UN envoy backs down, little progress seen in Cyprus talks

A senior United Nations official is reported to have put water in his wine and backed down from pushing through an ultimatum to restart peace talks that caused tension among Cyprus politicians.
U.N. Special Envoy Alexander Downer held a much anticipated meeting with President Nicos Anastasiades late Wednesday where the main item on the agenda was prospects of any progress in the talks with the Turkish Cypriot administration to resolve the 39-year division and reunite the island as a federation.
Downer had earlier been trying to push through an ultimatum to commit both sides to agree to start talks leading to a referendum on a peace package by next Spring.
“Downer backed down, good progress in common statement,” wrote the daily Alithia on Thursday, referring to the joint declaration that the Greek Cypriot side wants to secure that would include the basic principles of a settlement.
The Turkish Cypriot side is reported to be stalling any agreement on such a document, while press reports in the north suggest that Ankara wants to replace the negotiator with Ozdil Nami, the Turkish Cypriot foreign secretary who enjoys Turkey’s full trust.
The daily Simerini, however, said that the common statement includes “many demands by Turkey on fundamental issues” related to a settlement.
The stalled progress is also hampering Turkey's bid to join the European Union as the Cyprus government refuses to open several of the negotiation chapters which are related to the conflict, such as Ankara’s refusal to recognise the Republic of Cyprus and banning access of Cypriot ships and aircraft in Turkish ports and over Turkish airspace.
"We are all putting a huge effort into this joint declaration, its a very important component of the process and the (U.N.) Secretary-General wants the two leaders to agree on a joint declaration, so work is still proceeding," said Downer.
In earlier visits to Cyprus, Downer had said he hoped talks could resume in October. On Wednesday he said efforts were "inching ahead, not leaping ahead".