GUIDANCE ON CYPRUS ASSESSMENT MISSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 014095 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2018 TAGS: UNSC CY PREL PBTS SUBJECT: GUIDANCE ON CYPRUS ASSESSMENT MISSION REF: EMAIL SCHUFLETOWSKI-REINEMEYER 01/24/2008 Classified By: IO PDAS JAMES B. WARLICK FOR REASONS 1.4 (B). ¶1. (U) USUN requested guidance on the U.S. position on a UN-proposed assessment mission to Cyprus in response to a request for input from UNDPA's Cyprus officer. See paras 2 and 3 below for specific guidance. ¶2. (C//Rel to UN) USUN should inform UNDPA,s Cyprus officer that the United States endorses a UN assessment mission to Cyprus and would like to see one conducted very soon after the Cypriot presidential elections, no matter which candidate wins. We recommend a report of its findings be issued within a few weeks of the visit. ¶3. (C//Rel to UN) The U.S. would like the assessment mission to focus on the following goals: -- Analyze what could be done to implement the stalled July 8, 2006 agreement. The mission should try and find a way to bridge the differences between the Greek Cypriots, who, under President Papadopoulos at least, have portrayed the agreement to be immutable, and the Turkish Cypriots, who have wished to have binding timetables attached to it. -- Decide if the July 8, 2006 agreement is the only mechanism to prepare for a settlement. If not, then the mission should make recommendations on acceptable alternatives, building on already agreed principles. This should include an assessment of which elements of the Annan Plan are mutually agreeable/salvageable and can be built upon under a new settlement process. -- Visit the three guarantor powers (UK, Greece, Turkey) and solicit their views. -- Visit Brussels for discussions with the European Commission and EU members on what positive, supportive role EU countries could play. RICE