Moller briefs Security Council on Cyprus deadlock

THE U.N. Secretary-general's Special Representative in Cyprus, Michael Moller, has briefed the Security Council on the situation regarding the July 8 agreement.According to reports from New York, Moller gave his briefing in a neutral manner without apportioning blame for lack of progress to either side.

Each side blames the other for the deadlock in the UN-brokered agreement reached almost a year ago, designed to get the two sides talking again.Moller’s briefing was part of the Security Council’s discussions, which opened late on Friday, on the renewal of UNFICYP’s six-monthly mandate. A resolution is expected on Thursday.

House President Demetris Christofias said yesterday no one expected Moller to lay the blame at the feet of the Turkish Cypriot side, given that the UN would like to see the July 8 process continue.“I didn't expect that Moller would accuse the Turkish Cypriot side,” Christofias said. “Of course, one would wish things to be clearer.”

The government does not expect any surprises from the mandate renewal, but is said to be closely watching the developments, since there has been talk among Security Council members about a possible revision of UNFICYP in the event of continued lack of progress.

Another issue being closely watched is the context of any reference to the lifting of Turkish Cypriot isolation.In his report to the Security Council, UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon does refer to the isolation, saying the EU aid package for the Turkish Cypriot community should be considered “as a positive step towards lifting the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, as called for by my predecessor in his report of May 28, 2004, by which I stand.”

Referring to the July 8 agreement, Ban’s report said: “Despite the commitment of the two leaders in July to ensuring that the ‘right atmosphere’ prevail for the process to be successful, including by putting an end to the so-called blame game, the two sides continued to engage in mutual recriminations throughout the reporting period.”

He also said he regretted that he couldn’t report “any meaningful improvement in the atmosphere in which Cypriots of both sides are allowed to engage in bicommunal contacts”.

He said the time had come to move from talks about procedures to substance. “It is high time that the considerable convergence of positions be translated into action,” said Ban.

“I urge both leaders to honour their written commitment and bring to an end the ongoing mutual recriminations, which only serve to undermine the process.”