Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NICOSIA836
2008-10-23 14:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:  

CYPRUS: T/C NEGOTIATOR URGES GREATER U.S. ROLE

Tags:  PREL PGOV TR CY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNC #0836/01 2971405
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 231405Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9255
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5302
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 4085
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1377
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1247
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000836 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV TR CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: T/C NEGOTIATOR URGES GREATER U.S. ROLE

Classified By: By Ambassador Frank C. Urbancic for reasons 1.4(b) and
1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000836

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV TR CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: T/C NEGOTIATOR URGES GREATER U.S. ROLE

Classified By: By Ambassador Frank C. Urbancic for reasons 1.4(b) and
1.4 (d)

1.(C) Summary: Repeating a common Turkish Cypriot (T/C) view
on internationalizing the quest for a CYPROB solution, T/C
negotiator Ozdil Nami urged the USG to play a more activist
role in the effort. In an October 20 meeting with the
Ambassador, Nami said his October 16 meeting with G/C
negotiator George Iacovou was inconclusive and charged that a
Greek Cypriot proposal for weighted voting was "a direct
attack on political equality." The T/C negotiator said that
the talks were disorganized and aimless due to Christofias,
refusal to use the Annan Plan as the main frame of reference
for the talks. Regarding the opening of the
Limnitis-Yesilirmak crossing, he said the "ball was in the
G/C court" and reiterated the T/C proposal to ship non-lethal
supplies to T/C troops in the Kokkina enclave, presumably
under UN-escort, in return for the opening. He refused to
engage on reaching out to pro-solution forces in the Greek
Cypriot Orthodox Church, arguing that Talat and his
administration were already working to improve conditions for
Orthodox worshipers in the north. The Church, he said flatly,
should use established channels (the UN or G/C negotiator
Iacovou). He rejected a May 2008 proposal by the RoC Minister
of Education to craft a mechanism to accredit universities in
the north, arguing that education*even under the 1960
constitution*was a communal, not federal, matter. He also
complained that the G/Cs were using the "Straw Rule" to limit
foreign meetings with Talat, most recently with the
Australian FM. Overall, Nami had a much darker view of
things, even since our last meeting with him on October 14.
His boss continues to engage with the G/Cs, however, and
appears willing to work directly with Christofias within the
UN-framework. End Summary

--------------
"US not showing a lot of Interest"
--------------


2. (C) Responding to the Ambassador,s question about a press
statement by Talat, Nami said that the T/C leader was correct
in that the "US was not showing a lot of interest" in the
process. He charged international recognition as President of
the RoC gave Christofias unwarranted "credit" without

affording Talat the ability to counter with a reality check.
Consequently, things were moving far too slowly, and
Christofias, views more and more appeared to be merely a
more "diplomatic version" of former hard-line RoC President
Papadopoulos. He urged the US to level the international
playing field afforded Christofias by giving Talat equal
access and consideration(without going into detail as to
modalities). The Ambassador said he would report Nami,s
comments but reminded him that the Embassy and the USG as a
whole were seriously engaged, not just watching. For the
moment, however, the two leaders had taken the direct
responsibility on themselves to produce results.

--------------
"G/Cs want to reinvent the wheel"
--------------


3. (C) Nami complained that Christofias was trying to
"reinvent the wheel" with his total rejection of the Annan
Plan, even as a point of reference. AKEL agreed with nearly
eighty percent of its content, but &Christofias is
pretending it does not even exist,8 he griped. This lack of
structure in the talks was causing serious delay and even, he
claimed, violating the UNSG,s call to use the entire UN Body
of Work, which clearly included the Annan Plan. Nami said the
T/Cs were willing to address G/C concerns regarding Annan
Plan shortcomings, for example the need to strengthen the
executive or improve the property regime. They would even
respect domestic G/C sensitivities. They were not ready,
however, to "start from scratch," as this would drag out the
process and imperil the &ruling8 CTP,s election chances
(Note: "Parliamentary" elections are scheduled for February
2010 but may be called sooner. End Note).

--------------
"Direct Attack on Political Equality"
--------------


4. (C) Nami said that there was no "movement" in his October
16 meeting with Iacovou. Moreover, Nami characterized
Iacovou,s presentation of "weighted voting," part of a
G/C-proposed presidential system, as a &direct attack on
political equality." Under the G/C plan, a Greek Cypriot
presidential candidate would be paired with a Turkish Cypriot
vice-presidential candidate on a single ticket, with the two
swapping positions at some point. This, with weighted voting,
might result either in a G/C presidential candidate coming to
power without majority Turkish Cypriot support, or lead to
exclusion of nationalist, right-wing forces on both sides, as
they would be less inclined to pair with former enemies. In
response to the Ambassador,s question, Nami said that the
G/Cs understood these concerns, but were unclear as to
whether they could effectively address them. Nami complained
that the G/Cs were fixated on the 80/20 population split,
rather than on the need to give the Turkish Cypriots an
effective voice. While he agreed, in line with UN
resolutions, that political equality did not mean numerical
equality, ratios, he argued, would have to differ depending
on the institution if the T/C equities were to be protected
in the long term.



5. (C) For his part, Nami said he preferred the Presidential
Council of the Annan Plan, which would be elected by an equal
number of senators from both communities, ensuring from the
onset that it would enjoy a bicommunal majority. Nami said
that he hoped Christofias would not insist on the idea of a
"weighted vote" as it fundamentally undermined political
equality, and could not be accepted by the T/Cs.

-------------- --------------
"Ball in G/C court on Limnitis-Yesilirmak Opening"
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Nami said that the "ball was in the G/C court"
regarding the opening of Limnitis-Yesilirmak crossing, which
both leaders have committed to open. He said, however, that
it was "unthinkable" to spend the 6-7 million Euros needed to
upgrade the road on the T/C side and then deny the T/Cs the
right to resupply their forces in the Kokkina pocket with
non-lethal civilian goods. Nami claimed that UNFICYP Chief
Zerihoun said the UN "would find a way", if both sides
agreed, to facilitate a resupply deal, which, according to
Nami, would include UNFICYP escort of T/C resupply vehicles.
Nami said that his G/C counterpart said such a deal "would be
difficult" and did not necessarily agree with the approach.
UNFICYP COS Hughes told us separately it would be impossible
for the UN to escort a military resupply mission, even if it
only involved non-lethal goods.



7. (C) Taking another tack, the Ambassador tried to ask for
Nami's view on the failed, September ad hoc opening for Greek
Cypriot worshipers of the Limnitis-Yesilirmak crossing point
as a CBM. The T/C refusal weakened pro-solution forces in
the Greek Orthodox Church. Nami said it had been a "last
minute request," which the T/Cs, despite their best
intentions, could not implement. Emphasizing what Talat had
told the Ambassador previously, Nami was adamant that the
T/Cs never made any promises. When the Ambassador tried to
raise with Nami allegations of harassment of pro-solution
Greek Cypriot clergy and worshipers in the north, Nami said
that those involved should address their concerns to UNFICYP
or to the Greek Cypriot authorities and refused to accept a
document regarding these allegations that a G/C bishop had
asked the Ambassador to pass on. Nami said that Talat had a
"good record" on dealing with the Church.

--------------
"Education is a Communal matter, period"
--------------


8. (C) Nami rejected out of hand a G/C proposal to craft a
bicommunal mechanism to accredit T/C universities that the
RoC Minister of Education had asked the Ambassador to forward
(the proposal had apparently been made to the Turks in May
2008). Nami said that education was a "communal matter" and,
consequently, the G/C approach was "totally unhelpful." If
the Greek Cypriots really wanted to show goodwill, Nami said
he would support a proposal to create a bicommunal committee
to accredit all universities on the island, not just Turkish
Cypriot institutions. He also said that the Greek Cypriots
should find a mechanism under which Turkish Cypriot
universities could participate in the Bologna process*"not a
legal impossibility", he argued.

--------------
"Straw Rule Back"
--------------

9. (C) Nami claimed that the "Straw Rule," a holdover
Papadopoulos-era G/C practice that forbid high-level foreign
guests (senior ministers) from meeting with senior RoC
leaders should they also call on Talat at his "Presidential
Palace," was back in force. He alleged that the Australian FM
was being threatened with no high-level G/C meetings should
he see Talat. Consequently, instead of the T/C leader, the
Australians had invited Nami to a dinner with their visiting
minister. Nami was affronted by such behavior and would
discuss his participation with Talat. (Note: The Straw Rule,
as applied under Papadopoulos, prevented foreign visitors
from meeting the RoC president only, not other cabinet-level
officials. If what Nami said was true, the rule not only has
re-appeared, but may be more restrictive.)



10. (C) Comment: Nami,s tenacious insistence on political
equality underscores a sine qua non for T/C participation in
the entire process. The T/Cs use the term political equality
as shorthand for confirmation of their right to a continued
long-term presence on the island as a distinct community with
its own viable constituent state. They cling to the hope
that the G/Cs will be willing to enshrine such a distinction
into a final agreement, but Nami indicated the T/Cs are now
worried that the G/Cs may have reneged on this fundamental
principle. Meanwhile, talks resumed October 22 in a
still-hopeful atmosphere, with Special Adviser Alexander
Downer having left this round to be chaired by Special
Representative Taye-Brook Zerihoun. On October 21,
Christofias rebuffed calls from his own hard-liners to pull
out of the talks, insisting he would not bow to such
pressure. Hours after the October 22 meeting, Christofias
flew to China for a multilateral meeting. End comment
Urbancic