illegal regime.
At the same time, the occupation forces are causing minor crises within the buffer zone and indicating that nothing will be done in these areas without the permission of the Turkish Cypriot side. The Turkish side is attempting to make the buffer zone its border.
The original article: belongs to in-cyprus.com .
