TURKEY CONCERNED ABOUT UNSCR DRAFT LANGUAGE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001540 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2017 TAGS: PREL UN CY TU SUBJECT: TURKEY CONCERNED ABOUT UNSCR DRAFT LANGUAGE ON UNFICYP MANDATE RENEWAL Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: GOT officials have raised concerns with us regarding language in the draft UN Security Council resolution on UNFICYP mandate renewal. The GOT believes the resolution, as it stands, fails to portray fully and objectively the situation in Cyprus. In particular, GOT officials regret that the Security Council has failed to explicitly endorse UNSYG Annan's conclusion in his 2004 report that the economic isolation of Turkish Cypriots must be brought to an end. They also emphasized Turkish Cypriot support for demining but lamented the European Union's insistence that the first 4 million Euros (of a total 259 million Euros in EU funding provided for economic development on the island) be earmarked for demining activities. They reiterated GOT concern with the July 8 process as well, in particular, Greek Cypriot attempts to include property issues in the debates of several different working groups. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) During June 13 and 14 meetings with the Ambassador and with EUR DAS Matt Bryza, MFA Deputy Under Secretary for Northeast Mediterranean and the Americas Haydar Berk expressed concerns regarding the text of the UNSCR on UNFICYP renewal. Berk proceeded down a list of talking points, as follows: -- The Cyprus issue remains unresolved due to an overwhelming negative Greek Cypriot vote for the Annan Plan. It is indeed a great loss that such a unique opportunity was missed. -- In connection with preambular paragraph two, the GOT would like to underline once again that the consent and cooperation of all sides are bedrock principles for the success of a peacekeeping operation. The present paragraph ignores this fact. -- "The activities in the buffer zone" referred to in preambular paragraph five mostly stem from incursions and violations of the Greek Cypriots attempting to tip the scales in their favor on the ground. The buffer zone makes up almost three percent of the whole land mass of Cyprus and territorial arrangements will be an important aspect of a final solution. Therefore, these attempts aimed at changing the status quo in the buffer zone cannot be portrayed as innocent and should have been noted with regret. -- The "TRNC" is strongly for the clearance of remaining minefields along the buffer zone, as referred to in preambular paragraph eight. However, the European Union's insistence that the first four million Euros of a total of 259 million Euros provided for economic development in the north of the island be earmarked for demining is not acceptable to the "TRNC" authorities. Moreover, the reference made to "Turkish Forces" in this paragraph is uncalled for and should have been deleted. -- Regarding preambular paragraph ten on opening additional crossing points, the T/C side has demonstrated its willingness to open the Ledra Street crossing point with the same arrangements already in place at existing crossing points. However, with regard to operative paragraph six on demarcation, the GOT believes that the Security Council should have refrained from "micromanaging" the matter by referring to the demarcation of Ledra Street in particular. Berk noted that this is a matter that both sides should be able to sort out easily. With the reference to opening a crossing at Ledra Street "taking into account arrangements already in place" in preambular paragraph ten, the language in operative paragraph six contradicts this by insisting on demarcation at Ledra Street, which is not part of "existing arrangements already in place." Berk said the UN, T/Cs and G/Cs should concentrate on opening crossing points through practical arrangements as called for in preambular paragraph ten, rather than attempting to solve very sensitive and contentious issues such as demarcation of an area where the parties have longstanding differences of opinion regarding the ceasefire line. He added that taking up the issue of demarcation in connection with opening the crossing at Ledra Street will only serve to further complicate the matter and play into the hands of the Greek Cypriots who do not want to open the crossing for both political and commercial reasons. ¶3. (C) Berk also reiterated GOT and T/C complaints about G/C efforts to raise property issues in multiple working groups established within the July 8 process, an effort the Turkish Cypriots will continue to resist. Berk noted the T/C side wants to ensure there are agreed upon titles for the working groups and technical committees as well as finite timeframes in which discussions will be held to avoid the G/C side using ANKARA 00001540 002 OF 002 the process to delay final settlement negotiations indefinitely. DAS Bryza noted that ROC President Papadopoulos' strategy appears designed to keep Turkish Cypriots on the defensive and he believes he has the momentum. He urged the GOT to press the Turkish Cypriots to remain engaged and to force Papadopoulos to show his true intentions. Berk agreed but said the best way to do this is to bring both parties together to negotiate comprehensive settlement issues. Only then will the world see that the Greek Cypriots see the July 8 process as a means to stall the comprehensive settlement process and lessen international pressure on themselves. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON