Former president raises pressure to solve the Cyprus issue

Former President George Vassiliou raised the pressure on the Republic of Cyprus government yesterday over the Cyprus issue by calling for contacts between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot party leaders. Vassiliou publicised a letter of reply from the UN Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim A. Gambari to a joint letter from Vassiliou, the United Democrats Honourary President, and the leader of the Republican Turkish Party, Ferdi Sabit Soyer.

Although denied by the government, Gambari appeared to be calling on the Cypriots to make more contacts before the UN gets involved.

In his reply dated 24 October, Gambari recalled that the SG has on several occasions, “stressed the obligations of the parties themselves and the importance for both sides to focus on their overriding common interest, namely to agree on revisions so that the UN plan could command majority support not only in their community, but in the other too”.

Concluding, Gambari said he hoped that “your joint letter may be a step in that direction”.

Vassiliou said that as long as the Greek Cypriot side does not have any contact with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, and without preparation aiming at the resumption of the talks, “we are leading Cyprus with mathematical accuracy, to division under the worst possible conditions”.

He also criticized the Greek Cypriot side for not exhibiting great willingness to compromise for a solution while he described the work by the Turkish Cypriots and Turkish military at Ledra Street in Nicosia as “unnecessary provocation”.

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos said “the reply given is a confirmation of the positions that I have ascertained so far”.

Meanwhile, the government spokesman insisted that what is expected from the Secretary General “is the start of a new procedure or an invitation to start a new procedure”, noting that “any new procedure, new negotiation should surely be held under the Secretary General’s auspices and within the framework of his mission of good offices”.